The NCAA is introducing player availability reporting for the 2026 Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships as part of its ongoing effort to protect student-athletes and uphold competition integrity in an era of expanding sports betting.
Protecting Student-Athletes from Gambling Pressure
Under the guidance of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees, the national office will require teams to submit player availability reports before each game during March Madness. Reports must be submitted the night before contests and again two hours prior to tip-off. Student-athletes will be considered available unless officially listed as questionable or out. Inaccurate or missing reports may result in penalties imposed by the respective basketball committees.
“After months of thorough discussion and exploration, I applaud the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees for taking such important action,”NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “Implementing player availability reporting is a major step to increasing student-athlete protections by alleviating pressures for the enhancement of their college experience.”
The NCAA has engaged HD Intelligence (HDI), a basketball analytics firm, to administer the reporting system. HDI already provides similar services to multiple NCAA conferences. The reports will be publicly accessible, aiming to minimize gambling-related harassment and solicitations targeting student-athletes.
Expansion of Integrity Measures
The move aligns with broader NCAA efforts to counteract the influence of sports betting. The organization operates one of the world’s largest integrity monitoring programs, offering both virtual and in-person education for student-athletes and athletic department staff, pursuing violations aggressively, and advocating against risky player prop bets. The NCAA plans to evaluate the continuation of the program at future championships.
This decision follows trends in other college sports. In 2023, LSU football began issuing injury reports to protect players from betting-related abuse, while the SEC, Big Ten, and Mid-American Conferences now require up-to-date injury reports for football, basketball, and baseball. Fines for noncompliance in the SEC range from $25,000 to $100,000. Earlier in 2025, the ACC also mandated similar reporting at least 48 hours before conference games, with undisclosed penalties for violations.
Congressional Scrutiny and Betting Policy Debate
Lawmakers are watching closely. On October 30, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and five others sent a letter to Baker questioning the NCAA’s recent lifting of the ban on student-athlete professional sports betting.
“The timing of the NCAA’s decision to allow student athlete and staff participation in professional sports betting raises questions about sports betting and integrity of sport in the NCAA,” the letter stated. Lawmakers requested answers by November 13 regarding the rule change and measures to maintain integrity.
The NCAA briefly delayed the rule’s implementation to allow institutions to vote on rescinding it. Support included the DI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the National Council on Problem Gambling, while SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Pittsburgh football coach Pat Narduzzi criticized it.
The congressional scrutiny mirrors inquiries into the NBA, which recently faced questions over gambling scandals involving players and staff.
With player availability reporting, the NCAA aims to safeguard student-athletes while navigating the growing influence of sports betting in one of the nation’s most high-profile sporting events.
Source:
“NCAA announces implementation of player availability reporting for 2026 DI Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships”, ncaa.org, October 30, 2025
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