After former Alabama football coach Nick Saban spoke with president Donald Trump at UA’s spring graduation, reports began swirling about a presidential commission on college athletics, with Saban involved. According to recent reports, formation of that commission has been paused, pending legislation elsewhere in the federal government.

On Thursday, following SEC spring meetings in Florida, league commissioner Greg Sankey said he had not heard from the president.

“There is no such thing,” Sankey said. “There are reports of such a thing. I cannot hear from reports.”

Sankey said he had last heard from the White House during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 2025 they’re busy and they have important issues,” Sankey said.

Reports of the commission included Saban as a leader, alongside Cody Campbell, a Texas Tech booster and board chair. The formation was reportedly paused as senator Ted Cruz attempts to push through a bill regulating college sports.

However, during recent public appearances, Saban has distanced himself from the potential venture.

“First of all, I don’t know a lot about the commission,” Saban told the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum on May 14. “Secondly, I’m not sure we really need a commission. A lot of people know exactly what the issues are in college football and exactly what we need to do to fix them. I think the key to the drill is getting people together so we can move it forward.”

College sports leaders have called for congress to make changes to laws governing NIL and other issues across intercollegiate athletics. However, no bill has passed so far, despite attempts from Cruz and others.

The SEC held its spring meetings, beginning Tuesday and ending Thursday in Miramar Beach, Fla., mostly focusing on debates and information about potential new College Football Playoff formats, whether it will move to a nine-game football schedule, and other issues, generally not involving the executive branch.