Ohio State’s Deshaun Thomas declared for the NBA Draft. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Ohio State junior forward Deshaun Thomas is forgoing his last season and declaring himself eligible for the NBA Draft, reports CBSSports.com.

Thomas averaged 19.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season, led the team to the regional finals in the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Wichita State, and was named a third-time All-American selection.

Thomas finishes his career with 1,630 points, which ranks ninth in school history.

Thomas has been projected to be drafted in the late first round or early second.

From CBSSports.com:

“My three years at Ohio State have been the best years of my life,” Thomas said in a statement. “I have grown tremendously as an individual and as a basketball player. I intend to return to finish my degree, but I believe that now is the best opportunity to pursue my dream and begin my career as a professional basketball player. I will always be a Buckeye and am blessed to be a part of the Ohio State University family.”

Ohio State and head coach Urban Meyer could end up in the same new Big Ten division as rival Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said Monday that there is a “strong likelihood” the Buckeyes will be in the same division as Michigan when the conference realigns its divisions.

Smith told the Big Ten Network it was likely the two rivals could end up in the same division when Rutgers and Maryland join the conference, according to CBS Sports.

For Ohio State and Michigan, being in the same division would raise the stakes of their annual, late-season matchup. It would also take away the possibility of back-to-back showdowns in the regular-season finale and the league championship game.

The most likely current split of the future Big Ten divisions would come in an east-west divide, as the addition of Rutgers and Maryland add an East Coast flair to the league.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says he doesn’t like proposed new rules by the NCAA. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says he doesn’t like the rules set forth by the NCAA proposal that allows coaches unlimited contact with recruits through social media as well on removing limits on printed recruited materials.

Ohio State, who some recruiting pundits have said has the No. 3 recruiting class this season, said he would rather keep the current rules in place and concentrate on cleaning up the enforcement process. Ohio State did not participate in a bowl last season because they were banned the NCAA for rules violations under previous coach Jim Tressel.

“Bad stuff,” Meyer said during his signing day news conference on Wednesday, via ESPN.com.  ”That’s stuff that we’re going to have to talk [about], the Big Ten Conference is going to meet and I’m putting together a personal letter to all the coaches in America that I disagree with most of it. I would imagine not many people who have recruited wrote those [rules].

“That’s my question: Who comes up with that? Have they actually got in a car and went and recruited sophomores in high school?”, Meyer said. “Think about this for a second — unlimited mailings and you can mail them whatever you want. Take a deep breath and whoever said that, put that in motion, could you imagine what’s going to be rolling into kids’ driveways? Fatheads and magnets — nonsense.”

Ohio State’s notes for this week’s game at Penn State give the impression that the Buckeyes expect quarterback Braxton Miller to play.

At his Monday morning press conference, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he expects Miller to practice on Tuesday.

Urban on Miller: "All the test results came back negative, which is positive." Has a very sore neck, but Miller expected to practice Tuesday—
Rittenberg/Bennett (@ESPN_BigTen) October 22, 2012

Meyer said Miller had almost a whiplash feeling when he went down. Miller said he hasn't really been hurt before and was a bit rattled.—
Rittenberg/Bennett (@ESPN_BigTen) October 22, 2012

Miller was sidelined during the second half of the Buckeyes’ 29-22 overtime win over Purdue after being thrown hard to the turf.

He was taken to the hospital where tests did not reveal injuries to his head, neck or shoulders.

After the game, coach Urban Meyer told a team spokesman that Miller was “fine.”

Ohio State backup quarterback Cardale Jones says going to class is pointless. (Tweet courtesy of landthieves.com)

Ohio State third-string quarterback freshman Cardale Jones gave his opinion on Friday via Twitter about what he thinks about attending class, reports the Detroit Free Press.

“Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS,” he wrote on Twitter.

Jones’ twitter account has since been deleted.

Jones is in his first season at Ohio State and hasn’t played this season. He will likely redshirt, and is behind behind Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton on the depth chart.

Jones spent a year at a prep school in Virginia to take care of his academics after signing with the Buckeyes out of Cleveland Glenville High last year.

A newspaper probe spotlights Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee’s spending. (Icon SMI)

A Dayton Daily News investigation into the spending by Ohio State University president E. Gordon Gee reveals an unusual line-item with a distinctive flair: his trademark bowties:

The university spends tens of thousands of dollars alone branding Gee around his signature bow ties. Since 2007, Ohio State has spent more than $64,000 on bow ties, bow tie cookies and O-H and bow tie pins for Gee and others to distribute, the newspaper found.

The report lists Gee as “the highest paid CEO of a public university in the county,” bringing in $8.6 million in salary and compensation — but also generating $7.7 million in expenses/spending on the university’s tab.

When he travels, Gee is bound by university policy, which says: “The President is expected to stay in accommodations similar to those used by executives of businesses and not-for-profit institutions; however, luxury hotels should be avoided.”

The Daily News investigation found that Gee often stays at modest hotels such as Courtyard and Holiday Inn Express when traveling in-state. But his out-of-state travel receipts shows he often bills the university for more expensive accommodations: Le Meridien Bristol in Warsaw, The Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, Loews Hotel Vogue in Montreal, Hotel George and the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C., and the Warwick in New York.

