APR results cost 15 D-I programs postseason ban

The NCAA announced its Academic Progress Rate results on Tuesday, with 15 Division I programs not reaching the threshold needed to compete in the postseason.

The standard to avoid penalties and play in the postseason is an overall four-year rate from 2015-16 through 2018-19 of 930, a score that predicts a 50% graduation rate, according to the NCAA.

According to the APR database, 15 programs across the country did not reach the 930 multiyear rate and therefore face postseason ineligibility.

• Alabama A&M men’s basketball, men’s track and women’s soccer

• Alabama State men’s basketball

• Coppin State women’s track

• Delaware State men’s basketball

• Grambling State men’s track

• Howard football

• McNeese State football

• Prairie View A&M football

• Southern University men’s cross country and men’s track

• Stephen F. Austin baseball, football and men’s basketball

Despite Alabama A&M’s results in men’s basketball, men’s track and women’s soccer, athletic director Kenyatta Walker cited improving single-year scores as well as better marks in other sports as examples of progress the school’s athletes have made in the classroom.

“Our student-athletes have been resilient and have risen to the occasion,” Walker said. “We are excited to see the continued improvement in our athletic department’s APR scores, this is a true testament to the commitment and excellence from our student-athletes, the academic support staff and coaches.”

For the first time, schools will see an economic payoff from classroom success.

The NCAA will distributing money to schools that post an all-sport, single-year score of 985 or higher; that have a Graduation Success Rate of 90% or higher; or produce a federal graduation rate among athletes that tops the federal average of non-athletes by at least 13 percentage points.

The Division I board of directors said it will not announce which schools receive the payout but acknowledged the dollar amounts were impacted by the cancellation of the men’s basketball tournament.

“The sustained academic achievement of Division I student-athletes is nothing short of remarkable,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. “Their hard work in the classroom is just as evident as their efforts on the field. Their success is something to be celebrated.”

It’s unclear when the postseason bans need to be served, but Stadium reported Tuesday that Stephen F. Austin’s men’s basketball team would serve it in 2021-22. The Lumberjacks were one of the best mid-major teams in the country last season, going 28-3 overall and winning the Southland Conference regular-season title with a 19-1 record. Kyle Keller’s team had one of the most shocking wins in recent memory on Nov. 26, when it went to Duke and beat the top-ranked Blue Devils on a layup at the buzzer by Nathan Bain. It was Duke’s first nonconference loss at home since 2000.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report