FCS playoffs postponed after conferences delay fall season

Even if some schools play a football regular season starting in the coming weeks, the FCS playoffs won't take place in the fall.

After the Pioneer Football League and Big Sky Conference delayed their fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lower half of NCAA's Division I will fall short of fielding 50% of eligible teams in the regular season, which the NCAA requires for the playoffs to be held.

The Pioneer Football League and Big Sky Conference are open to resuming activities in the spring, and both conferences want the FCS to make the same decision. Over 70 of the 127 FCS schools have now announced fall competitions won't go forward.

The deadline for the Division I council to determine the status of its playoffs is Aug. 21. North Dakota State has won three straight FCS national titles and eight of the past nine championship games.