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The NCAA’s recent move to let college athletes wager on professional sports has drawn sharp opposition from the Southeastern Conference. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is urging the governing body to reverse course, arguing that the new policy exposes student-athletes to risks that could threaten the integrity of college sports.
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In a two-page letter obtained by Yahoo Sports, Sankey voiced concern that removing the previous restrictions could “invite serious integrity issues” and leave young athletes vulnerable to outside influences. “The SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors believe the NCAA should restore its prior policy—or a modified policy—communicating a prohibition on gambling by student-athletes and athletics staff, regardless of the divisional level of their sport,” he wrote.
Sankey said the NCAA should apply “careful refinement” to its betting policies rather than a “wholesale removal of the guardrails.” The letter reflects growing unease among athletic administrators as legal sports betting spreads across the United States, creating blurred boundaries for college programs that are already under scrutiny for gambling-related incidents.
The NCAA’s updated policy allows student-athletes to place wagers on professional events, provided they do not bet on college games or share inside information. It marks one of the most permissive gambling rules the organization has ever adopted and represents a sharp shift from its decades-long ban on all forms of betting by student-athletes.
However, the change comes amid multiple ongoing investigations. Federal and NCAA probes have targeted cases involving players and staff accused of wagering on pro sports, including an unresolved situation involving former Eastern Michigan athletes who declined to cooperate with investigators.
The Division I Board is expected to revisit the matter during its scheduled Tuesday session, where leaders may consider delaying or amending the new policy before it takes effect.
The NCAA recently approved a policy that lets student-athletes bet on professional sports while still prohibiting betting on college events.
He believes the change weakens protections against gambling-related manipulation and could harm the integrity of college athletics.
It is set to take effect on November 1 unless the NCAA Board votes to modify or delay its implementation.
Yes. The NCAA is still working with federal authorities on several betting-related cases involving players and staff across different schools.