Donovan McNabb and the State of Football
Just one week after news emerged of a potential gambling scandal involving (now former) Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon, both Iowa and Iowa State are under scrutiny.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has begun an investigation into “potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering” at both the University of Iowa and Iowa State, the university system announced on Monday. These allegations could also constitute NCAA violations.
The statement did not, however, specify the nature of the betting allegations beyond “a list of individuals alleged to have participated in sports wagering.” Sports betting is legal in the state of Iowa.
At the University of Iowa, 26 current athletes have been named in several men’s sports: baseball, football, men’s track and field, men’s basketball, and men’s wrestling. There is also one current University of Iowa athletic department official on the list.
There are no current or former coaches, but a large number of former athletes, “student-staff,” or members of the University of Iowa community without ties to athletics.
Iowa State athletics released a statement confirming that 15 current athletes from football, track, and wrestling were potentially implicated.
The Action Network, which first reported Iowa’s sports betting investigation, noted four Iowa Hawkeye baseball players had been suspended from the team — but a specific violation was not publicized.
There are now three schools under investigations for alleged gambling scandals.
Last week, multiple state gambling commissions shut down betting on Alabama baseball games after two suspicious bets were placed in Ohio and flagged by U.S. Integrity. Alabama’s baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, was fired on Thursday. Reports suggest athletes themselves were not involved in the scandal.
“Due to confidentiality rules put in place by member schools, the NCAA does not comment on current, pending or potential investigations,” the NCAA said in a statement to Front Office Sports.
A spokesperson did note that the NCAA is aware of the allegations at Alabama, and is “actively gathering additional information.” Both Iowa and Iowa State said in releases they had spoken with the NCAA about the allegations.
