TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State has issued a self-imposed one-year bowl ban amid an NCAA investigation for possible infractions incurred under former football coach Herm Edwards.
The ban announced Sunday is a preemptive step as the NCAA investigates the Sun Devils for alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Arizona State University has informed the NCAA and Pac-12 conference that it will self-impose a one-year postseason ban on its football program for the upcoming season," Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson said. "In light of the ongoing investigation and our membership obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the matter, we will not be commenting further at this time.”
The self-imposed postseason ban means ASU will not play in any bowl games in the 2023 season.
The NCAA began investigating ASU in June 2021, looking into allegations that former defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce, who also served as the school's recruiting coordinator, helped create a culture in which rule-breaking was rewarded.
The NCAA investigated allegations that the Sun Devils hosted recruits during the NCAA-imposed ban on in-person recruiting during the pandemic. The NCAA shut down official visits to campus by high school prospects in all sports and banned coaches from taking recruiting trips for more than a year because of COVID-19.
Several assistants resigned or were fired due to the investigation.
Arizona State fired Edwards three games into last season, his fifth with the program, and gave him a $4.4 million buyout instead of firing him for cause. Former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham was hired as his replacement.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
>> This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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