Notre Dame linebacker's tragic loss of girlfriend a hoax: Report

A Notre Dame football player's relationship with a 22-year-old woman who supposedly died in September was just a hoax on the Heisman finalist, the university confirmed after a report on Deadspin.com.

The website reported Wednesday that Manti Te'o's was tricked into an online relationship with a fake woman named Lennay Kekua.

The AP said Notre Dame confirmed the prank, stating authorities are investigating a

"very cruel deception."

The linebacker didn't attend the 22-year-old's reported funeral on Sept. 22 and played in the school's 13-6 victory over Michigan that day.

The blog found no Social Security records for Kekua.

Te'o released a statement later in the day, saying he was the victim of a "sick joke" and he should have been more cautious.