NCAA Football Penn State football Program Dodges “Death Penalty” Bullet

Get ready for a mass exodus from Penn State’s football program. Officials of the NCAA handed down a groundbreaking, albeit much-deserved penalty against Penn State as a result of its abuse scandal involving assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Chances of shutting down the football program completely for several years were slim. That wouldn’t have been fair to the innocent parties who are just trying to get an education and play some football. Though, for the victims, perhaps that would have provided some longer-term comfort.

While the NCAA didn’t shut down Penn State’s program, the penalties deal a crushing blow to the once-mighty football powerhouse. Not to mention the college football odds on Penn State.

Penn State must pay a $60 million fine, and they’re banned from playing in the post-season for four years. Their storied history also has been wiped out, with all team victories between 1998 and 2001 officially stricken from the record books.

For those who are used to seeing Penn State in post-season, that won’t happen for the next few years. So if you enjoy NCAA football betting, you better start looking somewhere else.

We’re not convinced they’d even make it into the post-season, even without that restriction, now that the NCAA has also taken away 10 scholarships per year for the next four years.  Any chance of having a team that can be remotely competitive in the Big Ten is pretty much gone.

The combined penalties add up to multiple nails in the coffin, given the fact that post-season opportunity is what makes a school attractive. The number of players who will actually seek out Penn State as a viable place to play and get an education will be infinitesimal.

And now that the NCAA is allowing Penn State players to transfer to play, right away, at other universities, Penn State will quickly become a third rate, bottom tier school for the foreseeable future.