The NCAA stood by its decision to not let James Madison, Jacksonville State, or Tarleton State participate in bowl games for this postseason, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s decision came from the NCAA Division I Board Administration Committee, which agreed with the three previous rulings made on the case.
By rule, college football programs that move up from the FCS to the FBS are banned from participating in bowl games for their first two seasons in the new subdivision. The rule has come under fire after James Madison, a second-year FBS program, won its first 10 games of the season.
James Madison sent a letter signed by the school president, athletic director, and rector of the board to the NCAA Board of Directors last week asking for reconsideration.
“Our student-athletes have achieved an astonishing, unprecedented level of success during this period,” the school’s letter read. “Relief is warranted as a matter of student-athlete welfare. The membership recognizes postseason participation as a fundamental element of the student-athlete experience.”
The Dukes and Jacksonville State could still reach a bowl game if there aren’t enough teams with a .500 record or better.