The Big Ten Conference has sent a formal letter to the NCAA requesting a pause on ongoing tampering investigations while calling for updated rules and clearer guidelines on the controversial issue.

The request comes after the NCAA recently issued a memo promising strict enforcement and punishment for rule violations related to tampering. The Big Ten characterized the current NCAA rules as outdated in their correspondence with the governing body.

Tampering in college sports typically involves improper contact or inducements offered to student-athletes who are already enrolled at other institutions. The practice has become a growing concern as the transfer portal has expanded opportunities for player movement between programs.

The Big Ten's letter specifically asks the NCAA to halt investigations into potential tampering violations until new, more comprehensive rules can be established. The conference is seeking greater clarity on what constitutes tampering and how such cases should be handled.

The NCAA has not yet publicly responded to the Big Ten's request. The organization's recent memo indicated it planned to take a stricter approach to enforcement of existing tampering rules, which the Big Ten now argues need substantial revision before such enforcement proceeds.