NCAA delays rule allowing college athletes to bet on pro sports amid backlash

The NCAA Division I Board voted Tuesday to delay a rule allowing college athletes to bet on professional sports, pushing the effective date from November 1 to November 22. 

The decision follows strong criticism from figures such as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who urged the NCAA to reconsider its repeal of the long-standing prohibition on sports wagering.

In a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, Sankey expressed deep concerns about the rule’s potential impact on competition integrity and athlete welfare. 

"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," he said in his letter.

"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 added.

The new November 22 effective date carries significant implications. It falls one day after the end of a 30-day membership rescission period during which Division I schools can vote to overturn recently adopted legislation. Under NCAA rules, a proposal can be rescinded if fewer than 75% of Division I members approved it during the initial vote.

With opposition spreading and a recent federal investigation into illegal gambling — which resulted in more than 30 arrests — keeping the issue in the spotlight, many within college athletics believe there’s a real possibility the legislation could be reversed.

ACC coaches have echoed similar sentiments. Pittsburgh Head Coach Pat Narduzzi called the proposal “absolutely one of the stupidest decisions I’ve ever seen,” citing growing gambling scandals in professional sports, including the recent arrests of NBA figures in connection with illegal betting.

"First of all, it's a habit," Narduzzi said. "It's no different than smoking, drinking, doing drugs; it's a bad habit. I don't think anyone here encourages you guys to go out drinking and getting smashed on a Friday night or Saturday night, or at a ball game."

The NCAA said that the pending rule change would not alter its prohibition on college athletes betting on collegiate contests or sharing insider information. The proposal also includes expanded education and support programs aimed at preventing problem gambling.