James Madison, Jacksonville State become bowl eligible despite NCAA ruling
The NCAA tried to stop them, but James Madison and Jacksonville State are going bowling regardless.
The Dukes and Gamecocks are transitioning from FCS to FBS, which requires a two-year bowl ban. James Madison (11-1, 7-1 in Sun Belt) filed a waiver with the NCAA earlier this month to be exempt from the rule but was denied.
However, because only 79 teams finished with six wins, it is eligible for a bowl alongside Jacksonville State (8-4, 6-2 in Conference USA).
The Sun Belt and CUSA have official ties to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, which opens the door for the Dukes and Gamecocks to play each other in a bowl game.
Conference USA also has a tie-in with the Bahamas Bowl and the Hawaii Bowl while the Sun Belt will automatically send a member to the 68 Ventures Bowl.
Per The Action Network's Brett McMurphy, the Sun Belt has a conference-record 12 teams that are bowl-eligible with James Madison's addition.
The Dukes and Gamecocks were likely sweating out Week 13 as they waited to see if their seasons were over. Multiple 5-7 teams had a chance to reach six wins and qualify for a bowl game but lost heartbreakingly.
Washington State, Nebraska and Colorado State lost on field goals as time expired. Florida let a 12-point lead slip away against No. 5 Florida State (12-0, 8-0 in ACC) in a 24-15 loss.
Mississippi State lost a tight Egg Bowl against No. 12 Ole Miss (10-2, 6-2 in SEC), 17-7, and BYU watched its 24-6 halftime lead over No. 20 Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2 in Big 12) get erased in a 40-34 double-overtime loss, its fifth consecutive.
If half of those results flipped, James Madison and Jacksonville State wouldn't be eligible for a bowl. Luckily for them (and unfortunately for everyone else), the football gods watched over them Saturday night and ensured they got what they deserved.
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