NCAA Division I FCS independent schools
Template:Short description Template:Infobox sports league 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Current FCS independents
[edit]| width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Years | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Team | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Nickname | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Previous conference | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Future conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–future | Merrimack | Warriors | Northeast Conference | TBD |
| 2024–future | Sacred Heart | Pioneers | Northeast Conference | TBD |
Former FCS independents
[edit]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.
| width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Years | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Team | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Previous conference | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Conference joined | width= px style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle"| Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Abilene Christian | Lone Star (Div. II) | Southland (2014–2020) | UAC (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23>Template:Cite press release</ref> |
| 1987–1991 | Arkansas State | Southland | Division I-A Independent (1992) | Sun Belt (2001–present)<ref group=N>Arkansas State has been a full Sun Belt member since 1991, but the conference did not sponsor football until 2001.</ref> |
| 1997–2000 | Austin Peay | Ohio Valley<ref group=N>Austin Peay only departed OVC football; it remained a full but non-football member before returning to OVC football in 2007.</ref> | Pioneer Football League (2001–2005) | UAC (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/> |
| 2006 | Pioneer Football League | Ohio Valley (2007–2021) | ||
| 1978–1985 | Bucknell | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N>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.</ref> | |
| 1993–1998 | Buffalo | Division III Independent | Mid-American Conference (1999–present)<ref name=Buffalo group=N>Buffalo became a full member of the MAC in 1998, but was not a football member until 1999.</ref> | |
| 1996–2003 | Cal Poly | American West | Great West (2004–2011)<ref name="Great West" group=N>The Great West Conference began in 2004 as the Great West Football Conference. It became an all-sports conference in 2008.</ref> | Big Sky (2012–present) |
| 2001 | Cal State Northridge | Big Sky | Dropped football | |
| 2006 | Central Arkansas | Gulf South (Div. II) | Southland (2007–2020) | UAC (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/> |
| 1993–1995 | Central Connecticut | Division II Independent | Northeast (1996–present) | |
| 1993–2001 | Charleston Southern | No football program | Big South (2002–2022) | OVC–Big South (2023–present) |
| 2013–2014 | Charlotte | No football program | CUSA (2015–2022) | American (2023–present)<ref name=American2023>Template:Cite press release</ref> |
| 2016 | Coastal Carolina | Big South | Sun Belt (2017–present)Template:Refn | |
| 1982–1985 | Colgate | Division I-A Independent | Patriot League (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/> | |
| 1989 | Davidson | Colonial League<ref name=Patriot group=N/> | Division III Independent (1990–1992) | |
| 1993–2000 | Division III Independent | Pioneer Football League (2001–present) | ||
| 1980–1985 | Delaware | Division II Independent | Yankee Conference (1986–1996) | CAA Football (2007–2024)<ref group=N>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.</ref><ref name=CAA group=N>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.</ref><ref group=N>Delaware will begin a transition to FBS in 2024 and join Conference USA in 2025.</ref> |
| 1993 | Duquesne | Division III Independent | MAAC (1994–2007) | Northeast (2008–present) |
| 2015 | East Tennessee State | No football programTemplate:Refn | Southern (2016–present)Template:Refn | |
| 1984–1986 | Eastern Washington | Division II Independent | Big Sky (1987–present) | |
| 1998–2001 | Elon | Division II Independent | Big South (2002) | CAA Football (2014–present) |
