NCAA Implements New Rule to Avoid Selection Committee Conflicts of Interest – Dubbed the “Bubba Cunningham Rule”
September 13, 2025 – The NCAA has quietly implemented a significant change to its men’s basketball tournament selection process, a move widely seen as a direct response to controversy surrounding last season’s selection of the university of North Carolina. While the NCAA hasn’t explicitly stated the connection, many observers are already referring to the new rule as the “Bubba Cunningham Rule,” after the committee chair at the time, UNC’s Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham.
The change, announced this week and first reported by Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, addresses potential conflicts of interest when the committee chair’s institution is under consideration for an at-large bid.
https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1966607419338891376
Under the new guidelines, the committee chair must recuse themselves from discussions if their school is being reviewed for final at-large selections. Moreover, if the chair’s institution is among the last four teams being considered, they are prohibited from publicly commenting on its inclusion in the tournament field.
Last year,North Carolina’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament sparked considerable debate. Critics argued that Cunningham’s position as Athletic Director created an inherent conflict of interest, potentially influencing the committee’s decision. While no wrongdoing was ever proven, the perception of bias lingered.
The NCAA’s response is a clear attempt to preempt similar controversies in the future. The association is essentially acknowledging the potential for impropriety – without directly admitting any occurred – and taking preventative measures. As one source put it,the NCAA is saying,”We aren’t saying there were any wrongdoings,BUT,we will take precaution to make sure it doesn’t happen again!”
This rule change is a welcome step towards ensuring the integrity of the NCAA Tournament selection process and restoring public trust in the committee’s decisions. It remains to be seen if this will fully quell concerns about potential bias,but it’s a significant move in the right direction.
Keywords: NCAA, NCAA Tournament, Selection Committee, Bubba Cunningham, North Carolina, Conflict of Interest, College Basketball, Ross Dellenger, Sports News, NCAA Rule Change.
