THE DEFINITION What Is “Playing Down to Play Up”? Playing Down to Play Up means: Choosing a lower-tier college level on purpose (below Power 4 / FBS) in order to develop, dominate, mature, and put yourself in position to eventually “play up” at a higher level — either through on-field production, physical development, the transfer portal, or improved academics. In other words: Play at the level that WANTS you now… To reach the level you DREAM of later.