Didn't that scandal break out right before them playing in the Liberty Bowl, and they had to ration the players being suspended so they could field a team? In other words, some of the players were grouped into suspensions for games in the following season.
It was the Music City Bowl. FSU self-suspended like 28 players. We played a game with around 50 guys. Half our starters gone. Also suspended them some the following year. Still had 20ish wins vacated, scholarships taken, and penalties in other sports. All because an online music history class gave away answers to the final to all students, including the 15% of students who were athletes.