SEC votes to allow academic achievement awards and education-related benefits
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The Alston case really shook up the ranks of college athletics. It paved the way for today’s NIL climate.
Now, the SEC is using the opportunity to offer some academic benefits to athletes around the conference.
Per a release from the league on Thursday, the SEC schools can now offer financial awards up to nearly $6,000:
The Alston decision granted universities the opportunity to provide student-athletes with additional education-related benefits such as computers, science equipment and musical instruments, along with direct financial support in the form of academic achievement awards, up to the legally established maximum of $5,980 per year.
Commissioner Greg Sankey issued a statement on the decision from the conference:
“The presidents, chancellors and athletics directors of our 14 universities have determined it is appropriate for SEC athletics programs to have discretion and flexibility to provide support for student-athletes in their academic and athletic endeavors,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “While the Alston decision invited individual conferences to impose limits on education-related benefits and academic awards, the SEC believes it is in the best interests of our student-athletes for these decisions to be made at the campus level rather than through Conference policy.”
We’ll see if other leagues follow the SEC’s lead on this particular matter.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
