Charles Barkley Condemns NCAA Plan to Allow College Athletes to Bet
NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has criticized a proposed NCAA rule change that could allow college athletes to bet on professional sports. Speaking at Auburn University’s Bruce, Barkley & Basketball Golf Classic on Monday, Barkley questioned the decision-making of college sports administrators, saying, “Anybody who thinks that’s a good idea should have their head examined.”
The NCAA’s Division I Administrative Committee adopted the proposal last week, which would lift current restrictions prohibiting student-athletes from participating in any sports betting activity. However, the measure still needs approval from Divisions II and III before taking effect.
Barkley reiterated his stance during a public conversation with Auburn head coach Steven Pearl and Alabama coach Nate Oats, saying that the risks of insider betting and integrity violations would be impossible to control.
His comments come amid a rising number of betting-related scandals involving both college and professional athletes. In April, former NBA player Jontay Porter was banned for life for influencing bets and leaking information to gamblers.
Barkley, a longtime critic of the NCAA, said the organization was playing with fire by relaxing rules at a time when the line between competition and wagering is already blurring.
Student-athletes in Michigan have been being prepared for the change, with university officials and compliance teams educating student-athletes about the shfit.
Three college players banned
Meanwhile, the NCAA recently announced that three Division I basketball players - Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver - have been declared permanently ineligible after an investigation found they were involved in game manipulation and insider betting.
The inquiry found that the players bet on their own performances and those of teammates during the 2024–25 season. According to NCAA findings, Robinson and Vasquez, both formerly of Fresno State, coordinated prop bets on Robinson’s statistical performance in a January 2025 game, wagering a combined $2,200 and collecting nearly $16,000 in winnings after he intentionally underperformed.
Further investigation uncovered that Robinson had placed 13 daily fantasy sports bets on himself and teammate Weaver, while Vasquez, who later transferred to San Jose State, continued to exchange betting-related messages with him. Weaver admitted to placing a parlay bet involving his own performance and won $260.
The three athletes are no longer enrolled at their respective schools. Fresno State and San Jose State were not penalized, as the NCAA found no evidence of institutional involvement. Under current NCAA rules, athletes found to be betting on their own games face permanent ineligibility, although reinstatement can be requested through their schools.
The incident underscores the concerns raised by Barkley and others about the potential for corruption if the NCAA loosens its stance on sports wagering.
