In a recent initiative called the “Out of Bounds” campaign, the NAACP has called on college athletes and fans to withhold athletic and financial support from major public universities in eight states where voting rights for Black communities have been restricted. These target states Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia are home to several high-revenue SEC programs. Affected teams include the Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, Florida Gators, Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, South Carolina Gamecocks, Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, and Georgia Bulldogs.
The campaign, launched in response to the Supreme Court’s 6–3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which further weakened the Voting Rights Act, aims to redirect support from these predominantly white institutions toward Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) within the same states. The NAACP specifically targeted flagship public athletic programs that generate over $100 million annually yet continue recruiting Black athletes even as state governments undermine Black political power.
Not all SEC teams are included. Vanderbilt Commodores, as the SEC’s only private university, are exempt, along with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Oklahoma Sooners, Missouri Tigers, and Kentucky Wildcats since their states were not named in the campaign. Beyond the SEC, other affected programs include the Florida State Seminoles, UCF Knights, Clemson Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
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