BOISE, Idaho — Gov. Brad Little has established a new advisory body to examine how Idaho can better support competitive college athletics programs at the state’s public universities, with a report to the governor expected by September.

The Governor’s Working Group on College Athletics was announced in Boise and will be chaired by Idaho Falls businessman Cortney Liddiard. The group is tasked with consulting athletics departments across the state’s public four-year institutions and identifying policy and investment opportunities that could strengthen their programs.

What the Working Group Will Do

The group’s mandate is broad. Members will review how other states are approaching college athletics competitiveness, evaluate the feasibility and likely impact of various available options, and ultimately deliver a set of recommendations to the governor on strategies to support intercollegiate athletics sustainability in Idaho.

Little framed the effort as protecting the broader value that university athletics programs bring to the state. “Idaho’s colleges and universities deliver real value to students, communities, our economy, and our athletics programs are a meaningful part of that,” he said. “This working group will make sure we’re not sitting on the sidelines.”

The September deadline gives the working group roughly three months to complete its review and present findings.

A Shifting National Landscape

The formation of the working group comes as college athletics nationally is undergoing significant upheaval. The White House and Congress have both been exploring potential federal reforms to intercollegiate sports, particularly around athlete compensation, revenue sharing, and conference alignment — issues that directly affect how universities recruit, retain, and fund competitive programs.

Smaller states with public universities that compete at major conference levels face distinct pressures in this environment. Rising costs, shifting recruiting dynamics, and the growing financial gap between high-revenue programs and mid-major institutions have pushed governors and legislatures in several states to take a closer look at what role state government might play.

Idaho’s working group is positioned to evaluate those pressures directly and recommend whether state or local policy changes — or new investment streams — could help level the playing field for Idaho’s public universities.

Little’s Broader Policy Agenda

The athletics initiative adds to a busy post-session period for Little, who has remained active on multiple policy fronts since the Idaho Legislature adjourned in April. The governor has been a central figure in economic and fiscal policy as well; earlier this year, the state tallied $579 million in tax refunds as Little pointed to record relief for Idaho families.

Little is also a dominant presence in state politics heading into the 2026 election cycle. He leads all statewide candidates in campaign fundraising this cycle, a sign of his continued political standing heading into the fall.

What Comes Next

With the working group now formally established and chaired by Liddiard, the body is expected to begin its outreach to university athletics departments and conduct its review of other states’ approaches in the coming weeks. The governor’s office will receive the group’s full findings and policy recommendations in September.

It remains to be seen whether those recommendations will require legislative action — which would mean waiting until the 2027 session — or whether some solutions could be implemented through executive action or existing administrative channels. The scope of any eventual policy response will likely depend heavily on what options the working group identifies as both feasible and impactful for Idaho’s universities.

How Congress and the White House ultimately resolve federal college sports reform questions may also shape what tools are available to states by the time the group delivers its report.