Urban Meyer Pushes White House to Reform NIL Collectives

Urban Meyer, no stranger to the spotlight, took his message on college sports to a venue far from the gridiron: the White House. The former Ohio State coach joined a high-profile roundtable hosted by President Donald Trump to discuss the state of college athletics and the perceived pitfalls of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives.

Meyer was candid in his assessment of the current system, which he says has spiraled into a form of legalized cheating. While he supports student-athletes being compensated, he argues that the collective model—where donors pool money for players—has grown opaque and unregulated, creating advantages for some programs and confusion for others.

During a recent appearance on the podcast Triple Option, Meyer detailed his proposal to the president. “My recommendation was eliminate the collective,” he said. “The university can simply revenue share and that is it. And let the free marketplace take care of any real NIL opportunities.” His pitch focuses on simplification and transparency in compensating student-athletes.

The White House roundtable brought together some of the most influential voices in sports. Legendary coaches, conference commissioners, NCAA officials, and executives from professional leagues gathered to weigh in on the future of college athletics. Meyer’s message aimed to push the conversation beyond traditional debate and toward concrete action.

1. A Star-Studded Roundtable

The meeting included an impressive roster of college and professional sports power players. Nick Saban, former Alabama coach and longtime figure in NCAA athletics, sat alongside Meyer, while NCAA President Charlie Baker and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joined to provide administrative insight. Representatives from the Power Four conferences were also in attendance. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark were all present, bringing perspectives from major college programs. Even Major League Baseball was represented by New York Yankees President Randy Levine, adding another layer of credibility to the discussion. The collective presence of these leaders signaled the seriousness of the White House’s effort to address college sports. For Meyer, the opportunity was an ideal stage to make the case for eliminating NIL collectives and moving to a simpler model of revenue sharing. Meyer’s pitch focused on professionalizing the process. By allowing universities to pay athletes directly through revenue sharing, he believes schools could eliminate the murky world of donor-led collectives while still ensuring players benefit from their marketability.

2. Meyer’s Argument for Reform

Meyer contends that NIL collectives have created inequities and confusion in college athletics. He argues that the system disproportionately benefits programs with deep donor networks and leaves smaller schools at a disadvantage. Direct revenue sharing, Meyer says, would create a fairer and more transparent system. Players would receive compensation tied to their programs’ performance, while truly independent endorsement deals could still be negotiated on the open market. The approach emphasizes both fairness and compliance with NCAA rules. Critics of the current model often highlight the lack of oversight in collectives. Donor contributions can vary widely in amount and purpose, and some programs have leveraged these funds to gain recruiting advantages. Meyer’s proposal seeks to remove that variability while still rewarding athletes for their contributions. Ultimately, Meyer’s goal is simplicity and professionalism. By standardizing compensation and removing intermediaries, he believes the NCAA and schools can maintain competitive balance while protecting the integrity of college sports.

3. Missing Voices

Despite the high-profile lineup, one significant group was absent: current student-athletes. The roundtable featured conference commissioners, legendary coaches, and professional executives, but not a single active player. This omission highlights a central tension in college sports debates: those most affected by NIL rules often have the least representation in policymaking. Meyer, however, remains focused on structural reform, arguing that systemic changes must come from leadership to protect the long-term future of the sport. The meeting also underscores the shifting landscape of college athletics. With growing revenue, rising player compensation, and increased scrutiny from both media and government, college sports are navigating a critical inflection point. Meyer’s participation demonstrates how former coaches can continue to influence policy discussions even after leaving the sidelines. As NIL debates continue, Meyer hopes his message will resonate beyond the roundtable. By eliminating collectives and creating a clearer, fairer system, he believes college sports can remain both profitable and competitive while avoiding the pitfalls of the current NIL era.