The beleaguered Ohio State football program will vacate its 12 wins from last season, including its Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas.
The school announced the self-imposed penalties as it awaits what are likely to be even more serious penalties from the NCAA for a scandal that saw players trading memorabilia for tattoos. Longtime Coach Jim Tressel has already resigned and star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, at the center of the tattoo imbroglio, has left early for what he hopes is an NFL career.
Athletic Director Gene Smith said wiping out the 12-1 2010 season is a significant price for the university to pay for the school and the team. Four players caught up in the memorabilia-for-tattoos scandal are returning.
"That's a significant impact to those who participated, and some of them are still here today," Smith said.
The school also pledged to better police the team. The four players have already been suspended for the first five games of the season as part of earlier sanctions imposed by the NCAA.
College sports' governing body could take more severe stepsafter a hearing on Aug. 12, which Tressel plans to attend. The school has also waived a $250,000 fine it had previously imposed on Tressel and changed his resignation to "retirement."