| 1984–1987 | Florida A&M | MEAC<ref group=N>Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 1986 & 1987, but games played did not count as conference games.</ref> | MEAC (1988–2003, 2005–2020) | SWAC (2021–present) |
| 2004 | MEAC<ref group=N>Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 2004, but games played did not count as conference games</ref> | MEAC (2005–2020) | SWAC (2021–present) | |
| 2002–2004 | FIU | No football program | Sun Belt (2005–2012) | CUSA (2013–present) |
| 2001–2004 | Florida Atlantic | No football program | Sun Belt (2005–2012) | The American (2023–present)<ref name=American2023/> |
| 1989 | Fordham | Liberty Football Conference | Patriot League (1990–present) | |
| 2000 | Georgetown | MAAC | Patriot League (2001–present) | |
| 1984–1991 | Georgia Southern | Club football | Southern (1992–2013) | Sun Belt (2014–present) |
| 2010–2011 | Georgia State | No football program | CAA Football (2012) | Sun Belt (2013–present) |
| 2018 | Hampton | MEAC | Big South (2019–2021) | CAA Football (2022–present) |
| 1991–2000 | Hofstra | Division III Independent | Atlantic 10 (2001–2006) | Dropped football |
| 1982–1985 | Holy Cross | Division I-A Independent | Patriot League (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/> | |
| 2013 | Houston ChristianTemplate:Refn | No football program | Southland (2014–present) | |
| 2008 | Iona | MAAC (1993–2007) | Dropped football | |
| 2013 | Incarnate Word | Lone Star (Div. II) | Southland (2014–present) | |
| 1982–1985 | Indiana State | Division I-A Independent | MVFC (1997–present)<ref name=MVFC group=N>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).</ref> | |
| 1998–2000 | Jacksonville | No football program | Pioneer Football League (2001–2019) | Dropped football |
| 1980–1992 | James Madison | Division III Independent | Yankee Conference (1993–1996) | Sun Belt (2022–present) |
| 2023 | Kennesaw State | ASUN | CUSA (2024–future) | |
| 1978–1985 | Lafayette | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/> | |
| 1987–1989 | Lamar | Southland | Dropped program (1989–2009)<ref name="lamar">Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 2010 | No football program | Southland (2011–2020)<ref name="lamar" /> | Southland (2022–present)<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> | |
| 1997–1998 | La Salle | No football program (1942–1996) | MAAC (1999–2007) | Dropped football |
| 1978–1985 | Lehigh | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/> | |
| 1988–2001 | Liberty | Division II Independent | Big South (2002–2017)<ref group=N>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.</ref> | CUSA (2023–present)<ref group=N>Liberty began a transition to FBS in the 2017 season, and became a full FBS member in 2019.</ref><ref name=CUSA23>Template:Cite press release</ref> |
| 1987–1988 | Louisiana Tech | Southland | Division I-A Independent (1989–1992) | CUSA (2013–present) |
| 1993 | Marist | Liberty Football Conference | MAAC (1994–2007) | |
| 2008 | MAAC | Pioneer Football League (2009–present) | ||
| 1993–1995 | Monmouth | No football program | Northeast (1996–2012) | CAA Football (2022–present) |
| 2013 | Northeast | Big South (2014–2021) | ||
| 1996–2000 | Morehead State | Ohio Valley | Pioneer Football League (2001–present) | |
| 2001–2002 | Morris Brown | SIAC (Div. II) | Dropped football | |
| 1978 | Nevada | Division II Independent | Big Sky (1979–1991) | Mountain West (2012–present) |
| 1980–1983 | Nicholls | Division II Independent | Gulf Star (1984–1986) | Southland (1992–present) |
| 1987–1990 | Gulf Star | Southland (1991–present) | ||
| 2018 | North Alabama | Gulf South (Div. II) | Big South (2019–2021) | UAC (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/> |
| 2018–2019 | North Dakota | Big Sky | MVFC (2020–present) | |
| 1978–1992 | Northeastern | Division II Independent | Yankee (1993–1996) | Dropped football (2010) |
| 2003 | Northern Colorado | North Central | Great West (2004–2005) | Big Sky (2006–present) |
| 1978–1983 | Northwestern State | Division I Independent | Gulf Star (1984–1986) | Southland (1987–present) |
| 2009–2010 | Old Dominion | No football program | CAA Football (2011–2012) | |
