What criteria are typically used for postseason eligibility and selection, and who sets them?

• A. Sport-specific criteria like records, schedule strength, conference championships, and rankings; set by NCAA and conference policies.
• B. Qualifying criteria are decided by fan polls.
• C. Only conference championships matter.
• D. Eligibility is determined randomly.

Answer: (A)

Postseason eligibility and selection are built around sport-specific measures of performance and the rules that govern them. Teams are evaluated on factors like win-loss record, the strength of their schedule, whether they won their conference (automatic bids), and national rankings, with additional factors used as needed by the sport. The standards for who qualifies and how selections are made are set by the governing bodies, primarily the NCAA and the individual conferences, which publish postseason policies. In practice, this means automatic bids go to conference champions, while other teams are considered for at-large spots based on the established criteria and rankings.