The SEC has announced that they will allow immediate eligibility for intraconference transfers, following a vote by the conference’s Presidents and Chancellors on Thursday.
The policy change will take effect immediately and aligns with the NCAA’s April 2021 legislation that created a universal one-time transfer opportunity for all student-athletes across every sport.
The SEC’s new policy makes it so that student-athletes who transfer directly within the conference no longer have to sit out a year at their new school before being eligible to play.
For Auburn, this allows SEC transfer athletes such as TJ Finley, K.D. Johnson, Xaria Wiggins, Donovan Kaufman and Desi Sills to become immediately eligible in their respective sports.
“This is an important measure to further support student-athletes throughout the Southeastern Conference,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “While maintaining the expectation that coaches and others avoid improper recruiting, this change will ensure that student-athletes who enroll at an SEC member institution will enjoy the flexibility afforded to other student-athletes across the nation.”
Student-athletes that want to use the immediate eligibility will need to declare that they are transferring by February 1 in fall sports, May 1 for winter sports and July 1 for spring sports.
“The SEC has established a deadline for declaring an intention to transfer in Fall sports as February 1 in order to create time windows that are more consistent across Fall, Winter and Spring sports,” Sankey said.
The SEC Presidents and Chancellors also approved the following proposals on Thursday.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives - To encourage, facilitate and assist member institutions in attracting and hiring historically underrepresented minorities in the leadership of their athletics departments, particularly in the roles of athletics director, head coach, and senior woman administrator (SWA) and in positions that typically lead to employment in the positions of athletics director, head coach, and SWA. (Establishes SEC Bylaw 23)
Restriction Against Participating in Distribution of Conference Funds due to Postseason Ban in Basketball or Football – To clarify and simplify an existing bylaw to specify that an institution receiving a postseason ban in basketball or football from the NCAA or the Conference shall be limited to only 50% of the Conference’s revenue distribution derived from postseason revenue in the affected sport. Further, to establish that if the institution receives a second postseason ban in either basketball or football during the ensuing five-year period that the institution shall forfeit 100% of the Conference’s revenue distribution derived from postseason revenue in the affected sport during the period of the ban. (Amends SEC Bylaw 31.26)
Extended Training Trips During Christmas Break - Sports other than Football, Basketball, and Women’s Rowing - To eliminate the Conference prohibition on extended training trips during an institution’s Christmas holiday break in sports other than football, basketball, and women’s rowing. (Amends SEC Bylaw 17.1.9)
Nontraditional Courses from Another Institution - To specify that a current student-athlete may not use more than nine semester hours of nontraditional course work from another institution within an academic year to fulfill academic progress eligibility requirements. (Amends SEC Bylaw 14.4.10)
Two-Year Eligibility - To eliminate all provisions of the two-year eligibility rule. (Eliminates SEC Bylaw 14.1.15)
Two-Year College Transfers - Nonqualifiers - To specify that a nonqualifier who initially enrolls at a two-year college prior to transferring to a member institution (i.e., 2-4 transfer) who does not meet Conference transfer requirements may be eligible for practice and athletically related financial aid, but may not be eligible for competition, during the individual’s initial academic year in residence. (Amends SEC Bylaw 14.5.4.2)
Four-Year College Transfers - Nonqualifiers - To specify that a nonqualifier who initially enrolls at another four-year institution prior to transferring to a member institution (i.e., 4-4 transfer) who does not meet Conference transfer requirements may be eligible for practice and athletically related financial aid, but may not be eligible for competition, during the individual’s initial academic year in residence. (Amends SEC Bylaw 14.5.5.6)
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Jake Weese, senior in journalism with a minor in history, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
