The NAACP has called for a comprehensive boycott of college athletics programs across the South, urging Black high school athletes to reject scholarship offers and fans to stay away from games in states that have enacted new voting restrictions—a strategy that could reshape the billion-dollar college sports landscape.
The civil rights organization announced the boycott campaign Monday, targeting universities in states including Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida—states that have passed legislation limiting early voting, restricting mail-in ballots, or curtailing ballot drop boxes since 2024.
"We are asking young Black athletes to think carefully about where they invest their talents," said Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO. "Why would you build your future in a state that is actively working to suppress your community's voice?"
The boycott strategy directly targets the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference, where Black athletes make up the majority of football and basketball rosters at many schools. At the University of Alabama, for example, approximately 70% of football players are Black, according to NCAA data. Those athletes generate hundreds of millions in revenue for universities in states where recent voting laws have been challenged in federal court.
"This is about economic power," said Cheryl Johnson, a sports economist at Duke University. "College sports in the South is a multi-billion dollar industry. If elite Black athletes start choosing schools in other regions, it would fundamentally alter competitive balance and revenue streams."
The announcement has sent ripples through college athletics departments across the region. Several high school recruits in Georgia and Texas have reportedly contacted coaches at universities in , , and to inquire about transferring their commitments, according to sources with knowledge of recruiting.


