The SEC is moving toward a mandatory injury report for this coming football season, sources told CBS Sports. The topic was discussed at the conference’s annual spring meetings in May with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey telling reporters that while it would be discussed, a final decision would not be made that week.
A mandatory injury report hasn’t been officially approved, but multiple sources indicated the details are close to being finalized and are expected to be in place at the start of the 2024 season. A decision could come as early as in two weeks when league athletic directors are scheduled to meet.
The Big Ten became the first Power Five conference to institute a game day availability report during the 2023 season — a move designed to protect the integrity of the game with respect to gambling. The league’s weekly report had two categories for injured players: questionable or out.
Some SEC schools, like LSU and Florida, released weekly injury reports last season, but the majority opted against the practice.
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban told reporters in September he respected the media’s desire for information, “but we also don’t want to create disadvantage for ourselves when situations with players are relatively unknown or day-to-day, and don’t know how they are going to be by game time.”
“Personally, it wouldn’t be bother me if they want to know exactly what our injury report was,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said at the time. “You’re going to find it out before the game anyway, if you’re at the game. You’re gonna see who’s suited out and who’s not. Who’s limping and who isn’t. But, I understand that if it would help our players not get needled for information, I’d be all for it.”
The Big Ten’s athletic directors pushed for a national injury reporting system in 2018 after a U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for legalized sports gambling. However, in 2019, the NCAA opted against requiring injury reports citing “the purpose, parameters, enforcement and effectiveness of a player availability reporting model.”
