Graduate transfers looking to go to an SEC school no longer have to go through a waiver process.

On Friday, the conference voted to change a rule that had been in effect since 2011 that prevented graduate transfers from transferring without the waiver process. It was instituted after backlash surrounding former Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli's transfer to Ole Miss.

Now, like at other conferences, the SEC will be free to accept graduate transfers as long as the player has a specific GPA and hasn't had eligibility issues. Graduate transfers can play immediately at a different school, provided the different school has a graduate degree program that isn't offered at the athlete's former school.

Earlier this spring, former Virginia TE Jake McGee transferred to Florida for his final season of eligibility as a graduate transfer. However, on Friday, Florida president Bernie Machen had a curious quote when discussing the rule. The Horford he's referring to is Jon Horford, a basketball player who transferred to Florida as a graduate transfer this offseason.

“If they really wanted to transfer somewhere else, they should sit out a year,” Machen said via CBS Sports. “Why didn't Horford stay at Michigan another year? Because he had a free pass.”

We get that Machen is against the rule, but why say what he did about an athlete who will attend his school and be in a graduate program? And on top of that, Horford is an athlete in a revenue sport. He'll be helping Florida make money. It makes no sense. But the SEC's change to the process does, as it will be in line with the rest of the NCAA.

The conference also made another change and said artificial noise (noisemakers, PA music) will be allowed until the center is over the ball before the snap. In 2013, Mississippi State was fined $25,000 for violating the rule against artificial noise.

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Nick Bromberg

is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @NickBromberg