NCAA places Oregon football on probation

INDIANAPOLIS, June 26 (UPI) -- The University of Oregon football program has been placed on three years' probation and will lose scholarships under sanctions from the NCAA.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions released its decision Wednesday related to allegations the Oregon football program improperly used a scouting service in 2010.

Additional violations included impermissible contacts with recruits, the two-year investigation determined.

The committee ordered the Oregon football program to be on probation until Jan. 25, 2016, and receive a public reprimand. The number of initial scholarships the program may offer was reduced by one for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years, which was a sanction the university imposed on itself.

Also, the school had its number of contacts with potential players reduced.

Perhaps most important for Oregon, however, is that the sanctions don't include a post-season ban, leaving the Ducks eligible for bowl and Bowl Championship Series appearances.

Chip Kelly, who was the Oregon head coach in the timeframe investigated, was ordered to answer to a show-cause order to be eligible to return to college coaching in the next 18 months. However, Kelly left Oregon in January to become coach of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.