Trump talks Nick Saban, NIL bidding wars: 'These colleges are all going to go out of business' Matthew Glenesk, USA TODAY November 12, 2025 at 4:04 AM 0 Trump talks Nick Saban, NIL bidding wars: 'These colleges are all going to go out of business' ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Nov. 11 was being filmed live from the Marines depot at Parris Island, S.C. on Veterans Day. So the CommanderinChief called. President Donald Trump joined the program and touched on a number of topics, including college sports.
- - Trump talks Nick Saban, NIL bidding wars: 'These colleges are all going to go out of business'
Matthew Glenesk, USA TODAY November 12, 2025 at 4:04 AM
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Trump talks Nick Saban, NIL bidding wars: 'These colleges are all going to go out of business'
ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Nov. 11 was being filmed live from the Marines depot at Parris Island, S.C. on Veterans Day. So the Commander-in-Chief called.
President Donald Trump joined the program and touched on a number of topics, including college sports. He was asked whether he felt former Alabama coach Nick Saban would be a choice to fix college sports.
"Well I know him, and I got to know him because he brought his team to the White House," Trump said. "He won a lot, and I got to know him. He's a fantastic guy, and you know he's somebody they should really get involved in college sports in terms of making sure it all works out because what's happening, it looks like it's not working out too well. Colleges, for most of the people, a lot of the lesser sports are being totally terminated, you know that, it's a shame. It was almost like a training ground for the Olympics, and a lot of those training grounds are being lost.
"And you know, Nick knows this stuff better than anybody. He'd be, and he's really active in it. I think they ought to let Nick Saban take a good, strong look at it, and we all, I could tell you, from my standpoint, I'd listen to what Nick has to say. I know him well, and he's a fantastic guy, and what a great coach."
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Donald Trump with Marla Maples at a University of Arizona basketball game at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 27, 1990.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gvKh6nm class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump with Marla Maples at a University of Arizona basketball game at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 27, 1990.
">Donald Trump with Marla Maples at a University of Arizona basketball game at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 27, 1990.
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Marla Maples and then husband Donald Trump greet race driver Lyn St. James prior to the inaugural Indy 200 race at Walt Disney World on Jan. 27, 1996. Buzz Calkins won the race on the new Disney 1.1 mile tri-oval track.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/3iyafZE class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Marla Maples and then husband Donald Trump greet race driver Lyn St. James prior to the inaugural Indy 200 race at Walt Disney World on Jan. 27, 1996. Buzz Calkins won the race on the new Disney 1.1 mile tri-oval track.
">Marla Maples and then husband Donald Trump greet race driver Lyn St. James prior to the inaugural Indy 200 race at Walt Disney World on Jan. 27, 1996. Buzz Calkins won the race on the new Disney 1.1 mile tri-oval track.
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Donald Trump and actor Gerard Butler watch the tennis match between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic during Day 14 of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 13, 2009, in New York.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/YtQpAM2 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump and actor Gerard Butler watch the tennis match between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic during Day 14 of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 13, 2009, in New York.
">Donald Trump and actor Gerard Butler watch the tennis match between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic during Day 14 of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 13, 2009, in New York.
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Donald Trump looks on as Maria Sharapova takes on Heather Watson during Day 1 of the 2011 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 29, 2011, in New York.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/eGUd64M class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump looks on as Maria Sharapova takes on Heather Watson during Day 1 of the 2011 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 29, 2011, in New York.
">Donald Trump looks on as Maria Sharapova takes on Heather Watson during Day 1 of the 2011 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 29, 2011, in New York.
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Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, attend a match between Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo at the 2013 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 4, 2013, in New York.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/dU3Xk1H class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, attend a match between Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo at the 2013 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 4, 2013, in New York.
">Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, attend a match between Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo at the 2013 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 4, 2013, in New York.
" src=https://ift.tt/dU3Xk1H class=caas-img>
Donald Trump attends the middleweight championship bout between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Geale at Madison Square Garden on July 26, 2014.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/6FGOpjl class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump attends the middleweight championship bout between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Geale at Madison Square Garden on July 26, 2014.
">Donald Trump attends the middleweight championship bout between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Geale at Madison Square Garden on July 26, 2014.
