FCS Changes for the 2025 Season

The 2025 FCS season is only weeks away and the current realignment cycle is still producing numerous changes that will impact the upcoming season. As we have done with the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons, below is a list of all the changes for the 2025 season and beyond. There’s a summarized list … Read more

FCS Moves to 12 Regular Season Games

The NCAA Division I Council has voted to allow the FCS to have up to 12 regular season games each year, beginning with the 2026 season. FCS teams were previously permitted to play a maximum of 11 regular season contests unless there were 14 Saturdays between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. The 2024 and 2025 seasons … Read more

Southern Utah and Utah Tech to Join Big Sky, ASUN Football Schools to Join Rebranded WAC

The realignment impacts on the Western Athletic Conference have led to two schools joining the Big Sky Conference, one of which was a former member. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds and Utah Tech Trailblazers will join the Big Sky Conference beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Both schools are members of the WAC and compete in … Read more

Sacramento State to Join Big West

One piece of Sacramento State’s future realignment plans has been set. The Hornets will move the majority of its sports from the Big Sky Conference to the Big West Conference, beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Sacramento State previously applied to join the FBS as a football independent starting in 2026, with the school unveiling … Read more

Villanova Football Leaving CAA to Join Patriot League

Villanova is making a football move out of the CAA to the Patriot League beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The Wildcats are the third team to leave the CAA for the Patriot League since May 2024, following Richmond and William & Mary. The Patriot League will consist of 10 teams: Bucknell, Colgate, Fordham, Georgetown, … Read more

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 … Read more

William & Mary Football Jumps to Patriot League

William & Mary will leave the Coastal Athletic Conference (CAA) and join the Patriot League as a football-only affiliate member beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The news comes after rival Richmond made the same move last May. William & Mary’s other sports will remain in the CAA. The Patriot League is up to 9 … Read more

Sacramento State Trying to Join FBS

Sacramento State is attempting to move to the FBS as an independent team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. If the waiver is approved by the NCAA, Sacramento State will remain a Big Sky team for the 2025 season. The Hornets would be ineligible for the postseason in the 2025 and 2026 seasons as part … Read more

Saint Francis Leaving FCS for NCAA Division III

The Saint Francis Red Flash will leave NCAA Division I and the FCS‘ Northeast Conference to join NCAA Division III after the 2025-26 academic year. Saint Francis will move to the NCAA Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Saint Francis was a member of NCAA Division III from 1978 through … Read more

FCS Changes for the 2024 Season

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated as of Thursday, November 7 to reflect Texas A&M-Commerce changing its name to East Texas A&M. This post was previously updated as of Tuesday, August 27 to include the proposed NCAA changes to the Transfer Portal and waiver blanket for redshirt rules. The 2024 FCS season is a … Read more