As part of the penalties, MSU will pay a $30,000 fine plus 1.5% of its football budget, according to a statement released by the university. The Spartans will also face restrictions on official and unofficial visits, recruiting communication, recruiting-person days, and off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations across the three-year probation.

The university confirmed it will vacate all wins from the 2022–24 seasons—14 victories in total—which include Tucker’s 5–7 record in 2022, the combined 4–8 season under Tucker and interim head coach Harlon Barnett in 2023, and new head coach Jonathan Smith’s 5–7 debut in 2024.

According to the NCAA, former general manager and now Executive Director of Player Personnel Saeed Khalif and former assistant coach Brandon Jordan provided impermissible recruiting inducements to six prospects during unofficial visits. Tucker himself was not involved in arranging the violations. The inducements largely consisted of airfare and hotel lodging for prospects and the individuals traveling with them. Investigators also found that Khalif paid for airfare for three prospects and their families as they traveled to East Lansing for enrollment.

Along with the unofficial visit violations, Khalif had also provided airfare for three prospects and their families traveling to Michigan State for enrollment.

The NCAA’s infractions panel wrote that Tucker "did not rebut the presumption of responsibility for his staff’s violations," making him automatically responsible for infractions that occurred after January 1, 2023.

Khalif received a six-year show-cause order, Jordan received a five-year order, and Tucker was issued a three-year show-cause. If hired at another school, Khalif and Jordan would be barred from all athletically related activities and suspended for the full first regular season. Under his show-cause, Tucker would be restricted from all athletic activity and suspended for 30% of the football season, during which he cannot participate in any coaching duties.

MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz and Athletic Director J Batt issued a joint statement responding to the findings.

"Today’s announcement brings closure to an NCAA investigation resulting from violations committed by a previous staff. Michigan State pursued a negotiated resolution to minimize the penalties and limit the possible impact on our current football student-athletes and staff, who were not involved in the violations. With this matter behind us, we are able to move forward, focusing on the present and future of Spartan football."

"Michigan State athletics is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and operating in compliance with NCAA rules. Our compliance systems worked as intended. Once Michigan State became aware of a level 3 violation, we self-reported and followed all appropriate protocols. This prompt self-disclosure and acceptance of responsibility for the violations mitigated the case and penalties, even as new violations and corroborating evidence were uncovered during the subsequent investigation."

"While we accept the NCAA’s findings and respect the process, we are disappointed in the prescribed penalty related to the vacation of records. We understand that the enforcement process follows established guidelines, but we also recognize the opportunity for continued modernization."

The NCAA’s ruling concludes an investigation that began earlier this year and examined recruiting violations that occurred under former head coach Mel Tucker’s staff. While the findings reach back several seasons, the case itself was resolved within months and under the current athletic administration. With the penalties now finalized, Michigan State and head coach Jonathan Smith can move forward with a clear understanding of the violations and the path ahead for the program.