James Madison, undefeated and ranked No. 21 in the AP poll, will officially not play in a bowl game unless there are a shortage of eligible teams after its appeal was denied by the NCAA on Wednesday.
The NCAA Division I Board Administration Committee made the decision, which, in fairness: A) simply upholds the rules the schools have written for themselves, and B) remains consistent with the decisions of three other committees to rule on the Dukes' case.
NCAA rules require schools to endure a 2-year probationary period before reaching the postseason in a new division or subdivision. JMU had hoped to reduce it to one. Virginia attorney general Jason Miyares previously intervened on JMU's behalf, to no avail.
James Madison was not the only school to appeal to the Administration Committee. Jacksonville State, 7-3 and half a game out of second place in Conference USA, and Tarleton State, 8-3 after moving from Division II to FCS, also joined the fight.
JMU took center stage because its extraordinary success. The Dukes would be in the running for the Group of 5's New Year's Six bowl bid if they were eligible, and would be one win away from a second straight Sun Belt East championship. Curt Cignetti's team went 8-3 in its FBS debut last season, closing their maiden voyage with a 47-7 stomping of Sun Belt East "champ" Coastal Carolina.
College GameDay will be on campus Saturday as the Dukes host App State.
"We're obviously disappointed in the outcome of the NCAA's review of our request for bowl relief," JMU said in a statement. "We're saddened for our university community and, in particular, we're devastated for our football program, the coaches and student-athletes who have orchestrated an amazing season and earned the opportunity.
"As we turn the page, we have an incredible week lined up with College GameDay here and our final home game, so we're focused on maximizing these moments for our university and celebrating our senior class."
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.