Bishop Sycamore To Be Investigated By Ohio Officials: Gov. DeWine

COLUMBUS, OH — After drawing national scrutiny following a lopsided, blowout loss on ESPN, Bishop Sycamore High School and its football operations will soon be under investigation by the Ohio Department of Education.

"Schools like Bishop Sycamore have an obligation under Ohio law to meet certain minimum standards," Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday. "Whether Bishop Sycamore meets these standards is not clear. I have asked the Ohio Department of Education to conduct an investigation into Bishop Sycamore to ensure compliance with Ohio law and to ensure the school is providing the educational opportunities Ohio students deserve."

The controversial school began drawing headlines on Sunday after the football team was demolished by IMG Academy, the Florida-based, No. 2-ranked high school football team in America. Commentators questioned whether the Ohio-based squad actually had the talent it claimed to and revealed the network had been unable to verify several claims about the school.

ESPN later issued a statement apologizing for putting Bishop Sycamore on TV.

As reporters dug into the realities of Bishop Sycamore, more questions emerged. There is no charter school registered with the Ohio Department of Education under the name "Bishop Sycamore."

However, the Columbus Dispatch reported, Bishop Sycamore may be a non-chartered, non-tax-supported school founded based on strong religious beliefs. The school's mailing address is a P.O. box, and its address is a training facility in Columbus.

Now, Ohio's governor wants the state to open a formal investigation into Bishop Sycamore.

“Like many Ohioans, I am concerned by the recent reports and questions raised about Bishop Sycamore," DeWine said in a statement on Tuesday. "While this weekend’s football game brought concerns about the health and safety of players, it also raised red flags about the school’s operations."