Florida A&M is the 12th FCS program to decide not to play in the 2021 spring season and the second team out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Rattlers were No. 20 in HERO Sports’ 2020 fall preseason rankings after finishing 9-2 last year. FAMU was set to play its final season in the MEAC before joining the SWAC.
The MEAC receives an auto-bid into the playoffs this spring and is scheduled to begin its season Feb. 27.
“Florida A&M Athletics’ decision to opt-out and forgo the 2021 spring football, indoor track & field and volleyball season was made with the health and safety of our student-athletes as our top priority. This was a collective decision with our coaches and staff, given the varying circumstances that COVID-19 has created for our program” FAMU VP/Director of Athletics Kortne Gosha said in a press release. “We are certainly disappointed that some of our student-athletes will not be able to compete this year; however, we will shift our focus to achieving our academic priorities while planning a safe return to play in fall 2021, our inaugural season in the Southwest Athletic Conference.”
