Power 4 conference commissioners are expected to join dozens of sports figures and dignitaries for a roundtable discussion with President Donald Trump about the future of college athletics at the White House on March 6, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
President Trump will chair the group, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees president Randy Levin are listed as vice chairs, according to a source who provided a list of the 35 people who received invitations. The list also includes:
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golfer tiger woods
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Former college football coaches Nick Saban, Mack Brown and Urban Meyer
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Former Secretary of State and College Football Playoff selection committee member Condoleezza Rice
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New England Patriots President Jonathan Kraft
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nba commissioner adam silver
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Fox Sports President Eric Shanks
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ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro
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Several athletic directors, including Notre Dame’s Pete Bevacqua
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Former college athletes, including Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Florida State basketball and football player Charlie Ward
The list also includes current university presidents and chancellors.
It is unknown whether everyone invited will attend the event, which is being billed as the “College Sports Roundtable.” Several sources planning to attend expressed skepticism about how much could be accomplished on a Friday afternoon involving so many people from different backgrounds.
A source planning to attend said, “These are people who can be involved in helping shape the future of college athletics and some of the solutions and strategies for moving the athletic world forward.” “It’s very early, it’s hard to say anything with any kind of specificity because nothing of that nature has been provided to us in writing yet.”
Also expected to attend are billionaire businessman Cody Campbell, chairman of the Texas Tech Board of Regents and a former college football player who has been working on a “Saving College Sports” campaign and has been involved in discussions about a possible roundtable for more than a year.
Leaders from across college athletics have been meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill for years to garner support for legislation that would help regulate the NIL. Despite Trump’s vocal support and many politicians taking stances on issues such as athlete employment, the NCAA has been unable to bring a bill to a vote.
Yahoo Sports was first to report the meeting.
