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Ole Miss football slammed with sanctions from NCAA probe

By Matthew Bartlett

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 19: A view of two Mississippi Rebels helmets on the field prior to the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 19: A view of two Mississippi Rebels helmets on the field prior to the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The hammer has dropped. Ole Miss football faces scholarship losses, a two year bowl ban and probation from new sanctions from the NCAA.

The NCAA has released the full list of sanctions from the Ole Miss investigation and there were some big ones. Among the penalties the Rebels will face are a two-year bowl ban, probation, scholarship losses and a show-cause for every coach named in the investigation. That means Hugh Freeze will be out of work for the time being.

Ole Miss was give some leniency when it came to the two-year bowl ban. The NCAA intended a two-year punishment, but gave the Rebels credit for their self-imposed suspension this season. That means they would next be eligible for a bowl following the 2019 season. Here’s what the Rebels are currently facing, per a report by Sports Illustrated.

"A source told Rounsaville that the NCAA Committee on Infractions has also put the program on probation for four years, docked 13 scholarships and levied a $179,000 fine. The penalties are a result of a five-year investigation into the Ole Miss program, which was then led by Freeze."

This situation leaves head coach Matt Luke with an extremely challenging situation. An NCAA bowl ban frees seniors at Ole Miss to transfer immediately and lifts the season long waiting period under normal circumstances. Things are going to get harder at Ole Miss before they get easier as eligible players will be looking forward to greener grasses elsewhere.

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limited scholarships and a tough sell on recruiting efforts make it difficult to be that optimistic about the near future in Oxford. If there is any positives to be had at the moment, the Rebels did cap off their season with an Egg Bowl win over rival Mississippi State. In addition to that, Dan Mullen, the now-former coach of the Bulldogs has moved on to Florida.

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