An NCAA appeals committee has upheld Missouri‘s bowl ban for this season, the school announced Tuesday.
“We are deeply disappointed and appalled by the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee’s decision to shirk its responsibilities and simply uphold sanctions that are not consistent with precedent or even common sense,” Missouri chancellor Alexander Cartwright and athletic director Jim Sterk said as part of a joint statement.
The Tigers, at 5-6 overall, could have qualified for a bowl game by beating Arkansas on the road in Friday’s regular-season finale.
In January, the NCAA banned Missouri’s football, baseball and softball teams from the postseason for a year and placed the entire athletic department on probation. The programs also lost scholarships and faced other recruiting restrictions.
Missouri officials appealed the postseason ban in March. In a 64-page brief to the NCAA appeals committee, the Tigers argued that the original ruling was contrary to NCAA precedent, was not appropriate given the nature of the allegations and could set a dangerous precedent for future NCAA enforcement decisions.
The case began in 2016 when a tutor, Yolanda Kumar, admitted she violated NCAA rules by completing coursework and ensuring athletes in football, baseball and softball passed certain classes.
Missouri conducted an internal investigation after Kumar made allegations against the athletic department on social media. Tigers officials cooperated with the NCAA during its inquiry and issued self-imposed penalties. Kumar received a 10-year show-cause from the NCAA.