The NCAA hit Michigan State football with three years’ probation Wednesday for violations that occurred under former head coach Mel Tucker. The Spartans must vacate 14 wins across three seasons, including games from 2024 under current head coach Jonathan Smith, according to ESPN.
The NCAA found Tucker and his staff failed to properly monitor the program. This led to violations involving three ineligible players who are no longer with Michigan State.
The governing body said Tucker “failed to adequately monitor his program.” The violations included recruiting inducements and benefits not allowed under NCAA rules. The infractions also covered unofficial visit expenses and improper contact with recruits.
Michigan State faces additional penalties beyond the vacated wins.
The program must pay $30,000 plus 1.5% of the football program’s budget. That percentage equals about $58.6 million for the 2024 season. The Spartans also face recruiting restrictions during the three-year probationary period. These limits affect official and unofficial visits, recruiting communications, recruiting days, and off-campus contacts and evaluations.
Three former staff members received show cause orders. Tucker got three years for failing to monitor the program. Former general manager Saeed Khalif received six years and former assistant coach Brandon Jordan got five years for “knowingly providing impermissible recruiting inducements.”
Show cause orders essentially ban coaches from college football unless they can prove they deserve consideration for employment.
Michigan State President Kevin Guskiewicz and Athletic Director J. Batt released a joint statement. The officials said they tried to negotiate a resolution that would’ve reduced penalties affecting the current coaching staff who weren’t involved in the violations.
Michigan State football has been hit with a three-year probation and will vacate all wins from 2022–2024 due to recruiting violations from the Mel Tucker era.
Here are details from the MSU athletic department’s statement: pic.twitter.com/SyTkqrCQoZ
— Tyler Gaylord (@Tyler_Gaylord11) November 12, 2025
The penalties create challenges for Smith’s program going forward. Recruiting restrictions will make it harder to rebuild the Spartans. Smith’s staff must be more efficient with limited opportunities to contact and evaluate prospects.
Michigan State currently ranks 37th nationally and 12th in the Big Ten for the 2026 recruiting class, according to Rivals.
The Spartans host Penn State this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The Nittany Lions nearly pulled off a major upset against No. 3 Indiana last week.
