The Atlantic Coast Conference became the second Power Five athletic conference to support a policy change that would give student-athletes more freedom to transfer schools.
In a statement, the league said that it would support “as a matter of principle,” a one-time opportunity for athletes to transfer, regardless of sport.
Statement from the ACC on transfer opportunity: pic.twitter.com/2oMEKNOSFB
— The ACC (@theACC) February 17, 2020
Sports Illustrated reports that under such a policy, student-athletes would be given the opportunity to transfer to a different institution one time during their athletic career without having to sit out for a year at their new school.
Currently, students playing football, men’s or women’s basketball, ice hockey and baseball are not immediately granted eligibility upon transferring. Twenty other sports do allow for a one-time transfer.
Undergraduate football, basketball, hockey or baseball players seeking immediate eligibility after transferring must apply for a waiver via the NCAA. Otherwise, only graduate students are automatically granted eligibility after transferring.
Earlier this month, the Big Ten Conference announced support for a similar policy.
Related: Big Ten Wants to Allow Transfers to Play Immediately
“We have five sports that are not allowed to transfer in this day and age,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel told CBS Sports of the Big Ten’s support for a change. “That is something we need to fix. We need to give all young people flexibility to transfer once. If they transfer a second time, there is no waiver.”
