President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that could have a significant impact on the current landscape of college sports, assuming it holds up to any potential lawsuits that follow it.
Executive order would limit college athletes’ eligibility and transfer options
The order would limit athletes to only five years of eligibility in a five-year window, while also allowing them to transfer just one time without having to sit out a full year.
The change is expected to go into effect on Aug. 1, while schools could lose federal funding for playing athletes who do not meet these requirements.
The current college sports landscape has been chaotic in recent years due to the transfer portal and players getting so many extra years of eligibility. It is not uncommon to see players in their mid-20s playing in their sixth or seventh year of college due to their ability to gain extra years, while the transfer portal and NIL have created an environment where players can change teams every year.
The system has its share of supporters for the way it gives players the freedom to choose the best situations for themselves, while also being able to cash in financially.
It also has its share of critics for the way it has turned college sports into a system of haves and have-nots, and made it difficult for programs to build teams that stay together for multiple years.
“College sports cannot function without clear, agreed-upon rules concerning pay-for-play and player eligibility that can’t be endlessly challenged in court, as is the case now,” the White House said in its statement.
NCAA president Charlie Baker said it was a “significant step forward,” but that stability will require more in the form of some sort of congressional law.
The problem is going to come from any lawsuits that follow. Several lawyers told ESPN they believe that judges would rule the order unconstitutional and unenforceable if challenged in court. It is almost certain that at some point in the coming months it will be.