NCAA Basketball: Trump Executive Order; Tournament Expansion?

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at stabilizing college athletics on Friday, April 3, providing five seasons of eligibility for student-athletes and one penalty-free transfer; if they obtain a four-year degree, athletes will earn the option of an additional graduate transfer window.

Trump’s executive order states that “participation in college athletics is permitted for no more than a five-year period” and giving student-athletes “the ability to transfer one time during the five-year period with immediate playing eligibility, and one additional such time if the student-athlete obtains a four-year degree.”

The full text of the order, titled “URGENT NATIONAL ACTION TO SAVE COLLEGE SPORTS,” can be found here. The order also aims to protect women’s and Olympic sports, anticipating that they’ll get the short end of funding cuts as athletic departments prioritize revenue-generating powerhouses like football and men’s basketball. The previously cited passages will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2026, so it shouldn’t impact the upcoming transfer window.

Another noteworthy stipulation is “to ensure that the transfer window does not incentivize interference with athletic seasons or the academic year,” which could push transfer windows exclusively into the summer and winter holidays. The executive order also alludes to penalties for schools that don’t comply, mandating the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to handle NIL violations.

Courts can challenge or strike down executive orders, so expect the saga to continue in the comings months and years.

Tournament Expansion?

A Friday, April 3 report from Yahoo Sports states that the NCAA will expand the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to 76 teams this offseason, with the official announcement expected to take place after the conclusion of their respective championship games.

The league toyed with the idea of doing so last season but ultimately decided against it. Now, it seems like the writing is on the wall. The updated format would give 52 teams a first round bye, expanding the current ‘First Four’ play-in round from eight teams to 24. That field of 24 would include both automatic berths for smaller conferences and at-large bids with weaker résumés. Given concerns about the tournament field getting watered down as the rich get richer in this era of Name, Image and Likeness deals,