Ohio State's NCAA Sanctions: Biggest Impact Will Be Benefit to Wisconsin Badgers

Nearly one year to the day after the initial reports of the "Tattoo-Five" scandal broke, the NCAA concluded its investigation and hammered Ohio State with additional sanctions. University President E. Gordon Gee and Athletic Director Gene Smith gambled on no bowl ban by accepting the invitation to the Gator Bowl this season, but that gamble was misguided.

Surprisingly, the team this ruling will affect the most is the Wisconsin Badgers. But before we jump into the good fortune in Madison, a quick review of the new sanctions is warranted.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the additional sanctions include a postseason ban in the 2012 season, a third year of probation (Ohio State self-imposed two years), and four additional scholarship losses to bring the total to nine over the next three seasons.

These penalties are in addition to the other self-imposed penalties of vacating the 12–1 season in 2010, forfeiting Ohio State's share of Sugar Bowl proceeds from last year, significant suspensions for the players involved, and the dismissal of Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor from the program. The damage has been significant, but the good news is that most of the tough part of the punishment is over.

Next year, Ohio State will not face the coaching uncertainty and lack of top-tier players that plagued the program in 2011. In fact, the lack of pressure to win a conference championship and make a BCS bowl game in Urban Meyer's first season may be a blessing in disguise for any health concerns of the coach, as well as the expectations of the fan base in Buckeye country.

Furthermore, Meyer must only leave three scholarships off the table this recruiting season and then not fill those spots for the next three years. Considering the caliber of players that are swarming into Columbus, the lack of three scholarships for three years is no more than a minor bump in the road.

The bowl ban might be a slight deterrent to some players to join the program in this recruiting class, but the honest reality of first year head coaches at Ohio State is usually a mediocre season with six to eight wins. Considering that the real benefits to most players in the 2012 recruiting class would not have come until the 2013 season and beyond, the bowl ban will have little effect on the long term success plan for the Buckeyes.

In view of the heavy player suspensions and the firing of Jim Tressel, the relatively light penalties added by the NCAA seem appropriate for this case. There's little doubt that the NCAA is now taking infractions far more seriously, but hopefully the seemingly fair ruling from today will also bode well for fair treatment of other offending programs like Miami and North Carolina (USC appears to have been unfairly punished, but it is too late to go back and change that mistake).

One additional hidden problem for Ohio State next season is the opportunity for players with one year of eligibility left to leave for another FBS program outside the Big Ten conference as a result of the postseason ban.

Although most of the players projected to start in 2012 will likely stick around, some second-team players and others with disagreements with how Urban Meyer is running the program could bolt the program for greener pastures. Time will tell how many players will take advantage of this NCAA rule.

Speaking of transfers, let's turn this NCAA ruling around and look to the future. Unlike the wide open Leaders Division race heading into 2011, this ruling is the final piece of a landslide that now makes Wisconsin the overwhelming favorite to repeat as division champions in 2012.

The only gaping hole in the Wisconsin offense entering 2011 was quarterback, but the graduate transfer rule brought in Russell Wilson from NC State to great results. With a similar situation facing the Badgers next season as second-string quarterback Joe Brennan is just a freshman this year, 2012 may be another good season to bring in a transfer quarterback to lead the offense.

Luckily, there just happens to be another high profile quarterback on the immediate transfer market as Dayne Crist is looking for a home next season after his days at Notre Dame. Crist would likely succeed as much if not more than Wilson has, which would keep the Badger offense running wild.

Wisconsin will lose five other starters on offense and on defense, but many key players in the two-deep depth chart this year were freshman and sophomores that will be ready to take over next year. Additionally, three of the best four receivers will return as juniors and both James White and Montee Ball are likely to return as well.

Put simply, with Crist, the talent is there for Wisconsin to be at least close to as good as the 2011 Badgers.

The remainder of the Leaders Division is in shambles. Illinois will be adjusting to a new system under a new head coach Tim Beckman. 

Penn State will also be adjusting to a new coach and system and a severe lack of top-quality recruits thanks to the ongoing black eye caused by the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Plus, Wisconsin proved that their program is simply in a better state than the Nittany Lions this season.

Purdue and Indiana will struggle to keep their heads above water, let alone knock off Wisconsin.  The Boilermakers do get Wisconsin at home next year, but an upset would still be a shocker even in West Lafayette.

And now, Ohio State cannot win the division. Bottom line: the only real threat to Wisconsin in 2012 was just removed forcefully and decisively by the NCAA. Go ahead and pencil in Wisconsin against the victor of the Legends Division, which is a more wide open race.

Given the recent success of Wisconsin against Nebraska and more recently, Michigan State, the Badgers will likely be favored to win a third straight Big Ten championship. That would likely put Wisconsin in a third straight Rose Bowl, an accomplishment only achieved twice by Big Ten teams in Rose Bowl history (Michigan in 1977-1979 and Ohio State in 1973-1976).

Being put in the same category with only the dynasty teams at the peak of Woody Hayes at OSU and Bo Schembechler at UM would be a historic achievement that cannot be understated. Add in a solid chance at a Heisman Trophy for Montee Ball and Wisconsin is set for great things in 2012.

The Ohio State Committee on Infractions ruling might not be the only reason, but it certainly pushes Wisconsin over the top for a three-peat.

Things are looking mighty Rose-y in Madison, and the Badgers can thank the NCAA for that.