The college game is starting to resemble the NBA even more.
The NCAA plans to introduce player availability reports for the 2026 season to improve student-athletes' well-being. This follows reports that some NBA stars allegedly used players' injury information to place bets.
Following recommendations from the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees, the NCAA has reinforced its commitment to combating the influence of sports betting. The organization hopes these reports will reduce the pressure and potential harassment associated with betting on young players.
This initiative comes just a week after the NCAA Division I Board decided to delay a rule change that would allow college athletes and sports department staff to bet on professional sports. Originally set to take effect on November 1, this change has been postponed to November 22, 2025.
It also happened after it was revealed that several NBA stars had allegedly used players’ injury information to place wagers.
Why the Need for Player Availability Reports?
The NCAA believes these reports are necessary as concerns grow about how sports betting impacts athletes, especially when injury and availability information is used for gambling.
An official statement read, “The NCAA will continue to address the rise of sports betting through one of the world’s largest integrity monitoring programs, increasing online protections for student-athletes, delivering virtual and in-person education for student-athletes and athletics department staff nationwide, aggressively pursuing sports betting violations and advocating for the removal of risky prop bets.”
The NCAA aims to protect student-athletes from the stress of being questioned about their playing status for betting purposes. In fact, the NCAA is in the process of investigating 13 former men's basketball players from six different schools for allegedly breaking sports betting rules and/or not cooperating properly when it happened.
Recently, the NCAA investigated gambling issues and discovered some individuals were betting on games they were involved in. These new player availability reports are part of a broader effort to keep college sports safe and fair.
NCAA President Supports The Move
NCAA President Charlie Baker expressed his support, stating, “After months of thorough discussion and exploration, I applaud the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees for taking such important action. Implementing player availability reporting is a major step to increasing student-athlete protections by alleviating pressures for the enhancement of their college experience.”
HD Intelligence, which currently offers similar services to several NCAA member conferences, will generate these reports.
The information will be publicly accessible and specifically applicable to all March Madness games. Each team must submit these reports to the NCAA by the night before an event and again two hours before the game for the most current details.
What Happens If a School Fails to Meet Deadlines?
Schools that miss these deadlines may face penalties determined by the Basketball Committees. While still in its pilot phase, the NCAA will assess the program’s success to see if it should be expanded to other divisions or championships.
These reports are part of the NCAA's broader plan to address the increase in legal sports betting. They're also working to improve fairness monitoring, educate about betting risks, and oppose risky bets on college players.
Early indications suggest that similar policies in conferences could help reduce harassment and abuse of student-athletes concerning injuries or game status.
The NCAA's new player availability reports for the 2026 basketball tournaments are a significant step in managing the growing connection between college sports and betting. The goal is to prevent the misuse of player information and protect students from external pressures.
