FCS Conferences and Teams

Below is a list of all 13 conferences and 129 teams scheduled to compete in the FCS for the 2024 season. Clicking on each conference in the top table will bring you to a detailed list of teams in that conference. Both the conferences and teams are listed in alphabetical order and each table can be sorted. Clicking on a team’s name will open a new tab and bring you to the team’s football website. Clicking on the conference name above each table will bring you to the standings for the latest season except for FCS Independents. A full list of 2024 changes can be found here with future moves scheduled for 2025 also included.

An alphabetical list of all teams can be found here near the bottom of this post. Additional information on former FCS teams can be found here while additional information on FCS conferences since the Division I split in 1978 can be found here. A timeline of current FCS teams can be found at the bottom of this page. Please note the map, conferences, and teams listed below are subject to change.



ConferenceNumber of Teams
Big Sky Conference12
Big South-OVC Football Association9
Coastal Athletic Association16
FCS Independents2
Ivy League8
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference6
Missouri Valley Football Conference11
Northeast Conference8
Patriot League7
Pioneer Football League11
Southern Conference9
Southland Conference9
Southwestern Athletic Conference12
United Athletic Conference9

Big Sky Conference

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in Big Sky
(Since 1978)
Cal Poly MustangsSan Luis Obispo, California19932012
Eastern Washington EaglesCheney, Washington19841987
Idaho VandalsMoscow, Idaho1978, 20181978, 2018
Idaho State BengalsPocatello, Idaho19781978
Montana GrizzliesMissoula, Montana19781978
Montana State BobcatsBozeman, Montana19781978
Northern Arizona LumberjacksFlagstaff, Arizona19781978
Northern Colorado BearsGreeley, Colorado20032006
Portland State VikingsPortland, Oregon1978, 19961996
Sacramento State HornetsSacramento, California19931996
UC Davis AggiesDavis, California20032012
Weber State WildcatsOgden, Utah19781978

Big South-OVC Football Association

The Big South-OVC Football Association began in 2023 when the Big South and Ohio Valley Conferences combined football members into one conference to compete for an automatic qualifying bid to the FCS playoffs.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in Big South-OVC
(Since 1978)
Charleston Southern BuccaneersNorth Charleston, South Carolina19932023
Eastern Illinois PanthersCharleston, Illinois19812023
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ BulldogsBoiling Springs, North Carolina20002023
Lindenwood LionsSt. Charles, Missouri20222023
Southeast Missouri State RedbirdsCape Girardeau, Missouri19912023
Tennessee Martin SkyhawksMartin, Tennessee19912023
Tennessee State TigersNashville, Tennessee19812023
Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesCookeville, Tennessee19782023
Western Illinois LeathernecksMacomb, Illinois19812024

Coastal Athletic Association (Formerly Colonial Athletic)

The CAA played its first season in 2007 under the Colonial Athletic Association banner. The 2007 membership was essentially the Atlantic 10 football conference but the CAA and A10 operate as separate entities. In 2023, the CAA changed its name from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Coastal Athletic Association.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in CAA
(Since 1978)
Albany Great DanesAlbany, New York19992013
Bryant BulldogsSmithfield, Rhode Island20082024
Campbell CamelsBlues Creek, North Carolina20082023
Delaware Blue HensNewark, Delaware19802007
Elon PhoenixElon, North Carolina19972014
Hampton PiratesHampton, Virginia19952022
Maine Black BearsOrono, Maine19782007
Monmouth HawksWest Long Branch, New Jersey19932022
New Hampshire WildcatsDurham, New Hampshire19782007
North Carolina A&T AggiesGreensboro, North Carolina19782023
Rhode Island RamsKingston, Rhode Island19782007
Richmond SpidersRichmond, Virginia19822007
Stony Brook SeawolvesStony Brook, New York19992013
Towson TigersTowson, Maryland19872007
Villanova WildcatsVillanova, Pennyslvania19852007
William & Mary TribeWilliamsburg, Virginia19822007

FCS Independents

Teams are typically classified as FCS independents when moving into or out of the subdivision but this can also occur when moving between FCS conferences (i.e. North Dakota in 2019).

