Although it was originally reported that two OSU football players would not face criminal charges in connection with an incident that occurred on campus early Sunday, The Associated Press reported Thursday that the players now face disorderly conduct charges.
Starting wide receiver Santonio Holmes and fourth-team quarterback/kick returner Troy Smith, each 19-year-old redshirt freshmen, will be facing disorderly conduct charges in Franklin County Municipal Court, the AP said.
It was not immediately known whether either player would miss Saturday's season-ending game at No. 5 Michigan.
The charges came two days after athletic director Andy Geiger said the investigation into the fight had ended and no charges would be filed.
According to an OSU police report, four female students were assaulted about 4 a.m. Sunday, and a window of one woman's car was broken. The women had minor injuries, the report said.
Reportedly, five women were also charged with disorderly conduct but that no other members of the football team were charged.
Geiger told the AP the change in course came about when more facts were uncovered in the police investigation.
"The facts changed and the outcome changed," Geiger said Thursday. "They learned more about it and what they told me changed."
Geiger told the AP he expects head coach Jim Tressel, who also expected his players to be cleared earlier in the week, to discipline the players.
"There will be some action taken, but I'm not sure what it is," Geiger said.
Reporters grilled Tressel on the incident at his luncheon on Tuesday. In fact, one reporter asked whether the fact OSU was playing Michigan would impact any disciplinary action.
"I would hope not," Tressel said.
It was initially reported that the players were just involved in breaking up a fight at about 4 a.m. Sunday -- eight hours after the team's win over Purdue -- near Morrill Tower, a dorm located down Cannon Drive from Ohio Stadium.
"The part that I can address is that we had some guys out much later than they should be and that we'll need to take care of things in-house to handle that," Tressel said Tuesday.
Holmes has started the last three games since senior Drew Carter suffered a season-ending knee injury at Indiana. He has accumulated 22 catches for 391 yards and three touchdowns. Smith has played only sparingly at quarterback this year and also returned five kicks. He and classmate Justin Zwick are expected to compete for the starting job next season during the spring.