The White House is preparing for a conversation that could reshape college athletics.
Tiger Woods is on the invitation list for President Donald Trump‘s March 6 NIL roundtable, but according to Yahoo Sports reporter Ross Dellenger, it remains unclear whether the golf legend will attend.
That uncertainty adds intrigue to a meeting already drawing national attention. Trump has repeatedly criticized the current Name, Image and Likeness system, arguing that it is destabilizing college sports. In December 2025, during a ceremony honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, he called NIL “a disaster for sports” and warned that schools risk financial collapse chasing escalating payouts.
The March 6 gathering is expected to bring together major figures across the sports world. Among those reportedly invited are Bryson DeChambeau, former college football coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Fox Sports president Eric Shanks, and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees president Randy Levine are expected to serve as vice chairs.
Dellenger reported that some invitees have not confirmed attendance and that individuals close to the situation question whether the roundtable will proceed as planned.
How NIL reshaped college athletics
When the NCAA allowed athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness in July 2021, it marked a historic shift from decades of amateurism rules. What began with endorsement opportunities quickly evolved into structured revenue sharing.
In July 2025, the House v. NCAA settlement cleared the path for schools to distribute up to $20.5 million annually to athletes, according to reporting from ESPN and The Athletic. Most of that money flows toward football and men’s basketball programs.
The financial pressure has already reshaped athletic departments. The University of Utah recently partnered with private equity firm Otro Capital, forming Utah Brands and Entertainment to generate new funding streams. Industry analysts view that move as an early indicator of how aggressively schools are adapting to the new economics.
NCAA president Charlie Baker and multiple conference commissioners have called for federal legislation to standardize NIL rules nationwide. Without it, programs operate under a patchwork of state laws and court rulings that change year to year.
The personal stakes for Tiger Woods
For Tiger Woods, this debate carries personal implications.
His son, Charlie Woods, committed to Florida State in February 2026 and signed NIL representation with Players Group Management. According to On3, Charlie’s NIL valuation currently sits at $842,000, largely driven by name recognition and a rapidly growing public profile.
On the course, Charlie has earned attention on merit. He shot a 4-under 68 to help The Benjamin School secure a Florida state championship and won the AJGA Team TaylorMade Invitational in May 2025, earning first-team AJGA Rolex Junior All-American honors.
Any structural reform emerging from federal involvement would directly shape the marketplace Charlie enters in 2027.
Federal spotlight on a fast-moving system
Trump has not outlined a formal legislative proposal. Still, hosting a White House summit signals potential federal engagement in a system that has largely evolved through litigation and NCAA policy shifts.
Woods’ presence would carry symbolic weight given his history with Trump, including receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019. His absence would be equally notable.
For now, attention remains fixed on March 6. Whether the meeting proceeds and who ultimately participates could influence the next phase of college sports economics.
Sources: Reporting from Yahoo Sports (Ross Dellenger), coverage from ESPN and The Athletic on the House v. NCAA settlement, public statements from NCAA president Charlie Baker, and NIL valuation data from On3. Information verified through publicly available records and official remarks.
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