Reports: Ohio State Hit with One-Year Bowl Ban

As the University of Miami awaits the results of the NCAA’s investigation into allegations that several players received illicit benefits from a certain booster, as well as their punishment, the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Ohio State has received a one-year postseason ban following the NCAA’s investigation into the program.

The Buckeyes will not play in a bowl game in 2012, and will be docked an additional four scholarships over the next three. OSU had already docked themselves of five scholarships. They will also handed one extra year of probation on top of the two they had already self-imposed.

Additionally, former head coach Jim Tressel, who, upon learning that some of his players had sold memorabilia failed to report it to the compliance department and allowed the players to play, will receive a ‘show-cause’, which basically means that a team that hires him will be subjected to certain penalties as well unless they prove they should not be.

The cases at OSU and UM differ in many ways, but allegations that coaches were aware of illicit benefits received by players and other improprieties rings to a similar tune. The scale of the allegations against the Canes exceeds those levied against Ohio State as well. Of course, the NCAA is in the midst of its investigation and has already cleared one player–Marcus Robinson–who was previously accused of having received illicit benefits.

UM has already self-imposed a postseason ban this season, which could theoretically reduce some of the potential punishment received from the NCAA. But the news of the sanctions levied against Ohio State is further proof that the NCAA is serious about compliance and is going to make sure the country knows it.

There are pictures of former UM players with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, as well as bills and receipts that were presented as evidence in the Yahoo! story that broke the news of the Miami scandal. It’s tough to say exactly what other evidence has popped up over the course of the investigation. But in Ohio State’s case, Tressel left a smoking gun in the form of a damning email that demonstrated his knowledge of the situation and his failure to notify the appropriate department.

It’s probably a safe bet that the Hurricanes will receive some NCAA hurt in one form or another, but even with the sanctions levied against the Buckeyes, don’t expect the Canes to be irreversibly crippled the way some are hoping–or even predicting.