Big Ten asks NCAA to pause tampering inquiries, revamp rules

"These rules were not designed for a world in which student-athletes are compensated market participants making annual decisions with significant economic consequences. The collision between the old rules and new reality is producing outcomes that harm the population that the rules were designed to protect."

"The prevalence of tampering in the current landscape is so great that numerous officials told ESPN that it's essentially a competitive disadvantage to not tamper. If you're not doing that, you're so far behind in the game, according to an SEC general manager."

"We are committed to engaging in an expeditious process to develop a modern framework for contact rules that addresses the varied challenges and opportunities of the current collegiate landscape."

The Big Ten sent a letter to the NCAA requesting a halt to tampering investigations and infractions proceedings, arguing that current tampering rules are outdated and cannot be fairly enforced. The rules were established before the era of athlete compensation and unlimited transfers, creating a disconnect between old regulations and current reality. Tampering has become so prevalent that not engaging in it puts programs at a competitive disadvantage. The Big Ten proposes a pause in enforcement while developing a modern framework that addresses contemporary challenges in college athletics, emphasizing the need for rules suited to the current landscape where student-athletes are compensated market participants making significant economic decisions.

Read at ESPN.com