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump attend the match between Serena Williams and Venus Williams at the 2015 U.S. Open on Sept. 8, 2015, in New York.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/XoqlKy2 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump attend the match between Serena Williams and Venus Williams at the 2015 U.S. Open on Sept. 8, 2015, in New York.
">Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump attend the match between Serena Williams and Venus Williams at the 2015 U.S. Open on Sept. 8, 2015, in New York.
" src=https://ift.tt/XoqlKy2 class=caas-img>Presidential candidate Donald Trump attends the fight between Gennady Golovkin against David Lemieux bout at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17, 2015, in New York.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/DcOuYg5 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Presidential candidate Donald Trump attends the fight between Gennady Golovkin against David Lemieux bout at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17, 2015, in New York.
">Presidential candidate Donald Trump attends the fight between Gennady Golovkin against David Lemieux bout at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17, 2015, in New York.
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President-elect Donald Trump during the first quarter of the 117th annual Army-Navy college football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Dec. 10, 2016.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/92JXsc7 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President-elect Donald Trump during the first quarter of the 117th annual Army-Navy college football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Dec. 10, 2016.
">President-elect Donald Trump during the first quarter of the 117th annual Army-Navy college football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Dec. 10, 2016.
" src=https://ift.tt/92JXsc7 class=caas-img>President Donald Trump waves during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open Championship at Trump National Golf Course on July 14, 2017, in Bedminster, New Jersey.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UyQMl81 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump waves during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open Championship at Trump National Golf Course on July 14, 2017, in Bedminster, New Jersey.
">President Donald Trump waves during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open Championship at Trump National Golf Course on July 14, 2017, in Bedminster, New Jersey.
" src=https://ift.tt/UyQMl81 class=caas-img>President Donald Trump speaks with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan during the final round of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course on Oct. 1, 2017.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/YKoiQ3F class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump speaks with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan during the final round of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course on Oct. 1, 2017.
">President Donald Trump speaks with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan during the final round of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course on Oct. 1, 2017.
" src=https://ift.tt/YKoiQ3F class=caas-img>President Donald Trump points to fans prior to the College Football Playoff national championship between Georgia and Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Ty6zZIM class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump points to fans prior to the College Football Playoff national championship between Georgia and Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta.
">President Donald Trump points to fans prior to the College Football Playoff national championship between Georgia and Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta.
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First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump stand during the national anthem prior to the College Football Playoff national championship game between Clemson and LSU at Mercedes Benz Superdome on Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/G4LFtfw class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump stand during the national anthem prior to the College Football Playoff national championship game between Clemson and LSU at Mercedes Benz Superdome on Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans.
">First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump stand during the national anthem prior to the College Football Playoff national championship game between Clemson and LSU at Mercedes Benz Superdome on Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans.
" src=https://ift.tt/G4LFtfw class=caas-img>
President Donald Trump during the second quarter of the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 14, 2019.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/E5Jlwpt class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump during the second quarter of the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 14, 2019.
">President Donald Trump during the second quarter of the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 14, 2019.
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand on pit road for the national anthem as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, 2020.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/TlcLb2N class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand on pit road for the national anthem as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, 2020.
">President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand on pit road for the national anthem as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, 2020.
" src=https://ift.tt/TlcLb2N class=caas-img>President Donald Trump and former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera met with youth baseball players to celebrate Major League Baseball's Opening Day on July 23, 2020.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/U0X1w9z class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump and former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera met with youth baseball players to celebrate Major League Baseball's Opening Day on July 23, 2020.
">President Donald Trump and former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera met with youth baseball players to celebrate Major League Baseball's Opening Day on July 23, 2020.
" src=https://ift.tt/U0X1w9z class=caas-img>
Donald Trump looks on during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021, in Las Vegas.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/0d9czU6 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump looks on during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021, in Las Vegas.
">Donald Trump looks on during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021, in Las Vegas.
" src=https://ift.tt/0d9czU6 class=caas-img>Former first lady Melania Trump and former President Donald Trump hold up signs for "stand up to cancer" prior to the sixth inning in Game 4 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves on Oct. 30, 2021, in Atlanta.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/uTdWaQf class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Former first lady Melania Trump and former President Donald Trump hold up signs for "stand up to cancer" prior to the sixth inning in Game 4 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves on Oct. 30, 2021, in Atlanta.