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year as FCS Independent
(Since 1978)
Merrimack WarriorsNorth Andover, Massachusetts20192024
Sacred Heart PioneersFairfield, Connecticut19982024

Ivy League

The Ivy League became part of the FCS in 1982 when Division I formalized requirements to be in the FBS (then called Division I-A). The Ivy League, Southern Conference, and Southland Conference all moved to the FCS (then I-AA) before the 1982 season in one of the larger expansions of FCS membership.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in Ivy League
(Since 1978)
Brown BearsProvidence, Rhode Island19821982
Columbia LionsNew York, New York19821982
Cornell Big RedIthaca, New York19821982
Dartmouth Big GreenHanover, New Hampshire19821982
Harvard CrimsonCambridge, Massachusetts19821982
Penn QuakersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania19821982
Princeton TigersPrinceton, New Jersey19821982
Yale BulldogsNew Haven, Connecticut19821982

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in MEAC
(Since 1978)
Delaware State HornetsDover, Delaware19781978
Howard BisonWashington, D.C.19781978
Morgan State BearsBaltimore, Maryland1978; 19841978; 1984
Norfolk State SpartansNorfolk, Virignia19971998
North Carolina Central EaglesDurham, North Carolina1978; 20071978; 2010
South Carolina State BulldogsOrangeburg, South Carolina19781978

Missouri Valley Football Conference

The Missouri Valley Football Conference began playing football in 1985 under the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference. The name was changed to the Gateway Football Conference in 1992 and renamed to the current Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in MVFC
(Since 1978)
Illinois State RedbirdsNormal, Illinois19821986
Indiana State SycamoresTerre Haute, Indiana19821986
Missouri State BearsSpringfield, Missouri19811985
Murray State RacersMurray, Kentucky19782023
North Dakota Fighting HawksGrand Forks, North Dakota20082020
North Dakota State BisonFargo, North Dakota20042008
Northern Iowa PanthersCedar Falls, Iowa19811985
South Dakota CoyotesVermillion, South Dakota20082012
South Dakota State JackrabbitsBrookings, South Dakota20042008
Southern Illinois SalukisCarbondale, Illinois19821986
Youngstown State PenguinsYoungstown, Ohio19811997

Northeast Conference

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in NEC
(Since 1978)
Central Connecticut State Blue DevilsNew Britain, Connecticut19931996
Duquesne DukesPittsburgh, Pennsylvania19932008
Long Island SharksBrookville, New York20192019
Mercyhurst LakersErie, Pennsylvania20242024
Robert Morris ColonialsMoon Township, Pennsylvania19941996; 2024
Saint Francis (PA) Red FlashLoretto, Pennsylvania19931996
Stonehill SkyhawksEaston, Massachusetts20222022
Wagner SeahawksStaten Island, New York19931996

Patriot League

The Patriot League began competition in the 1986 season as the Colonial League. The conference’s name was to the Patriot League in 1990.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in Patriot
(Since 1978)
Bucknell BisonLewisburg, Pennsylvania19781986
Colgate RaidersHamilton, New York19821986
Fordham RamsBronx, New York19891990
Georgetown HoyasWashington, D.C.19932001
Holy Cross CrusadersWorcester, Massachusetts19821986
Lafayette LeopardsEaston, Pennsylvania19781986
Lehigh Mountain HawksBethlehem, Pennsylvania19781986

Pioneer Football League

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in PFL
(Since 1978)
Butler BulldogsIndianapolis, Indiana19931993
Davidson WildcatsDavidson, North Carolina1978; 19932001
Dayton FlyersDayton, Ohio19931993
Drake BulldogsDes Moines, Iowa1982; 19931993
Marist Red FoxesPoughkeepsie, New York19932009
Morehead State EaglesMorehead, Kentucky19782001
Presbyterian Blue HoseClinton, South Carolina20072020
San Diego TorerosSan Diego, California19931993
St. Thomas (MN) TommiesSt. Paul, Minnesota20212021
Stetson HattersDeLand, Florida20132013
Valparaiso BeaconsValparaiso, Indiana19931993

