NCAA Turns Down USC’s Request for Sanction Relief, Even After Penn State Was Granted Reductions

LOS ANGELES — The NCAA has turned down Southern California’s request for possible relief from the sanctions that have been imposed on the football program since 2010.

Athletic director Pat Hayden had said USC felt compelled to discuss the sanctions after the NCAA’s recent decision to lessen the scholarship reductions that Penn State was hit with after the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

But NCAA spokeswoman Meghan Durham released a statement Friday saying there is no comparison between the USC and Penn State cases.

She said USC’s case was heard before the Committee on Infractions and appealed, and there would be no further appeals.

The NCAA sanctioned USC after it was found former star Reggie Bush received improper benefits. The program’s scholarship limit was reduced from 85 to 75. Next season is the last that USC will have to play with the 75-scholarship limit.