NCAA in the headlines: gambling probes, rule tweaks, and playoff reshuffles reshape college sports—athletes and schools in the crosshairs.
Prediction market platform Polymarket faces scrutiny after reports of harassment and threats against journalists involved in reporting on Israeli missile incidents. The threats stem from disputes over the accuracy of reports on a missile strike near Beit Shemesh, with some users attempting to pressure journalists to alter their coverage. Polymarket condemned the behavior.
The NCAA Tournament has attracted its highest TV audience since 1993, with an average of 10.3 million viewers across four networks, up 9% from last year. The Elite Eight game between UConn and Duke peaked at nearly 19 million viewers. Despite fewer upsets, interest remains high.
The NCAA has introduced new rules affecting college athletes' eligibility, including a requirement for prospects to withdraw from opt-in professional drafts. The changes follow recent legal cases and proposals for extended eligibility, with ongoing debates about legal protections and the impact on college sports.
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has retained antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler as he faces an NCAA investigation into alleged gambling on college and pro sports. The case, tied to past wagers at Indiana and Cincinnati, could jeopardize his college eligibility and prompt a potential NFL supplemental draft if not resolved. Sorsby is currently undergoing treatment for a gambling addiction.
The American Football Coaches Association has publicly revealed its positions on season length and postseason structure, arguing for finishing on the second Monday in January and proposing changes such as eliminating conference title games, reducing bye weeks, and preserving the Army–Navy window while allowing other games to be played on that day.