Michael Dyer's long and winding college football career is over. The University of Louisville issued a statement shortly after we reported on the ESPN 680 postgame basketball show that he would not play in the Belk Bowl confirming our report. The statement reads:

University of Louisville senior running back Michael Dyer was ruled academically ineligible and will miss the Belk Bowl versus Georgia on Dec. 30 in Charlotte, N.C. Dyer, who transferred from Auburn in 2013, was the second-leading rusher for the Cardinals this season, appearing in nine games. A native of Little Rock, Ark., Dyer rushed for 481 yards and five touchdowns this season. He missed the first three games of the season with a thigh injury. He rushed for 173 yards and a score versus NC State and 134 yards and three touchdowns against Florida State. The Cardinals will depart for Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon.

Obviously this is a disappointment considering Louisville really gave MIchael Dyer a free lifeline to play college football again after his various issues at Auburn. On the other hand, players being academically ineligible for bowl games happens all the time at every school. In the end, his career at Louisville had a few bright moments stuck between nagging injuries and the emergence of either Senorise Perry or this year Brandon Radcliff.

Louisville will likely lean heavily now on Radcliff, Dominique Brown, and LJ Scott in the Belk Bowl at the running back spot.