Notre Dame's punishment was heavy on embarrassing headlines and light on damaging sanctions. The NCAA also went light on Utah, for lesser violations. Those two programs are the only ones not listed on the other conference-by-conference charts in the ESPN.com series.

Below is a list of programs cited for major violations since the NCAA made its strongest statement yet against cheating, the SMU "death penalty" case in 1987. ESPN.com rates the severity of those penalties on a 0-5 scale, with 5 as most severe.

Notre Dame
Year: 1999
Violation: Booster and admitted embezzler Kimberly Dunbar allegedly gave trips, money and extravagant gifts (camcorder, diamond jewelry) to players.
Major penalties: One-year reduction in total team scholarships, to 83 (from usual maximum of 85).
Severity of sanctions: 1
Notable: NCAA was criticized for going light on legendary program, which has NBC television contract that pays an estimated $8 million a year. NCAA didn't penalize program for any gifts given by Dunbar to any of the players she allegedly had been romantically involved with.

Utah
Year: 1987
Violation: Utes were found to have allowed an impermissible campus visit by prospect Jason Buck and then altered documents to delete any reference to the visit. Head coach Jim Fassel told his staff to discontinue the visit but the orders were not carried out. Buck, who signed with BYU and later became the Cincinnati Bengals' first-round draft pick in 1987, and one other recruit also received impermissible car rides.
Major penalties: None. Loss of 20 campus recruiting visits.
Severity of sanctions: 1
Notable: Fassell said sanctions would have little impact because school rarely used maximum 95 campus visits.