FSU joins list of 5-7 football teams to decline bowl invitations
The joy of going to a postseason bowl game just ain’t what it used to be.
Not only did the Notre Dame Fighting Irish decline to play in a bowl after being excluded from the College Football Playoff, but Florida State and at least six other 5-7 schools have declined bids to play in lower-tiered games.
According to On3’s Brett McMurphy, the seven schools in the group that declined invitations as of Sunday evening were Florida State, Auburn, UCF, Baylor, Rutgers, Temple and Kansas. Those schools were asked after Notre Dame, Kansas State and Iowa State chose not to play in the postseason for various reasons.
The Fighting Irish were, of course, disappointed after the Miami Hurricanes moved ahead of them earlier Sunday in the final CFP voting. Kansas State and Iowa State both declined amid recent coaching changes and questions about the availability of players.
With no more 6-6 teams available for bowl slots, the focus turned to teams that went 5-7 this past season — with preference going to schools with strong APR (Academic Progress Rate) records.
The challenge for Florida State and other schools was that many players and staff members have already started dispersing with the season being over and no expectations of making the postseason.
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Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said on Friday that he had already begun holding exit meetings with players and staff, and at least two players — linebacker Jayden Parrish and defensive end L A Jessie Harrold — have announced they are entering the transfer portal.
McMurphy reported that Appalachian State ended up taking the final spot Sunday evening and will face Georgia Southern in the Birmingham Bowl.
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