Josh Heupel blasts NCAA for Arion Carter suspension: ‘It’s bulls–t’
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Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was very critical of the NCAA in new comments on Tuesday regarding its decision to hand down a multi-game suspension for linebacker Arion Carter.
The suspension is due to a $427 flight Carter accepted from an agent when he was going through the NFL Draft process this past offseason. Carter ultimately withdrew from the draft due to an injury and paid back the money for the flight.
However, the NCAA still decided to levy a suspension. Heupel unloaded on the NCAA for that ruling during a press conference on Tuesday.
“The ruling that came out from the NCAA, the 2-game suspension, I truly believe is bullshit,” Heupel said. “You look at the landscape of college football, the rules, NIL and everything, I think the ruling is completely outdated. And I’m disappointed for him and for us about the result of that ruling.”
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The suspension means Carter is set to miss Tennessee‘s Week 1 opener against Furman as well as a Week 2 matchup against Georgia Tech. When healthy and available, Carter projects to be one of Tennessee’s best defensive players and a starter at linebacker.
Carter’s return to the lineup does come in time for Tennessee’s SEC opener against Texas in Week 4. The Vols are hoping to take a big step forward on defense in 2026 after hiring Jim Knowles away from Penn State this past offseason.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
