Four Notre Dame football players are being held out from the team while the university conducts an academic fraud investigation, reports USA TODAY.

The university confirmed the action at a news conference Friday afternoon. Athletics director Jack Swarbrick acknowledged the affected players are receiver DaVaris Daniels, linebacker Kendall Moore, defensive back KeiVarae Russell, and defensive lineman Ishaq Williams. The athletes, likely starters, were not suspended, but will be held out of practices and games until the investigation is resolved.

Daniels and Russell were key players on the 2012 team, which ended its regular season 12-0 but lost to Alabama in the BCS championship game.

“At this juncture, no one has been judged responsible for academic dishonesty, and no one has been dismissed from the university,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, the Notre Dame president. “We’ll go as quickly as we can, but our emphasis will be on thoroughness,” he said.

There was no evidence that head football coach Brian Kelly or any of his coaching staff knew of potential academic misconduct. “Once an academic staff member had suspicions, they immediately brought it to our attention,” said Jenkins.

Notre Dame notified the NCAA of the investigation on Friday morning, Jenkins said. The matter is not one for NCAA involvement, as it is governed by the university honor code process. No timeline was given for the investigation.

The Office of General Counsel began its investigation when Notre Dame received evidence on July 29 that students, some of whom do not play football, had submitted papers and homework others had written.

University officials did not elaborate on whether the investigation could include other current or former athletes. They also did not say when the alleged academic fraud took place.

Kelly was “devastated” when he learned of the allegations Thursday, but is fully committed to assisting the investigation, said Swarbrick.

An academic issue sidelined quarterback Everett Golson last year. Golson returned this year, and on Thursday was named as the starter.