Southern Conference

Like the Ivy League, the Southern Conference became part of the FCS in 1982 when Division I formalized requirements to be in the FBS (then called Division I-A). The Ivy League, Southern Conference, and Southland Conference all moved to the FCS (then I-AA) before the 1982 season in one of the larger expansions of FCS membership.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in SoCon
(Since 1978)
Chattanooga MocsChattanooga, Tennessee19821982
The Citadel BulldogsCharleston, South Carolina19821982
East Tennessee State BuccaneersJohnson City, Tennessee1978; 1982; 20151982; 2016
Furman PaladinsGreenville, South Carolina19821982
Mercer BearsMacon, Georgia20132014
Samford BulldogsHomewood, Alabama19892008
VMI KeydetsLexington, Virginia19821982; 2014
Western Carolina CatamountsCullowhee, North Carolina19821982
Wofford TerriersSpartanburg, South Carolina19951997

Southland Conference

Like the Ivy League and Southern Conference, the Southland Conference became part of the FCS in 1982 when Division I formalized requirements to be in the FBS (then called Division I-A). The trio of conferences and most of its members all moved to the FCS (then I-AA) before the 1982 season in one of the larger expansions of FCS membership.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in Southland
(Since 1978)
Houston Christian HuskiesHouston, Texas20132014
Incarnate Word CardinalsSan Antonio, Texas20132014
Lamar CardinalsBeaumont, Texas1982; 20101982; 2010; 2022
McNeese CowboysLake Charles, Louisiana19821982
Nicholls ColonelsThibodaux, Louisiana19801991
Northwestern State DemonsNatchitoches, Louisiana19781987
Southeastern Louisiana LionsHammond, Louisiana1980; 20032005
Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksNacogdoches, Texas19841987; 2024
Texas A&M-Commerce LionsCommerce, Texas20222022

Southwestern Athletic Conference

The SWAC is currently the only FCS conference to separate its teams into divisions, which is used to determine the participants in the SWAC Championship Game. The SWAC is also the only FCS conference that currently contests a Championship Game annually.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in SWAC
(Since 1978)
Division
Alabama A&M BulldogsHuntsville, Alabama19981998East
Alabama State HornetsMontgomery, Alabama19821982East
Alcorn State BravesLorman, Mississippi19781978West
Arkansas-Pine Bluff LionsPine Bluff, Arkansas19961997West
Bethune-Cookman WildcatsDaytona Beach, Florida19792021East
Florida A&M RattlersTallahassee, Florida19782021East
Grambling State TigersGrambling, Louisiana19781978West
Jackson State TigersJackson, Mississippi19781978East
Mississippi Valley State Delta DevilsItta Bena, Mississippi19781978East
Prairie View A&M PanthersPrairie View, Texas19781978West
Southern JaguarsBaton Rouge, Louisiana19781978West
Texas Southern TigersHouston, Texas19781978West

United Athletic Conference

The United Athletic Conference was formed in 2023 when the ASUN and Western Athletic Conferences combined its football-playing members into one conference to compete for an automatic qualifying bid to the FCS playoffs.

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCS
(Since Division I Split in 1978)
First Year in UAC
(Since 1978)
Abilene Christian WildcatsAbilene, Texas20132023
Austin Peay GovernorsClarksville, Tennessee19782023
Central Arkansas BearsConway, Arkansas20062023
Eastern Kentucky ColonelsRichmond, Kentucky19782023
North Alabama LionsFlorence, Alabama20182023
Southern Utah ThunderbirdsCedar City, Utah19932023
Tarleton State TexansStephenville, Texas20202023
Utah Tech TrailblazersSt. George, Utah20202023
West Georgia WolvesCarrollton, Georgia20242024

