St. Francis University is shifting from Division I to Division III in 2026

The first race to the NCAA Basketball Tournament Division I in additional than 30 years of Saint Francis (PA.) It is also his final one.

The college introduced Tuesday that it will transfer from division I to division III in the summertime of 2026.

The announcement comes every week after the Red Flash has performed March Madness for the primary time since 1990. The samples of the Northeastern Conference event have been minimize by the Alabama state within the first 4 on a layup of the final second.

The college, which is situated within the Allegheny mountains about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh, has accepted an invite to begin taking part in within the athletic convention of the presidents on the degree of Division III through the tutorial yr 2026-27.

The personal Catholic School, with an enrollment of about 3,000 college students, has indicated that the spherical in college athletics in recent times – together with the switch portal and the power of the athletes to earn money from their title, picture and likeness – performed an element within the resolution.

The giant geographical imprint of NEC was additionally an issue.

“Our college students journey to Chicago or Boston or the factors within the center,” stated the president of the varsity, the Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, in a word. “It is plenty of time not spent on the campus, creating friendships or within the classroom. This change permits our college students to be current on the campus and permits their pals to take part in a number of dwelling video games and away.”

Van Tassell added that he is aware of that the transition might be “irritating” for student-athletes and that the administration will do what can provide help to all the themes concerned.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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