Florida State Petitions NCAA to Reconsider Penalties Amid Name, Image, and Likeness Violations

Florida State is currently petitioning the NCAA to reconsider penalties imposed on the university following violations related to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) regulations, as reported by Yahoo! Sports. These penalties include fines, scholarship reductions, limitations on transfer portal communication, and a suspension for offensive coordinator Alex Atkins to start the 2024 season.

The NCAA's investigation, which became public in January, highlighted "impermissible recruiting contact" between a Florida State booster and a transfer prospect, with Atkins facilitating the meeting. During the contact, the booster encouraged the prospect to enroll at Florida State and offered an NIL deal as a recruiting inducement.

Following these violations, the State of Florida joined a lawsuit challenging the NCAA's enforcement of NIL regulations, leading to a temporary injunction preventing the organization from penalizing schools over infractions related to third-party participation in NIL activities.

Florida State is not contesting the suspension of Atkins or its probation but is pushing back against fines, scholarship reductions, and recruiting limitations. The ongoing legal battle has put FSU at a disadvantage compared to other potential violators benefiting from the NCAA's pause in investigations.

In a letter to the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, Florida State argued that disassociation penalties and booster restrictions cannot be enforced at the moment due to the court's preliminary injunction. The university believes it should not be the only institution penalized and highlights its cooperation in resolving the case.