AFCA Supports Federal Action on College Sports Agents Following Executive Order
April 6, 2026
Statement by Craig Bohl, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association, on President Trump’s Executive Order on College Sports
I am encouraged by President Trump’s Executive Order on college sports, particularly the provision directing the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to take immediate action on violations of the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801–7807) by college sports “agents.” Increased federal focus on enforcement is a constructive and necessary step toward addressing long-standing gaps in oversight.
- The AFCA thanks President Trump and Members of the House and Senate—both Republican and Democrat—who have advanced solutions to strengthen protections for student-athletes and establish national registration, certification, and oversight of college sports agents, restoring confidence in those entrusted to represent young athletes.
The rapid transformation of college athletics through Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and the landmark revenue-sharing legal settlement has created a fundamentally new environment—one that demands a modern, bipartisan legislative response from Congress. The status quo is no longer sustainable, and inaction will continue to leave student-athletes vulnerable.
The AFCA supports athlete compensation and believes the NIL and revenue-sharing era can represent a period of unprecedented opportunity for young athletes. However, without federal action to address the role of college sports agents, this era of opportunity risks becoming an era of exploitation.
The AFCA calls on Congress to finish the job and act without delay by including provisions in college sports legislation that:
- Update and strengthen the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801–7807), enacted more than two decades ago—well before the NIL and revenue-sharing era—and no longer sufficient for today’s college sports landscape.
- Empower a single entity with national oversight of college sports agents, replacing the current patchwork of 32 state regulatory systems that lack uniform standards and meaningful enforcement.
- Direct that entity to establish and enforce minimum standards for individuals representing high school and college athletes in financial negotiations, including a national registration and certification process to ensure qualified representation, accountability, transparency, and professionalism.
Today, there are no minimum standards, no universal registration or certification system, and only minimal, uneven regulation of college sports agents. This fragmented, state-based structure has created an environment where oversight is woefully inadequate and enforcement is often nonexistent.
College sports are inherently national, yet the regulatory framework governing agents remains largely state driven. This gap has allowed unqualified—and in some cases unscrupulous—individuals to exploit young athletes and their families during some of the most consequential decisions of their lives. Agents should be acting in the best interests of the athletes they represent—not exploiting gaps in the system for personal financial gain.
College athletics are a core part of our nation’s identity and culture. Protecting student-athletes—and ensuring their families can trust those advising them—must be a shared, bipartisan priority.
The AFCA stands ready to work with the Trump Administration and policymakers on both sides of the aisle to advance durable, commonsense solutions.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
« « Previous Post
Statement by Craig Bohl, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association, on President Trump’s Executive Order on College Sports
I am encouraged by President Trump’s Executive Order on college sports, particularly the provision directing the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to take immediate action on violations of the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801–7807) by college sports “agents.” Increased federal focus on enforcement is a constructive and necessary step toward addressing long-standing gaps in oversight.
- The AFCA thanks President Trump and Members of the House and Senate—both Republican and Democrat—who have advanced solutions to strengthen protections for student-athletes and establish national registration, certification, and oversight of college sports agents, restoring confidence in those entrusted to represent young athletes.
The rapid transformation of college athletics through Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and the landmark revenue-sharing legal settlement has created a fundamentally new environment—one that demands a modern, bipartisan legislative response from Congress. The status quo is no longer sustainable, and inaction will continue to leave student-athletes vulnerable.
The AFCA supports athlete compensation and believes the NIL and revenue-sharing era can represent a period of unprecedented opportunity for young athletes. However, without federal action to address the role of college sports agents, this era of opportunity risks becoming an era of exploitation.
The AFCA calls on Congress to finish the job and act without delay by including provisions in college sports legislation that:
- Update and strengthen the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (15 U.S.C. 7801–7807), enacted more than two decades ago—well before the NIL and revenue-sharing era—and no longer sufficient for today’s college sports landscape.
- Empower a single entity with national oversight of college sports agents, replacing the current patchwork of 32 state regulatory systems that lack uniform standards and meaningful enforcement.
- Direct that entity to establish and enforce minimum standards for individuals representing high school and college athletes in financial negotiations, including a national registration and certification process to ensure qualified representation, accountability, transparency, and professionalism.
Today, there are no minimum standards, no universal registration or certification system, and only minimal, uneven regulation of college sports agents. This fragmented, state-based structure has created an environment where oversight is woefully inadequate and enforcement is often nonexistent.
College sports are inherently national, yet the regulatory framework governing agents remains largely state driven. This gap has allowed unqualified—and in some cases unscrupulous—individuals to exploit young athletes and their families during some of the most consequential decisions of their lives. Agents should be acting in the best interests of the athletes they represent—not exploiting gaps in the system for personal financial gain.
College athletics are a core part of our nation’s identity and culture. Protecting student-athletes—and ensuring their families can trust those advising them—must be a shared, bipartisan priority.
The AFCA stands ready to work with the Trump Administration and policymakers on both sides of the aisle to advance durable, commonsense solutions.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
