Former Abilene Christian Player Banned for Life After Agreeing to Underperform for $3,500

^{Pictured: Airion Simmons, former Abilene Christian player}

Former Abilene Christian men’s basketball player Airion Simmons was found to have violated NCAA rules on competition integrity and sports betting. The NCAA said Simmons shared inside information with people connected to betting and agreed to deliberately underperform in one of the team’s games.

The case relates to an Abilene Christian game in March 2024. Simmons was offered $3,500 to deliberately underperform, according to the NCAA.

Before the game, he told participants in the scheme that he had an injury and that his availability was uncertain. He also shared other internal information about the team’s roster.

Simmons ultimately played in the game but was on the court for only 11 minutes. He aggravated the hand injury during the game and did not return.

The alleged scheme came to light in September 2025, when another former Abilene Christian player, who had transferred to a Division II team, disclosed the violations. He said Simmons and another basketball player had tried to involve him in a scheme in which players would be paid to help the team lose.

Simmons told NCAA officials that he had met a person in a parking lot in Dallas and received cash in exchange for agreeing to influence the game. However, the NCAA said he did not pass the money on to other players with whom he had discussed the scheme.

The NCAA classified Simmons’ violations as serious, saying he shared information with people involved in the scheme and agreed to influence a game for betting purposes. Simmons was declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA.

The case had already reached the federal level before the NCAA’s decision. In January 2026, Simmons and two alleged participants in the betting scheme were charged in the United States with offenses including sports bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy.