They once ran from the NFL, routinely distancing from the professional show while hiding safely in the amateur bubble.

If multimillion dollar NIL deals and free player movement didn't convince you that college football has slid rather easily into an NFL model, embracing the once unspeakable sin of the NCAA ― gambling on games ― leaves no doubt.

The SEC has officially added injury reports to its weekly information dump, publicly announcing Thursday that member schools must submit accurate weekly injury reports — or else. Those who violate the policy will be docked a hefty fine, one that increases with each deception.

Well, now, how very NFL of the SEC.

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The SEC is calling these injury reports "participation reports," and claiming that they actually reduce the influence of the gambling community (legitimate and illegitimate) from paying student athletes for information. You know, the whole preying on student-athletes thing.

A noble gesture, yes, but a ridiculous attempt at watch this hand while the other works its magic. By embracing the gambling interest ― not that there's anything inherently wrong with it ― the SEC (and its member schools, by proxy) are paving the way for yet another revenue stream.

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Soon there will be gambling signage at college stadiums, arenas and fields (basketball and baseball are part of the participation reports), and soon after that there will be onsite betting kiosks. Just like the NFL.

Again, not necessarily a problem, but yet another game of deception.

I'd be much happier if the SEC simply stated that with 20% of a school's budget soon being earmarked for revenue sharing with players, the league has a fiduciary duty to protect its member institutions from further monetary harm.

That, or continue with the nonsensical idea of "enhanced transparency to support efforts to protect our student-athletes and the integrity of competition," as the official release states.

Nearly two decades ago in the early 2000s, then-Washington coach Rick Neuheisel was fired by the university for ― are you ready for this? ― joining an NCAA Tournament pool with friends. Even the whiff of gambling then was a career death blow.

NIL, free player movement, helmet communication, gambling. It could be worse.

College football could have Roger Goodell running the show.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: SEC initiates injury reports as college football steps toward NFL model