Ex-ACU player banned for allegedly fixing games
Key takeaways
- A former Abilene Christian men's basketball player was permanently banned by the NCAA on Friday for allegedly helping rig basketball games for sports bettors.
- According to the NCAA's Division I Committee on Infractions, Airion Simmons -- who played at Abilene Christian from 2019 to '24 -- colluded with a teammate and agreed with a bettor to throw a March 2024 game for money.
- In January, Simmons and the two bettors were included in a sprawling indictment by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania on various charges, including bribery, fraud and conspiracy.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
A former Abilene Christian men's basketball player was permanently banned by the NCAA on Friday for allegedly helping rig basketball games for sports bettors.
According to the NCAA's Division I Committee on Infractions, Airion Simmons -- who played at Abilene Christian from 2019 to '24 -- colluded with a teammate and agreed with a bettor to throw a March 2024 game for money. In a December 2025 interview, Simmons told NCAA investigators he was also contacted by a second bettor about losing the game for money.
In January, Simmons and the two bettors were included in a sprawling indictment by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania on various charges, including bribery, fraud and conspiracy.