So how severe do you think the NCAA will hammer USC Athletics?

<p>The infractions committee will announce their decisions on February 19. What do you think will happen with the football team? My guess is either probation for a few years, 2 years post season bowl ban, loss of a couple of scholarships, vacating of the 2005 wins OR...a slap on the wrist because the NCAA and media absolutely adore USC.</p>

<p>last one :)</p>

<p>The February date is for SC to present their case to the committtee. NO response from the committee will occur for 4-6 weeks.</p>

<p>The media has already bashed SC for four years during this investigation.</p>

<p>nothing will come of it.</p>

<p>definitely no post-season bans will occur. they have no precedent for that even for schools that had much worse infractions than us.</p>

<p>btw the media doesn’t really love us.</p>

<p>both of the sportswriters from the LA times are in love with UCLA, and after ESPiN signed their $2.4bn contract with the SEC they have been trashtalking us like crazy. </p>

<p>can you believe they didn’t have a single article about florida’s defensive coordinator going to the NFL the day after Signing Day? where’s the outrage about shady recruiting tactics?</p>

<p>that being said, an undefeated USC will 100% make it into the MNC game, and a 1 or 2 loss USC team will make it into a BCS bowl no matter what.</p>

<p>either USC loses a few scholarships or it’s just a slap on the wrist. the NCAA isn’t going to shoot down one of the premier college football programs with such a large fan base, that would be just stupid on their part. </p>

<p>my prediction is that nothing happens, Seantrel Henderson signs his letter of intent with USC on february 20th, and Matt Barkley leads the team to a national championship in the near future :)</p>

<p>it is very true that ESPN loves the SEC and hates USC because of that contract though. just look at the difference in recruiting rankings; USC is out of the top 5 in ESPN while it’s #1 in the nation in Rivals.</p>

<p>At most, probation, loss of some scholarships, maybe some vacated wins from 2005. NO CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL BE TAKEN AWAY. Trust me, so many people are misinformed about the whole case. They think USC was directly paying Reggie Bush. USC, NOR THE BOOSTERS, HAD NOTHNG TO DO WITH IT. It was shady outside agents doing all the dirty work. USC, once they found out, self reported it. I am expecting only minor punishments for the team. Why else could they assemble one of the top recruiting classes in the country yet again even with this upcoming committee hearing? </p>

<p>Also, many are expecting basketball to not receive much more punishment since USC did the right thing by firing their coach and self-punishment themselves.</p>

<p>Again, do not worry prospective USC students, USC football AND basketball will be even better next season than this year!</p>

<p>Just a note about the recruiting class, offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson one of USC’s top prospects and #8 in the ESPNU 150 has verbally committed to USC but is waiting to see the punishments from the NCAA before he officially signs his letter of intent.</p>