UGA, Nebraska, and Tennessee Reps Tipped as Key Players at Trump's College Sports Roundtable

University presidents and chancellors expected to wield outsized influence at high-profile event

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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As Donald Trump convenes a high-profile roundtable on the future of college sports this Friday, a trio of university leaders from Georgia, Nebraska, and Tennessee are being tipped as the most influential voices at the negotiating table. University of Georgia president Jere Morehead, University of Nebraska chancellor Jeff Gold, and University of Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman are seen as the "Big Three" who will ultimately shape the direction of collegiate athletics amid the ongoing NIL/revenue-sharing era.

Why it matters

The presence of big-name sports figures like Nick Saban, Tim Tebow, and Tiger Woods will draw headlines, but experts say the real power brokers will be the university presidents and chancellors who hold sway over the major athletic conferences. Their decisions on issues like NIL policies and revenue sharing will have a profound impact on the future of college sports.

The details

While the roundtable will feature a star-studded guest list, analysts believe UGA's Jere Morehead, Nebraska's Jeff Gold, and Tennessee's Donde Plowman will be the most influential voices. Morehead in particular is seen as the most powerful university leader in the SEC and college sports overall, with a hands-on approach to sports administration that has helped shape the landscape. The three administrators will likely take the lead in discussions, as conference commissioners like the SEC's Greg Sankey and Big Ten's Tony Petitti are viewed as simply "herding cats" among the university presidents.

  • The college sports roundtable hosted by Donald Trump will take place this Friday, March 4, 2026.

The players

Jere Morehead

The president of the University of Georgia, considered the most powerful university leader in the SEC and college sports overall.

Jeff Gold

The chancellor of the University of Nebraska, one of the three university leaders expected to wield significant influence at the roundtable.

Donde Plowman

The chancellor of the University of Tennessee, the third member of the "Big Three" university leaders tipped to shape the discussions.

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What they’re saying

“You can have Tiger or Timmy or Condi Rice or Adam Silver (Adam Silver?). My money is on the Big Three ― Morehead, Gold and Plowman ― to make this thing work.”

— Matt Hayes, Sportswriter (USA Today)

What’s next

The college sports roundtable hosted by Donald Trump will take place this Friday, March 4, 2026, where the influence of university presidents and chancellors like Morehead, Gold, and Plowman is expected to be pivotal in shaping the future direction of collegiate athletics.

The takeaway

This high-profile event underscores the outsized influence that university leaders, rather than sports celebrities, will have in determining the path forward for college sports amid the ongoing NIL/revenue-sharing era. The decisions made by powerful figures like Morehead, Gold, and Plowman could have far-reaching implications for the future of the NCAA and its member institutions.