The Northeast Conference is planning to remove its 45 football scholarship limit, according to CollegeAD. The NEC will allow as many as 105 scholarships as outlined in the NCAA v. House settlement but one athletic director told CollegeAD that most schools are unlikely to offer more than 50. The maximum number of scholarships currently allowed … Read more
Mercyhurst University will begin the reclassification process from NCAA Division II to Division I and join the Northeast Conference beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. The four-year reclassification process means Mercyhurst will not be a full Division I member eligible for NCAA Championships (FCS Playoffs) until the 2028-29 academic year. Located in Erie, Pennsylvania, Mercyhurst … Read more
Merrimack College will play an independent FCS schedule for the 2024 season alongside Sacred Heart. Both schools are leaving the Northeast Conference after the 2023-24 academic year and will join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2024-25. The MAAC discontinued football after the 2007 season and has not sponsored the sport since then. In … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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
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 … Read more
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. … Read more
The FCS level takes another hit this week after decisions by the Southeastern Conference and Northeast Conference led to more cancellations. The SEC will reportedly shift to a 10-game, conference only schedule, which will not only cause cancellations but may also impact the athletic departments of the schools playing SEC programs this season. An additional … Read more
Editor’s note: This article was written hours before the news of Bethune-Cookman’s official departure from the MEAC. The hits keep on coming for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). After the news that Florida A&M was leaving for the SWAC three weeks ago, reports have surfaced that two remaining members – Bethune-Cookman and Delaware State – … Read more