Sources: Notre Dame begins probe

— -- Four Notre Dame players are expected to be suspended from football activities after an internal investigation into academic misconduct, sources told ESPN.

The players allegedly violated the university's honor code by receiving improper help on classwork.

Starting wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive back KeiVarae Russell, defensive lineman Ishaq Williams and reserve linebacker Kendall Moore were the players involved, along with some non-student-athletes, a source said.

The NCAA routinely will let the school investigate any potential allegations before determining whether any further NCAA punishment is warranted.

All four players were part of Notre Dame's 2012 team, which lost in the BCS national title game to Alabama. Daniels and Russell were starters on that team. Williams was projected to start this year as well.

Williams and Moore are seniors this season, Daniels and Russell are juniors. The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 17 in the preseason USA Today/Coaches' poll.

A source told ESPN that the four players did not practice Friday.

This is the second incident in the past two years involving academic misconduct and the football team.

Last year, starting quarterback Everett Golson was dismissed from school for what he said was "poor academic judgment," but was reinstated this spring. Daniels had been suspended for the spring semester for undisclosed academic violations but also was reinstated in late May.

The investigation was first reported by Yahoo Sports.

ESPN's Joe Schad contributed to this report.