The current breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

The NCAA is thinking about a proposal that would enable professional athletes and employee to wager on and shift enforcement efforts to college sports betting and "behaviors that straight impact video game integrity."

The NCAA stated Wednesday that "numerous sports betting-related violations by employee at NCAA schools" have been solved in the last few years and noted its enforcement staff is working on releasing notifications of claims in several ongoing betting cases.

"NCAA guidelines prohibiting sports betting at all levels were written and adopted at a time when sports gaming was mainly prohibited nationwide," said Josh Whitman, sports director at Illinois and council chairman. "As banking on sports has become more extensively accepted throughout the country, Division I members have actually figured out that additional discussion of these sports betting guidelines is warranted, particularly as it relates to the prospective distinctions between betting on professional vs. college sports."

"The enforcement staff's sports betting-related caseload has considerably increased in the last few years, and our personnel - including our brand-new sports wagering integrity unit - has worked in identifying and pursuing infractions," stated Jon Duncan, NCAA vice president of enforcement.

Dr. Deena Casiero, the NCAA's chief medical officer, stated permitting pro sports wagering may be more reliable and sensible than an "abstinence-only" approach, clearing the method for education and much better understanding of the risks.

"By satisfying student-athletes where they are, schools might be more effective at preventing, determining and supporting student-athletes with bothersome gambling habits," Casiero said.

- Endorsed a suggested cap of 32 regular-season video games in both guys's and ladies's basketball start with the 2026-27 season. Critics include early-season tournament organizers who say the modification might result in fewer marquee matches.

- Introduced a proposition to add ladies's flag football to the emerging sports for ladies program. Flag football has proliferated in popularity and will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

- Adopted scheduling versatility modifications permitting Football Championship Subdivision programs to contend in 12 regular-season video games every year, starting in 2026.

- Voted to introduce proposals that, if also supported by Divisions II and III, would develop NCAA championships for women's stunt and females's acrobatics and tumbling as early as spring 2027. The sports have actually grown in appeal.

- Voted to separate the scoring at the fencing champions to recognize winning groups in both guys's and women's fencing. Currently, women's-just teams are statistically not able to win the nationwide champion under the existing scoring format. The modification also needs support by Divisions II and III.