NCAA Enforcement_2026

SSDD (Same Stuff-Different Day)

The NCAA has always been problematic hasn’t it?.

Back in da day turning blind eyes to big football’s under-the-table payment plans. Overlooking UNC Cheats’ 20+ years of no-classes for athlete’s. Sacrificing lesser schools – SMU, U of Miami, Louisiana-Lafayette (the Ragin’ Cajuns), Morehouse College, Prairie View, or Coppin St., as penance for the sins of the elites. Note the current ‘slap on the hand’ of the U of Michigan scandal.

1. Southern Methodist University (SMU) Football, 1987

Penalty: The “Death Penalty” (full cancellation of the 1987 season and a ban on home games in 1988).
Reason: Repeated, egregious, and long-term violations, including a slush fund that continued to pay players even after previous NCAA sanctions.
Impact: The program did not fully recover for decades.

1a. Southwestern Louisiana basketball, 1973

Penalty: The NCAA levied the largest penalty in its history: a two-year ban on all competition for the men’s basketball team, which had been ranked in the top 10 the season before.
Reason: An investigation uncovered several recruiting, academic and financial violations at the school (now known as Louisiana-Lafayette), including cash payments to players, falsified academic documents and forged signatures. The team already had been placed on probation in 1968 for other violations.

2. Arizona State University (Multiple Sports), 2024

Penalty: 10 major infractions (as of April 2024).
Reason: The Sun Devils overtook SMU for the most total NCAA infractions in history following an investigation into football recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period under former coach Herm Edwards.

3. Penn State University Football, 2012

Penalty: $60 million fine, four-year postseason ban, 40-scholarship reduction, and vacation of all wins from 1998–2011*. *Wins re-instated to Paterno in 2012.
Reason: While not a traditional “recruiting” scandal, the NCAA deemed the failure to address the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal as a complete failure of institutional control.

4. University of Southern California (USC) Football, 2010

Penalty: Two-year postseason ban, loss of 30 scholarships over three years, and vacation of wins (including the 2004 BCS National Championship).
Reason: Improper benefits received by star running back Reggie Bush.

5. University of Miami Football/Basketball, 2013

Penalty: Multi-year bowl bans, loss of over 30 scholarships, and significant restrictions on recruiting.
Reason: A booster, Nevin Shapiro, provided improper benefits (cash, cars, trips) to dozens of athletes over nearly a decade.

6. University of North Carolina (UNC) Academic Scandal, 2012

Penalty: None. Despite the massive scale (20+ years) of academic fraud (fake classes for athletes).
Reason: The NCAA struggled/failed to penalize UNC because the classes were technically available to the general student body, resulting in a unique case where the institution largely avoided a “lack of institutional control” charge, causing controversy.

Here come the Wolverines!

Based on the August 2025 NCAA ruling regarding advanced scouting and recruiting violations, the University of Michigan football program faces four years of probation, significant financial penalties likely exceeding $20-$30 million, and recruiting restrictions. Key 2026-related sanctions include a 14-week recruiting ban, a 25% reduction in official visits for 2025-26, and a one-game suspension for head coach Sherrone Moore. No forfeiture of wins. No postseason bans.

Key 2026 NCAA Penalty Details/University of Michigan

Head Coach Suspension: Sherrone Moore is suspended for the first game of the 2026 season in addition to a two-game suspension in 2025.
Financial Sanctions: Penalties include a $50,000 fine, 10% of the football budget, and a fine equal to the lost revenue from postseason competition in 2025 and 2026.
Recruiting Restrictions: A 25% reduction in official visits for the 2025-26 season and a 14-week prohibition on recruiting communications during the four-year probation period.
Show-Cause Orders: Former staffer Connor Stalions received an eight-year show-cause order, while former head coach Jim Harbaugh received a 10-year show-cause order.
No Postseason Ban: The NCAA opted not to issue a postseason ban, allowing Michigan to compete in bowl games or the College Football Playoff in 2026.

While some reports suggested potential for further penalties, the NCAA noted that a postseason ban was deemed too unfair to current student-athletes. Michigan indicated it would appeal the rulings.

Business as usual.

Here are the key current investigations and developments as of January 2026:

1. International Basketball Point-Shaving Scandal (Jan 2026)

Federal Indictments: On Jan. 15, 2026, the Department of Justice announced charges against 26 people, including over a dozen college basketball players, involved in a scheme to fix NCAA Division I men’s basketball games.
The Scheme: The conspiracy involved bribing players ($10,000–$30,000 per game) to intentionally underperform to manipulate point spreads.
Targeted Schools: The investigation involves over 39 players across more than 17 different NCAA schools.
Immediate Action: At least four active players implicated in the scheme were immediately removed from their current team rosters in January 2026.
NCAA Response: NCAA President Charlie Baker confirmed that investigations into these gambling allegations have led to multiple players receiving lifetime bans, with at least 30 total players investigated for gambling violations in the past year.

2. Third-Party NIL Deal Investigations (Jan 2026)

Notice to Schools: On Jan. 9, 2026, the College Sports Commission (CSC) issued notices to 20 Division I schools regarding potential violations arising from third-party NIL deals, specifically those aimed at inducing athletes to transfer.
New Reporting Rules: Investigations are focusing on unreported third-party NIL contracts valued at $600 or more, which must be reported to “NIL Go” within five days of execution.
House Settlement Compliance: These investigations are reviewing whether NIL deals comply with the rules established by the recent House settlement.

3. Other Ongoing and Resolved Investigations

SUNY Old Westbury (Jan 2026): A negotiated resolution was reached regarding a former women’s basketball coach who failed to monitor a third-party recruiter, resulting in impermissible benefits for players.
NIL Investigations (Tennessee/Florida): While investigations into Tennessee and Florida regarding potential NIL violations were initiated earlier (around 2024), they remained high-profile matters in the, with institutions strongly contesting the NCAA’s allegations.
Michigan Football (2025): The NCAA completed its investigation into the sign-stealing scandal, imposing a three-game suspension for head coach Sherrone Moore, a two-year show-cause penalty, and other sanctions.

Jim Harvey @gtmoBlue