### Akron Football Faces Postseason Ban Due to Academic Struggles - The Akron Zips football team has been declared ineligible for postseason play in 2025 due to a low Academic Progress Rate (APR) score. This marks a continuation of academic challenges that have plagued the program, as they have not participated in a bowl game since 2017. The NCAA requires a minimum APR score of 930, and Akron's score of 914 places them at the bottom of the Division I rankings, leading to their postseason ban [https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/akron_ineligible_for_postseason_due_to_low_academic_progress_rate/s1_17047_42167631]. ### Breakdown of Akron's Academic Progress Rate Situation 1. **APR Score and Eligibility**: Akron's APR score of 914 is below the NCAA's required threshold of 930, resulting in a ban from postseason bowl games for the 2025 season [https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2025/05/akron-football-banned-from-postseason-bowl-games-in-2025.html]. 2. **Consequences of Low APR**: Falling below the 930 benchmark can lead to various penalties, including reduced practice time and postseason bans. If a program's score drops below 900, it risks losing its Division I status [https://apnews.com/article/akron-football-apr-postseason-b26353283af3095c3f024fa1ccc0be5e]. 3. **Historical Context**: This is the first time since Idaho in 2014 that a football program has been banned from postseason play for academic reasons, highlighting the severity of Akron's situation [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6338210/2025/05/06/akron-loses-bowl-eligibility-academic-progress-report]. 4. **Coaching and Program Impact**: The Zips are coached by Joe Moorhead, a former head coach at Mississippi State, but the program's struggles reflect broader issues, including socioeconomic factors and a decline in recruiting [https://www.wfla.com/sports/sports-illustrated/ec66d2c2/mac-football-program-ineligible-for-postseason-due-to-academic-struggles]. ### Supporting Data on Academic Progress Rate - **Akron's APR Scores**: - 2022-23: 925 (resulted in a 20% reduction in practice hours for 2024) - 2023-24: 914 (current score leading to postseason ban) - **NCAA Minimum Requirement**: 930 - **Top Performer**: Ohio State achieved a perfect score of 1,000, leading the nation in APR [https://sports.yahoo.com/article/akron-football-ineligible-postseason-play-203220092.html]. ### Summary of Findings - **Conclusion**: Akron's football program is facing significant challenges due to its low Academic Progress Rate, which has resulted in a postseason ban for the 2025 season. The program's score of 914 not only disqualifies them from bowl games but also reflects ongoing academic struggles that could jeopardize their Division I status if not addressed. 1. Akron's APR score is critically low, leading to a postseason ban. 2. The consequences of low APR scores include reduced practice time and potential loss of Division I status. 3. Historical context shows this is a rare occurrence in college football, emphasizing the severity of Akron's situation. 4. Socioeconomic factors and coaching challenges contribute to the program's academic decline [https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/akron-football-news-zips-ineligible-postseason-academic-decline].