The Florida A&M University football program is currently under Level Two NCAA sanctions that will keep it out of postseason competition in 2026 and prohibit participation in spring practice during 2027. The penalties stem from persistently low Academic Progress Rate scores, a metric the NCAA uses to gauge the academic performance of scholarship student‑athletes.
A History of Academic Struggles
Over the past two decades the Rattlers have managed to meet the NCAA's APR threshold only twice in 19 attempts. Their most recent satisfactory score came in the 2018‑2019 academic year under former head coach Willie Simmons, when the team posted a 931 rating. Since then, scores have hovered below the 930 benchmark, reaching a low of 901 before showing modest improvement to 918 in the 2024‑2025 year.
The program's academic challenges are not new. Under former coach Joe Taylor, the team achieved a program‑high 939 in 2008‑2009, a rare high point that highlighted the potential for academic success when structural support aligns with athletic ambition.
New Leadership Sets a Higher Bar
In December 2025, Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. was hired as the new head coach. Gray, who previously served as an assistant at several institutions, has articulated an internal target of achieving a 950 APR — significantly above the NCAA minimum. He believes that raising the academic standard will not only lift the team out of sanctions but also foster a culture of accountability and structure among the players.
Athletics director John Davis echoed Gray's commitment, stating that the university wants to recruit the best talent while ensuring those athletes graduate with a degree. Davis emphasized that the institution will not settle for merely meeting the NCAA's 930 threshold, but will strive to exceed it through rigorous academic requirements for incoming students.
Steps Toward Improvement
To accelerate academic progress, the team has enrolled 85 players in summer school courses that began on May 11. Early indicators suggest a positive shift, with the spring 2026 semester yielding a 2.97 grade‑point average, up from a 2.57 fall GPA. These incremental gains reflect a broader effort to align athletic participation with scholarly achievement.
The combined efforts of the coaching staff, athletics administration, and the student‑athletes signal a decisive move toward restoring postseason eligibility. If the upward trajectory continues, the Rattlers could meet the NCAA's APR requirements in the near future and re‑enter the postseason arena with a renewed emphasis on academic integrity.