U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) has called on the NCAA to approve Missouri State University’s request for a waiver that would allow its Bears football team to participate in postseason play. The request comes as Missouri State transitions from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Senator Schmitt criticized the NCAA’s current policy, which restricts teams moving from FCS to FBS from postseason eligibility. “The NCAA’s prohibition on postseason participation for teams transitioning from FCS to FBS is an obsolete rule that fails to reflect today’s college athletics landscape. Established decades ago, under vastly different circumstances, this blanket restriction no longer serves any meaningful purpose in an era of conference realignment and rapidly evolving competitive dynamics. Modern programs possess the resources, facilities, and student-athletes to compete at the FBS level from day one. The artificial waiting period is unnecessary and punitive,” Schmitt said.
He noted that Missouri State has achieved six wins during its first season at the FBS level and has met all NCAA requirements for postseason eligibility, including those related to scheduling, scholarships, and facilities improvements. “Missouri State has demonstrated its readiness for FBS competition by achieving six wins in its inaugural season while also fulfilling NCAA requirements for postseason eligibility, including scheduling standards, scholarship allocations, and facilities improvements. The university has done everything asked of it and more. Its student athletes have earned their place on the field and a chance to compete in the postseason through performance, not administrative technicalities,” he stated.
Schmitt urged the NCAA not to deny these athletes their opportunity based on what he described as an outdated regulation: “The NCAA must not deny these student-athletes the postseason opportunity they have earned based on an arbitrary, outdated regulation that no longer reflects the current realities. I strongly urge the NCAA to approve Missouri State University’s waiver request and allow these student-athletes to compete for the postseason recognition their hard work and on-field success have earned.”
