Skip to main content

SEC Not Ready Yet to Decide on NCAA’s Push to Ban College Player Props

Kelly Irvin

Updated as of May 29, 2026 at 5:25 PM EDT, this article is a 1 minute and 43 second read. For more information, check out the Twitter and Google News links.

Greg Sankey the new commissioner of the SEC talks to the media before the quaterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena as we look at the SEC deciding on if it will ban player props.
Greg Sankey the new commissioner of the SEC talks to the media before the quaterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP.

The SEC holds significant influence over all aspects of college sports, including a recent decision that will affect both bettors and top sportsbooks.

During the conference’s spring meetings on Monday, Commissioner Greg Sankey addressed the topic of banning college player props from being available for wagering on the top sports betting apps in states where betting is legal. Sankey acknowledged the issue and mentioned the push from NCAA president Charlie Baker to implement such a ban, but stated that the conversation is still ongoing.

Sankey mentioned that there was a discussion with student-athletes last year regarding mental health and sports gambling. He emphasized the importance of linking mental health conversations to the pressures faced by athletes. This topic is currently being discussed at a superficial level, but there is a need for change as highlighted by NCAA president Charlie Baker.

Baker stressed the need for a ban

In March, Baker urged for a prohibition on college player prop betting in the 38 states where sports betting is permitted. His plea coincided with the start of March Madness, which typically sees a surge in betting activity on various gambling platforms.

Ohio, Vermont, and Maryland joined in banning college player props, with Louisiana set to implement their ban on Aug. 1. In contrast, Montana and Michigan chose not to follow suit. As the issue gained prominence in the spring and states made their decisions, we have compiled a list detailing the current status of college player prop betting across different states.

In a statement, Baker noted that sports betting problems are increasing nationwide, specifically mentioning how prop bets are jeopardizing the integrity of competition and causing harassment of student-athletes and professional athletes. The NCAA has been collaborating with states to address these issues, resulting in many states choosing to prohibit college prop bets.

The importance of the SEC

Although Louisiana is a significant region, the SEC remains a conference that is favorable to player props. The conference is a powerhouse in terms of audience and fan base, particularly in football.

With June on the horizon, the anticipation for the start of another college football season begins, sparking excitement for betting enthusiasts. Kentucky, Arkansas, and Florida are among the SEC schools gearing up to allow player-prop wagering in some capacity.

As of now, more than half of the 38 states where betting is legal have college player prop wagering available, with certain limitations in place. For example, Florida permits player props only for out-of-state teams.

Written By:
Kelly Irvin
Kelly Irvin has been in the sports media wilderness since 2009, and he joined Underscoreg Review in 2021. His work has been referenced in The New York Times and Forbes. He’s also made appearances on The Fan 590 and TSN 1050. Sean is a regular bettor who places bets daily while using a handful of books. Most frequently, he uses FanDuel and bet365 due to the quality experience on those apps. While he’ll often take an analytical approach, Sean enjoys the fun, recreational side of betting too, and embraces alternative markets on events like the Westminster Dog Show or Eurovision, or the many novelty props tied annually to the Super Bowl, for example. Beyond sports, Sean is also interested in the betting markets tied to politics, and especially those connected to American elections. He sees betting as a way to explore and engage in a deeper way, and takes that same view to his work. He plays poker periodically too, and is an avid fantasy sports player. Sean also previously spent time with Bleacher Report and theScore, all after earning his media studies degree from the University of Guelph-Humber.