Seattle ? A high-ranking official at the University of Washington said Wednesday that football coach Rick Neuheisel’s status hadn’t changed and that an investigation, opened when NCAA officers visited campus last week, was continuing.

“We’ve been working on it since last Wednesday,” said Norm Arkans, the university’s associate vice president for external affairs.

Neuheisel has been scrutinized since disclosing last week that he participated in gambling pools with neighbors on the NCAA basketball tournament. The NCAA bans gambling on college sports by coaches, athletic staff or athletes.

The case has dragged for a week, partly because there’s a lot of money at stake for both sides.

Under terms of Neuheisel’s contract, Washington could owe him as much as $3.6 million in a buyout if he is fired without cause. Each year for three years, he would be paid declining percentages of his $1.2 million annual salary.

The school wouldn’t have to pay anything if he is fired with “just cause,” and Neuheisel would be required to repay a $1.5 million loan he received as part of a contract extension last September.

Neuheisel has five years remaining on the deal.

The question, then, is whether school officials can build a case against Neuheisel.