In a bold move, the NCAA has decided to crack down on tampering within college sports, a development that could reshape the landscape of Division I athletics. Jon Duncan, the NCAA's vice president of enforcement, has announced that the Division I Board of Directors is pushing for significant penalties against those found guilty of tampering, along with making their identities public.
Duncan's memo, sent to NCAA schools, outlines a collaborative effort with Geoff Means, chair of the Division I Board of Directors Infractions Process Committee, to swiftly address these violations. The aim is to adapt to the evolving environment of Division I sports while ensuring fairness and efficiency.
Key changes in the process include streamlining investigation stages, expediting the collection of information from schools and student-athletes, and conducting interviews more quickly. These measures are designed to prevent delays often caused by extension requests in infractions cases.
This decisive action follows a high-profile accusation by Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who alleged that Ole Miss and Pete Golding tampered with transfer portal signee Luke Ferrelli. Ferrelli, initially committed to Clemson, re-entered the transfer portal and chose Ole Miss, sparking controversy.
Swinney has been vocal about what he sees as a "broken system," emphasizing that without consequences for tampering, the rules and governance of college sports are undermined. He had previously warned Ole Miss about their recruitment tactics, threatening to expose any underhanded methods if they didn't back off Ferrelli.
The memo, shared on social media, highlights that any communication with a student-athlete at another school-or their representatives-before they enter the NCAA transfer portal is prohibited.
Swinney's allegations include claims that Golding sent Ferrelli a photo of a "$1 million contract" and inquired about his buyout at Clemson. Meanwhile, Ole Miss has expressed concerns about tampering during the College Football Playoff, worried that former coach Lane Kiffin was recruiting players to join him at LSU. This led to several Ole Miss players transferring to LSU, despite having signed revenue-sharing contracts.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges of maintaining integrity in college sports, as tampering allegations continue to surface since the end of the 2025 season. The NCAA's new stance aims to deter such behavior and uphold the values of collegiate athletics.