Florida A&M football hit with 2026 postseason ban

Florida A&M football won’t be able to compete in the postseason in 2026. The university announced that the Rattler football team was hit with a Level II APR penalty. The APR penalty includes ineligibility for post-season competition, as well as practice restrictions.

In a statement, Florida A&M President Marva Johnson said that the university is working to address the issue.

“Florida A&M holds its student-athletes to the same standard of excellence we hold every Rattler. These penalties reflect a failure of institutional infrastructure, not a failure of our student-athletes. We are committed to building the academic support structure this program has long deserved — and this administration will be accountable for delivering it. We are fortunate to have tremendous partners in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland has acted swiftly to provide support as we move forward.”

John F. Davis, Vice President and Director of Athletics, also weighed in via a statement. The Academic Progress Rate, or APR, is used by the NCAA to track the academic success and progress of Division I athletic programs.

“We owe it to our student-athletes and the Rattler community to be transparent about where we are and where we are going,” said Davis. “The four-year rolling average that produced this outcome includes a period of significant transition — that context does not excuse the result, and we are not here to make excuses. We are here to fix it. The 2026 season is an opportunity for this team to demonstrate its character, develop its culture under Coach Gray, and lay the foundation for years to come. I am already encouraged by the support of SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland as we work through this together.”

Division I programs must have a 930 or above average across four years to avoid penalties and sanctions from the NCAA. Florida A&M’s latest APR score fell below the NCAA’s requirement. Florida A&M’s statement reveals that they received a waiver in the 2025 season and were aware of the standings of the APR score, but weren’t able to rectify the conditions related to the below-930 APR score in time.

The post-season ban comes as Florida A&M hired alumnus Quinn Gray Sr. to lead the program. In a statement, Gray spoke about the team staying unified as they find a path forward.

“Academics and football are not competing priorities in our program — they are the same priority. Every player on this roster knows the expectation: you handle your business in the classroom first,” said Gray. “We have put the systems in place. Now it is about execution and accountability, every single day. Our job is to build this program the right way — on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. While this ban seems daunting, it does not take away our ability to continue to impact our student-athletes’ lives on and off the field, and still work toward the ultimate goal of earning degrees.”

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