Getting free tattoos in exchange for autographs was a worse crime than illegally scouting opponents in person. Or at least that’s how the NCAA’s punishments for those crimes make it appear.
Back in 2012, Ohio State was hit with the proverbial hammer when the Buckeyes were banned from the 2012 postseason – a year in which they would have made the Big Ten Championship Game and quite possibly the national championship game following a 12-0 regular season – due to the “Tattoo-Gate” scandal, which centered around five Ohio State players receiving free tattoos and selling team memorabilia. Ohio State received that punishment even after it agreed to vacate all of its wins from the 2010 season.