even teams from eight HBCUs have been ruled ineligible for postseason play due to low Academic Progress Rates (APR).

Alabama A&M: (men’s basketball, men’s track and field, women’s soccer), Alabama State: (men’s basketball), Coppin State: (women’s track and field), Delaware State: (men’s basketball), Grambling State: (men’s track and field).,Howard: (football), Prairie View A&M: (footbal) and Southern: (men’s cross country, men’s track and field) failed to meet the minimum academic standard set by other NCAA member institutions.

The penalties were assigned based on student-athlete academic achievement between 2015-16 and 2018-19..

To compete in the 2020-21 postseason, teams must achieve a 930 four-year APR. NCAA members chose the 930 standard because that score predicts, on average, a 50 percent graduation rate for a given team.

Teams scoring below 930 can face consequences intended to direct additional focus to academics. Those penalties can include athletically related activities and playing-season reductions, encouraging teams to devote to academic activities the time that would have been spent on athletics.

The Academic Performance Program penalty structure includes two levels, with penalties increasing in severity in level two. Schools move through the penalty structure each year, progressing to the next level of severity if their multiyear APR remains below the benchmarks.

Postseason ineligibility

Alabama A&M: men’s basketball, men’s track and field, women’s soccer
Alabama State: men’s basketball
Coppin State: women’s track and field
Delaware State: men’s basketball
Grambling State: men’s track and field
Howard: football
Prairie View A&M: football
Southern: men’s cross country, men’s track and field

Level One Penalties

Alabama State: men’s basketball
Bethune-Cookman: men’s golf, men’s track and field
Coppin State: men’s basketball
Prairie View A&M: football, women’s basketball
South Carolina State: women’s volleyball

Level Two Penalties

Alabama A&M: men’s basketball, men’s track and field, women’s soccer
Coppin State: women’s track and field
Delaware State: men’s basketball
Grambling State: men’s track and field
Howard: football
Southern: men’s cross country, men’s track and field