">Former first lady Melania Trump and former President Donald Trump hold up signs for "stand up to cancer" prior to the sixth inning in Game 4 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves on Oct. 30, 2021, in Atlanta.
" src=https://ift.tt/uTdWaQf class=caas-img>Donald Trump plays his shot from the 16th tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf invitational at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022, in Bedminster, New Jersey.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ZYRBjw6 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump plays his shot from the 16th tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf invitational at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022, in Bedminster, New Jersey.
">Donald Trump plays his shot from the 16th tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf invitational at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022, in Bedminster, New Jersey.
" src=https://ift.tt/ZYRBjw6 class=caas-img>Then former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd during the NCAA Division I wrestling championships at the BOK Center on March 18, 2023.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/4OHvIb1 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Then former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd during the NCAA Division I wrestling championships at the BOK Center on March 18, 2023.
">Then former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd during the NCAA Division I wrestling championships at the BOK Center on March 18, 2023.
" src=https://ift.tt/4OHvIb1 class=caas-img>Donald Trump attends the fight between Raul Rosas Jr. and Christian Rodriguez during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena on April 8, 2023.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/e6anX5v class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump attends the fight between Raul Rosas Jr. and Christian Rodriguez during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena on April 8, 2023.
">Donald Trump attends the fight between Raul Rosas Jr. and Christian Rodriguez during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena on April 8, 2023.
" src=https://ift.tt/e6anX5v class=caas-img>Pat Perez shakes hands with then former President Donald Trump on the 18th green during the first round of the LIV Golf DC 2023 tournament at Trump National Golf Club on May 25, 2023, in Sterling, Virginia.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/a4LTOKh class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Pat Perez shakes hands with then former President Donald Trump on the 18th green during the first round of the LIV Golf DC 2023 tournament at Trump National Golf Club on May 25, 2023, in Sterling, Virginia.
">Pat Perez shakes hands with then former President Donald Trump on the 18th green during the first round of the LIV Golf DC 2023 tournament at Trump National Golf Club on May 25, 2023, in Sterling, Virginia.
" src=https://ift.tt/a4LTOKh class=caas-img>Donald Trump waves to a supporter while attending the college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/MbEkWc9 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump waves to a supporter while attending the college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023.
">Donald Trump waves to a supporter while attending the college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023.
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Donald Trump watches from the stands during the title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval during the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 16, 2023, in Las Vegas.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/POVWT56 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Donald Trump watches from the stands during the title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval during the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 16, 2023, in Las Vegas.
">Donald Trump watches from the stands during the title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval during the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 16, 2023, in Las Vegas.
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Then former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talks with team owner Richard Childress prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024, in Concord, North Carolina.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/5QPqiGo class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Then former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talks with team owner Richard Childress prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024, in Concord, North Carolina.
">Then former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talks with team owner Richard Childress prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024, in Concord, North Carolina.
" src=https://ift.tt/5QPqiGo class=caas-img>Former President Donald Trump talks with UFC president Dana White during the fight between Cesar Almeida and Roman Kopylov during UFC 302 on June 1, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/27wiru8 class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Former President Donald Trump talks with UFC president Dana White during the fight between Cesar Almeida and Roman Kopylov during UFC 302 on June 1, 2024.
">Former President Donald Trump talks with UFC president Dana White during the fight between Cesar Almeida and Roman Kopylov during UFC 302 on June 1, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/27wiru8 class=caas-img>Republican presidential candidate and then former President Donald Trump raises his fist during the second quarter of the college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/k6DTzOI class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Republican presidential candidate and then former President Donald Trump raises his fist during the second quarter of the college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
">Republican presidential candidate and then former President Donald Trump raises his fist during the second quarter of the college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
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President Donald Trump sits with Elon Musk and Musk's son as they watch English fighter Paddy Pimblett celebrate winning during UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 13, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/LvxtkyZ class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump sits with Elon Musk and Musk's son as they watch English fighter Paddy Pimblett celebrate winning during UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 13, 2025.
