Hypothetical ¿Q?

[∞∞∞]

If an FCS team in one of the stronger divisions scheduled three FBS teams in one season and won all three or two, and then swept the CAA, would they be bowl eligible? For example, if JMU beat Maryland, Southern Mississippi, and a ranked North Carolina team, and then went on to go undefeated in a good CAA conference, do you think they'd have a chance of being invited? If so, are FCS teams allowed to play in a bowl AND the playoffs (if there isn't a schedule conflict)?

[SuperHornet]

Appy was nationally ranked in FBS the year the beat Michigan. There were rumors of a bowl invite, but people forgot about that win as the season went on. Theoretically, any FCS team is "bowl eligible" if they have the requisite # of D-1 wins, but those wins must realistically include some "name" FBS teams, and they're not likely to schedule FCS teams late enough in the season to be "remembered" by bowl selection committees. And if it's tough for the WAC to get into the B(C)$, it'll be dang near IMPOSSIBLE for even the best FCS team in the land to pull it off.

[JayJ79]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowl_eligibility

Under current regulations, in order to become bowl eligible, a team must record at least six wins in the standard 12-game schedule, which may include one win against a Division I FCS scholarship-awarding opponent, and the team must not be on probation. The NCAA allows one victory per season over a Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) team to count toward an FBS team's bowl eligibility, so long as the FCS team has supplied financial aid for football averaging out to at least 56.7 full scholarships (90% of the limit of 63 allowed to FCS schools) over the preceding two years. This prevents teams from scheduling multiple games against FCS teams in an effort to pad their win total.

so in order to become eligible, the team would have to play (and win against) at least 5 FBS teams.
and even then, it may not be allowed, I dunno (they could specifically have a clause that only allows FBS teams to play in the bowls).

[dbackjon]

No. You need 6 d1 wins to be bowl eligible. Only one of those wins can be over a team with less than 76 schollies

[JayJ79]

No. You need 6 d1 wins to be bowl eligible. Only one of those wins can be over a team with less than 76 schollies

to be more specific, you need 5 wins against teams with 76+ schollies, and one win against a team with at least 56.7 schollies.

[UNHWildCats]

Appy was nationally ranked in FBS the year the beat Michigan. There were rumors of a bowl invite, but people forgot about that win as the season went on. Theoretically, any FCS team is "bowl eligible" if they have the requisite # of D-1 wins, but those wins must realistically include some "name" FBS teams, and they're not likely to schedule FCS teams late enough in the season to be "remembered" by bowl selection committees. And if it's tough for the WAC to get into the B(C)$, it'll be dang near IMPOSSIBLE for even the best FCS team in the land to pull it off.

They received votes, but were not ranked... you are not ranked until you reach the top 25 which Appy didnt do. The were "forgot" as the season went on because they lost to Wofford and Georgia Southern.

[blueballs]

For a FCS program to be able to schedule and win 5 FBS games means they have to be an independent so there may be a chance that such a team would be ineligible for the playoffs anyway.

The main reason a FCS program would not be invited to a bowl game is $$$, as in a FCS program isn't likely to travel well enough to justify it and isn't perceived to be able to generate Neilson #'s for TV.

[UNHWildCats]

For a FCS program to be able to schedule and win 5 FBS games means they have to be an independent so there may be a chance that such a team would be ineligible for the playoffs anyway.

The main reason a FCS program would not be invited to a bowl game is $$$, as in a FCS program isn't likely to travel well enough to justify it and isn't perceived to be able to generate Neilson #'s for TV.

Cal Poly could do it. They only have 4 conference games.

[clenz]

For a FCS program to be able to schedule and win 5 FBS games means they have to be an independent so there may be a chance that such a team would be ineligible for the playoffs anyway.

The main reason a FCS program would not be invited to a bowl game is $$$, as in a FCS program isn't likely to travel well enough to justify it and isn't perceived to be able to generate Neilson #'s for TV.

I would bet App. State, Montana, NDSU, and a couple others would travel better than most MAC or Sun Belt teams.

[JayJ79]

For a FCS program to be able to schedule and win 5 FBS games means they have to be an independent so there may be a chance that such a team would be ineligible for the playoffs anyway.

The main reason a FCS program would not be invited to a bowl game is $$$, as in a FCS program isn't likely to travel well enough to justify it and isn't perceived to be able to generate Neilson #'s for TV.

the only reason a team is ineligible for the playoffs is if they are still in their transitional years from changing divisions. (or if they are facing NCAA-sanctioned penalties for violations). being independent doesn't make them ineligible