LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska announced that the NCAA is looking into its football program after a report said Cornhuskers staff improperly used analysts and consultants with the knowledge of coach Scott Frost and even moved workouts off campus last year when such activities were banned during the pandemic.
“The University of Nebraska Athletic Department has been working collaboratively with the NCAA to review a matter concerning our football program,” Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts said in a statement Wednesday. “We appreciate the dialogue we have had with the NCAA and cannot comment further on specifics of this matter.”
Citing unidentified sources, The Action Network reported that Nebraska has “significant video footage” confirming practice violations occurred in the presence of Frost and other assistants.
The NCAA has interviewed Frost, current and former staff members, administrators and football players, and Frost has hired an attorney. The alleged violations occurred in the last 12 months.
The NCAA investigation includes Nebraska’s impermissible use of analysts and consultants running special teams drills, according to the report. Analysts are not among the 10 full-time on-field assistants and are not allowed to speak with players.
Frost, who has a 12-20 record in his first three seasons at Nebraska, begins his fourth season at Illinois on Aug. 28. He has never finished higher than fifth in the Big Ten West.
The program has had four straight losing seasons, its longest streak since the late 1950s.
Frost, who quarterbacked the Huskers to the 1997 national championship, returned to his alma mater after being named national coach of the year for leading Central Florida to a 13-0 record in 2017. He is under contract through 2026, and his current buyout is $20 million.
A year ago, the NCAA disallowed organized workouts because of the pandemic. According to the report, Nebraska allegedly relocated its strength workouts to an undisclosed off-campus location to avoid detection at the direction of NU’s strength and conditioning staff.
The special teams analyst, Jonathan Rutledge, was fired in January. Gerrod Lambrecht, Frost’s chief of staff, resigned two weeks ago.
Alberts was hired as athletic director in July after Bill Moos unexpectedly announced his retirement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.