NCAA Bans College Basketball Player For Rigging Games
Mike Goodpaster Published 27/05/2026
The NCAA has permanently banned former Abilene Christian basketball player Airion Simmons. Simmons, who played for the school from 2019 through 2024, was accused of helping to rig basketball games for sports bettors. According to the NCAA's Division I Committee on Infractions, Simmons colluded with a teammate and agreed with a bettor to throw a March 2024 game for money.
Simmons also told investigators that he was approached by another sports bettor and was offered money to lose the game. In January 2026, Simmons and the two bettors were indicted by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania on various charges, including bribery, fraud, and conspiracy.
Simmons used a hand injury as an excuse to leave early during the game in question
According to the official NCAA report on their investigation into this incident, Simmons participated in an interview with the NCAA enforcement staff but declined to take part in the processing of his case.
It was during an interview with the NCAA enforcement staff in December 2025 that Simmons spilled the beans on what took place during the game in question. Simmons informed investigators that a second known bettor contacted him. The bettor was looking to know if Simmons was interested in making some quick money to lose the game.
Simmons told the two bettors that he was struggling with a hand injury and his status for the game was unclear. He also shared insider information that another teammate would not be playing in the game. Simmons was offered $3,500 to "play bad" in the game. He went on to injure his hand early in the game. He did not return after playing only 11 minutes.
Simmons also reported meeting someone in a parking lot in Dallas to get cash for his participation in throwing the game. Simmons received the cash. He did not pay the other student-athletes with whom he had conspired to rig the game.
A former teammate turned Simmons in to the NCAA investigators
The plot to fix the game might not have come to light were it not for the tip provided by a former Abilene Christian teammate of Simmons. In September 2025, a Division II school submitted to the NCAA a secondary violation for sports betting violations.
Another former Abilene Christian men's basketball student-athlete transferred to the program. This player informed the school about prior sports betting violations with the Abilene Christian men's basketball team. Specifically, reporting from the student-athlete was that in March 2024, Simmons was colluding with another teammate. The two of them were pressuring him to become involved and get paid to lose a game.
Later, the student-athlete who was reporting the violations participated in a FaceTime call with Simmons, another teammate, and a known bettor. The known bettor told the group to lose the game for money. The student-athlete reporting the violations indicated that by the time of his entrance into the game, the outcome was determined. He said his performance made no impact on the outcome of the game.
Simmons is facing a permanent NCAA ban
The infractions that Simmons committed are considered Level I violations. Simmons no longer has playing eligibility. Still, his participation in any role with an NCAA program is prohibited while under his ban.
Student-athletes who are found to have violated NCAA rules are ineligible. They can only be reinstated with the assistance of an NCAA school.
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