Current:Home > InvestTennessee has been in contact with NCAA. AP source says inquiry related to potential NIL infractions -Bright Future Finance
Tennessee has been in contact with NCAA. AP source says inquiry related to potential NIL infractions
View
Date:2025-04-15 23:34:30
Tennessee has been in contact with NCAA investigators and a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday the inquiry is into potential rules violations related to name, image and likeness compensation for multiple athletes.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because both the school and the NCAA were not immediately releasing information regarding an investigation. The person said Tennessee has not received a notice of allegations from the NCAA.
The NCAA’s policy is to refrain from commenting publicly about current, pending or potential investigations, with rare exceptions.
The NIL collective that supports Tennessee athletes, Spyre Sports Group, was among the first and most well organized to emerge around the country after the NCAA lifted its ban on athletes making money off their fame.
The NCAA fined Tennessee more than $8 million last July to cap an investigation started by the university in November 2020. The NCAA needed more than 80 pages in its report outlining more than 200 infractions during the three-year tenure of former football coach Jeremy Pruitt.
Tennessee was found guilty of committing 18 Level I violations — the most severe. Most involved recruiting infractions and direct payments to athletes and their families with benefits totaling approximately $60,000.
The head of the panel ruling on the investigation called the violations “egregious and expansive” with Tennessee failing to monitor its football program.
Only Tennessee’s early cooperation with the NCAA kept the program from a postseason ban. Four former staffers were given show-cause orders, including one spanning six years for Pruitt, who was fired in January 2021.
The NCAA found most of the violations were related to a paid unofficial visit scheme used consistently by the football program over two years and involving at least a dozen members of the football staff.
Violations included at least 110 impermissible hotel room nights, 180 impermissible meals, 72 instances of providing impermissible entertainment or other benefits, 41 impermissible recruiting contacts, 37 instances of providing impermissible game day parking, and 14 times in which gear was impermissibly provided to prospects, according to the report.
Tennessee just wrapped up a third season with coach Josh Heupel going 9-4. His prized recruit, Nico Iamaleava from California, wrapped up his first season making his first career start in a 35-0 rout of Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Iamaleava was the No. 2 recruit nationally in the 2023 class by 247Sports.com when he committed to Tennessee.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
veryGood! (45)
Related
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Stephen Baldwin Shares Cryptic Message After Praying for Justin and Hailey Bieber
- Eva Longoria, director, producer, champion for Latino community, is Woman of the Year honoree
- Where could Caitlin Clark be drafted? 2024 WNBA Draft day, time, and order
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Prince William Returns to Royal Duties 2 Days After Missing Public Appearance Due to Personal Matter
- Maryland State House locked down, armed officers seen responding
- Indiana Legislature approves bill adding additional verification steps to voter registration
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Farms fuel global warming. Billions in tax dollars likely aren't helping - report
Ranking
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Travis Kelce Fills Blank Space in His Calendar With Star-Studded Malibu Outing
- Iowa's Caitlin Clark entering WNBA draft, skipping final season of NCAA eligibility
- Doctors in South Korea walk out in strike of work conditions
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Halsey Shares Photo of Herself Back in Diapers Amid Endometriosis Journey
- Tennesse House advances a bill to allow tourism records to remain secret for 10 years
- Are Parent PLUS loans eligible for forgiveness? No, but there's still a loophole to save
Recommendation
B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
Scandinavian Airlines medevac plane lands in Malaysian island where Norwegian king is hospitalized
NFL 40 times tracker: Who has the fastest 40-yard dash at 2024 scouting combine?
Who killed Buttercup? After mini horse found shot 'between her eyes', investigation launched
Small twin
Chick-fil-A tells customers to discard Polynesian sauce dipping cups due to allergy concerns
Big Ten, SEC want it all with 14-team College Football Playoff proposal
Kim Zolciak's daughter Brielle is engaged, and her estranged husband Kroy Biermann played a role