NCAA suspends Tennessee's Arion Carter for two games over flight payment

Arion Carter, a linebacker for Tennessee, receives a two-game suspension from the NCAA for violating amateurism rules after accepting a $427 flight paid by his NFL agent. The suspension affects his participation in the first two games of the 2026 season against Furman and Georgia Tech. Carter, who led the SEC last season with an average of 7.6 tackles per game, contested the initial three-game suspension, which was reduced after Tennessee appealed. The NCAA ruled that Carter's acceptance of the flight payment crossed a line in the current NIL, where athletes can receive limited benefits but must adhere to strict guidelines.

• 6:23 PMYahoo Sports — Tennessee linebacker Carter gets 2-game ban for accepting $427 flight
• 4:50 PMYahoo Sports — NCAA suspends Tennessee LB Arion Carter for 2 games after he repaid an agent for a $427 plane ticket
• 4:39 PMYahoo Sports — NCAA suspends Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter for two games tied to $427 flight
• 4:25 PMESPN — NCAA suspends Tennessee LB over $427 flight
• 4:12 PMYahoo Sports — How Arion Carter suspension affects Tennessee football, defense in first two games
• 3:11 PMCBS Sports — NCAA hands Tennessee star LB Arion Carter two game suspension over flight during NFL pre-draft process
• 3:05 PMYahoo Sports — NCAA suspends Tennessee star linebacker two games over $427 flight
• 2:29 PMYahoo Sports — Arion Carter, Tennessee star, suspended 2 games for gifted flight from agent