Sports

Actions

School scrutinized after ESPN blowout is 'scam,' Ohio finds

r m
Posted

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Department of Education says a school whose legitimacy was scrutinized after its supposedly top-tier football team got clobbered in an ESPN-televised game didn't live up to its billing educationally either and turned out to be "a scam."

Gov. Mike DeWine said he's asking authorities to determine whether any laws were broken by what claimed to be the Columbus-area Bishop Sycamore High School.

ODE says Bishop Sycamore's administrator characterized his program as a way to get more exposure for football players who were having trouble getting into colleges.

The department recommends lawmakers make changes to state law to avoid a repeat of the situation.

According to the Associated Press, in their investigation, the ODE found zero evidence that the school enrolled multiple students this year. They concluded that Bishop Sycamore didn't meet minimum standards, including academic offerings and student safety.

The news outlet reported that ODE launched the investigation after the school lost 58-0 in an August televised game against Florida-based powerhouse IMG Academy.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Friday

04/03/2026

Mostly Sunny

80° / 50°

0%

Saturday

04/04/2026

Mostly Sunny

86° / 55°

1%

Sunday

04/05/2026

Mostly Sunny

90° / 58°

0%

Monday

04/06/2026

Sunny

87° / 57°

0%

Tuesday

04/07/2026

Sunny

83° / 56°

1%

Wednesday

04/08/2026

Partly Cloudy

81° / 57°

14%

Thursday

04/09/2026

Scattered Thunderstorms

73° / 53°

47%

Friday

04/10/2026

AM Showers

72° / 53°

35%