The NCAA announced Thursday that player availability reports will be used for the 2026 men's and women's basketball tournaments in March.
The reports from teams must be submitted the night before games and again two hours before tipoff. Players will be assumed to be available unless designated as questionable or out, according to a press release.
The biggest change comes with inaccurate reporting, which might result in penalties for the school. This comes after months of discussion on whether or not to implement reports. But the NCAA's advanced efforts to protect the integrity of games was a top priority.
"Implementing player availability reporting is a major step to increasing student-athlete protections by alleviating pressure for the enhancement of their college experience," NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement.
The NCAA will assess continuing the program at future championships events. This could lead to reports being standard across the board.
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