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Ohio State’s football program has been given a one-year bowl ban and will lose nine scholarships over the next three years.
A yearlong investigation into the school’s football program had ended on Dec. 20. Ohio State was cited for failure to monitor.
The penalties against Ohio State came after a controversial year, which included the NCAA allowing quarterback Terrelle Pryor and other Buckeyes players to play in the 2011 Sugar Bowl against Arkansas after allegations were brought to their attention. Pryor eventually left Ohio State when he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. He served a suspension related to his time with the school.
Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith was very surprised with the bowl ban decision, as he was confident that would not happen. The school had proposed a five scholarship reduction prior to the sentence.
Part of the violation included the NCAA finding out that eight players had received more than $14,000 in cash payments from the owner of a tattoo parlor. The players got free or discounted tattoos, cash for memorabilia, and one player even received a loan and discount on a car.
The NCAA also discovered that former coach Jim Tressel, now a game-day consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, concealed the violated when he learned of the situation. Tressel, who resigned from Ohio State in May, was issued a five-year “show-cause” order, which means that if he is hired by an NCAA-member institution during the time period given, a school would have to explain why he needed to be employed. The school would also risk violations if Tressel committed any infractions.
Ohio State is now being coached by former Florida coach Urban Meyer, who replaced interim coach Luke Fickell. Meyer won two national titles at Florida.
