College watchdog eyeing possible NIL violations at between 5-10 Power Four schools, AP source says

The College Sports Commission is investigating potential violations of the $21.5 million spending cap at between five and 10 Power Four conference schools. This cap limits how much schools can share with players. Some schools are reportedly spending up to $50 million on their football rosters this year through third-party payments, known as NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), which allow players to bypass the cap.

The CSC has been questioning these schools about the legality of such payments, which often involve third-party entities associated with the schools. The commission's memo stated that it is actively investigating multiple, longer-term cases of potential cap evasion and NIL-related violations. If a case reaches arbitration, the CSC can impose postseason bans and restrict spending under the revenue-sharing cap.