President Donald Trump criticized the current state of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) in college athletics on Friday, calling the system a “disaster” and appearing to take a veiled swipe at Michigan quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, the president argued that the lack of federal regulation has created an unsustainable bidding war among universities. He specifically highlighted high-priced contracts for unproven high school talent as a symptom of the problem.
“You can’t pay a quarterback $14 million to come out of high school. They don’t even know if he’s going to be a very good player,” Trump said. “Colleges cannot afford to pay the kind of salaries you’re hearing out there.”
While Trump did not name Underwood directly, the “$12-14 million” figure is widely associated with the five-star prospect’s recruitment. Underwood, the top-ranked quarterback in the class of 2025, flipped his commitment from LSU to the University of Michigan in November amid reports of a NIL package valued upwards of $12-14 million over four years.
The president warned that such spending could lead to the financial collapse of athletic programs, noting that even successful colleges are reportedly losing money. He suggested that without federal intervention or a salary cap similar to professional leagues, the current model would “wipe out colleges.”
“I’m willing to put the federal government behind it,” Trump said, signaling a potential push for legislation to regulate collegiate athlete compensation. “If it’s not done fast, you’re going to wipe out colleges.”
The comments come as the NCAA continues to grapple with the rapid evolution of athlete compensation. Since the NIL era began in 2021, the landscape has shifted from athletes profiting from autographs and endorsements to donor-led collectives funding multi-million dollar roster construction.
Underwood, a standout from Belleville High School in Michigan, has not publicly responded to the president’s remarks. His commitment to Michigan was seen as a significant victory for the Wolverines, who leveraged their NIL resources to secure the local talent.
Trump’s critique aligns with concerns raised by various college administrators and coaches, who have called for Congressional assistance to establish uniform rules and antitrust protections for the NCAA.