Alphabetical List of Teams

TeamLocationFirst Year in FCSFirst Year in Current ConferenceCurrent Conference
(Division)
Abilene Christian WildcatsAbilene, Texas20132023United Athletic
Alabama A&M BulldogsHuntsville, Alabama19981998SWAC (East)
Alabama State HornetsMontgomery, Alabama19821982SWAC (East)
Albany Great DanesAlbany, New York19992013CAA
Alcorn State BravesLorman, Mississippi19781978SWAC (West)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff LionsPine Bluff, Arkansas19961997SWAC (West)
Austin Peay GovernorsClarksville, Tennessee19782023United Athletic
Bethune-Cookman WildcatsDaytona Beach, Florida19792021SWAC (East)
Brown BearsProvidence, Rhode Island19821982Ivy League
Bryant BulldogsSmithfield, Rhode Island20082024CAA
Bucknell BisonLewisburg, Pennsylvania19781986Patriot League
Butler BulldogsIndianapolis, Indiana19931993Pioneer Football League
Cal Poly MustangsSan Luis Obispo, California19932012Big Sky
Campbell CamelsBlues Creek, North Carolina20082023CAA
Central Arkansas BearsConway, Arkansas20062023United Athletic
Central Connecticut State Blue DevilsNew Britain, Connecticut19931996Northeast
Charleston Southern BuccaneersNorth Charleston, South Carolina19932023Big South-OVC
Chattanooga MocsChattanooga, Tennessee19821982Southern
The Citadel BulldogsCharleston, South Carolina19821982Southern
Colgate RaidersHamilton, New York19821986Patriot League
Columbia LionsNew York, New York19821982Ivy League
Cornell Big RedIthaca, New York19821982Ivy League
Dartmouth Big GreenHanover, New Hampshire19821982Ivy League
Davidson WildcatsDavidson, North Carolina1978; 19932001Pioneer Football League
Dayton FlyersDayton, Ohio19931993Pioneer Football League
Delaware Blue HensNewark, Delaware19802007CAA
Delaware State HornetsDover, Delaware19781978MEAC
Drake BulldogsDes Moines, Iowa1982; 19931993Pioneer Football League
Duquesne DukesPittsburgh, Pennsylvania19932008Northeast
East Tennessee State BuccaneersJohnson City, Tennessee1978; 1982; 20151982; 2016Southern
Eastern Illinois PanthersCharleston, Illinois19812023Big South-OVC
Eastern Kentucky ColonelsRichmond, Kentucky19782023United Athletic
Eastern Washington EaglesCheney, Washington19841987Big Sky
Elon PhoenixElon, North Carolina19972014CAA
Florida A&M RattlersTallahassee, Florida19782021SWAC (East)
Fordham RamsBronx, New York19891990Patriot League
Furman PaladinsGreenville, South Carolina19821982Southern
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ BulldogsBoiling Springs, North Carolina20002023Big South-OVC
Georgetown HoyasWashington, D.C.19932001Patriot League
Grambling State TigersGrambling, Louisiana19781978SWAC (West)
Hampton PiratesHampton, Virginia19952022CAA
Harvard CrimsonCambridge, Massachusetts19821982Ivy League
Holy Cross CrusadersWorcester, Massachusetts19821986Patriot League
Houston Christian HuskiesHouston, Texas20132014Southland
Howard BisonWashington, D.C.19781978MEAC
Idaho VandalsMoscow, Idaho1978, 20181978, 2018Big Sky
Idaho State BengalsPocatello, Idaho19781978Big Sky
Illinois State RedbirdsNormal, Illinois19821986MVFC
Incarnate Word CardinalsSan Antonio, Texas20132014Southland
Indiana State SycamoresTerre Haute, Indiana19821986MVFC
Jackson State TigersJackson, Mississippi19781978SWAC (East)
Lafayette LeopardsEaston, Pennsylvania19781986Patriot League
Lamar CardinalsBeaumont, Texas1982; 20101982; 2010; 2022Southland
Lehigh Mountain HawksBethlehem, Pennsylvania19781986Patriot League
Lindenwood LionsSt. Charles, Missouri20222023Big South-OVC
Long Island SharksBrookville, New York20192019Northeast
Maine Black BearsOrono, Maine19782007CAA
Marist Red FoxesPoughkeepsie, New York19932009Pioneer Football League
McNeese CowboysLake Charles, Louisiana19821982Southland
Mercer BearsMacon, Georgia20132014Southern
Mercyhurst LakersErie, Pennsylvania20242024Northeast
Merrimack WarriorsNorth Andover, Massachusetts20192024FCS Independent
Mississippi Valley State Delta DevilsItta Bena, Mississippi19781978SWAC (East)
Missouri State BearsSpringfield, Missouri19811985MVFC
Monmouth HawksWest Long Branch, New Jersey19932022CAA
