TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Florida State may not technically be bowl eligible this season, but the Independence Bowl is still expecting the Seminoles to arrive in Shreveport, La., this weekend ahead of Wednesday's bowl game.
FSU's win over FCS opponent Delaware State on Nov. 18 may not count toward bowl eligibility, according to a Thursday report by Reddit College Football.
But Independence Bowl game officials still expect FSU to face Southern Miss on Wednesday.
"This is a matter between the NCAA, Florida State and Delaware State. We're continuing preparations for our game," Stefan Nolet, public and media relations director for the Independence Bowl, told the Orlando Sentinel.
The report states an FCS school must field a team with at least 90 percent of players on scholarship in order for a victory over it to count toward bowl eligibility.
The report found Delaware State's average of scholarship grants-in-aid per year in football during a rolling two-year period was 54.815, or equivalent to 87 percent, short of the 90 percent threshold.
With less than a week remaining until FSU's bowl game, it is unclear what the Seminoles and the NCAA could do to rectify the situation.
Florida State and the Atlantic Coast Conference officials did not respond to requests for comment at the time of this publication.
FSU plans to arrive in Shreveport on Saturday ahead of Wednesday's game.
"We're focused on this football team and being the best Florida state football team we can be," interim coach Odell Haggins said after Thursday's practice when asked about the eligibility questions.
