SEC passes new rule mandating accurate injury reports across multiple sports

"Gamesmanship" is a term used far too often in college sports. Typically, it would refer to various types of deception between coaches during games, but sometimes the phrase was used to describe pregame subterfuge, as well, including the way they would talk about player availability. However, the SEC has made an effort to make that more difficult.

On Thursday, On3's Pete Nakos reported that the league had finally come to its agreement on injury reports. Beginning immediately, the Southeastern Conference was mandating that each member institution must provide updated injury reports three days before game day, updating it each day until a final report 90 minutes before the game begins. The mandate is in effect for college football, college basketball (both men's and women's), and college baseball games that feature at least one SEC team.

The SEC joins the MAC and the BIG Ten with recent injury report announcements. The rule change follows recent NCAA-wide changes to the transfer portal and redshirt eligibility.

According to Pete Nakos' report, there will be discipline for teams that fail to deliver accurate and on-time injury reports. With fines ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 for football games and from $15,000 to $25,000 for basketball and baseball contests, teams will face consequences for failure to comply.

Similar to the way it is handled in the NFL, all players will be designated as available, probable, questionable, doubtful, or out for the early injury reports. Those designations will change to available, game-time decision, or out on game day.

Gone are the days of Will Muschamp declaring "he's got a leg" and providing no further details (South Carolina and Florida fans remember those days) or coaches like Jimbo Fisher declining to talk about injuries at all, at times.

The growth of legalized sports gambling (and, more accurately, the large amount of money involved) plays a big role in the SEC's decision. Theoretically, the new mandate will ensure that gamblers will have more accurate information from which to base their picks.