Ohio State's football, men's basketball teams improved Academic Progress Rate scores in 2017-18
Ohio State's football and men's basketball teams improved their Academic Progress Rate scores in 2017-18, but remained on various ends of the grading spectrum, according to figures released Wednesday by the NCAA.
The university's multiyear score for football was 987, an improvement of five points, enough to receive a public recognition award for finishing in the top 10 percent for the sport. The national average for football is 964 out of 1,000.
Among Big Ten football teams, only Northwestern posted a higher APR score at 996.
Ohio State’s men's basketball multiyear score was 940, a four-point improvement, but below the national average (967).
The Buckeyes’ multiyear score ranked last in the Big Ten behind Minnesota (948) and Indiana (944).
The NCAA began using APR in 2004 as a tool to measure academic eligibility and retention among college athletes. Teams that finish with scores below 930 are subject to penalties, including the possibility of a postseason ban.
Three of Ohio State's other varsity sports recorded perfect multiyear APR, including men's tennis, women's golf and women's soccer, and received public recognition awards. Women's gymnastics was next with a score of 996.
Men’s basketball was the lowest among Ohio State sports. All met the 930 threshold.
jkaufman@dispatch.com
@joeyrkaufman