NCAA Division I FCS independent schools

NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision independent schools are four-year institutions in the United States whose football programs are not part of a football conference. This means that FCS independents are not required to schedule each other for competition as conference schools do. As of the 2024 season, Merrimack and Sacred Heart will be competing as independents, as their primary conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, does not sponsor football. They were previously members of the Northeast Conference which does sponsor the sport. Merrimack and Sacred Heart are confirmed to play as FCS independents in 2024.[1] [2]

Current FCS independents

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YearsTeamNicknamePrevious conferenceFuture conference
2024MerrimackWarriorsNortheast ConferenceTBD
2024Sacred HeartPioneersNortheast ConferenceTBD

Former FCS independents

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The following is a complete list of teams that have been Division I-AA/FCS Independents since the formation of Division I-AA in 1978. The "Current Conference" column indicates affiliations for the 2023 college football season. The years listed in this table are football seasons; since football is a fall sport, this means that the final season of independent status, or membership in a given conference, is the calendar year before a conference change took effect.

Teams in italics are current FBS members; this includes second-year transitional schools that are counted as FBS for scheduling purposes but not bowl game eligibility. Because James Madison met FBS scheduling requirements in its first season in the Sun Belt Conference in 2022 (specifically five home games against FBS opposition), it was allowed to skip the first year of the normal two-year process.

