While the sports world was focused on Ray Rice‘s release, the NCAA announced on Monday that it has restored Penn State’s postseason eligibility, effective immediately. It also announced that Penn State football will be able to return to a full complement of scholarships for the 2015 season.
In July 2012, the NCAA banned Penn State from the postseason for four years and took away 40 scholarships total in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the school’s enabling of his actions.
The NCAA cited Penn State’s “significant progress toward ensuring its athletics department functions with integrity” in its decision to end the ban and return the scholarships. It also said the action is an endorsement of the most recent recommendations made by George Mitchell, the university’s athletics integrity monitor.
“Penn State’s commitment to the integrity of its athletics department and its progress toward meeting the requirements of the Consent Decree are clear,” said Rita Hartung Cheng, who chaired Monday’s executive committee meeting. “We thank Senator Mitchell for his meticulous and exhaustive work over the past two years. Mitchell’s efforts and the dedication of Penn State officials made today’s decisions possible.”