Tennessee is under NCAA investigation. Again. 

This time, the investigation involves potential violations to the NCAA’s flimsy NIL guidelines. And, this time, Tennessee is fighting back. 

UT Chancellor Donde Plowman has her elbows sharpened for this fight, and so does Vols AD Danny White. Perhaps more importantly, the Tennessee attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, is suing the NCAA. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA's NIL guidelines violate the Sherman Antitrust Act and unlawfully restrict athletes' ability to monetize their name, image and likeness.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack the investigation and the lawsuit and what they could mean – for the Vols and the NCAA.

This investigation comes on the heels of a separate investigation in which the NCAA determined 18 Level I violations occurred during Jeremy Pruitt's coaching tenure.

If the NCAA finds that Tennessee committed NIL violations, it may intend to impose harsh penalties, because the Vols would be a repeat offender. However, the NCAA routinely loses in court, and if it loses the judgement in this lawsuit, that could further hamstring the NCAA's ability to enforce its NIL guidelines.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

Tennessee is <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/01/30/tennessee-football-ncaa-investigation-nil-name-image-likeness-nico-iamaleava/72125519007/" aria-label="Link under NCAA investigation">under NCAA investigation</a>. Again. 
This time, the investigation involves potential violations to the NCAA’s flimsy NIL guidelines. And, this time, Tennessee is fighting back. 
<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/01/30/tennessee-nil-investigation-ncaa-email-donde-plowman-spyre-collective/72283786007/" aria-label="Link UT Chancellor Donde Plowman has her elbows sharpened">UT Chancellor Donde Plowman has her elbows sharpened</a> for this fight, and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/02/01/danny-white-tennessee-ncaa-investigation-nil-athletic-director-si-leak/72060007007/" aria-label="Link so does Vols AD Danny White">so does Vols AD Danny White</a>. Perhaps more importantly, the Tennessee attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, is <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/01/31/tennessee-attorney-general-jonathan-skrmetti-sues-ncaa-tennessee-football-nil-jonathan-skrmetti/72416606007/#:~:text=Tennessee%20Attorney%20General%20Jonathan%20Skrmetti,it%20violated%20athletics%20recruiting%20rules." aria-label="Link suing the NCAA">suing the NCAA</a>. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA's NIL guidelines violate the Sherman Antitrust Act and unlawfully restrict athletes' ability to monetize their name, image and likeness.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> unpack the investigation and the lawsuit and what they could mean – for the Vols and the NCAA.
This investigation comes on the heels of a separate investigation in which the NCAA determined 18 Level I violations occurred during Jeremy Pruitt's coaching tenure.
If the NCAA finds that Tennessee committed NIL violations, it may intend to impose harsh penalties, because the Vols would be a repeat offender. However, the NCAA routinely loses in court, and if it loses the judgement in this lawsuit, that could further hamstring the NCAA's ability to enforce its NIL guidelines.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

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