Missouri Football Hit with 1-Year Postseason Ban, Loss of Scholarships

The University of Missouri has been hit with multiple sanctions, including a one-year postseason ban for the football program, stemming from academic violations. 

The NCAA announced the Division I Committee on Infractions panel found a former Missouri tutor violated NCAA rules on ethical conduct, academic misconduct and academic extra benefits rules by completing coursework for 12 student-athletes. 

Punishment for the violations includes a 2019-20 postseason ban for the football team, five percent reduction in scholarships for the football, baseball and softball teams during the 2019-20 academic year and vacation of records in the three sports that the student-athletes competed in while academically ineligible. 

Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk announced the school will appeal the NCAA's ruling:

Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant announced in December he was transferring to the Tigers. 

Per Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News, since Bryant's remaining eligibility is also one year, he could transfer to a different school without penalty under NCAA bylaws.

However, per Matt Connolly of the Kansas City Star, Bryant intends to stay at Missouri and is already taking part in offseason workouts with the team. 

The coursework completed by the tutor for most of the student-athletes included online assignments, quizzes and exams. 

The tutor told the school and NCAA enforcement staff during her interview that an academic coordinator reached out to her and said one particular student needed to pass a course in order to graduate.

She also helped two football players on a math placement exam that explicitly states it must be taken alone without anyone providing assistance. 

Additional sanctions for Missouri will include three years of probation, a 10-year show-cause order for the tutor and various recruiting restrictions for the 2019-20 academic year.