MAC schools were in the 1982 1-AA polls....were they ineligible for playoffs?

[Sader87]

Apropos of absolutely nothing, but researching for another thread I noticed that the MAC schools were in the 1982 polls. I know they were classified as 1-AA for a season, appealed and were restored to 1-A status but I'm not sure if they were eligible for the playoffs that year. Anyone remember or know?

[grayghost06]

Good question. In theory, they shouldn't have been as I seriously doubt they dropped from the 1981 I-A scholarship limit of 95 down to the 1982 I-AA limit of 70. It would have been like a reverse "Marshall Rule".

[GoBlueHens83]

Before my time, but the wikipedia entry for the 1982 season doesn't even show the MAC as a I-AA conference. None of them made the playoffs either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_NCAA_Division_I-AA_football_season

[Sader87]

The wiki page for the polls in 1982 includes MAC teams though...just curious if there was some sort of understanding.

[Penguin Nation]

Akron was OVC/1AA at that time but don’t see them being in the polls lol

[Paladin1aa]

YSU was also OVC/I-AA that same year. There was some adjustment that year ( size of stadium, attendance, schollies, number of sports, etc) that kept them out of I- AA but don’t remember the details.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The wiki page for the polls in 1982 includes MAC teams though...just curious if there was some sort of understanding.

Western Michigan's center was listed on the postseason I-AA all-America team, but Bowling Green won the MAC and we're invited to the California Bowl to play Fresno State. Both Bowling Green (14) and WMU (16) were ranked below playoff participants Eastern Illinois and Jackson State, so were they just not invited? Hard to say.

Someone who might know the answer is Jack Harbaugh. He coached Western Michigan that season

[MR. CHICKEN]

.....JACK........WASS'UP.....AWK!