Betrayal and Bloodshed: Ohio State Reporters Caught in NIL Scandal Turn Deadly what began as a groundbreaking exposé into the dark underbelly of college athletics has now spiraled into a blood-soaked tragedy. Ohio State University, a name synonymous with football greatness, is now mired in scandal and suspicion after two campus reporters, originally lauded for uncovering a name, image, and likeness (NIL) scheme, were found dead under mysterious—and chilling—circumstances.It started innocently enough, or so it seemed. Senior journalism students Kayla Simmons and Derek Porter were working on a year-end feature for The Lantern, the university’s student-run newspaper. They set out to investigate the meteoric rise of freshman running back Zeke Waller, who had gone from unknown recruit to local celebrity with a six-figure NIL deal in just months. What they found, however, was not just the story of a talented athlete cashing in—it was a paper trail riddled with off-the-books payments, shell companies, and whispers of mafia ties operating out of Columbus strip malls.As Simmons and Porter dug deeper, sources began disappearing. Interviews were cancelled, emails mysteriously deleted. Their professor, Diane Wells, urged caution. “You’re not just writing a puff piece anymore,” she warned them during their last meeting. That night, her office was broken into. Nothing was stolen—except for her hard drive and one coffee mug shaped like a Buckeye helmet.One week later, Derek Porter was found dead in his off-campus apartment. Authorities ruled it a suicide, citing the presence of an empty bottle of sleeping pills and a hastily written note that simply read, “It’s not worth it.” But Kayla wasn’t convinced. “Derek was excited about the story. He told me, ‘We’re gonna blow the lid off this thing.’ That’s not a man who gives up.”Determined to finish what they started, Kayla went public with portions of their findings in a dramatic livestream, naming several Ohio State boosters, a shady local sports agency, and even implicating a high-ranking member of the athletic department. Viewers watched in real time as she was interrupted by what appeared to be a loud bang—followed by silence and the feed cutting to black.She was found hours later in a nearby alley, dead from a gunshot wound. Authorities again leaned on suicide, but two things didn’t add up: the gun was missing, and she had no gunpowder residue on her hands.Now, the university is in crisis mode. Student protests have erupted across campus. National media outlets are descending on Columbus. The NCAA has launched an investigation, though critics say it’s “too little, too late.” Some faculty members have gone into hiding, while conspiracy theorists on Reddit have begun piecing together timelines, maps, and surveillance screenshots, building a case for something far more sinister than a simple misuse of NIL funds.Whether it was greed, fear, or loyalty to the program, someone wanted the truth buried—and was willing to kill for it. In the heart of Buckeye Nation, where loyalty runs deep and football reigns supreme, two young journalists tried to do what was right.Now they’re dead, and the question remains: How Many others knew?