Gee’s discretionary spending greatly exceeds his OSU predecessors but is more in line with similarly sized state universities such as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan.

OSU officially stated that Gee’s spending passes “rigorous standards” and review.

Gee was cast into the college sports spotlight for his involvement and response to the NCAA’s investigation into a pattern of violations under Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. OSU eventually severed ties with Tressel while Gee declared reports by Sports Illustrated and Sporting News to be “bad journalism.” Gee later admitted that he needed to keep his mouth shut after creating controversy comparing TCU and Boise State to the “Little Sisters of the Poor” in regard to their then non-BCS standing.

Ohio State linebacker Storm Klein (seen here tackling Toledo’s Eric Page) was dismissed by team after he was charged with domestic violence and assault. (Kirk Irwin/Getty Image)

Warning to college football athletes. If you get arrested for any sort of violation, expect for your coach to come down with the hammer.

Ohio State University announced they dismissed senior linebacker Storm Klein on Saturday just hours after Klein was arrested and charged with a count of domestic violence and assault. Klein pleaded not guilty to those charges in court Saturday morning.

“The charges filed against Klein violate the core values of the Ohio State football program,” Meyer said in a school release. “As a result, Storm has been removed from the team. It has been made very clear that this type of charge will result in dismissal. ”If there are any changes in the charges, we will re-evaluate his status.”

Klein played in 38 games in his career and started 10 games last season, recording 45 total tackles and one interception.

Ohio State has cancelled a proposed home-and-home series with Georgia because of the Big Ten/Pac-12 scheduling partnership, reports ESPN.com.

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said at the SEC spring meetings that Ohio State backed out of an agreement to play the Bulldogs in 2020 and 2021.

The Big Ten/Pac-12 partnership is scheduled to begin in 2017 and will have 12 intra-conference matchups. Ohio State’s participation will likely start in 2018, Ohio State AD Gene Smith said.

The schools did not have a contract for those games, but instead had an understanding to try to schedules games for those years.

Ohio State contacted Georgia in May saying it would not be able to confirm those dates, which terminated the agreement.

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel spoke about his time at the school on the one-year anniversary of his resignation. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

On the one-year anniversary of his resignation from Ohio State, former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel told The Plain Dealer‘s Doug Lesmerises that he has no regrets about his tenure in Columbus.

His 10-year run as coach ended on Memorial Day 2011 because of major NCAA violations.

“It was going to end one day, in one way or another, and that wasn’t the way we wanted to end it,” Tressel said.

“Wow, a lot happens in a year, a lot that you don’t know is going to happen. But I don’t feel scarred or disappointed or mad. I just don’t feel that way. The people at Ohio State have always been great to me, and things end up the way they do, and you go on to the next play or the next day, and that’s always been the way I look at things.”

Tressel spent last football season working for the Indianapolis Colts. In February, he was hired by the University of Akron as its Vice President of Strategic Engagement.

Despite the uncertainty over the past year, Tressel said he always knew he and the Ohio State program would be fine.

“We talked a million times to our young people about the fact that Ohio State is bigger than you, or Youngstown State is bigger than you, and it’s going to move forward,” Tressel said. “So do the best you can while you’re there and know that it’s a part of your life forever, but that there’s a moment when it’s not the every day part of your life.

“The people I run into want to talk about the fond memories, and I’m sure that’s not unlike when you lose a loved one and you think back on all those wonderful times, and that’s absolutely the way I feel.

“I suppose it was disappointing to some. They thought we would do that forever, but it took a strange turn. But I think when you step back, at least I do, I think of all the good times and the excellent I people I worked with and got to meet.”

The Ohio State Buckeyes self-reported 46 secondary NCAA violations less than a week ago, but the athletic department has up to a dozen more violations pending, according to a report by The Lantern‘s Pat Brennan. 

“We’ve got 12 pending,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is quoted as saying. “It may turn out to be secondary. It may not.”

A school spokesman later told the paper that there were less than 12 pending cases. Smith also clarified that the school is not facing any major violations, according to tweets by CBS’s Bruce Feldman and Brett McMurphy.

AD Gene Smith in a statement: "Contrary to reports attributed to me, Ohio St is not facing any major NCAA violations."

—
Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) May 24, 2012

Ohio State AD Gene Smith says school isn't facing major NCAA violations just "several secondary violations being processed"

—
Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyCBS) May 24, 2012

Ohio State’s football team is banned from going to a bowl this season as punishment related to the alleged sale of memorabilia for tattoos, among other allegations against the programs. Long-time coach Jim Tressel resigned in the aftermath of reports about the behavior.

The 46 self-reported secondary violations from last week involved 21 sports and covered a period dating back to May 30, 2011. They included one instance where new football coach Urban Meyer said “good luck” to recruit while attending his game. It is a violation to speak with a recruit during a competition.

“It’s nothing that troubles me,” Smith told The Associated Press about the 46 violations. “It’s normal operating business. It’s nothing that troubles me. I’ve seen all the cases. We know all the cases. You look at them, and they’re inadvertent mistakes.”

