Ok, don't shoot the messenger, but here is a realistic perspective on what to expect based on precedent as well as latest tenor/approach to infractions cases coming from Indy . . . broken down by general athletic department sanctions, which impact all sports, and then specifically football and men's basketball
General athletic program, to include all sports, though specifically citing violations within the football and men's basketball, as well as possibly women's basketball
-- 5 years probation (way to keep Miami under watch and at risk of dreaded repeat offender status)
-- citation for lack of institutional control (sorry, hard to argue administrators were on top of things, starting with the late Paul Dee)
-- required upgrades to compliance, including reporting/monitoring structure, so that the Pee Wees and Nevins of the world don't go undetected. Also don't be surprised by mention that Miami in the past poorly monitored secondary things such as possible sale and dispersion of jerseys and other items from the equipment department (something which apparently has been recently addressed in-house by staff moves)
-- required semi or annual reports to be filed with the NCAA detailing educational efforts and progress reports - required to be signed off by the university president
-- required educational programs related to compliance/rules for athletic administrators/coaches
-- possible show-cause restrictions for former AD Holcutt, or at least citation for being asleep at the wheel
-- recommendation of more oversight by the president's office of the athletic department
Football
-- Scholarship reduction of 30 over 3 years (Identical to USC. Though Miami cooperated as opposed to SC, there are far more potential violations and thus the infractions committee will also remember Paul Dee's fateful words about a high-profile program needing to police itself)
-- 1 additional post-season ban (Miami has self-imposed 2, but won't get additional credit for taking self out of ACC title game. NCAA won't be impressed by 2011 self-imposing as it was of little potential merit and could be argued saved the school money)
-- Reduction in the number of official on-campus visits over the next 3 years (Paying for past failure to monitor)
-- Show-cause restrictions to include limitations on recruiting, etc. for several current and former coaches - among possible candidates: Barrow, Hurtt, Hill and Stoutland/Pannunzio, though this depends to a degree on the ex-coaches willingness to sing to the NCAA. Will be worth following to see who cooperated.
-- Likely citation for multiple secondary violations, perhaps even a slight slap on the wrist for Golden. Likely not a big deal.
-- Possible vacated wins, titles and erasure to the record book. The NCAA will undoubtly cite the failure of former players to accept its invitation to cooperate with the investigation. The question is how far they deem violations to go back and whether they'll try to make a case that Miami used ineligible players, etc. Again, unless you are a historian this isn't a program killer and who knows what numbers/games the NCAA will come up with.
-- Penalties may be harsher than some might expect as the NCAA won't be able to nail down all the alleged violations, but in the end Miami will be punished for its perceived Miami-ness.
Men's Basketball
-- Scholarship reduction over 3 years - possibly 3 total
-- At least one-year postseason ban
-- Recruiting restrictions, including the number of official on-campus visits
-- Show-cause restrictions against former coaches, Morton and possibly Haith
-- Possible vacated wins
