The NCAA is investigating Tennessee athletics for reported NIL related violations, Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde reported on Tuesday.
Sports Illustrated’s reporting on the investigation was very limited but provided a few details of note. The investigation is related to Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) violations in multiple sports. Tennessee confirmed to Forde that they were aware of an investigation but that they haven’t been given a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA.
The NCAA did not comment on a potential investigation to Sports Illustrated. The NCAA has been ineffective to date at legislating NIL rules but did negotiate a resolution to an investigation into Florida State NIL violations earlier this month.
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Tennessee football recently put a long NCAA investigation into recruiting violations under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt in the rearview with the NCAA handing down its sanctions last July.
The most serious violations included illegally paying $60,000 to recruits and players as well as hosting unofficial visitors on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic when the NCAA outlawed on campus visits.
Tennessee avoided a postseason ban in the sanctions, instead receiving a number of more minor sanctions including an $8 million fine, a loss of 28 total scholarships over five seasons, a reduction of 36 official visitors over five seasons, 10 football weekends where Tennessee couldn’t host visitors over a five-year stretch, a 28-week ban of recruit communication over a five-week stretch and a vacation of all wins in which ineligible student athletes participated.
The more harsh punishments were given to former Tennessee coaches. Four different on field Tennessee coaches received a show-cause and four off the field recruiting employees received show-causes. Former head coach Jeremy Pruitt received a six-year show-cause and Chantryce Boone, former Assistant Director of Recruiting, received a 10-year show cause.
