In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court abruptly scuttled the federal law that prohibited sports wagering. An article in the Summer 2019 issue of Champion magazine chronicled what the NCAA and its schools have done to adapt to legal betting’s expanding playing field and mitigate innumerable new risks. Jack Ford with Brian Burnsed, NCAA Champion magazine associate editor.

Five years ago, the NCAA established its After the Game program, designed to equip college athletes with the tools they need to transition to life after college sports. How has it fared since its inception? The program’s architect highlights early successes and what’s next. Jack Ford with Monica Miller, NCAA associate director of strategic and former student-athlete outreach.

In response to sweeping changes recommended by the Commission on College Basketball, the NCAA this year implemented summer basketball recruiting academies. They took place in late July at four regional sites, where coaches were afforded the opportunity to watch players go through drills and compete. How did the first iteration of these camps play out? Jack Ford with Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball.

In 1999, a former multisport college athlete became the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She wrote a book about the experience and is now a Division III college president. A look inside her fascinating journey. Jack Ford with Tori Murden McClure, Spalding president.

No scholarships. Small fan bases. Long hours at practice and in the library. Why do Division III student-athletes do it? And what do they gain from the experience? A four-year Division III athlete offers her perspective. Jack Ford with Maddie Burns, Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee chair and former Randolph-Macon student and soccer player.

Tensions in Division I may elicit headlines, but the NCAA encompasses more than just the largest schools that draw the spotlight. Division III schools, typically smaller and with thinner athletics budgets, navigate an entirely different set of issues. The man who long has been at the helm offers perspective on all things Division III. Jack Ford with Dan Dutcher, NCAA vice president of Division III.

While NCAA enforcement staffers are charged with investigating potential violations, they share information and collaborate with NCAA members as much as possible through the course of an investigation. How does that process take shape? And what has changed in the wake of the Commission on College Basketball’s recommendation to handle the most complex cases differently? Jack Ford with Jon Duncan, NCAA vice president of enforcement.

Video replay, used in 17 of the NCAA’s 24 sports, promotes fairness but disrupts competition. As technology grows sharper but some schools struggle to keep pace, how far will college sports go in pursuit of perfectly officiated games? A Champion magazine reporter tackled that question in a feature story in the Spring 2019 issue. Jack Ford with Greg Johnson, Champion magazine associate editor.

A handful of college football players have come out to their teammates and coaches. It’s an announcement typically beset by apprehension — but often met with acceptance. One Division I football player shares his story. Jack Ford with Xavier Colvin, former student-athlete on Butler’s football team.

Former USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar abused hundreds of young gymnasts under the guise of medical treatment. Maggie Nichols was one of them and was the first to report his improprieties to USA Gymnastics. Now a star at Oklahoma, Nichols publicly identified herself as one of his victims last year in hopes of helping others who have faced similar trauma. Jack Ford with Nichols, the 2019 NCAA Inspiration Award winner.