Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby says the league cannot mandate college football players to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but he is attempting to push student athletes in that direction.
"We are certainly, as we go forward, encouraging student-athletes to get vaccinated," Bowlsby told reporters Wednesday. " ... Frankly, anyone not getting vaccinated is taking unnecessary risk. And that's not just student-athletes, that's anyone in our society."
The commissioner also indicated unvaccinated players would face stricter testing protocols that could affect their eligibility for games.
"For a student-athlete, you're rolling the dice on whether or not you can participate [if you're not vaccinated]," he said.