CBS Sports Survey: 27% of College Basketball Coaches Have Suspected a Player of Game-Fixing

A new survey of nearly 100 Division I men’s basketball coaches has revealed a serious concern within the sport.

More than one in four coaches said they had strongly suspected, or known, that a player on their roster was compromised by gambling.

The Numbers Behind the Concern

CBS Sports published the findings as college basketball continues to deal with gambling scandals involving several conferences.

CBS Sports reporters Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander conducted the anonymous offseason survey. Coaches were asked if they had ever seriously wondered or known whether a player was compromised by gambling. While 73% answered no, 27% said yes.

That number stands out because coaches rarely discuss integrity problems within their own teams. The anonymous survey allowed them to answer honestly. It also suggests gambling misconduct may be more common than the number of public cases shows.

A Scandal Map That Keeps Growing; Mobile Betting Access Is Fueling the Fire

The list of confirmed cases helps explain the coaches’ concerns. Game-fixing and point-shaving investigations have involved players at Fresno State, Fordham, Arizona State, and San Jose State. A larger probe connected to the FBI uncovered violations at more than a dozen other programs. The schools included Alabama State, Buffalo, DePaul, Eastern Michigan, Kennesaw State, Northwestern State, Temple, and Tulane.

One coach said the Temple allegations made him look back at games involving his own team and question whether anything suspicious had happened.

Several coaches blamed the rapid growth of regulated sports betting apps. Wagering is now regulated in most US states, and major sportsbooks are easy to reach on a smartphone.

College athletes are constantly exposed to betting markets, including odds on their own games. One coach noted that young adults between 18 and 22 now have access that earlier generations never had. Another said the ease of betting is “scary for our business.” Coaches who once joked about the issue now view it as a real threat to the sport.

What Coaches Are Watching For

Coaches also described the uncomfortable thoughts that can follow a strange mistake. A missed rebound, careless turnover, or bad defensive play can briefly make them wonder whether the action was intentional. Most coaches quickly blame youth or inexperience, but the suspicion itself shows how gambling scandals have changed the game.

One coach said he would immediately report a player if he had real evidence. Another argued that known cases likely represent only part of the problem, comparing them to drivers who are caught speeding after doing it before.

The Broader Significance

The survey does not prove that a major new scandal is about to break. However, it suggests college basketball faces an ongoing integrity concern instead of a few isolated incidents. Coaches pointed to constant roster movement through the transfer portal, weaker relationships between players and coaches, and widespread betting access. Those conditions may make it easier for outside figures to influence athletes.

The NCAA, regulators, and sportsbooks will need stronger education and detection systems to protect games. For bettors, the survey is a warning that suspicious activity may be more common than the confirmed cases suggest.