Georgia Southern’s appeal of the decision by the NCAA to bar the Eagles from playing in a bowl game was denied Tuesday afternoon. Georgia Southern (9-3, 8-0 Sun Belt) is, per NCAA rules, barred from playing in a bowl because the program is in its second year of transition from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision. “It was imperative for our student-athletes’ benefit that President Keel and I took this appeal to the highest level and explored the possibility of being able to go to a bowl game, and unfortunately with (Tuesday’s) decision, they have been denied for the second year to compete in postseason,” Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein said in a statement.