The NCAA Division III staff has created this bi-weekly communication for the Division III membership to provide up-to-date communications on recent Division III governance meeting discussions and outcomes. Please share this communication with your campus and conference colleagues.
Recent Governance Meetings - Key Discussions and Outcomes.
Championships Committee, Oct. 15 Live stream update. The committee reviewed the championships live stream numbers from the 2023-24 championships. Staff also provided several updates regarding the 2024-25 live stream host requirements. With the new ESPN broadcast agreement, ESPN+ has the rights to livestream the preliminary rounds of the football championship so for this year’s championship, hosts for preliminary rounds will coordinate their livestreams to be live streamed on ESPN+ with the division’s one-camera minimum. In future years, ESPN+ has requested the division work on a strategy to increase the number of cameras (e.g., increase to two or three cameras for next year). The Division III Football Committee will survey the membership and make a recommendation to the Championships Committee no later than its February 2025 meeting.
Staff also noted that an arrangement has been made with Hudl to assist hosts for field hockey, women’s volleyball, men’s, and women’s soccer to ensure preliminary round live streams are available in one location on NCAA.com.
Football championship update. The committee received an update that this year’s football broadcast will be on Sunday, Jan. 5 on ESPN.
NPI. At the request of the DIIICA, the committee agreed to release the final set of National Power Index (NPI) rankings after the completion of all contests and before the selection show provided the data is complete and accurate.
Wrestling regional sites. The committee approved Wabash as the Region 5 host and Augsburg as the Region 7 host for 2025.
Membership Committee, Oct. 17 Enrollment ratio waiver. The committee denied a request for a Male-Female Enrollment Ratio Waiver.
Interpretations and Legislation Committee, Oct. 18 2025 NCAA Convention Question and Answer document. The committee reviewed a draft of the question-and-answer document with an anticipated release date before the end of November.
Bylaw 16 review. The committee continued its review of potential areas of deregulation within Bylaw 16.
Intercollegiate competition definition. The committee reviewed and proposed noncontroversial changes to the division’s current legislated definition of intercollegiate competition. The Management Council will review and act on the proposed changes.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Management Council, Oct. 21-22 Sports betting. The council will receive updates from the Sports Science Institute and Office of Legal Affair as it continues to discuss the current sports betting legislation.
Federated playing rules. The council will discuss the findings from the review of the Division III playing rules process adopted in the summer of 2023 and consider several possible changes to the current process.
Convention legislation. The council will review feedback from various Division III governance groups regarding the membership sponsored proposals.
Championship Committee. The council will discuss a request for Division III to participate in a women’s basketball joint championship in 2028. The council also will provide feedback to the Championships Committee regarding a possible changeto the championship date formula for soccer.
Presidents Council, Oct. 28-29 Presidents Advisory Group. The Presidents Council will meet with members of the Presidents Advisory Group. The presidents and chancellors will engage with President Baker, Chief Medical Officer, Deena Casiero, discuss the 2025 NCAA Convention proposals and engage in a roundtable discussion on sports betting.
Board of Governors representative. The council will elect a new representative to serve a two-year term on the NCAA Board of Governors effective with the close of the 2025 NCAA Convention.
2025 legislative proposals. The council will review the proposals, take final actions, and identify speakers.
Luncheon. The council will participate in a joint luncheon with the Board of Governors and presidential leadership groups of Division I and II.
With every communication, we also anticipate additional questions. Please send all questions to DIIIGovernance@ncaa.org. Thank you for your continued collaboration and leadership.
This email was sent to NCAA Division III Presidents Council, Management Council, commissioners, directors of athletics and the NADIIIAA executive board based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
