Florida State Petitions NCAA to Rescind Penalties Despite NIL Recruiting Violations - What Happens Next Will Surprise You
Florida State is currently petitioning the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions to rescind penalties related to alleged NIL-related recruiting violations, as reported by Yahoo Sports. The university is leveraging a recent temporary injunction issued by a U.S. District Court in Tennessee, preventing the NCAA from enforcing its own NIL policy.
The sanction was imposed on Florida State in January due to offensive coordinator Alex Atkins facilitating an impermissible recruiting contact between a booster and a transfer prospect. Atkins received a two-year show cause penalty and will be suspended for the first three games of the 2024 season.
Additionally, Florida State was handed two years of probation, a fine, a reduction in football scholarships, and limitations on recruiting visits for the 2023-24 academic year. The university has agreed to observe the probation and Atkins' suspension but is disputing the fine and scholarship reduction among other penalties.
This petition from Florida State mirrors the legal action that stripped the NCAA of its NIL-enforcement authority. Following investigations into alleged NIL-related recruiting violations, an antitrust lawsuit was filed against the NCAA by attorneys general from Tennessee and Virginia.
The lawsuit argued that the NCAA's rules violated antitrust laws by impeding athletes from earning full compensation for their name, images, and likeness. The temporary injunction decision highlighted the potential violation of federal antitrust laws and the negative impact on student-athletes.