Former Ohio State tackle and NFL prospect, Mike Adams tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, according to NFL Network Insider Jason La Canfora.

Reports indicate, however, that Adams has been upfront with teams about the incident in addition to completing counseling. The results may affect his selection position in the draft but most likely will make Adams reviewed as no more than a moderate risk, according to experts.

A previous lock for the first round, some believe that Adams may now slip into the second or third round of this month’s NFL draft.

Adams, a third-year starter for the Buckeyes, had a standout season this year earning All-Big Ten recognition. He also was selected to First-team All-Big Ten in 2010.

Despite an emerging story Wednesday morning that former University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer had reached a seven-year deal to become the next head coach of Ohio State University, the 47-year-old issued a statement to ESPN insisting that he has not reached any agreement with the school.

“I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place,” Meyer said. “I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further.”

A source had told Orlando television station WKMG 6 that former Gators head coach agreed in principle to a seven-year, $40 million deal to become the next head coach of Ohio State University.

According to the report from WKMG, Meyer would bring to Columbus several of his assistant coaches from the University of Florida. Current Gators linebackers coach D.J. Durkin would become Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, and Mickey Marotti, the current strength coach at Florida, would become the Buckeye’s director of football operations.

Earlier this week, Meyer denied any reports of a potential deal with Ohio State but told The Gainesville Sun that if the Buckeyes offered him their coaching job that he’d “have a decision to make.”

“I’m in a good place right now mentally and physically. So if something happens with Ohio State, I’ll have a decision to make. But there has been no interview. There has been no offer to make a decision about,” Meyer told the paper.

In six years as the head coach of Florida, Meyer posted a 65-15 record while claiming two National Championships. He has a 103-23 record as a head coach overall, and is 7-1 all-time in bowl games.

Former University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer, who has been rumored to most major college football coaching openings since stepping down as coach of the Gators in 2010, said that if the Buckeyes offer him their coaching job that he’ll “have a decision to make,” according to The Gainesville Sun. 

“I’m in a good place right now mentally and physically. So if something happens with Ohio State, I’ll have a decision to make. But there has been no interview. There has been no offer to make a decision about,” Meyer told the paper.

It was widely reported this weekend that Meyer had been lined up by Ohio State to be their next head football coach after Jim Tressel was forced to resign at the end of last season. Meyer has since denied those reports, however, he would not rule out being open to a return, especially to a program with the stature of Ohio State.

In six years as the head coach of Florida, Meyer posted a 65-15 record while claiming two National Championships. He has a 102-23 record as a head coach overall, and is 7-1 all-time in bowl games.

A popular sports blog is citing sources close to the Ohio State University football program that suggest former Florida Gators’ coach Urban Meyer will become the next head coach of the Buckeyes.

SportsByBrooks is reporting that Meyer has agreed to a deal in principle, though nothing has been finalized. Additionally, a website dedicated to Ohio State, Eleven Warriors, has cited sources indicating that Meyer will accept the position once the NCAA delivers their verdict on sanctions against the program.

One report states that Meyer will keep current head coach Luke Fickell on staff, and try to add some big names, including long-time ESPN analyst and former Buckeye quarterback Kirk Herbstreit.

The NCAA has notified Ohio State University that it is facing a failure to monitor charge, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The university will cut five scholarships over a three-year period beginning next year as a result of the NCAA’s findings.

“Over the past three months, our athletics department staff has continued to work cooperatively with the NCAA to conclude our inquiry into the remaining items related to our football program,” athletic director Gene Smith said today in a statement. “Throughout the entire process since we discovered possible infractions, the athletics department has consistently worked with the NCAA to investigate any allegation, take responsibility, self-report its findings to the NCAA in a transparent manner, and take necessary remediation steps.”

The NCAA had informed Ohio State earlier this year that it was not being accused of a failure to monitor its football team, which has faced several violations over the past two years. According to the Columbus Dispatch, their decision to invoke the charge now means that the NCAA believes that the violations were a result of an overall institutional problem, as opposed to the infractions of a single violator.

Ohio State has indicated that their failure to monitor charge has stemmed from violations involving payments to players from boosters for work that was not actually done, and from instances where players accepted money for appearing at charity events. According to the university, the most recent charges from the NCAA do not stem from the now infamous memorabilia compensation scandal which ultimately led to the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel.

The more recent violations involved booster Bobby DiGeronimo, who admits to arranging improper payments to players at charity events, but denies paying players for work that was not done.

Following the scandals targeting high-profile football and basketball programs at schools such as Ohio State University and the University of Miami this year, questions have been raised regarding student-athlete reimbursement.

The Associated Press reports that NCAA president Mark Emmert supports a proposal granting student-athletes $2,000 more in scholarships “to more closely approach” the full cost of attendance.

Emmert expects the proposal to be finalized this week and wants the NCAA to support it.  If it is voted in, conferences will have the option to add the increase to their current grants.  Emmert will also like to see multi-year grants as opposed to year-to-year grants.

This proposal may alleviate the issue of illegal payments several top-notch athletes have been accused of accepting including Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush.