The Florida Gators football program is under investigation by the NCAA.
The investigation has been ongoing since at least June 9, when the NCAA sent UF President Ben Sasse a notice of investigation. This is a formal document that NCAA law enforcement staff sends to schools informing them of the investigation before interviewing any of their employees or athletes.
The specific nature of the investigation and possible violations are not explained in detail in the four-page note. But in October, the Tampa Bay Times requested any investigative notices regarding possible violations involving names, images and likenesses or recruiting. The request was initially rejected, but was granted on Friday.
“We have been cooperating with the NCAA and will continue to do so,” Gators spokesman Steve McClain said. “We value excellence and integrity on and off the field. Because we follow NCAA guidelines for maintaining confidentiality, we cannot provide additional comment.”
The investigation comes at a time when NCAA law enforcement is trying to keep pace with the rapidly evolving fields of recruiting and name, image and likeness. The Gators were at the center of this field last year with an eight-figure dispute between blue-chip quarterback newcomer Jaden Rashada and third-party Gator Collective. Rashada initially signed with Florida but ended up at Arizona State, where he started two games as a true freshman.
In February, Gators head coach Billy Napier was asked if he expected to hear from the NCAA about the Rashada situation. His answer: “We don’t.”
In December 2020, the Gators were sanctioned by the NCAA in a separate case. They received a one-year suspended sentence for recruiting violations under then-coach Dan Mullen. A Level II violation involved a meeting between Mullen and an assistant with a recruit who had not yet completed his freshman year of high school. A Level III violation involved improper contact between coaches and recruits en route to a tournament in Tampa.
Last week, Florida State was hit with sanctions after offensive coordinator Alex Atkins drove a transfer prospect to a meeting with a booster who ran a name, image and likeness collective. According to the solution negotiated between the NCAA and the Seminoles, this booster offered the prospect $15,000 as a recruiting incentive.
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