Could the NCAA Make an Example Out of Iowa State University?

The Cyclones are once again in hot water over illegal sports betting. 

Five members of the Iowa State football team’s staff were found to have illegally wagered on sports. The group is accused of placing over 6,000 bets online for over $100,000. The NCAA has issued show-cause penalties for each, meaning they must serve a suspension and complete other requirements before they can work for a different school.

While the NCAA has ruled on the incident, many wonder if more discipline could follow.

Cyclones Facing Second Major Scandal

While many schools across the US have dealt with betting scandals, Iowa State is the first D1 program to have been at the center of two of the largest.

The first scandal involved a group of players from different sports who were caught in a gambling sting. It was the first major scandal for the NCAA since PASPA was overturned and set some legal precedents for how these should be handled.

With Iowa State once again dealing with a betting scandal, the school is still struggling to prevent it.

NCAA Pleas to Congress Go Unanswered

NCAA President Charlie Baker has pleaded for help from the US Congress to protect the integrity of college sports. Betting scandals continue to be uncovered, and college athletes are being targeted by angry bettors.

Some US lawmakers have proposed legislation to crack down on these issues, but the powerful sports betting lobby has prevented them from gaining much momentum. While a few states have taken action on their own, it appears the NCAA remains on its own in the fight against the fallout from legal sports betting.

Could the Infamous “Death Penalty” Be on the Table?

With no help coming, the NCAA could decide to begin making examples of schools that can’t control the issue. The most significant penalty on the table is deemed the “death penalty,” as it would temporarily end athletics at the university. The SMU football team was assessed this penalty decades ago and has only recently begun to compete at a high level once again. 

No one accuses Iowa State of being lax in its approach to betting scandals, but this is the second black eye in a few years. If officials believe federal help isn’t coming, they could decide to begin imposing massive penalties to scare schools into upping their efforts.