Sad News: Six Tennessee players suspended due to….

The University of Tennessee is immersed in another NCAA investigation of potential rules violations that is “major” in nature, sources tell Sports Illustrated. The case involves multiple sports and includes scrutiny of name, image and likeness (NIL) benefits for athletes.

The Volunteers were penalized last summer for more than 200 rules infractions in the football program. The NCAA Committee on Infractions declared that the case was “one of the worst the COI has seen,” with 18 Level I violations that included around $60,000 in impermissible inducements and benefits for recruits. Now the school is back in the NCAA’s crosshairs, a recurrence that could have significant consequences.

Details are scarce on what Tennessee is potentially facing in the latest case, including the number of involved sports. The school acknowledged the investigation to SI, but declined further comment, other than to say it has not received a notice of allegations from NCAA Enforcement.

According to a New York Times report Tuesday, one element of the NCAA’s investigation is a collective using a private jet to fly heralded five-star quarterback recruit Nico Iamaleava to campus during his recruitment. Having a booster group pay for the trip is a violation of NCAA rules.

The NCAA also declined comment in a statement to SI. “With rare exceptions, the NCAA does not comment on current, pending or potential investigations due to confidentiality rules put in place by member schools,” associate director of communications Meghan Durham Wright said.