Sacred Heart will play an independent FCS schedule for the 2024 season as the school continues to assess its football affiliation options as first reported in mid-January and later confirmed by Craig Haley. The Pioneers previously announced they are leaving the Northeast Conference to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) beginning with the 2024-25…
Robert Morris is rejoining the Northeast Conference as a football-only member effective with the 2024 season. The return of the Colonials will help the NEC offset the recent departures of full-time members Sacred Heart and Merrimack. Robert Morris was a member of the NEC from 1996 through 2019 but left to join the Horizon League…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
