In its formal response to the NCAA's Notice of Allegations, Rutgers University recommended a series of self-imposed sanctions against its football program.

The suggested penalties include probation for a one-year period, a $5,000 fine and a series of restrictions that would limit the coaching staff's ability to recruit.

Absent from its self-proposed sanctions is a willingness to vacate records.

But in its 102-page response, the university acknowledges the NCAA could impose such a penalty.

The allegation that could impact how future generations remember the 2012 through '15 seasons stems from the university's lack of oversight in the football program's drug-enforcement policy.

In its Notice of Allegations issued on Dec. 19, 2016, the NCAA said 16 football players who tested positive for banned substances were permitted to compete without being subjected to the corrective or disciplinary actions mandated by the institution's drug-testing policy over the course of four football seasons (2012 through 2015).

In its response, Rutgers "agreed'' that "evidence supports'' that former coach Kyle Flood, former director of sports medicine Dr. Robert Monaco and the university "failed to follow institutional drug-testing policies and protocol resulting in 16 football student-athletes not being subjected to prescribed corrective or disciplinary measures.''

In addition, Rutgers conceded that 15 players had initial positive tests that "were not appropriately identified by Monaco'' and "14 student-athletes were permitted to compete without being subject to timely corrective or disciplinary actions required by the policy.''

In its Notice of Allegations, the NCAA asked Rutgers for a statement indicating whether the provisions of Bylaw 19.9.7-(g) apply to the football program as a result of the involvement of student-athletes in violations noted in the inquiry.

That bylaw covers the vacation of records in games in which a student-athlete competed while ineligible, including one or more of the following:

(1) Vacation of individual records and performances;

(2) Vacation of team records and performances, including wins from the career record of the head coach in the involved sport, or, in applicable cases, reconfiguration of team point totals; or

(3) Return of individual or team awards to the Association.

Regarding the NCAA's request, Rutgers wrote in its response: "The University recognizes that the (Committee on Infractions') hearing panel has the authority to impose one or more of the penalties listed under Bylaw 19.9.7-(g) due to the ineligible competition of student-athletes.''

In other words, Rutgers officials won't willingly strike the 2012 through '15 football seasons from their record books. But they acknowledge the NCAA's authority to impose such a sanction.

From 2012 through 2015, Rutgers compiled records of 9-4, 6-7, 8-5 and 4-8.

That covers the entire four-season tenure of Flood, whose 27-24 ledger is highlighted by a share of the 2012 Big East title, a triumph in the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl and the 2014 Lambert Cup.

The 2012 title is the only conference title in school history. Rutgers did not join a conference until 1991.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.