A sweeping FBI investigation into alleged point-shaving and betting schemes in college basketball has revealed just how deep the issue runs.
On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced the indictments of 20 college athletes from 17 different schools for allegedly fixing games via performance manipulation in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. In several cases, individuals serving as personal trainers or AAU coaches have also been involved.
Towson, Kent State Games Among the Wagers Exposed in College Basketball Betting Fiasco
According to the federal indictment, the gamblers, identified by Sports Illustrated as two individuals named Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley, enlisted the help of the following schools to fix points: Nicholls State, Tulane, and Northwestern (La.). State, Saint Louis, La Salle, Fordham, Buffalo, DePaul, Robert Morris, Southern Mississippi, North Carolina A&T, Kennesaw State, Coppin State, New Orleans, Abilene Christian, Eastern Michigan, and Alabama State.
According to a tweet by senior college sports writer Pete Thamel, there were several six-figure wagers listed in the indictment, led by a $458,000 bet on Towson to beat UNC A&T. Other top wagers include a $424,000 bet on Kent State to cover the first-half spread against Buffalo, a $275,000 bet on South Alabama to cover the first-half spread of against Southern Miss, and a $256,000 bet on Northern Kentucky to cover the first-half spread against Robert Morris.
Among the Wagers listed in the indictment
*Approximately $458,000 on Towson to beat UNC A&T
*Approximately $424,000 on Kent State to cover the first-half spread against Buffalo
* $275,000 on South Alabama to cover the first-half spread of against Southern Miss
* $256,000 on… pic.twitter.com/ErZlshW632— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 15, 2026
A $52,395 bet on St. John’s is also among the wagers.
*A wager of $ 168,300 on the Guangdong Southern Tigers
*Attempted $50,000 wager at a casino in Kentucky on Southern Mississippi to beat Alabama State
* $30,000 first-half line wager on St. Bonaventure over La Salle
* $52,395 on St. John’s to cover the first-half spread against…— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 15, 2026
The NCAA has echoed concerns about protecting competitive integrity, with officials emphasizing that irregular betting activity undermines the core fairness of sport. NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement, revealing the status of indicted athletes and urging college programs and betting agencies to come together and help eradicate such instances.
“Our enforcement staff has opened sports betting integrity investigations into approximately 40 student-athletes from 20 schools over the past year. While some of the investigations are ongoing, 11 student-athletes from seven schools were recently found to have bet on their own performances, shared information with known bettors, and/or engaged in game manipulation to collect on bets they — or others — placed. This behavior resulted in a permanent loss of NCAA eligibility for all of them.”
Baker also added that 13 more college basketball student-athletes from eight schools, including some from the previously mentioned set, failed to cooperate with the investigation by providing false information. “None of them are competing today,” the statement read.
Of the people involved, four athletes are currently playing Division I college basketball and have competed no earlier than last week.
