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College Football Program Eliminated From Bowl Eligibility Due to Academic Failure

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mathey Gibson | Last updated May 6, 2025 4:43 PM ET

The NCAA delivered a rare and humbling blow to the Akron Zips on Tuesday.

Despite showing on-field progress last season, Akron has officially been ruled ineligible for a bowl game in 2025 due to its Academic Progress Rate (APR) falling below the required threshold.

The 2023–24 APR report, released Tuesday, revealed Akron’s multi-year APR score is just 914, well below the NCAA's minimum of 930 for postseason eligibility.

Their single-year score of 920 couldn’t offset the cumulative deficit. As a result, the Zips are the first FBS team since Idaho in 2014 to be barred from bowl play due to academics.

While the news stings, it arrives with some context. Akron finished 4–8 in 2024 under head coach Joe Moorhead, their best record since 2018.

Akron Football's multi-year Academic Progress Rate has fallen to 914, and is eliminated from bowl eligibility before the season even starts. They are the first FBS team to become ineligible for a bowl due to academic reasons since 2014 Idaho. pic.twitter.com/gGrpDIwmpV
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) May 6, 2025

Still, the team remained outside realistic bowl contention. That makes the ruling more symbolic than a disruption of plans — but it's a clear setback for a program working to regain respectability.

The NCAA paused APR enforcement during COVID-19 but reinstated it last season. Schools are expected to not only retain student-athletes but keep them academically eligible.

Falling short suggests broader internal issues, including academic support and player retention.

At the FCS level, Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff were also ruled ineligible — a more frequent occurrence at that level — but Akron stands alone among FBS teams this year.

While the APR penalty won’t affect the Zips’ regular season, it removes any chance of a postseason reward. For a program trying to rebuild momentum, starting the 2025 season with that cloud overhead is a tough break.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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