James Madison, Jacksonville State Primed for Bowl Berths Thanks to Two SEC Teams Losing

The Dukes and Gamecocks will get to circumvent the NCAA's strict rules.

For years, a strict set of rules has governed the way FCS football programs transition to FBS. They have decent intentions behind them—they’re meant, in theory, to prevent teams from making the leap too quickly and facing a debilitating financial crunch.

However, those rules have come under more scrutiny this year than any year before it. That's largely due to the feats of James Madison, which roared to an 11–1 record in just its second year as an FBS program.

NCAA rules prevent teams transitioning from FCS to FBS from participating in bowl games for the first two years.

The Dukes were unsuccessful in their bid for a waiver to play in a bowl game, but on Saturday they—along with fellow transitional program Jacksonville State, which went 8–4—found an alternate route to the postseason. 

South Carolina and Florida's respective losses to Clemson and Florida State ensured that not enough 6–6 teams will be available to fill every bowl slot, enabling James Madison and the Gamecocks to potentially extend their seasons.

With Florida and South Carolina failing to get to 6 wins, we will officially be at least 2 bowl teams short.

Welcome to Bowl Season, James Madison and Jax State.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 26, 2023

Jacksonville State lost 20–17 to New Mexico State on the road Saturday, while the Dukes crushed Coastal Carolina 56–14.

The Gamecocks are in their first year in FBS and Conference USA under coach Rich Rodriguez.