The NCAA has penalized Mississippi State's football and basketball programs for academic misconduct, the NCAA and university announced Friday.
The NCAA and university agreed in a negotiated resolution agreement that a former student and part-time athletics department tutor completed multiple assignments, exams and, in some cases, nearly the entire course work for 10 football players and one men's basketball player in a scandal dubbed "Tutorgate." The academic year was not specified.
As a result, those 10 football players and the basketball player will have their eligibility limited this season. None of the athletes' names were disclosed, although 247Sports.com reports that the basketball player in question is believed to be guard Nick Weatherspoon, who was "suspended indefinitely" on Feb. 16 for an undisclosed violation and did not play again. The report notes he is expected to miss 10 games this season because of the sanctions. The junior guard has averaged 10.3 points in his first two seasons.
The 10 football players will each miss eight games, according to the 247Sports report. Coach Joe Moorhead said Saturday any possible suspensions would be announced the day before or day of the team's season opener Aug. 31 against Louisiana-Lafayette.
While the university avoided postseason bans for the football and basketball teams, the NCAA levied a wide range of other penalties:
— Mississippi State will serve a three-year probation.
— Wins in which the ineligible players participated will be vacated.
— The football team will lose two scholarships during each of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years, while the basketball team will lose one scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year.
— The university will be fined $5,000, plus 1 percent of both the football and basketball programs' budgets.
— Both teams will face reductions in the number of unofficial and official visits potential recruits are allowed.