Delaware Flying Into FBS and Conference USA

The University of Delaware is set to become the most recent FCS team to leave for the FBS. The Fightin’ Blue Hens will leave the Coastal Athletic Association and join Conference USA beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. Delaware will be considered an FCS independent team for the 2024 … Read more

Merrimack and Sacred Heart Leaving NEC as Full Members; Future Football Conference TBD

Editor’s Note: On Thursday, January 25, 2024, it was reported that Sacred Heart would play the 2024 FCS season as an independent. On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the Northeast Conference released its 2024 conference schedule, which confirmed that Sacred Heart and Merrimack will not be football-playing members in 2024. On March 7, 2024, it was … Read more

NCAA Approves New FBS Requirements

The NCAA has approved new requirements for FBS programs that will have a direct impact on current FCS schools looking to move up. The NCAA has increased the FBS application from $5,000 to $5 million, effective immediately. The NCAA also eliminated the attendance requirements for FBS schools effective immediately, which is a pyrrhic victory for … Read more

West Georgia Football to Join the United Athletic Conference

The University of West Georgia is moving up to the FCS ranks. The Georgia Board of Regents approved the move on Friday and the school will begin the four-year transition process to the ASUN beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. West Georgia’s football team will play in the United Athletic Conference, which is comprised of … Read more

Bryant Joining CAA Football Starting in 2024

The Bryant Bulldogs will join the Coastal Athletic Association as a football-only member starting with the 2024 season. Bryant is a full member of the America East Conference. The 2023 season will mark Bryant’s only season in the newly named Big South-OVC Football Association. The Bulldogs previously joined the Big South in football starting with … Read more

FCS Changes for the 2023 Season

Editor’s note: This post was updated on Thursday, July 20 to reflect the CAA’s new name and on August 10 to include the 12-game schedule allowance for the 2024 and 2025 seasons along with Bryant’s move to the CAA in 2024. This post was further updated on September 8 with the news of West Georgia … Read more

NCAA Proposes New Requirements for FBS Hopefuls

Editor’s Note: On October 4, 2023, the NCAA formally adopted the requirements outlined below. The application fee increase was effective immediately while the scholarship funding changes will be effective starting in the 2027-28 academic year. The NCAA has proposed new requirements for schools that would like to move from the Football Championship Subdivision to the … Read more

Western Illinois Joining OVC in 2023-24; Football to Play 2023 Season in MVFC

Western Illinois will leave the Summit League after the 2023-24 academic year to become a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The Leathernecks will play the 2023 FCS season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and join the OVC in 2024. The move by WIU may help them become more competitive on … Read more

The ASUN and WAC Form Football-Only United Athletic Conference

After two seasons and two different names, the ASUN and WAC football schools will compete in a newly named United Athletic Conference. The 9 members will compete under the UAC brand for the FCS Playoff automatic qualifying spot given to the conference winner. The ASUN and WAC have partnered up in football since 2021 when … Read more

FCS Football is Coming to the Rio Grande Valley

Editor’s Note: In March 2024, UTRGV announced it would be joining the Southland Conference beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. As a result, the football program will make its debut in 2025 as a member of the Southland. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has officially announced the start of a football program. The … Read more