">President Donald Trump sits with Elon Musk and Musk's son as they watch English fighter Paddy Pimblett celebrate winning during UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 13, 2025.
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First lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attend the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 championship match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on July 13, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/os6wFWd class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
First lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attend the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 championship match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on July 13, 2025.
">First lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attend the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 championship match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on July 13, 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/os6wFWd class=caas-img>Chelsea's Reece James lifts the trophy with teammates and President Donald Trump during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Champions at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/zbBDhHF class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
Chelsea's Reece James lifts the trophy with teammates and President Donald Trump during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Champions at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025.
">Chelsea's Reece James lifts the trophy with teammates and President Donald Trump during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Champions at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/zbBDhHF class=caas-img>President Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt, Pam Bondi and Jared Kushner stand for the national anthem prior to the men's singles final match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Day 15 of the 2025 US Open on Sept. 7, 2025, in New York.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ygraSfF class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt, Pam Bondi and Jared Kushner stand for the national anthem prior to the men's singles final match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Day 15 of the 2025 US Open on Sept. 7, 2025, in New York.
">President Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt, Pam Bondi and Jared Kushner stand for the national anthem prior to the men's singles final match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Day 15 of the 2025 US Open on Sept. 7, 2025, in New York.
" src=https://ift.tt/ygraSfF class=caas-img>President Donald Trump shakes hands with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the locker room before a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 11, 2025, in New York.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/a6dCm7R class=caas-img data-headline="Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more" data-caption="
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the locker room before a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 11, 2025, in New York.
">President Donald Trump shakes hands with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the locker room before a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 11, 2025, in New York.
" src=https://ift.tt/a6dCm7R class=caas-img>
1 / 80Donald Trump in the sports world: NFL games, UFC events and more
Donald Trump with Marla Maples at a University of Arizona basketball game at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 27, 1990.
Trump's vision for college football
Trump's vision for college sports aligns more with a Democrat-sponsored Senate bill. The SAFE Act is a far-reaching bill that requires the Federal Trade Commission to oversee college sports. It is nearly the polar opposite of the Republican-sponsored SCORE bill in the House, which seeks antitrust exemptions from the federal government to make and enforce rules on NIL, player movement and eligibility.
The SAFE Act also provides for the expansion of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to college sports, allowing conferences to pool media rights in an effort to increase revenue and provide funding for all sports. The SAFE Act ensures all sports will be paid for, and not eliminated due to a lack of funding.
In a follow-up, McAfee asked the president about NIL and the big business of college sports and its sustainability.
Trump booed at NFL game: Trump draws boos, cheers at Washington Commanders game. Watch video.
"I think we all understand that the players deserve money, I think we all understand their value, but I think an actual market with guardrails would be something that would be really good," McAfee said. "This could be something, along with stopping wars, and building in tariffs and $17 trillion, maybe just put that on your desk."
"Well it is a very serious problem because even football where they give quarterbacks $12 million, $13-$14 million… all of a sudden you're going to be out of control," Trump said. "And even rich colleges are going to go bust because you're not going to be able to do this. And you know they had the old way, they gave scholarships, they did lots of good things, but there could be some form of payment.
"But when they start bidding up the costs, look the NFL and all the leagues have caps. You don't really have that in college sports, and when the guard comes along that weighs 350 pounds and he's phenomenal and they say it's the difference between having a great team and a lousy team, they gave him $10 million, that's going to start happening pretty soon. All of a sudden you're going to have like NFL-type payrolls. I don't care how rich the colleges are, you don't make that much money, even the most successful. They're not going to be able to do this.
"Bad things are going to happen unless we figure this out. That's why a guy like Nick Saban, now I've worked with Nick, but a guy like Nick Saban and some others getting together because they're going to have to do something. Colleges can't afford it. And what they're doing, I don't want to use any particular sport because it's degrading, but they are really terminating a lot of sports, you know, sports you would call them lesser sports. But big sports, good sports. Sports where there have tremendous interest, they're getting rid of them, and frankly the college football is very big, but as big as it is, if they don't do some very powerful caps, these colleges are all going to go out of business, no matter how rich they are."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump calls into Pat McAfee talks Nick Saban, future of college sports
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: November 11, 2025 at 09:27PM on Source: MARIO MAG
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