Paul Finebaum warns Trump’s college sports roundtable could be a ‘circus’

President Donald Trump This weekend, college athletics will host a White House roundtable on reform.

The panel is expected to include prominent coaches, college sports and pro sports league commissioners, and other professional athletes. To OutKick.

The group will meet on March 6 to address key challenges with NCAA authority; Name, Image and Similarity Issues (NIL); collective bargaining; and administration concerns.

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A football is presented by President Donald Trump during a ceremony to present the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the US Naval Academy football team, Navy Midshipmen, in the East Room of the White House on April 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (via Brendan Smialowski/AFP Getty Images)

Friday’s meeting will feature big names like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Adam Silver and Tiger Woods. Trump is adamant about “saving college sports.” Signing an executive order Setting new restrictions on payments to college athletes in July.

However, ESPN College Analyst Paul Finebaum, who has previously hinted at a run for Congress as a Republican, is a little more skeptical.

“Oh, the easiest thing to do is say this is ridiculous,” Finebaum told Greg McElroy and Cole Kubelik. on WJOX. “And I read the other day, ‘Why is Nick Saban leaving?’ Why is anyone leaving? The bottom line is this. If something doesn’t happen very soon, and I mean in the next short period of time, we’re talking weeks, not years, this thing could blow up.

“However, I’m all for it. Now the question is, can something be done with some of the most powerful people in Washington in one room, including the most powerful man in the country, or will it be a circus? Will it be just another show?”

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban as Trump takes the stage to address graduating students at Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump’s order prohibits players from receiving pay-to-play payments from third-party sources. However, the order does not impose any restrictions on NIL payments to college athletes through third-party sources.

A House Vote on SCORE Act (Student Compensation and Rights and Opportunities through Support), which would regulate name, image and likeness deals, was scrapped before it could be brought to the floor in December.

The White House supported the legislation, but three Republicans, Byron Donalds, Fla., Scott Perry, Pa. And Chip Roy, R-Texas, voted for Democrats not to introduce the legislation. Democrats have largely opposed the bill and urged House members to vote “no.”

President Donald Trump looks on before the college football game between the U.S. Army and Navy at M&T Bank Stadium on December 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Getty Images via Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP)

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In hopes of protecting the NCAA from potential lawsuits over eligibility rules, the SCORE Act would give the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption and prevent athletes from becoming employees of their schools. It prohibits schools from using student fees for NIL payments.

Fox News’ Chantz Martin and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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