Noah Shannon’s status remains uncertain as NCAA delays vote on updated sports wagering rules for two weeks

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon's long wait to learn whether the NCAA will allow him to return to the field will be even longer.

The NCAA’s Division I Council Coordination Committee delayed its vote on updated sports wagering guidelines for two weeks.

Jon Steinbrecher, the chair of the coordination committee and commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, said in a statement the Conference Commissioners Association “requested a brief delay to allow more time for membership feedback.”

“The coordination committee reemphasized the need for the association to move deliberately and have in-depth conversations about the current wagering landscape,” Steinbrecher said.

With the two-week delay, Shannon’s best-case scenario would be a return on Nov. 11 when Iowa plays Rutgers. He would then have two more regular-season games along with Iowa’s bowl game and possibly the Big Ten championship game.

Shannon, a sixth-year senior, was suspended for the entire 2023 season for a violation of the NCAA’s sports wagering rules. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz previously said Shannon placed a bet on a different University of Iowa sports team.

The NCAA announced plans earlier this month to reexamine its sports wagering guidelines with the possibility of modifications being applied retroactively to already-suspended athletes like Shannon.

“The (Division I Council) agreed with commissioners earlier this month that the penalties for wagering violations in limited circumstances should be adjusted, and the respective committees moved quickly to recommend possible changes,” Steinbrecher said.

If Shannon eventually gets the go-ahead from the NCAA to return to game action, it would be a significant boost to the defensive line. Shannon is a two-time all-Big Ten honorable mention and has started 28 games in his Iowa career.

Defensive line coach Kelvin Bell recently compared Shannon to “having a weighted blanket.”

“You sleep better at night knowing he’s on the field,” Bell said last week.

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