Akron Banned from 2025 Postseason for Low APR

The University of Akron football team has been declared ineligible for postseason play in 2025, including the Mid-American Conference championship, after posting a four-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 914, below the NCAA minimum of 930. This is the first FBS postseason ban for academic reasons since Idaho in 2014, following the NCAA's reinstatement of APR penalties after the COVID-19 pandemic. Akron's academic issues had previously resulted in reduced practice time in 2024 and now a postseason ban, despite some on-field improvement last season under coach Joe Moorhead. The Zips' APR is well below the FBS average of 964, and the team last played in a bowl game in 2017. Alongside Akron, only two FCS programs—Mississippi Valley State and UAPB—received postseason bans for low APR scores this year. The penalties highlight ongoing academic challenges for several Division I football programs.