Power 5 conference teams took advantage of their autonomy on Saturday, voting to increase the value of athletic scholarships to cover the full cost of attendance during what has been a momentous day for major-college sports.
RELATED: Cost of attendance by SEC school
Historic moment: Power Five athletes will be paid beyond the traditional scholarship up to federally determined actual cost of attendance.
— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) January 17, 2015
OK, now: Power Five passes full cost-of-attendance scholarship proposal: 79-1. (1 ACC school voted against)
— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) January 17, 2015
Four-year binding scholarships also passed despite disagreement from the SEC and Big XII. Unless a player violates team or university policy and is dismissed, they will receive full four-year scholarships.
Four-year guaranteed scholarships passes, SEC and Big 12 voted against
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) January 17, 2015
The vote redefines an athletic scholarship to now include incidental expenses such as transportation and personal expenses. According to the Associated Press, the legislation passed was permissive, not mandatory. Schools outside the Power 5 could also follow these new rules, but they are not required to do so.
Autonomy for the Power 5 — ACC, Big Ten, Big XII, Pac-12 and SEC — was voted in last year.
New rules take effect Aug. 1, 2015, but ‘scholarship agreements for the 2015-16 school year can be executed prior to that date’ according to a report by USA Today.
Harris Pastides, the president at the University of South Carolina, was elected to chair of the NCAA’s Board of Directors earlier in the afternoon:
USC President Pastides has been elected Chair of the NCAA D1 Board of Directors. Both Pastides and Spurrier support paying players.
— Alyssa Lang WLTX (@AlyssaLang) January 17, 2015
