• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Ivy League Takes Rare Step Into Modern Era of College Sports With FCS Playoff Berth

The Ivy League used to have the shortest season in Division I college football. Now it gets to have a postseason. 

Princeton Football
Jim O’Connor-Imagn Images

As college sports have rapidly evolved in recent years, the Ivy League has stayed relatively the same. 

The Northeast schools known for their academics have been allergic to name, image, and likeness payments, despite their enormous endowments, and the conference has continued to ban grad transfers and fifth-year players in the era of the transfer portal. It has never offered athletic scholarships, and a group of Ivy League athletes suing the league over the policy had their case thrown out by a judge in October. In an era when college athletes are trending more toward becoming employees, the Ivy League has remained stubbornly in the past.

On Wednesday, the conference took a small, rare step into the modern era. 

Starting with the 2025 season, the Ivy League will participate in the FCS playoffs, with the conference winner clinching an automatic berth, the league announced. Now, the Ivy League champion could play for the national title. 

The 2025 Ivy League could see as many as five games added to its schedule, should it go all the way to the FCS final. The FCS playoffs include 24 teams with the top eight seeds all getting byes to the second round. Should an Ivy League team receive a bye, its path to the final would be only four games. This year’s FCS playoffs started Nov. 30, and the final will be held Jan. 6. 

Before Thursday, the Ivy League’s stance on the playoffs was rooted in the conference’s academic foundation. The additional burden of postseason games, which overlap with final exams, made the FCS playoffs a nonstarter. 

The idea of reexamining the conference’s stance on the FCS playoffs was brought up by its SAAC (student-athlete advisory committee) roughly a year ago and was approved by school presidents Wednesday. 

“The Ivy League prides itself on a storied tradition of impact, influence and competitive success throughout the history of college football. We now look ahead to a new chapter of success and to further enhancing the student-athlete experience with our participation in the NCAA FCS playoffs,” said Ivy League executive director Robin Harris in a release. 

Previously, the eight-member league had one of the shortest seasons in college football, with schools playing 10 regular-season games, seven of which were conference matchups. This season, Columbia won a share of the league for the first time since 1961, along with Dartmouth and Harvard. Instead of adding a conference title game, the league said it will develop tiebreakers in the coming months to determine the automatic qualifier if there are future co-champions. In basketball, the conference used to award its regular-season winner an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament, but it installed a four-team tournament in 2017. 

Princeton was the last Ivy League school to go undefeated in 2018 and finished ninth in the final FCS poll. The league’s three co-champions this season all received votes in the FCS poll. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Penn State Could Owe James Franklin Very Little of Buyout

FOS has reviewed Franklin’s 2021 contract extension.
Oct 11, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches game play against the Oregon Ducks during the fourth quarter at Autzen Stadium.

How Indiana Quietly Became a Big Spender in Football

The Hoosiers are ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll, the highest in program history.

College Football Coach Firings Nearing $100M in Contract Buyouts

Two other coaches besides James Franklin were fired Sunday.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.

Penn State Fires James Franklin, Will Pay Nearly $50M Buyout

The Nittany Lions lost again Saturday, falling to 3-3 this season.
Sep 27, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) passes the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
October 10, 2025

Big Ten Vote on Investment From California Pension Expected

A vote is expected to happen as early as next week, FOS confirmed.
Patrick Kraft
exclusive
October 11, 2025

Penn State, Adidas Deny Wrongdoing Around $300M Apparel Deal

The school and the brand publicly defended their 10-year deal Saturday.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Oct 9, 2025; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti speaks during Big Ten MenÕs Basketball Media Days at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
October 10, 2025

In an Expanded March Madness, Big Ten Favors Straight Seeding

Discussion around expanding the tournament continues to escalate.
Congresswoman Lori Trahan talks with people outside the Shriver Job Corps Center in Devens June 18
October 10, 2025

Congresswoman Says College Sports Commission Process Is ‘Harming Athletes’

The CSC’s process is “slow, inefficient, and inscrutable,” Rep. Trahan said.
exclusive
October 9, 2025

LSU Signs Multimillion-Dollar Jersey Patch Deal Before NCAA Approval

A new proposal would allow jersey sponsors in 2026.
October 9, 2025

What If UNC and Belichick Part Ways? The Buyout Structure Is …..

If Belichick is fired without cause in his last two seasons, UNC owes him nothing.