The Football Championship Subdivision playoffs are just around the corner, but one potential playoff team is making the decision to skip the postseason out of fear of having committing an NCAA violation.
The University of San Diego issued a statement Thursday stating the school has made the decision to withdraw from postseason consideration despite having a shot at winning the Pioneer Football League championship, which receives an automatic bid in the FCS postseason. The decision comes as a result of a potential violation regarding financial aid provided to a football player.The identity of the player in question was not released but the school says they are cooperating with the PFL and has taken a proactive approach to ensure it is handled properly.
“Recently, Torero Athletics identified an issue arising out of the award of need-based financial aid to football players that is incompatible with the Pioneer Football League’s (PFL) rules, but is within the financial aid need-based cap applied to the University’s general student body,” a statement from San Diego President Mary E. Lyons said.
“Our initial findings have prompted us to report the matter to the PFL and to assure them of our full cooperation in any additional review,” Lyons explained. “Furthermore and with the endorsement of a special committee of trustees appointed by our Board, and after careful consideration of appropriate immediate sanctions in circumstances such as these, we have voluntarily elected to remove USD from consideration for this year’s conference championship and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) automatic qualifier. This issue is specific to football and does not nor will it affect our other sports.”
According to the latest playoff projections published by The Sports Network, San Diego would have represented the Pioneer Football League and played on the road at traditional FCS powerhouse Montana in the first round later this month.
Butler and Marist are each tied with San Diego for the best record in the PFL with identical 6-1 records in conference play. Mercer is 5-1. The conference is expected to release updated tiebreaker scenarios for determining the conference champion on Friday.
Logo image courtesy San Diego Athletics.