Nebraska, coach Scott Frost under NCAA investigation over improper use of analysts during games, practices

Nebraska and coach Scott Frost are under investigation by the NCAA for violations committed over the past year, a source confirmed to CBS Sports on Wednesday. Namely, the NCAA is looking into the improper use of analysts and consultants during practices and games. 

A source familiar with the proceedings told CBS Sports the violations don’t appear to be Level I, the most egregious in the NCAA’s eyes. Analysts on staff are not permitted on the field during practices nor on the sideline during games; however, there has been no appetite among NCAA programs to limit the number of support personnel in recent years. 

Nebraska’s situation was compared to that of Kansas, which is facing Level II and Level III football violations during former coach David Beaty’s time with the program. Those alleged violations are currently bundled with the more serious allegations against the Kansas basketball program, though Kansas has asked the NCAA to separate the football and basketball cases. 

“The University of Nebraska Athletic Department has been working collaboratively with the NCAA to review a matter concerning our football program,” said new AD Trev Alberts in a statement. “We appreciate the dialogue we have had with the NCAA and cannot comment further on specifics of this matter.”

According to a report from Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, who first broke the news of the Nebraska investigation on Wednesday, the program also allegedly held unauthorized organized workouts at an off-campus location in front of strength and conditioning staff during the COVID-19 lockdown. It is unknown, however, whether the NCAA is investigating those allegations.

Nebraska is 12-20 in three years under Frost, a former quarterback for the Huskers, with zero winning seasons. The team opens up its 2021 season on the road against Illinois in Week 0.