NC State’s Dave Doeren Isn’t a Fan of the ACC’s Player Availability Reporting Policy

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips announced a new policy set to be implemented in 2025-26 that will require teams (Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, and Baseball) to disclose player availability for upcoming games—and NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren isn’t a fan.

The exact wording of the new ACC policy is outlined below:

Before each conference game, a team will disclose any student-athlete whose availability for the upcoming game is in question. A student-athlete can be listed on the Availability Report if their status is uncertain for any reason (e.g., injury or illness, academic or other eligibility issue, personal or family matter, etc.); however, only the status and not the specific reason will be publicly reported.

This policy is intended to help protect student-athletes and staff members from outside entities seeking to obtain inside information about availability and participation, including but not limited to injuries. It will also reinforce to athletes and staff the sensitivity of such information.

In football, a report will be submitted two days before each conference game (e.g., Thursday before a Saturday game), with an update on the day before the game and again on game day. In basketball and baseball, reports will be submitted the day before each conference game and again on game day.

For each report submitted before game day, student-athletes will be designated as Available, Probable, Questionable, or Out. Game Day Reports will be submitted two hours before each game. For this report, student-athletes will be designated as Available, Game Time Decision, or Out. (ACC)

Summary of the Policy:

• Players will be listed as Available, Probable, Questionable, or Out.
• The reason for the player being listed will not be made public.
• For Football, availability reports will be submitted two days before conference games.
• Updated reports will be submitted the day before, and again on game day.
• For Basketball and Baseball, reports will be submitted the day before and again on game day.
• Reports will be publicly posted on theACC.com.

Phillips outlined the reasoning:

• Aligning with other conferences
• Reducing harassment of players by fans and sports gamblers

Doeren’s Thoughts on the New Policy:
“I’m not in favor of it, but it doesn’t matter,” Doeren said during a breakout room interview at ACC Kickoff on Thursday. “We’ve had them before. The reason I’m not in favor of it [is] I think the coaches don’t tell the truth on them anyway. We don’t want to put our players’ injuries out there.”

“I’m trying to protect my guys. I’m not trying to help bettors,” Doeren continued. “That’s what that stuff’s all about. To me, I don’t get it. But they made that decision, so that’s what we’ll do, and so be it.” (ON3)

Summary of Doeren’s Disagreement:

• Coaches aren’t honest on injury reports.
• He doesn’t want to help sports bettors.
• He’s concerned that disclosure could lead to opposing teams targeting injured players.

It’s evident that fans and gamblers harassed players about their availability last year. That’s unacceptable, and players shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of distraction—especially when the messaging can be threatening.

Selfishly, as a sports journalist, this information will make my job easier leading up to a contest.
But I can also completely understand Doeren’s perspective.

As someone who plays fantasy football, I know how helpful injury reports can be. If I were betting on a game, this kind of information would absolutely impact my choices. Still, I agree with Doeren that this policy seems to benefit bettors more than players. His concern about opponents targeting injured athletes is valid.

At the end of the day, though, it makes sense for the ACC to adopt a model that’s already being used by the NFL and other conferences.