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On Wednesday, that story unraveled when the Web site Deadspin published a story saying that Te'o's girlfriend never existed.

Notre Dame said in a statement that Te'o was the victim of "what appears to be a hoax in which someone using the fictitious name Lennay Kekua apparently ingratiated herself with Manti and then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had tragically died of leukemia."

The university said it had initiated an investigation Dec. 26 to assist Te'o and his family "in discovering the motive for the nature of this hoax."

"While the proper authorities will continue to investigate this troubling matter, this appears to be, at a minimum, a sad and very cruel deception to entertain its perpetrators," Notre Dame said.

Te'o's seemingly heartwarming story of perseverance was told and retold during the season, in which he was for the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and led Notre Dame to an unexpected berth in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

On Wednesday evening, he released a statement saying he was the victim of "someone's sick joke and constant lies."