Overview
- The Division I FBS Oversight Committee introduced legislation to let FCS-to-FBS reclassifiers compete in bowls in their first season if they meet the deserving-team standard (e.g., 6-6) and can fill a conference bowl commitment.
- If adopted, transitioning teams would also be eligible for conference championship games and the College Football Playoff provided they qualify on the field.
- The proposed timeline targets the 2026 season and would directly affect North Dakota State and Sacramento State as they move to the Mountain West and MAC in July with significant entry payments.
- The committee also recommended giving conferences flexibility to select one of their own 5-7 teams with strong APR to fulfill a bowl tie-in rather than following a strict national APR ranking.
- Recent exceptions highlighted the gap in the current system as Delaware and Missouri State played in 2025 bowls due to a shortage of eligible teams, and NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen called the new proposal “huge” for transitioning programs.