FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Buckeyes continue to prepare for Friday’s Discover Orange Bowl with defensive end Noah Spence.
Ohio State’s sack leader has been suspended for three games for violating an undisclosed Big Ten rule, meaning he will not play in the Orange Bowl on Friday night.
Spence did not accompany the 7th-ranked Buckeyes to South Florida because of what the team called “a personal issue.” He also will sit out the first two games of next season.
Ohio State plays No. 12 Clemson in the Orange Bowl (8:30 p.m./ESPN).
Jamal Marcus and Steve Miller are among the candidates to take Spence’s spot on the field against the Tigers.
“Spence’s parents, who did not agree with the rule violation nor the penalty imposed, were assisted by the Ohio State Department of Athletics in exhausting the appeals process that was available to them with the Big Ten,” said a statement issued by the university Tuesday afternoon.
Athletic department officials say the sophomore sociology major will continue taking classes and will be able to practice with the team this spring but will not be eligible to play until the third game of the 2014 season, Sept. 13 vs. Kent State.
Spence was an All-Big Ten player this season, leading the team with eight sacks and ranking sixth in the conference with 14½ tackles for loss.