Tennessee football has learned its NCAA fate for the violations that occurred under the previous coaching regime. UT’s proactive approach helped the Volunteers avoid a postseason ban. The headlining penalties for Tennessee are 5 years of probation and an $8 million fine. Former head coach Jeremy Pruitt faces a 6-year show cause.

The NCAA states that the $8 million fine is the equivalent of if the Vols missed the postseason for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Division I Committee on Infractions panel also prescribed the legislated fine of $5,000 plus 3% of the football program budget and a fine to address the ineligible competition in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Game.

Tennessee’s 5 years of probation includes a reduction of 28 football scholarships. The program is credited with 16 scholarship reductions from the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years as part of UT’s self-imposed penalties.

In addition to scholarship reductions, the Vols’ probationary period includes a reduction of 36 official visits (at least 4 per year). Tennessee is credited with a reduction of 7 official visits from 2021-22 as part of self-imposed sanctions. The NCAA says the program can also be credited for any additional reductions in visits from the 2022-23 academic year if they were imposed in connection with regular-season home games.

Tennessee’s unofficial visits are also being reduced by a total of 40 weeks, at a minimum of 6 weeks per year. Tennessee is credited for a self-imposed 6-week reduction in 2021 and 2 weeks during 2022.

UT also faces a total 28-week ban on recruiting communications during the 5-year term of probation (at least 3 weeks per year). The NCAA specifies 1 week each in December and January, and one week from March to June.

In the 2023-24 academic year, Tennessee shall forgo the purchase of advertising with all football postseason broadcasts in which it is a participant.

Over 3 seasons, Tennessee was found to have committed 18 Level I violations — encompassing more than 200 individual infractions. Most of the violations involved recruiting rules violations and impermissible inducements and benefits, including direct payments to prospects, current student-athletes and their families.