ORLANDO, Fla. -- Central Florida will be eligible to compete for both the Conference USA championship and a bowl game this season with its appeal of a one-year football postseason ban not scheduled to be heard until next year.

Knights' coach George O'Leary said Tuesday the NCAA has set the hearing for late January.

The ban was the only penalty UCF challenged as part of sanctions levied in July for major recruiting violations in football and basketball. UCF also received a one-year postseason ban in basketball, $50,000 fine, five years' probation, reduction of basketball scholarships, and limits on football recruiting.

UCF (5-2, 3-0 C-USA) has accepted all penalties except the football postseason ban. Should UCF lose its appeal, it would serve its football ban in 2013 when it enters the Big East.