Montana GrizzliesMissoula, Montana19781978Big Sky
Montana State BobcatsBozeman, Montana19781978Big Sky
Morehead State EaglesMorehead, Kentucky19782001Pioneer Football League
Morgan State BearsBaltimore, Maryland1978; 19841978; 1984MEAC
Murray State RacersMurray, Kentucky19782023MVFC
New Hampshire WildcatsDurham, New Hampshire19782007CAA
Nicholls ColonelsThibodaux, Louisiana19801991Southland
Norfolk State SpartansNorfolk, Virignia19971998MEAC
North Alabama LionsFlorence, Alabama20182023United Athletic
North Carolina A&T AggiesGreensboro, North Carolina19782023CAA
North Carolina Central EaglesDurham, North Carolina1978; 20071978; 2010MEAC
North Dakota Fighting HawksGrand Forks, North Dakota20082020MVFC
North Dakota State BisonFargo, North Dakota20042008MVFC
Northern Arizona LumberjacksFlagstaff, Arizona19781978Big Sky
Northern Colorado BearsGreeley, Colorado20032006Big Sky
Northern Iowa PanthersCedar Falls, Iowa19811985MVFC
Northwestern State DemonsNatchitoches, Louisiana19781987Southland
Penn QuakersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania19821982Ivy League
Portland State VikingsPortland, Oregon1978, 19961996Big Sky
Prairie View A&M PanthersPrairie View, Texas19781978SWAC (West)
Presbyterian Blue HoseClinton, South Carolina20072020Pioneer Football League
Princeton TigersPrinceton, New Jersey19821982Ivy League
Rhode Island RamsKingston, Rhode Island19782007CAA
Richmond SpidersRichmond, Virginia19822007CAA
Robert Morris ColonialsMoon Township, Pennsylvania19941996; 2024Northeast
Sacramento State HornetsSacramento, California19931996Big Sky
Sacred Heart PioneersFairfield, Connecticut19982024FCS Independent
Saint Francis (PA) Red FlashLoretto, Pennsylvania19931996Northeast
Samford BulldogsHomewood, Alabama19892008Southern
San Diego TorerosSan Diego, California19931993Pioneer Football League
South Carolina State BulldogsOrangeburg, South Carolina19781978MEAC
South Dakota CoyotesVermillion, South Dakota20082012MVFC
South Dakota State JackrabbitsBrookings, South Dakota20042008MVFC
Southeast Missouri State RedbirdsCape Girardeau, Missouri19912023Big South-OVC
Southeastern Louisiana LionsHammond, Louisiana1980; 20032005Southland
Southern JaguarsBaton Rouge, Louisiana19781978SWAC (West)
Southern Illinois SalukisCarbondale, Illinois19821986MVFC
Southern Utah ThunderbirdsCedar City, Utah19932023United Athletic
St. Thomas (MN) TommiesSt. Paul, Minnesota20212021Pioneer Football League
Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksNacogdoches, Texas19841987; 2024Southland
Stetson HattersDeLand, Florida20132013Pioneer Football League
Stonehill SkyhawksEaston, Massachusetts20222022Northeast
Stony Brook SeawolvesStony Brook, New York19992013CAA
Tarleton State TexansStephenville, Texas20202023United Athletic
Tennessee Martin SkyhawksMartin, Tennessee19912023Big South-OVC
Tennessee State TigersNashville, Tennessee19812023Big South-OVC
Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesCookeville, Tennessee19782023Big South-OVC
Texas A&M-Commerce LionsCommerce, Texas20222022Southland
Texas Southern TigersHouston, Texas19781978SWAC (West)
Towson TigersTowson, Maryland19872007CAA
UC Davis AggiesDavis, California20032012Big Sky
Utah Tech TrailblazersSt. George, Utah20202023United Athletic
Valparaiso BeaconsValparaiso, Indiana19931993Pioneer Football League
Villanova WildcatsVillanova, Pennyslvania19852007CAA
VMI KeydetsLexington, Virginia19821982; 2014Southern
Wagner SeahawksStaten Island, New York19931996Northeast
Weber State WildcatsOgden, Utah19781978Big Sky
West Georgia WolvesCarrollton, Georgia20242024United Athletic
Western Carolina CatamountsCullowhee, North Carolina19821982Southern
Western Illinois LeathernecksMacomb, Illinois19812024Big South-OVC
William & Mary TribeWilliamsburg, Virginia19822007CAA
Wofford TerriersSpartanburg, South Carolina19951997Southern
Yale BulldogsNew Haven, Connecticut19821982Ivy League
Youngstown State PenguinsYoungstown, Ohio19811997MVFC


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