New Haven Joining NCAA Division I, Northeast Conference

The University of New Haven is joining NCAA Division I beginning with the 2025-26 academic year. New Haven will become a member of the Northeast Conference but the football team’s addition to the NEC schedule is uncertain.

From the press release, “New Haven will be integrated into NEC athletic schedules beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, with the exception of football. The timing of New Haven football’s addition to the conference schedule is still to be determined.” The Chargers recently unveiled their 10-game 2025 schedule, which includes NE-10 matchups.

New Haven is a member of the NCAA Division II Northeast-10 Conference, which has been a pipeline for the NEC. Current NEC members Le Moyne (non-football), Long Island, and Stonehill were part of the NE-10 before moving up. Former NEC programs Bryant and Merrimack also made the Northeast-10 to NEC move but have since joined other conferences.

The NEC will have 8 football members for the 2025 season (depending on New Haven’s scheduling status): Central Connecticut State, Duquesne, Long Island, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, Saint Francis, Stonehill, and Wagner. Saint Francis is leaving NCAA Division I after the 2025-26 academic year, while Chicago State is expected to begin competing in football during the 2026 season.

New Haven’s football team has seen success in its history and has been a constant D-II playoff team in recent years. The Chargers reached the D-II quarterfinals or better four times between 1992 and 1997. The 1997 team reached the NCAA Division II National Championship but lost to future FCS program Northern Colorado 51-0.

From 2010 through 2012, New Haven won a share of the NE-10 title annually and reached the D-II playoffs in the latter two seasons. Since 2018, the Chargers have made the D-II Playoffs five out of six seasons, including the last four. The school hasn’t posted a losing record since it brought football back in 2009 after a five-year hiatus and has won or shared six NE-10 titles since the return.

Photo Credit to the University of New Haven Athletics