Officials at James Madison are asking the NCAA to waive a rule that makes the school ineligible for the college football postseason.
The undefeated Dukes (9-0, 6-0 Sun Belt) are in their second season since transitioning to the FBS level. Under NCAA rules, a team making the move from the FCS ranks is bowl ineligible for two seasons.
But in a letter delivered Tuesday to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, James Madison is asking for full eligibility for bowl season now.
One of the arguments being made by the trio of James Madison letter writers — campus president Jonathan Alger, athletic director Jeffrey Bourne and rector Maribeth Herod — is that the players deserve the opportunity.
“The membership recognizes postseason participation as a fundamental element of the student-athlete experience,” the letter reads. “If relief is provided, our student-athletes would potentially have the rare opportunity to participate in a prestigious New Year’s Six bowl contest. Our team includes cohorts of students who have been through COVID disruptions, missed out on earned opportunities last year, and face uncertain prospects for postseason play again this year despite their sustained excellence.”
The letter also points out that James Madison has eight wins against FBS opponents and could finish as the top-ranked Group of Five program in the nation. The highest-ranked Group of Five team earns an automatic berth in a top bowl game.
The Dukes are No. 21 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll but unranked by the College Football Playoff committee because of its lack of postseason eligibility. Under CFP’s first rankings, issued last week, the top-ranked Group of Five program is No. 24 Tulane (8-1, 5-0 American Athletic Association).
The next CFP rankings will be announced Tuesday night.
–Field Level Media