NCAA approves exemption regarding FCS opponents

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NCAA approves exemption regarding FCS opponents

By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

2 minutes

Samford quarterback Liam Welch (7) scrambles for yardage against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP

With the COVID-19 pandemic having caused several schools and conferences to alter their 2020 football schedules, the NCAA Division I Council has passed an exemption regarding which victories can count toward bowl-eligibility.

FBS programs will now be allowed to count two victories over FCS teams toward the six wins necessary for bowl-eligibility. Previously, FBS teams could count only one such victory in a two-year period.

Scheduling for the 2020 season remains in flux after the Big Ten and Pac-12 elected to play conference-only schedules this season. The other Power 5 conferences followed suit, meaning that a number of schools — particularly in the Group of 5 conferences — might play eight or fewer games against FBS competition and be forced to schedule FCS schools.

In addition, the Division I Council adopted permanent legislation allowing for “need-based financial aid that does not count against other school-given merit-based awards with no relationship to athletics ability.” This is in particular big news for baseball, which has a scholarship limit of 11.7 per team that is typically broken up among two dozen or more players.