Institution: Michigan State University

Date: November 12, 2025

Violation Summary: This case involved recruiting violations in the football program at Michigan State University. The COI resolved the institution’s case via negotiated resolution (NR), which was approved on September 25, 2025. Pursuant to Bylaw 19.10.6, a negotiated resolution has no precedential value. Former general manager/executive director of player personnel Saeed Khalif and former assistant football coach Brandon Jordan were included in the NR as non-participating parties. Former head football coach Mel Tucker, who was not involved in the recruiting violations, contested his head coach responsibility violation through a written record hearing. Michigan State agreed that from October 2021 through March 2023, Khalif and Jordan provided impermissible recruiting inducements to six prospects in connection with unofficial visits. The inducements primarily consisted of airfare and hotel lodging for the prospects and the individuals who traveled with them. Separate from the unofficial visit violations, Khalif also arranged and/or provided airfare for three prospects and their family members who were traveling to Michigan State for the prospects’ enrollment. The NR also included post-separation failure to cooperate violations for Jordan and Khalif. With respect to Tucker, the panel concluded via a written record hearing that he did not rebut the presumption of responsibility for his staff’s violations, and he was automatically responsible for the portion of the violations that occurred after January 1, 2023. Specifically, the panel concluded that Tucker over-relied on Khalif as his general manager, running all off-field operations through him without sufficient oversight. Additionally, Tucker took a hands-off approach to compliance and did not promote a culture where staff felt comfortable coming to him with concerns or to report potential violations. The panel concluded that the head coach responsibility violation was Level I because it derived from underlying Level I recruiting violations.

Penalty Summary: Three years of probation; a fine of $30,000, plus 1.5% of the football program budget; a reduction in football official visits by two home games during the 2025 football season and one home game during each of the 2026 and 2027 football seasons; a reduction in football unofficial visits by a total of 12 weeks during the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years, with at least one week each year coinciding with a home game; Michigan State previously self-imposed and is credited with a reduction of two weeks during spring 2025; a total six-week ban on recruiting communications in football during the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years; a reduction of permissible recruiting person days in football by a total of 30 days over the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years; Michigan State previously self-imposed and is credited with a reduction of five days in spring 2025; a one-week ban on off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations in football during each of the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years; and a vacation of team wins and records in which the ineligible student-athletes competed. A six-year show-cause order for Khalif, during which time any employing member school must restrict him from all athletically related activity and a suspension from 100% of the football regular season (12 contests) during the first season of employment within the show-cause order. During that suspension, Khalif cannot participate in any coaching activities. A five-year show-cause order for Jordan, during which time any employing member school must restrict him from all athletically related activity and a suspension from 100% of the football regular season (12 contests) during the first season of employment within the show-cause order. During that suspension, Jordan cannot participate in any coaching activities. A three-year show-cause order for Tucker, during which time any employing member school must restrict him from all athletically related activity. and a suspension from 30% of the football season during the first season of employment within the show-cause order. During that suspension, Tucker cannot participate in any coaching activities.

Involved Sports:
Football

Case Level: I

Involved Penalties:

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