Ivy League To Begin Participating in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Starting With 2025 Season
12/18/2024 10:00:00 AM | Football
PRINCETON, N.J. – Following a year-long process initiated by the Ivy League's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Ivy League Council of Presidents has approved a proposal to participate in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs beginning next season.
"The Ivy League prides itself on a storied tradition of impact, influence and competitive success throughout the history of college football. We now look ahead to a new chapter of success and to further enhancing the student-athlete experience with our participation in the NCAA FCS playoffs," said Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris. "I want to commend the students on our SAAC for their thoughtful and thorough proposal as well as their commitment to the league's legislative process."
The Ivy League SAAC is comprised of 17 student-athletes from all eight institutions, competing in a total of 12 different sports. The mission of the student-athlete run committee is to advocate for student-athlete well-being and to foster a positive student-athlete experience.
"I'm incredibly proud of the student-athletes who worked very hard to be able to compete in the NCAA championships," said Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong. "With this vote, our football players are gaining access to the same opportunities that their peers enjoy at institutions across the country."
Instrumental in the foundation and growth of college football, the Ivy League's role as a leader and innovator in the sport has continued through the present day. Stemming from the league's ongoing overall review of concussions, launched in 2010, the Ivy League has pioneered numerous measures to enhance the safety of the game. Two prominent modifications include the elimination of live to-the-ground tackling during regular season practices and moving the kickoff up to the 40-yard line in league games, which has resulted in an increase in touchbacks and a reduction in concussion injuries.
"I'm so excited for our student-athletes to finally have the opportunity to compete in the FCS Playoffs," Patricia & Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Jon Poppe stated. "With the amount of time and work our student-athletes put into their sport and their academics, they deserve the opportunity to compete for a National Championship. The ability to extend our season is just extra motivation to take our program to an even higher level."
The Ivy League's history of competitive success has also persisted to the present day. In 12 of the past 14 seasons, the Ivy League has posted a non-conference winning percentage of .500 or higher. Since 2017, the league is collectively 119-49 (.708). That success has translated to the next level both on the field and in front offices. More than 20 Ivies from all eight institutions earned roster spots on NFL teams. An Ivy alum in the NFL has won the Super Bowl in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
"The Ivy League prides itself on a storied tradition of impact, influence and competitive success throughout the history of college football. We now look ahead to a new chapter of success and to further enhancing the student-athlete experience with our participation in the NCAA FCS playoffs," said Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris. "I want to commend the students on our SAAC for their thoughtful and thorough proposal as well as their commitment to the league's legislative process."
The Ivy League SAAC is comprised of 17 student-athletes from all eight institutions, competing in a total of 12 different sports. The mission of the student-athlete run committee is to advocate for student-athlete well-being and to foster a positive student-athlete experience.
"I'm incredibly proud of the student-athletes who worked very hard to be able to compete in the NCAA championships," said Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong. "With this vote, our football players are gaining access to the same opportunities that their peers enjoy at institutions across the country."
Instrumental in the foundation and growth of college football, the Ivy League's role as a leader and innovator in the sport has continued through the present day. Stemming from the league's ongoing overall review of concussions, launched in 2010, the Ivy League has pioneered numerous measures to enhance the safety of the game. Two prominent modifications include the elimination of live to-the-ground tackling during regular season practices and moving the kickoff up to the 40-yard line in league games, which has resulted in an increase in touchbacks and a reduction in concussion injuries.
"I'm so excited for our student-athletes to finally have the opportunity to compete in the FCS Playoffs," Patricia & Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Jon Poppe stated. "With the amount of time and work our student-athletes put into their sport and their academics, they deserve the opportunity to compete for a National Championship. The ability to extend our season is just extra motivation to take our program to an even higher level."
The Ivy League's history of competitive success has also persisted to the present day. In 12 of the past 14 seasons, the Ivy League has posted a non-conference winning percentage of .500 or higher. Since 2017, the league is collectively 119-49 (.708). That success has translated to the next level both on the field and in front offices. More than 20 Ivies from all eight institutions earned roster spots on NFL teams. An Ivy alum in the NFL has won the Super Bowl in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
"We are incredibly pleased with the decision from the Ivy League Presidents to allow participation in the FCS Playoffs," said Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education Peter Pilling. "Specifically, we are grateful for the support from Interim President Katrina Armstrong during this process. For years, our league has proven capable of competing against the best FCS teams in the country, and now, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to showcase that in the postseason. It's truly a historic day for our football program, alumni and fans of Columbia, the Ivy League and college football."
The 2024 season culminated with Columbia, Dartmouth and Harvard earning a share of the Ivy League title. Over the next several months, the league will develop tiebreakers to determine how its automatic qualifier will be awarded when there are co-champions in the future.
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