'Minimal' number of Iowa State football players involved in gambling probe, Campbell says

ARLINGTON, Texas – At an event all about messaging, Matt Campbell did his best to frame the circumstances in which his program finds itself – with players involved in an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation gambling probe – as "minimal" and an "opportunity."

The Iowa State football coach fielded plenty of questions about the ongoing investigation, but offered little in the way of specifics as the situation continues to unfold.

“It’s so minimalistic in terms of numbers (of players involved),” Campbell said Thursday at Big 12 Media Days. “We’re all being educated on it. You take it as a learning opportunity with the young men on your team and you grow forward.

“To me, it really hasn’t hindered us or it hasn’t really paused us in any way, shape or form as we continue to build this team.”

More: Cyclone Insider Podcast: Peterson and Hines talk Day 2 from Big 12 media days

More: NCAA rule changes align to public gambling sentiment – and aid Iowa, Iowa State athletes

More: Peterson: There could be a silver lining to Iowa State’s sports wagering investigation

Campbell repeatedly referred to the number of those involved as "minimal," but declined to give an exact tally of players who could be facing punishment from the NCAA due to its near-universal prohibition on sports wagering. Placing bets on sports became legal in Iowa in 2019 for those age 21 or older.

“The biggest thing I can say is it’s such a minimal amount in our football program right now,” Campbell said.

Iowa State previously said it had “approximately” 15 student-athletes involved in the probe, but did not give a sports-specific breakdown. If the Cyclones’ football program makes up a small percentage of that 15, the probe’s impact becomes a matter of “Who?” rather than “How many?”

For a team trying to work its way back from a 4-8 campaign a year ago, losing key contributors, even if only a small number, will make the work of climbing the Big 12 leaderboard all the more daunting.

“As a team, we’re solid,” junior wide receiver Jaylin Noel said Thursday. “We’re sticking together and we’re doing great and we’re working toward fall camp. We’re excited for the season.”

More: Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark largely mum on realignment at football media days

The timeline for when Iowa State may know its players’ fate remains very much a mystery. The DCI’s investigation is just the first component of the process, with Iowa State then having to gather information to provide the NCAA, which will ultimately decide what penalties to impose. Discipline could range from no games missed for small wagering to 30 percent of a season (or more) for bigger bets. Consequences are much more severe for more illicit actions such as providing information to bettors or wagering on their own sport.

If the process remains ongoing when Iowa State begins the season Sept. 2 against Northern Iowa, the players involved would likely be held out from competition. If they play and were later found to be ineligible, Iowa State could face forfeiture of games in which they appeared along with other penalties.

“Hopefully you get a little more clarity as we get closer,” Campbell said, “but you take the information that you have by the time you get to that point in the season and you continue to put the team in the best situation to move itself forward.”

Iowa State did receive something resembling good news, or at least potentially good news, when the NCAA recently announced reduced penalties for most forms of sports wagering by student-athletes, bringing college sports’ governing body more in line with modern sentiments on gambling as its legality is expanded.

“The NCAA is continuing to evolve in their understanding of the world we’re living in,” Campbell said, “and I think there was recognition that this is a different time, this is a different world.

“You’re dealing, at least right now, it looks like not a great legal ramification. They made a minor mistake. It’s a choice, and we all are defined by choices we make.”

Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or  (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Cyclones await 'clarity' as gambling probe continues ahead of season