Academic scandal takes bite out of Seminoles

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An academic cheating scandal could leave Florida State without as many as 25 players for its Music City Bowl game against Kentucky on New Year's Eve, coach Bobby Bowden said Tuesday.

It was the latest off-field blow to a once-proud program trying to regain its footing as a national power.

"We have some players not traveling for one reason and some for another, including those who are ineligible for the bowl because of academic issues," Bowden said in a statement released by the university.

"Kentucky would be a tough opponent when we are at full strength so clearly this will make things more difficult. Our staff is in the process of determining what adjustments we must make for the game."

Many of the players who won't be going to Nashville could also be ruled ineligible for some games next season for their connection to a cheating scandal earlier this year.

Federal privacy laws prohibit the school from releasing names.

"We don't know what that number is going to end up being exactly, but we know that's a rough figure," assistant athletic director Rob Wilson said Tuesday. "It's an issue where we're being extra cautious."

Bowden also said he would not use any players redshirted this season in the bowl game. The Seminoles (7-5) finished the regular season unranked for a third straight year.

TEBOW AP PLAYER OF THE YEAR: At Southeastern Conference media days in July, Florida coach Urban Meyer joked about all the questions surrounding quarterback Tim Tebow.

"We're going to run the ball every play this year," Meyer said. "Tim can't throw. Yeah, tell all the other teams in the league that, too."

Five months later, Tebow has proved to be much more than passable as a passer. He's become the best player in college football.

The Florida star won AP Player of the Year honors Tuesday in a vote that was similar to the one that made him the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.

"That's cool," Tebow said Tuesday. "Again, it's a huge honor. It's a cool thing. Any time you're honored for an individual award, it goes back to the team. Without those guys and their support, you can't accomplish something like that on your own."

NEW MEXICO RB IS INELIGIBLE FOR BOWL GAME: Star New Mexico running back Rodney Ferguson won't play in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday after being declared academically ineligible.