Former Abilene Christian men's basketball student-athlete Airion Simmons violated sports betting integrity rules when he knowingly provided information to individuals involved in sports betting activities and agreed to manipulate his performance during an Abilene Christian men's basketball game, according to a decision released by the Division I Committee on Infractions. Violations involving game manipulation for sports betting reasons result in the loss of eligibility, deeming Simmons to be permanently ineligible. Simmons participated in an interview with the NCAA enforcement staff but declined to participate in the processing of this case.
Simmons is no longer a member of the school's men's basketball program and is not currently competing in NCAA college sports.
In September 2025, a Division II school submitted a secondary violation for sports betting violations when another former Abilene Christian men's basketball student-athlete transferred to the program and informed the school about prior sports betting violations with the Abilene Christian men's basketball team. Specifically, the student-athlete reported that in March 2024, Simmons colluded with another teammate, and the two of them pressured his involvement to get paid to lose a game. Later, the student-athlete who reported the violations received a FaceTime call with Simmons, the teammate and a known bettor. The known bettor told the group to lose the game for money. The student-athlete who reported the violations indicated that by the time he entered the game, the final outcome was determined, and his performance had no impact on the outcome of the game.
In a December 2025 interview with the enforcement staff, Simmons reported a second known bettor contacted him to make some quick money to lose the game. Simmons told the individuals that he was struggling with a hand injury and his status for the game was unclear, and he shared that another teammate would not be playing in the game. Simmons was offered $3,500 to "play bad" in the game and went on to injure his hand early in the game with no return after only playing 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 and did not pay the other student-athletes he had conspired with.
In January 2026, Simmons, along with the two known bettors, were indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on various fraud charges, including bribery in sports wagering contests, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the events surrounding the March 2024 game.
Simmons declined to participate in the processing of this case. However, his violations of ethical conduct rules are Level I.
Although the Committee on Infractions does not currently assess penalties for student-athletes who violated NCAA rules, their participation in violations is not without consequence. Student-athletes who are found to have violated NCAA rules are ineligible and can only be reinstated with the assistance of an NCAA school.
Members of the Committees on Infractions are drawn from the NCAA membership and public. The panel members who reviewed this case are Rich Ensor, former commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; Jason Leonard, executive director of athletics compliance at Oklahoma and vice chair of the Committee on Infractions; and Amy Parsons, president of Colorado State.
