The infamous D2 football single-game records set by Tusculum last season will be a thing of the past after the the NCAA released a list of non-countable opponents Friday.
The memo, issued by NCAA media coordination and stats director David Worlock, lists 34 schools whose accreditation (or lack thereof) does not meet NCAA standards, including the three branches of the controversial online-only “College of Faith” campuses in Arkansas, Florida and North Carolina. Statistics in games against non-countables in all sports, including football, will not be recognized by the NCAA.
“On closer examination, it is evident these schools are focused solely on fielding athletics teams,” Worlock said. “We have found many of them offer exclusively online courses and have questionable curriculum and/or no academic mission.”
Effective August 1, a non-NCAA opponent must meet the following requirements to be considered a “countable” opponent for statistical purposes:
- The institution must be a four-year, degree-granting institution.
- The opponent must be considered both a varsity intercollegiate team and countable competition as defined by NCAA bylaws.
- The institution must satisfy one of the following:
- Is an active, provisional or reclassifying member of the NCAA;
- Is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the United States;
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission
- If the institution is located in Canada, it must satisfy one of the following:
- Is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada;
- Is a member of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association;
- Is a member of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
- Is an active or associate member of the NAIA; or
- Is an active member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.
The policy, “does not affect sport sponsorship requirements … [nor precludes] an NCAA school from playing a non-countable opponent.” One could reasonable refer to this new rule as the “Tusculum Rule.”
Tusculum, you may recall, defeated “College of Faith-Charlotte” 71-0 to open the 2014 season. The stats compiled in that game made the Georgia Tech-Cumberland 222-0 blowout look like a double-overtime thriller between Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota State-Manktao. In that infamous game, Tusculum:
- Set an NCAA record by holding “College of Faith-Charlotte” to -124 rushing yards and -100 total offensive yards;
- Recorded three safeties in a game, tying the NCAA record set by Fort Valley State in a 1993 win over Miles; and
- Held “College of Faith-Charlotte” to zero third down conversions on 13 attempts and two first downs.
Tusculum also opened the 2013 season against “College of Faith-Charlotte,” winning 63-0.
“Competition against these teams has led to inflated statistics and results, some of which we feel have compromised the integrity of our national statistics and records,” Worlock said. “Therefore, implementing a stronger policy is necessary.”
The NCAA reviewed the updated policy with the Media Coordination and Statistics Advisory Board, which endorsed the plan, and plans to share this information with various NCAA championships oversight committees. The “non-countable” schools appearing (or which were scheduled but subsequently cancelled) on D2 football schedules this season include (listed updated Monday, July 13):
- Central International University
- Sept. 26 at Alderson-Broaddus
- Oct. 24 at West Virginia Wesleyan
- College of Faith-Charlotte
- Sept. 5 at Limestone
- College of Faith-West Memphis
- Sept. 5 at McKendree
Sept. 26 at Kentucky Wesleyan- Oct. 10 at Missouri S&T
- Nov. 7 at UNC-Pembroke
- Redemption Christian College
- Sept. 19 at Livingstone
Oct. 24 at Ohio Dominican
- University of Faith-Florida
Sept. 12 at Lincoln (Mo.)- Oct. 10 at Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 17 at Kentucky Wesleyan
- University of God’s Chosen
- Oct. 17 at Kentucky Wesleyan
- Oct. 24 at North Greenville
- Virginia University of Lynchburg
- Sept. 5 at Elizabeth City State
- Sept. 12 vs. Livingstone
- Oct. 31 at Alderson-Broaddus
- Nov. 14 at North Greenville
The NCAA policy change mirrors the “non-countable opponents” policy implemented by the NAIA. [divider]
FULL LIST OF NCAA NON-COUNTABLE OPPONENTS
Effective August 1, 2015 (Subject to change)
(Source: NCAA)
- American Sports University, San Bernardino, Cal. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, Ark. Institution does not play a majority of its contests against 4-year degree granting institutions
- Association Free Lutheran Bible School and Seminary, Plymouth, Minn. Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- Barber-Scotia College, Concord, N.C. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Bristol University, Anaheim, Cal. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Central International University, Lynchburg, Va. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Champion Baptist College, Hot Springs, Ark. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- College of Faith-Charlotte (N.C.) Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- College of Faith-West Memphis (Ark.) Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- College of Lake County, Grayslake, Ill. Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- Dayspring Bible College, Mundelein, Ill. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Essex County College, Newark, N.J. Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- Fairhaven Baptist College, Chesterton, Ind. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Galveston College, Galveston, Texas Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Ill. Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Fla. Institution does not play a majority of its contests against 4-year degree granting institutions
- Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus Institution only sponsors club and recreational athletics
- Maryland Bible College & Seminary, Baltimore Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Ohio Mid-Western College, Cincinnati Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Open Bible University, Corsicana, Texas Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Patrick Henry College, Purcellville, Va. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Redemption Christian College, Virginia Beach, Va. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Saint Katherine College, San Marcos, Cal. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- St. Louis Christian College, Florissant, Mo. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- Santa Fe College Gainesville, Fla. Institution does not play a majority of its contests against 4-year degree granting institutions
- Southern State Community College, Hillsboro, Ohio Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- State University of New York at Delhi Institution is countable in men’s and women’s golf only; All other sports: Institution does not play a majority of its contests against 4-year degree granting institutions.
- Triton College, River Grove, Ill. Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- Virginia University of Lynchburg Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- University of Faith-Florida, St. Petersburg, Fla. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- University of God’s Chosen, Fayetteville, N.C. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
- University of Pittsburgh at Titusville (Pa.) Institution is not a 4-year degree granting institution
- West Virginia University at Parkersburg Institution only sponsors club and recreational athletics
- Zoubida Cole College, Denver, Colo. Does not meet accreditation or membership requirements
