Mercyhurst Joining Northeast Conference

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 to Play 2024 Season as FCS Independent

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 Opts to Play as FCS Independent in 2024

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 Football Returning to Northeast Conference

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

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

Stonehill College Moving Up to Join Northeast Conference

The Northeast Conference will be adding a current Division 2 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 1 and will become fully eligible beginning with the 2026-27 season. … Read more

Bryant Football Joining the Big South Conference

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

More FCS Games Canceled by SEC, NEC Decisions

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

Is the End Approaching for the MEAC?

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

Robert Morris Officially Joining Big South in Football

Robert Morris and the Big South Conference made it official: the Colonials are joining the Big South in football as an associate member. Robert Morris was previously linked to a move to the Horizon League, which they also confirmed on Monday. Robert Morris will compete as an FCS independent team for the 2020 season according … Read more