The NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted Tuesday to delay new sports betting rules until Nov. 22. The policy allows student-athletes and athletics department staff to bet on professional sports that don’t involve their school or conference.
Policy faces strong opposition from conference leaders
The board originally planned to implement the rule change earlier this month. However, they said an extension was necessary to accommodate the NCAA’s rescission process.
Under NCAA procedures, Division I members can rescind a newly approved rule within 30 days if two-thirds request it. Since that rescission window stays open until Nov. 21, the board decided the policy should take effect afterward.
The adjustment also delays implementation for Divisions II and III, which adopted the same rules on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22.
SEC commissioner leads opposition effort
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey strongly opposed the NCAA’s decision in a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker on Tuesday. He called it “a major step in the wrong direction.”
“On behalf of our universities, I write to urge action by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors to rescind this change and reaffirm the Association’s commitment to maintaining strong national standards that keep collegiate participants separated from sports wagering activity at every level. If there are legal or practical concerns about the prior policy, those should be addressed through careful refinement — not through wholesale removal of the guardrails that have long supported the integrity of games and the well-being of those who participate.”
Sankey emphasized concerns about athlete vulnerability in his letter.
“The combination of accessible mobile betting, financial pressures, and social influence makes the possibility of personal gambling losses—and the potential for exploitation—very real. It’s foreseeable that college athletes, with far fewer resources and far greater outside influence, can be involved in compromising circumstances… This change normalizes behavior, blurs boundaries, and erodes judgment. What might begin as casual betting can quickly spiral into something far more serious.”
Widespread criticism from coaches and officials
Sankey wasn’t alone in opposing the policy. Coaches across the country have spoken out against it in press conferences, along with athletic department administrators.
NBA legend Charles Barkley also voiced concerns, warning the policy could worsen gambling problems among athletes.
“Anybody who thinks that’s a good idea should have their head examined. We’ve already got an issue with kids gambling now, when they shouldn’t be gambling.”
Once enacted, the policy will let college athletes and athletics department staff bet on professional sports that don’t involve their school or conference. They still can’t wager on college sports or their own teams.
