COLUMBUS, Ohio (REUTERS) — Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge on Wednesday and was sentenced to three days in jail.
The embattled Bellisari will serve the jail time after the Buckeyes play in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. He also was ordered to spend three days in an alcohol diversion program.
The 21-year-old senior was arrested on Nov. 16 by Ohio State police and charged with two counts of drunken driving and two traffic misdemeanors. The other drunken driving charge and the traffic violations were dismissed on Wednesday.
Bellisari’s arrest came the day before the Buckeyes lost to Illinois, 34-22, in a key Big Ten Conference game. Coach Jim Tressel suspended Bellisari from that contest before reinstating him for last week’s 26-20 win over archrival Michigan. Bellisari dressed but did not play against the Wolverines.
Bellisari had started the previous 31 games for the Buckeyes (7-4). He has completed 53 percent of his passes for 1,599 yards and eight touchdowns with six interceptions. In his last two games, Bellisari had completed 26-of-37 passes for five TDs without an interception.
Last season, Bellisari threw for 2,319 yards with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.