The yearly FCS playoffs will not be held this fall, even if some schools play a routine season.
The lower half of Division I college football has actually disappointed the NCAAs current mandate that playoffs would require 50% of eligible teams get involved in a regular season,
The number fell listed below the limit Friday after both the Pioneer Football League and Big Sky Conference announced they wont have fall competitors due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
Eight of the 13 FCS conferences arent playing in the fall, with the CAA, Ivy, MEAC, Northeast, Patriot and SWAC having actually made announcements last month. The number of schools not playing is nearing 75 out of 127 programs, considering a couple of CAA schools considering independent schedules and Big South members Hampton and Monmouth deciding out of playing even if their conference has a routine season.
2 RelatedOne of the CAA schools, 2019 national runner-up James Madison, reversed course and ended pursuit of a fall season Friday.
The Big South, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Southern and Southland conferences are still determining their instructions. The Missouri Valley is house to North Dakota State, a winner of 3 straight FCS national titles– and 8 of the past 9.
The NCAA board of directors provided the Division I Council up until Aug. 21 to figure out the status of playoffs, which have been held annually because 1978. The NCAA broadened them to 24 teams in 2013.
Its possible a routine season would lead to playoffs if FCS members wind up shifting their season to the spring semester.
“We already have begun actively engaging our fellow FCS conferences and the NCAA to join us then for what will be an unique chance to return to competition and complete for an FCS champion.”