YearsTeamPrevious conferenceConference joinedCurrent conference
2013Abilene ChristianLone Star (Div. II)Southland (2014–2020)UAC (2023–present)[3]
1987–1991Arkansas StateSouthlandDivision I-A Independent (1992)Sun Belt (2001–present)[N 1]
1997–2000Austin PeayOhio Valley[N 2]Pioneer Football League (2001–2005)UAC (2023–present)[3]
2006Pioneer Football LeagueOhio Valley (2007–2021)
1978–1985BucknellDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1993–1998BuffaloDivision III IndependentMid-American Conference (1999–present)[N 4]
1996–2003Cal PolyAmerican WestGreat West (2004–2011)[N 5]Big Sky (2012–present)
2001Cal State NorthridgeBig SkyDropped football
2006Central ArkansasGulf South (Div. II)Southland (2007–2020)UAC (2023–present)[3]
1993–1995Central ConnecticutDivision II IndependentNortheast (1996–present)
1993–2001Charleston SouthernNo football programBig South (2002–2022)Big South–OVC (2023–present)
2013–2014CharlotteNo football programCUSA (2015–2022)American (2023–present)[4]
2016Coastal CarolinaBig SouthSun Belt (2017–present)[N 6]
1982–1985ColgateDivision I-A IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1989DavidsonColonial League[N 3]Division III Independent (1990–1992)
1993–2000Division III IndependentPioneer Football League (2001–present)
1980–1985DelawareDivision II IndependentYankee Conference (1986–1996)CAA Football (2007–2024)[N 7][N 8][N 9]
1993DuquesneDivision III IndependentMAAC (1994–2007)Northeast (2008–present)
2015East Tennessee StateNo football program[N 10]Southern (2016–present)[N 11]
1984–1986Eastern WashingtonDivision II IndependentBig Sky (1987–present)
1998–2001ElonDivision II IndependentBig South (2002)CAA Football (2014–present)
1984–1987Florida A&MMEAC[N 12]MEAC (1988–2003, 2005–2020)SWAC (2021–present)
2004MEAC[N 13]MEAC (2005–2020)SWAC (2021–present)
2002–2004FIUNo football programSun Belt (2005–2012)CUSA (2013–present)
2001–2004Florida AtlanticNo football programSun Belt (2005–2012)The American (2023–present)[4]
1989FordhamLiberty Football ConferencePatriot League (1990–present)
2000GeorgetownMAACPatriot League (2001–present)
1984–1991Georgia SouthernClub footballSouthern (1992–2013)Sun Belt (2014–present)
2010–2011Georgia StateNo football programCAA Football (2012)Sun Belt (2013–present)
2018HamptonMEACBig South (2019–2021)CAA Football (2022–present)
1991–2000HofstraDivision III IndependentAtlantic 10 (2001–2006)Dropped football
1982–1985Holy CrossDivision I-A IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
2013Houston Christian[N 14]No football programSouthland (2014–present)
2008IonaMAAC (1993–2007)Dropped football
2013Incarnate WordLone Star (Div. II)Southland (2014–present)
1982–1985Indiana StateDivision I-A IndependentMVFC (1997–present)[N 15]
1998–2000JacksonvilleNo football programPioneer Football League (2001–2019)Dropped football
1980–1992James MadisonDivision III IndependentYankee Conference (1993–1996)Sun Belt (2022–present)
2023Kennesaw StateASUNCUSA (2024–future)
1978–1985LafayetteDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1987–1989LamarSouthlandDropped program (1989–2009)[5]
2010No football programSouthland (2011–2020)[5]Southland (2022–present)[6]
1997–1998La SalleNo football program (1942–1996)MAAC (1999–2007)Dropped football
1978–1985LehighDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1988–2001LibertyDivision II IndependentBig South (2002–2017)[N 16]CUSA (2023–present)[N 17][7]
1987–1988Louisiana TechSouthlandDivision I-A Independent (1989–1992)CUSA (2013–present)
1993MaristLiberty Football ConferenceMAAC (1994–2007)
2008MAACPioneer Football League (2009–present)
1993–1995MonmouthNo football programNortheast (1996–2012)CAA Football (2022–present)
2013NortheastBig South (2014–2021)
1996–2000Morehead StateOhio ValleyPioneer Football League (2001–present)
2001–2002Morris BrownSIAC (Div. II)Dropped football
1978NevadaDivision II IndependentBig Sky (1979–1991)Mountain West (2012–present)
1980–1983NichollsDivision II IndependentGulf Star (1984–1986)Southland (1992–present)
1987–1990Gulf StarSouthland (1991–present)
2018North AlabamaGulf South (Div. II)Big South (2019–2021)UAC (2023–present)[3]
2018–2019North DakotaBig SkyMVFC (2020–present)
1978–1992NortheasternDivision II IndependentYankee (1993–1996)Dropped football (2010)
2003Northern ColoradoNorth CentralGreat West (2004–2005)Big Sky (2006–present)
1978–1983Northwestern StateDivision I IndependentGulf Star (1984–1986)Southland (1987–present)
2009–2010Old DominionNo football programCAA Football (2011–2012)
2013CAA FootballCUSA (2014–2021)Sun Belt (2022–present)
1978–1980Portland StateDivision II IndependentDivision II Independent (1981)Big Sky (1996–present)
2020PresbyterianBig South ConferencePioneer Football League (2021–present)
1982–1985RichmondDivision I-A IndependentYankee Conference (1986–1996)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 8]
1994–1995Robert MorrisNo football programNortheast (1996–2019)Northeast (2024–future)
1993–1995Saint Francis (PA)Division III IndependentNortheast (1996–present)
1989–2002SamfordDivision III IndependentOhio Valley (2003–2007)Southern (2008–present)
2002–2009Savannah StateDivision II IndependentMEAC (2010–2018)SIAC (Div. II; 2019–present)
2011South AlabamaUnclassified (exhibition only)Sun Belt (2012–present)[N 18]
1997–2000South FloridaNo football programDivision I-A Independent (2001–2002)American (2013–present)[N 19]
1980–1983Southeastern LouisianaDivision II IndependentGulf Star (1984–1985)Southland (2005–present)
2003–2004No football program[N 20]Southland (2005–present)
1996–2003Southern UtahAmerican WestGreat West (2004–2011)[N 5]UAC (2023–present)[3]
1998–1999St. John'sMAACNortheast (2000–2002)Dropped football (2003)
1993–2003Saint Mary'sDivision II IndependentDropped football (2004)
2007Stony BrookNortheastBig South (2008–2012)CAA Football (2013–present)
2020TarletonLone Star (Division II)WAC (2021–2022)UAC (2023–present)[3]
1981–1987Tennessee StateDivision I-A IndependentOhio Valley (1988–2022)Big South–OVC (2023–present)
1987–1996TowsonDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1997–2003)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 21]
