Southern Methodist University of Dallas, Texas was once a storied football program, winning the national title in 1935, winning 10 Southwestern Conference titles, and was the home for 1949 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. However, as schools began to grow in the 1940s onward, SMU eventually became the smallest school to have a Division I-A football program. This put SMU at a disadvantageous position, and they regularly flirted (and often crossed) ethical boundaries. In the 70s and 80s, the football program was placed on probation five times, and was the most sanctioned program in NCAA history. This was all in an effort to keep up with the larger schools in the Southwestern Conference.

In 1985, former SMU lineman Sean Stopperich told the NCAA that he had been paid by the school to come to SMU after orally committing to play for the University of Pittsburgh. This resulted in a three year probation from the NCAA, as well as a ban from bowl games in 1985 and 1986 and a live television ban in 1986.

However, even with the three year probation and hefty NCAA penalties, SMU continued to rack up NCAA violations. A second round of payment scandals hit as WFAA-TV began to look closer into other reports of violations, this time involving lineback David Stanley. This was surprising, as a similar investigation by the Dallas Times Herald led to major losses in ad revenue. (The losses would play a role in the eventual death of the paper.) It was further revealed that tight end Albert Reese was living in a rent-free apartment that was paid for by an SMU booster that was banned as part of the three year probation.

As investigations persisted, it was revealed that there was a massive slush fund to pay players, and that the payments to players exceeded $60,000. These payments were made with the full knowledge and approval of athletic department staff, including the athletic director, the recruiting coordinator and the head football coach. It would eventually come out that a board of governors investigation revealed the payments dated back to the mid 1970s, but they had decided to continue to pay players for the 1986 season to 'uphold previous commitments.'

After reviewing the case, the NCAA decided to cancel the entire 1987 season for SMU, and strip them of their home games for 1988. The live television and postseason bans were extended through 1989. They were stripped of 55 scholarships, and faced major recruiting bans. The 1988 season was eventually cancelled when it became clear the school would not be able to field a team. The Mustangs would return to the field in 1989, but would have just one winning season over the next 20 years. The harsh penalty was, in the words of the NCAA, designed to "eliminate a program that was built on a legacy of wrongdoing, deceit and rule violations."

Since SMU, no Division I program has received the death penalty, despite calls to do so on several occasions. In fact, it has only considered the death penalty one time since then (which you can read about in No. 4 below) for a Division I program.