Cheating in Small College Football

[JBB2]

An important story breaking in North Dakota small college football:

Don’t hear much about und2 but when I do it always seems to be bad. Just when they were going to dominate the FCS too.

Were the und recruits Lakes reported recruited unethically?

Of course it was only one innocent mistake. They self reported so it must be a minor problem

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Following a collaborative process between North Dakota Athletics, the NCAA and the Division I Committee on Infractions (COI), the COl on Friday, June 5, 2026 released a negotiated resolution associated with rules violation by a staff member within the North Dakota football program.

North Dakota, the NCAA and the COl agreed that a current staff member had impermissible
communications with a student-athlete without first obtaining authorization through the notification of transfer process.

Upon discovering the violation, UND immediately self-reported it to the NCAA. (of course they did). UND then worked closely with the NCAA and the COl on a resolution.

As a result of the violation, the COl imposed penalties to include one year of probation from June 5, 2026 to June 4, 2027.

[JBB2]

WHEN DID UND START CHEATING?

It’s hard to say when they started cheating. 2023 or 2024?

Saturday, November 8 2025 Bison W 15-10

Saturday, October 5 2024. Bison W 41-17

The above scores show them really closing the gap between 2024 & 2025. They showed a spark of life in ‘23 too. Before that nothing.

What other rules have they violated?

[JBB2]

und2 suffered the following penalties. There is no suspension from the small college football tournament or other known post-season restrictions.

• One year of probation

• $25,000 fine

• A one-week ban on recruiting communications for the football program during the January 2027 notification-of-transfer window

• A 3% reduction in official paid visits in football during the 2026-27 academic year

• Three one-week bans on football unofficial visits during the 2026-27 academic year

• A one-year show-cause order for Stepps, during which any employing NCAA member school must restrict him from communicating with four-year transfer prospects during the entire January 2027 football notification-of-transfer window.

• One-game suspension for Stepps during the 2026 football season.

Stepps must be the coach getting blamed?

What a terrible shame for the State. I was thinking forfeiting the 23-25 seasons should have been included.

[JBB2]

Irony for the ages, the tale of two programs. One winning and one celebrating a dubious win over their rival:

The und2 football program transitioned into NCAA probation a full month ahead of NDSUs official July 1 transition into FBS.

fitting for a program with that history and fan base:

• they berated NDSUs FCS moves.

• Let the NCC down by frantically joining FCS.

• denigrated NDSUs success by curiously running down the FCS

• insisted for years they were more qualified and attractive to FBS than NDSU

• Upon NDSUs invitation to the FBS MWC, suddenly started bragging about dominating the now great FCS

Then reality hit. They were desperate.

und2 cheated at FCS football!