The NCAA has changed its reclassification policy providing FCS programs a path to compete in the playoffs a year sooner. Schools will have to meet all the criteria in order to be granted the accelerated reclassification. The specific criteria have not been revealed as noted by St. Thomas, which anticipates compliance when the new rules are disclosed.
In addition to St. Thomas, five other FCS programs – East Texas A&M, Lindenwood, Mercyhurst, Stonehill, and West Georgia – could become eligible a year sooner than previously expected. Any potential future FCS programs would also have the ability to achieve the criteria and standards set by the NCAA to become eligible in three years for NCAA D-II programs or four years for D-III programs.
The D-III to D-I reclassification change is rare with the St. Thomas being the first I-AA/FCS team to do so in nearly 30 years. A majority of the previous D-III to D-I changes were in 1993 as a result of the NCAA mandating I-A and I-AA schools to have their football program Division I. The D-II to FCS change is more frequent with 12 such moves between 2013 and 2024.
Should the quartet of East Texas A&M, Lindenwood, St. Thomas, and Stonehill reach the benchmarks set by the NCAA to become eligible one year earlier, there will be a dozen teams vying for their first bid to the FCS playoffs in 2025 as the Ivy League will send its champion to the FCS playoffs for the first time.
Photo Credit to NCAA Photos / NCAA