| 2013 | CAA Football | CUSA (2014–2021) | Sun Belt (2022–present) | |
| 1978–1980 | Portland State | Division II Independent | Division II Independent (1981) | Big Sky (1996–present) |
| 2020 | Presbyterian | Big South Conference | Pioneer Football League (2021–present) | |
| 1982–1985 | Richmond | Division I-A Independent | Yankee Conference (1986–1996) | CAA Football (2007–present)<ref name=CAA group=N/> |
| 1994–1995 | Robert Morris | No football program | Northeast (1996–2019) | Northeast (2024–future) |
| 1993–1995 | Saint Francis (PA) | Division III Independent | Northeast (1996–present) | |
| 1989–2002 | Samford | Division III Independent | Ohio Valley (2003–2007) | Southern (2008–present) |
| 2002–2009 | Savannah State | Division II Independent | MEAC (2010–2018) | SIAC (Div. II; 2019–present) |
| 2011 | South Alabama | Unclassified (exhibition only) | Sun Belt (2012–present)<ref group=N>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.</ref> | |
| 1997–2000 | South Florida | No football program | Division I-A Independent (2001–2002) | American (2013–present)<ref group=N>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.</ref> |
| 1980–1983 | Southeastern Louisiana | Division II Independent | Gulf Star (1984–1985) | Southland (2005–present) |
| 2003–2004 | No football program<ref group=N>Southeastern Louisiana dropped football after the 1985 season.</ref> | Southland (2005–present) | ||
| 1996–2003 | Southern Utah | American West | Great West (2004–2011)<ref name="Great West" group=N/> | UAC (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/> |
| 1998–1999 | Template:Sort | MAAC | Northeast (2000–2002) | Dropped football (2003) |
| 1993–2003 | Saint Mary's | Division II Independent | Dropped football (2004) | |
| 2007 | Stony Brook | Northeast | Big South (2008–2012) | CAA Football (2013–present) |
| 2020 | Tarleton | Lone Star (Division II) | WAC (2021–2022) | UAC (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/> |
| 1981–1987 | Tennessee State | Division I-A Independent | Ohio Valley (1988–2022) | OVC–Big South (2023–present) |
| 1987–1996 | Towson | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1997–2003) | CAA Football (2007–present)<ref group=N>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.</ref> |
| 1993–1995 | Troy | Division II Independent | Southland (1996–2000) | |
| 2001 | Southland | Division I-A Independent (2002–2003) | Sun Belt (2004–present)<ref group=N>Troy joined the Sun Belt for football in 2004, and became an all-sports member in 2005.</ref> | |
| 1993–1995 | UAB | Division III Independent | Division I-A Independent (1996–1998) | American (2023–present)<ref name=American2023/> |
| 1990–1995 | UCF | Division II Independent | Division I-A Independent (1996–2001) | Big 12 (2023–present)<ref name=XII23>Template:Cite press release</ref> |
| 2020 | Utah TechTemplate:Refn | RMAC (Division II) | WAC (2021–2022) | UAC (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/> |
| 2011 | UTSA | No football program | WAC (2012) | American (2023–present)<ref name=American2023/> |
| 1987 | Villanova | No football program | Yankee Conference (1988–1996) | CAA Football (2007–present) |
| 1993–1995 | Wagner | Liberty Football Conference | Northeast (1996–present) | |
| 1982–1998 | Western Kentucky | Ohio Valley | Ohio Valley (1999–2000) | |
| 2007–2008 | Gateway Football Conference<ref name=MVFC group=N/> | Sun Belt (2009–2013) | CUSA (2014–present) | |
| 1982–1992 | William & Mary | Division I-A Independent | Yankee Conference (1993–1996) | CAA Football (2007–present)Template:Refn<ref name=CAA group=N/> |
| 1995–1996 | Wofford | Division II Independent | Southern (1997–present) | |
| 2006 | Winston–Salem State | CIAA (Div. II) | MEAC (2007–2009) | CIAA (Div. II) (2010–present) |
| 1988–1996 | Youngstown State | Ohio Valley | MVFC (1997–present)<ref name=MVFC group=N/> | |
See also
[edit]- List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs
- NCAA Division I FBS independent schools
- NCAA Division I independent schools
- NCAA Division II independent schools
- NCAA Division III independent schools
- NAIA independent schools
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:NCAA Division I FCS conference navbox Template:College football