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.