The APR – Academic Progress Rate – is a sport-based metric based on two factors for each scholarship athlete per term: eligibility (1 point) and retention (1 point). So athletes can earn as many four points for their program in any given year.

Falling just short of the NCAA’s enhanced minimum APR requirement – by nine-one-hundreds of a point – OSU will lose one practice day per week in the coming season. That was the penalty imposed by the NCAA, revealed Wednesday; one preferable to a loss of scholarships or, worst case, postseason eligibility.

OSU’s APR average score of 929.41 over the past four years falls just shy of the 930 minimum requirement, raised this year from the previous minimum of 900. The NCAA also considers two-year scores, of which the Cowboys produced a 943.54 average, with a minimum of 940 needed to maintain postseason eligibility. The addition of one point from one player in any of the four years would have been enough to prevent any penalty.

It was the two-year score that kept OSU alive for postseason play, although the four-year score resulted in a reduction of practice time.

“We are taking steps to ensure that our APR numbers improve moving forward,” said OSU athletic director Mike Holder. “We are accountable for what we do and ultimately, we are here to serve our student-athletes and do our best to keep them on track to be lifelong contributors to society.”

OSU officials are encouraged by upward trending scores, enough to make them believe the penalty will last but one year.