NCAA Restores Penn State Bowl Eligibility, Scholarships

Citing the “significant progress” that Penn State has made, the NCAA on Monday restored the football team’s postseason eligibility and scholarships.

The team immediately becomes postseason eligible, the NCAA said, and the scholarships will be back for the 2015-16 season.

Penn State was subject to serious sanctions and fines when Jerry Sandusky’s crimes came to light. Sandusky, a former assistant football coach at Penn State, was convicted in June 2012 of 45 out of 48 counts of child sexual abuse, and is serving 30 to 60 years in state prison.

“Penn State’s commitment to the integrity of its athletics department and its progress toward meeting the requirements of the Consent Decree are clear,” said Northern Arizona President Rita Hartung Cheng, who chaired Monday’s NCAA Executive Committee meeting.

The decision came following a new report from former Sen. George Mitchell, the university’s athletics integrity monitor. 

“We support the NCAA announcement acting on that recommendation, thank Sen. Mitchell for his dedicated service and appreciate Penn State’s ongoing commitment to improvement,” said Sally Mason, chair of the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors and Iowa President.

Penn State is a member of the Big Ten. Under new coach James Franklin, a Bucks County native, the team is 2-0 so far this season.