News
FCS Changes for the 2022 Season
This post was edited on August 3, 2022 to reflect the news of Lamar returning to the Southland Conference starting in 2022 and Campbell joining the CAA in 2023. This post was updated on September 21, 2022 after Houston Baptist changed its name to Houston Christian. This post was further updated on October 14, 2022…
Incarnate Word Reverses Course, Will Stay in the Southland Conference
Incarnate Word has decided that it will remain in the Southland Conference instead of moving to the WAC. The Cardinals previously announced they would join the WAC starting with the 2022-23 academic year. The recommitment by UIW gives the Southland 6 eligible Division I members for 2022 combined with the newcomer Texas-A&M Commerce for a…
A Classification Conundrum: Changes to the Historical FCS Versus FBS Database
With the 2022 FCS season approaching, we begin looking at changes and how they might affect our FCS versus FBS database. In 2022, the FCS will have several changes, but none more impactful than Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State beginning the move to the FBS, along with James Madison, which has already left for…
ASUN and WAC to Renew Football Alliance for 2022
The Atlantic Sun and Western Athletic conferences have agreed to keep the football alliance – originally set up in 2021 – for the 2022 season with some changes due to realignment moves. In 2021, 7 teams were eligible for the ASUN-WAC automatic qualifying spot with three from the ASUN and four from the WAC. In…
Lamar Returning to Southland Conference
Lamar University has decided to return to the Southland Conference for a third time beginning with the 2023-24 academic year. Lamar previously left to join the WAC in July 2021 but that stay will last only 2 seasons. Lamar was a founding institution of the Southland Conference in 1963 and remained a member until the…
Stonehill College Moving Up to Join Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference will be adding a current NCAA Division II team beginning with the 2022-23 academic year as Stonehill College has accepted an invitation to become a member. The Skyhawks will have a 4-year transition period as part of the move up to Division I and will become fully eligible beginning with the 2026-27…
Murray State Joining MVFC in 2023
Murray State University will become the 12th football member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2023. The Racers announced their intention to leave the Ohio Valley Conference for the Missouri Valley Conference in January 2022, but did not announce a new football conference at the time (the MVC and MVFC are not the same…
Bryant Football Joining the Big South Conference
Bryant University announced a change in conference affiliation beginning with the 2022-23 academic year. Bryant will leave the Northeast Conference and join the America East Conference. Since America East does not sponsor football, the Bulldogs will become an associate member of the Big South Conference and will immediately be eligible for the Big South championship….
OVC and Big South Announce Football Scheduling Agreement; Lindenwood to Join OVC
The Ohio Valley Conference had a busy week with two major announcements. The first piece of news involved a football scheduling agreement between the OVC and Big South beginning with the 2023 season, which will allow both conferences to have access to an automatic qualifying bid to the FCS playoffs. Both conferences have been hit…
North Carolina A&T Joins CAA
The North Carolina A&T Aggies are set to change conferences again. The Board of Trustees at North Carolina A&T voted unanimously to join the Colonial Athletic Association for most sports beginning with the 2022-23 academic year. One program not joining the CAA immediately is football as the Aggies do not want to jeopardize the Big…