ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ivy League announced Wednesday it would allow its schools with football teams to participate in the postseason starting in 2025. The change marks a significant shift from the league’s former policy, which barred Ivy League teams from playoff participation.
The move allows Ivy League schools to participate in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs for the first time.
Football was the only sport in which Ivy League teams were not allowed to play in the postseason, despite several teams finishing among the FCS final Top 25 rankings over the last few years.
The champion of the Ivy League, determined during the regular season, will receive an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, according to the league’s announcement.
The move also clears the way for Cornell University’s football team to potentially make a postseason appearance for the first time in decades. While the school claims five national titles in football, the last came in 1939, and the Big Red has not won the Ivy League title since 1990.
“This is an exciting day for our program, our players, and our alumni,” said head coach Dan Swanstrom. “Competing in the FCS playoffs provides a tremendous opportunity to showcase the strength of Ivy League football on a national stage. At Cornell, we are thrilled to embrace this challenge.”
Swanstrom led the Big Red to a 4-6 record in his first year leading the football team, finishing fourth in the Ivy League.
The change came at the behest of Ivy League student-athletes who pushed the conference to allow football teams to compete in the postseason.
“That this effort was spearheaded by non-football student-athletes in the Ivy League Student-Athlete Advisory Councils (SAAC) was deeply impactful, and their thoroughness and passion in making the argument was well-received,” said Cornell Athletics Director Dr. Nicki Moore. “I recognize that this has been a long time coming for our passionate alumni, family and friends that have been advocating for this change. This is a great day for Ivy League and Cornell athletics.”
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