Arizona State has self-imposed a postseason ban for the 2023 season amid allegations of recruiting violations during the tenure of former head coach Herm Edwards.

The Sun Devils were accused by the NCAA of illegally recruiting during the COVID dead period of 2020-21. The bowl ban imposed Sunday is regarded as a preemptive strike against further punishment.

“Arizona State University has informed the NCAA and Pac-12 conference that it will self-impose a one-year postseason ban on its football program for the upcoming season,” Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson said in a statement. “In light of the ongoing investigation and our membership obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the matter, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

Five full-time coaches, including defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce and offensive coordinator Zak Hill, were fired by Arizona State in 2021 after news of the alleged infractions took place. The Sun Devils were reportedly hosting recruits on campus in secret during the height of the COVID pandemic in late 2020 and early 2021, which was against NCAA rules.

Edwards, who was not implicated directly in the NCAA allegations, was fired last September after four-plus seasons in which he totaled a 26-20 record. He went back to his old job as a studio analyst for ESPN.

Former Auburn offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham took over as Arizona State’s head coach in November. The Sun Devils open their 2023 schedule against Southern Utah on Thursday, with former Florida recruit Jalen Rashada expected to start at quarterback.

News of the bowl ban apparently came as a surprise to Arizona State’s current coaches and players when they were informed during a team meeting. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Sunday that players — nearly two dozen of whom are seniors playing their final season — found the news “devastating.”

“It’s my job to try to get our team and rally our team behind each other to go compete and go work at the highest level,” Dillingham told reporters.