NCAA rules player permanently ineligible after match-fixing scheme
A former Abilene Christian University basketball player has been permanently ruled ineligible by the NCAA after admitting involvement in a betting scheme designed to manipulate the outcome of a college game.
The NCAA said former player Airion Simmons accepted US$3,500 to intentionally “play bad” during Abilene Christian’s March 20, 2024 game against Tarleton State University.
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According to NCAA findings, the scheme was first discussed while Simmons and teammates were playing video games before the matchup, before escalating into a FaceTime call involving two teammates and a known bettor who allegedly instructed the players to lose the game against the betting spread for money.
Investigators said Simmons shared inside information about injuries and team availability with bettors before the contest, including details about his own hand injury and another absent teammate.
Simmons later admitted meeting an unidentified individual in a Dallas outlet mall parking lot to collect cash tied to the fix, with NCAA documents stating he kept all the money and did not share it with teammates involved in the conspiracy.
The NCAA classified the conduct as a Level I ethical breach — the most serious category under its rules — citing violations involving sports wagering, dishonesty and game manipulation.
Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania indicted Simmons and two alleged bettors in January 2026 on charges including bribery in sports wagering contests, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The NCAA noted Simmons declined to participate in the negotiated resolution process, with his non-participation treated as acceptance of the sanctions.
