UND Football Program Sanctioned

GRAND FORKS, ND—The NCAA has disciplined the University of North Dakota football program after recruiting violations involving a student-athlete who was attending a different school and did not enter the transfer portal at that time.

The conversations happening between the student-athlete and UND assistant Travis Stepps.

Head coach Eric Schmidt and Stepps both agree the tampering happened after Stepps knowingly communicated with the student-athlete.

All parties including the school agreed that Schmidt would be the one held responsible, but they noted that Schmidt was not personally involved in the violations.

The Fighting Hawks football program will be fined $25,000 and placed on one year’s probation. There will also be reductions in on and off campus visits.  Stepps will also be suspended for one game in the 2026 season and he’ll be restricted from contacting transfer prospects from four year schools throughout the 2027 transfer portal.