1993–1995TroyDivision II IndependentSouthland (1996–2000)
2001SouthlandDivision I-A Independent (2002–2003)Sun Belt (2004–present)[N 22]
1993–1995UABDivision III IndependentDivision I-A Independent (1996–1998)American (2023–present)[4]
1990–1995UCFDivision II IndependentDivision I-A Independent (1996–2001)Big 12 (2023–present)[8]
2020Utah Tech[N 23]RMAC (Division II)WAC (2021–2022)UAC (2023–present)[3]
2011UTSANo football programWAC (2012)American (2023–present)[4]
1987VillanovaNo football programYankee Conference (1988–1996)CAA Football (2007–present)
1993–1995WagnerLiberty Football ConferenceNortheast (1996–present)
1982–1998Western KentuckyOhio ValleyOhio Valley (1999–2000)
2007–2008Gateway Football Conference[N 15]Sun Belt (2009–2013)CUSA (2014–present)
1982–1992William & MaryDivision I-A IndependentYankee Conference (1993–1996)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 24][N 8]
1995–1996WoffordDivision II IndependentSouthern (1997–present)
2006Winston–Salem StateCIAA (Div. II)MEAC (2007–2009)CIAA (Div. II) (2010–present)
1988–1996Youngstown StateOhio ValleyMVFC (1997–present)[N 15]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Arkansas State has been a full Sun Belt member since 1991, but the conference did not sponsor football until 2001.
  2. ^ Austin Peay only departed OVC football; it remained a full but non-football member before returning to OVC football in 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e f The conference now known as the Patriot League began in 1986 as the football-only Colonial League. It adopted its current name in 1990, when it became an all-sports conference.
  4. ^ Buffalo became a full member of the MAC in 1998, but was not a football member until 1999.
  5. ^ a b The Great West Conference began in 2004 as the Great West Football Conference. It became an all-sports conference in 2008.
  6. ^ Coastal Carolina joined the Sun Belt Conference as a full but non-football member in 2016, and joined Sun Belt football in 2017.
  7. ^ Delaware has been a full member of the Coastal Athletic Association since 2001 (when that conference was known as the Colonial Athletic Association). However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football to govern that sport.
  8. ^ a b c CAA Football is the direct successor of both the Yankee Conference and A-10 football conference. The football-only Yankee Conference was absorbed by the A-10 after the 1996 season. After the 2006 season, the A-10 dropped football after all of its football members joined the newly formed CAA Football. The Yankee Conference's automatic bid to the I-AA/FCS playoffs passed in succession to the A-10 and CAA Football.
  9. ^ Delaware will begin a transition to FBS in 2024 and join Conference USA in 2025.
  10. ^ ETSU resurrected its football program, dormant since the end of the 2003 season, in 2015, playing that season as an independent before joining Southern Conference football in 2016.
  11. ^ ETSU, which had previously been a Southern Conference member from 1978 to 2005, rejoined the SoCon in 2014, initially as a non-football member.
  12. ^ Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 1986 & 1987, but games played did not count as conference games.
  13. ^ Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 2004, but games played did not count as conference games
  14. ^ Known before 2022 as Houston Baptist.
  15. ^ a b c The MVFC did not adopt its current name until 2008. Before then, it was known as the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference (1982–1993) and Gateway Football Conference (1993–2008).
  16. ^ Liberty became a full member of the Big South in 1991, remaining a member until joining the non-football ASUN Conference in 2018, but the Big South did not sponsor football until 2002.
  17. ^ Liberty began a transition to FBS in the 2017 season, and became a full FBS member in 2019.
  18. ^ South Alabama has been a Sun Belt member from the conference's creation in 1976. However, the Sun Belt did not sponsor football until 2001. South Alabama did not start a football program until 2009, and did not play Sun Belt football until 2012.
  19. ^ The original Big East Conference split into the football-sponsoring American Athletic Conference and a new non-football Big East Conference in 2013. South Florida remained with the FBS schools in The American.
  20. ^ Southeastern Louisiana dropped football after the 1985 season.
  21. ^ Towson was a CAA member at the conference's formation in 1979, but left in 1981; after having been a member of four other conferences, it rejoined the CAA in 2001. However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football to govern that sport.
  22. ^ Troy joined the Sun Belt for football in 2004, and became an all-sports member in 2005.
  23. ^ Known before 2022 as Dixie State.
  24. ^ William & Mary has been a CAA member since the conference's establishment in 1979. However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football for that sport.

References

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  1. ^ "Five Home Games Highlight 2024 SHU Football Schedule" (Press release). Sacred Heart Pioneers. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024. The Pioneers, in their first season as an FCS Independent, begin 2024 with three straight home games, including the opener against Delaware State on Aug. 31.
  2. ^ "Football Releases 2024 Schedule". Merrimack College Athletics. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023-24 Season" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Lamar Football 2012 Info Guide" (PDF). Lamar University Department of Athletics. p. 101. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  6. ^ "Lamar University Prepares for Early Move to Southland Conference" (Press release). Southland Conference. July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "Conference USA Adds Four Members" (Press release). Conference USA. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  8. ^ "American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.