I think the following quotes from the NCAA is everybody's hangup:
I think the investigation is still ongoing. They're just at the point where they have decided whether Cam was involved or not. The NCAA didn't really comment on the finality of the investigation itself, just the status of Cam's eligibility. Still, I don't think AU has anything to worry about unless they paid him, which I highly doubt. This investigation is probably still ongoing on the MSU end.
I listened to several experts on this today, that are NOT involved. While the investigation may not be over, 2 things are clear. They have all the fact currently known, and made this ruling, and it's clear by the ruling Auburn has no culpability in anything...meaning IF any enforcement action were to take place on the currently known facts, they'd be against MSU.
I maintained this all along...if they couldn't find that money ever changed hands, and that there was no evidence of shopping Cam to Auburn...the NCAA would not punish Auburn either with sanctions, or by ruling Cam ineligible for any games.
The way this played out confirms what I and others have said...like Tony Barnhart...Auburn is/was supremely confident that Auburn's hands were clean, and that no money ever changed hands...and they knew that cooperation with the NCAA would result in what happened today. Auburn will NEVER be punished here unless someone uncovers something completely new and unknown to this point, namely that some Auburn booster paid Cam or Cecil. The only entity that has a worry at this point, is MSU, and I doubt they have much to worry about since they at least gave lip service to reporting this...although it was after Cam went to Auburn...and they've agreed to ban Rogers.