FAMU Football Banned from 2026 Postseason

Low APR scores lead to postseason ban for Rattlers football program.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented FAMU football game, with sharp planes of orange and green representing the team's official colors.FAMU's postseason ban highlights the challenges of balancing athletics and academics at the university level.Tallahassee Today

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) football team has been banned from postseason play in 2026 due to low Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores, the university announced. The ban comes as FAMU's new head coach, Quinn Gray Sr., prepares for his first season leading the Rattlers.

Why it matters

APR scores are an important metric used by the NCAA to evaluate the academic performance of student-athletes. This ban highlights the challenges FAMU faces in maintaining strong academic standards for its football program, which is a crucial part of the university's overall success and reputation.

The details

The NCAA imposed the postseason ban on FAMU football after the program failed to meet the minimum APR threshold over a multi-year period. APR scores measure the academic eligibility, retention, and graduation rates of student-athletes. FAMU's administration says it is committed to helping the football team improve its academic performance to avoid future penalties.

  • The postseason ban will be in effect for the 2026 season.
  • FAMU's new head coach, Quinn Gray Sr., hosted his first Orange and Green Spring Game at Bragg Stadium in 2026.

The players

Quinn Gray Sr.

The new head coach of the FAMU football team, taking over the program in 2026.

Florida A&M University (FAMU)

The historically Black university in Tallahassee, Florida, whose football team has been banned from the 2026 postseason due to low APR scores.

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What’s next

FAMU's administration says it is working closely with the football program to improve academic performance and avoid future postseason bans.

The takeaway

This ban underscores the importance of academic success for student-athletes at FAMU and the challenges the university faces in maintaining high standards across all of its sports programs.