Dr. Bo Li, an assistant professor in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University (SMU), and Dr. Kevin Byon, chair of the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management, along with Dr. Sarah Stokowski from Clemson University, have received a $5,320 grant from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for a collaborative research project.
Their project, titled “Betting, Bullying, and Burnout: Examining Online Harassment from Sport Wagering and Its Impacts on Student-Athletes’ Wellbeing and Coping,” aims to explore the escalating issue of betting-related online abuse targeting student-athletes.
The rapid growth of social media has provided student-athletes with opportunities to enhance their marketability but has also increased their public vulnerability by exposing more of their private lives. With the widespread legalization of sports betting, online abuse has intensified. A 2025 NCAA report found that nearly one-third of student-athletes have received abusive messages from individuals involved in sports betting.
This new study will delve into how such abuse influences the lives and well-being of student-athletes and examine the coping strategies they employ to manage these challenges. Through interviews with 12 student athletes from the ACC, the research will shed light on this emerging form of abuse and help identify potential support systems that college sports administrators could implement.
Dr. Li will serve as the principal investigator (PI), with Dr. Byon as the co-PI. “From working with student-athletes, we have seen firsthand what they experience and the need for this research,” Li said.
Dr. Byon added, “SMU is thrilled to be part of the ACC, and research opportunities like this prove the advantages are not only beneficial in the realm of athletic competition but in the academic and research areas as well”.
The SMU and Clemson team is one of five new grant recipients for the 2025-2026 ACC-CRIA Innovation Initiative Small Grant Program, which awarded a total of approximately $25,000. The initiative funds research examining issues related to college athletics administration. Proposals from faculty and students representing 14 different ACC institutions were reviewed by ACC Faculty Athletic Representatives and ACC Athletic Directors.
The research project is scheduled to begin in January and conclude in October 2026.