NCAA LSDBi

Division I Proposal - 2013-13

POSTSEASON EVENTS -- POSTSEASON BOWL GAMES -- CONTEST STATUS -- EXCEPTIONS -- CONFERENCE CHAMPION AND DESERVING TEAM THAT LOSES CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Status: Adopted Final

Intent: In bowl subdivision football, to specify that an institution that finishes its regular season having met the definition of a "deserving team" but loses its conference championship game shall continue to be considered a deserving team; further, to specify that if a conference champion is scheduled contractually to participate in a bowl game, the team that is the conference champion shall be eligible to participate regardless of its won-lost record.

Bylaws: Amend 18.7.2.1, as follows:

[Federated provision, FBS only]

18.7.2.1 Contest Status. A contest shall serve the purpose of providing a national contest between deserving teams. A "deserving team" shall be defined as one that has won a number of games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents that is equal to or greater than the number of its overall losses. Tie games do not count in determining a team's won-lost record. Further, when forfeiture of a regular-season football victory is required by the Committee on Infractions or a conference, or is self-imposed by an institution as a result of a violation of NCAA rules, neither of the competing institutions may count that contest in satisfying the definition of a "deserving team."

18.7.2.1.1 Exception -- Football Championship Subdivision Opponent. Each year, a Football Bowl Subdivision institution may count one victory against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent toward meeting the definition of a "deserving team," provided the opponent has averaged 90 percent of the permissible maximum number of grants-in-aid per year in football during a rolling two-year period.

[18.7.2.1.1.1 unchanged.]

18.7.2.1.2 Waiver for Exception -- Conference Champion. The Leadership Council, by a two-thirds majority of its members present and voting, or a committee designated by the Leadership Council, may approve a waiver of the definition of a "deserving team," to enable a conference champion to participate in a bowl game when the If a conference champion is scheduled contractually to participate in the a bowl game, the institution that is the conference champion shall be eligible to participate regardless of its won-lost record.

18.7.2.1.3 Exception -- Deserving Team That Loses Conference Championship Game.  An institution that finishes its regular season having met the definition of a "deserving team" but loses its conference championship game shall continue to be considered a deserving team.

18.7.2.1.34 Exception -- Insufficient Number of Eligible Institutions. For a period of four years beginning August 2, 2012, if an insufficient number of institutions meet the definition of a "deserving team" pursuant to Bylaw 18.7.2.1 to participate in postseason bowl games in a particular year, an institution that meets a condition set forth below shall be eligible to be selected to participate in such a bowl game. A particular bowl game may benefit from this provision only one time within the four-year period. All institutions that meet the first condition must be selected before an institution that meets the second condition may be selected and so forth in descending order:

[18.7.2.1.3-(a) through 18.7.2.1.3-(b) renumbered as 18.7.2.1.4-(a) through 18.7.2.1.4-(b), unchanged.]

(c) An institution that finished its regular season having met the definition of a "deserving team" or having met the exception in Bylaw 18.7.2.1.1 but lost its conference championship game and, consequently, no longer meets the definition.

[18.7.2.1.3-(d) through 18.7.2.1.3-(f) renumbered and relettered as 18.7.2.1.4-(c) through 18.7.2.1.4-(e), unchanged.]

Source: NCAA Division I Board of Directors

Effective Date:Immediate

Proposal Category: Amendment

Topical Area: Postseason Events

Rationale: Under current legislation, an institution that fails to meet the definition of a deserving team as a result of losing its conference championship game is not eligible for postseason bowl competition unless there are not enough eligible teams to fill the existing bowl games. It is unfair to student-athletes who otherwise have qualified for postseason bowl competition and who have also qualified for the conference's football championship game to lose bowl eligibility as a result of a loss in the conference championship game. Further, an institution that is a conference champion in a conference with a contractual obligation to a specific bowl game should be eligible to participate in the bowl game (regardless of record) without seeking a waiver.

Estimated Budget Impact: None.

Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.

History

Mar 7, 2013: Submit; Submitted for consideration.
May 2, 2013: Board of Directors, Sponsored
May 2, 2013: Board Review, Adopted
May 3, 2013: Adopted, Override Period; Start of Override Period
Jul 1, 2013: Adopted, Override Period; End of Override Period
Jul 1, 2013: Adopted; Adopted - Final

Legislative References

Division Number Title
I 18.7.2.1 Contest Status.
I 18.7.2.1.1 Exception -- Football Championship Subdivision Opponent.
I 18.7.2.1.2 Exception -- Conference Champion.
I 18.7.2.1.4 Exception -- Insufficient Number of Eligible Institutions.
References