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List of NCAA Division I FBS football programs
Schools playing American football at the highest level
Schools playing American football at the highest level

This is a list of the 136 schools in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. By definition, all schools in this grouping have varsity football teams.
Schools in Division I FBS are distinguished from those in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) by being allowed to provide scholarship aid to a total of 85 players, and may grant a full scholarship to all 85. FCS schools are limited to financial assistance amounting to a maximum of 63 full scholarships, although some conferences voluntarily place further restrictions on athletic aid. The NCAA classifies FBS football as a "head-count" sport, meaning that each player receiving any athletically-related aid from the school counts fully against the 85-player limit. By contrast, FCS football is classified as an "equivalency" sport, which means that scholarship aid is limited to the equivalent of a specified number of full scholarships. In turn, this means that FCS schools can freely grant partial scholarships, but are also limited to a total of 85 players receiving assistance. Another NCAA rule mandates that any multi-sport athlete who plays football and receives any athletic aid is counted against the football limit, with an exception for players in non-scholarship FCS programs who receive aid in another sport. The three service academies that play in Division I FBS, Air Force, Army, and Navy, are theoretically subject to this rule, but are exempt in practice because all students at these schools receive full scholarships from the federal government.
Starting in 2014, the FBS began playing a tournament known as the College Football Playoff (CFP) culminating in a National Championship Game to determine its national champion, a system that has been in place from the 2014–2025 seasons by contract with ESPN, broadcaster of the games. The CFP featured four teams from its first season in 2014 through the 2023 season, and expanded to 12 teams in 2024. But since the CFP is not sanctioned by the NCAA, this makes FBS football the only sport without an NCAA-sanctioned champion. The FCS is the highest division in college football to hold a playoff tournament sanctioned by the NCAA to determine its champion.
Conference affiliations are current for the 2025 season.
The list includes all current and former FBS, Division I-A, Division I, University Division, and Major-College football teams since 1946 when the NCAA started having continuous records of major football teams. In the 1940s, 50s, and 60s major-status was only based on whether the team had a majority of their schedule filled with major opponents which caused schools like Arizona State to lose "major" status in certain years and schools that were on the borderline like Idaho and Pacific who scheduled each other in certain seasons to change status almost every other year.
FBS programs
In addition to the following list of FBS programs, there is also a List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums.
| School | Nickname | City | State | Enrollment | Current | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| conference | Former | ||||||||||
| conferences | First | ||||||||||
| year | Joined | ||||||||||
| FBS | First joined | ||||||||||
| FBS | Left | ||||||||||
| FBS | |||||||||||
| Air Force | Falcons | USAF Academy | CO | 4,181 | Mountain West | WAC | 1955 | 1957 | |||
| Akron | Zips | Akron | OH | 14,516 | MAC | OAC, MCC, OVC | 1891 | 1987 | |||
| Alabama | Crimson Tide | Tuscaloosa | AL | 38,316 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | ||||
| Appalachian State | Mountaineers | Boone | NC | 21,798 | Sun Belt | NSC, SoCon | 1928 | 2014 | 1974 | 1981 | |
| Arizona | Wildcats | Tucson | AZ | 49,471 | Big 12 | BIAA, WAC, Pac-12 | 1899 | ||||
| Arizona State | Sun Devils | Tempe | AZ | 77,881 | Big 12 | BIAA, WAC, Pac-12 | 1896 | ||||
| Arkansas | Razorbacks | Fayetteville | AR | 29,068 | SEC | SWC | 1894 | ||||
| Arkansas State | Red Wolves | Jonesboro | AR | 12,863 | Sun Belt | AIC, Southland, Big West | 1911 | 1992 | 1975 | 1981 | |
| Army | Black Knights | West Point | NY | 4,594 | American | CUSA, Independent | 1890 | ||||
| Auburn | Tigers | Auburn | AL | 31,526 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | ||||
| Ball State | Cardinals | Muncie | IN | 19,337 | MAC | IIC, ICC | 1924 | 1982 | 1975 | 1981 | |
| Baylor | Bears | Waco | TX | 20,626 | Big 12 | TIAA, SWC | 1899 | ||||
| Boise State | Broncos | Boise | ID | 25,830 | Mountain West | ICAC, Big Sky, Big West, WAC | 1933 | 1996 | |||
| Boston College | Eagles | Chestnut Hill | MA | 15,046 | ACC | Big East | 1893 | ||||
| Bowling Green | Falcons | Bowling Green | OH | 17,645 | MAC | NOIAA, OAC | 1919 | 1982 | 1962 | 1981 | |
| Buffalo | Bulls | Buffalo | NY | 32,332 | MAC | NYSC | 1894 | 1999 | 1962 | 1970 | |
| BYU | Cougars | Provo | UT | 34,802 | Big 12 | Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, WAC, MW, Independent | 1922 | ||||
| California | Golden Bears | Berkeley | CA | 45,435 | ACC | PCC, Pac-12 | 1882 | ||||
| Central Michigan | Chippewas | Mount Pleasant | MI | 15,465 | MAC | MCC, IIAC | 1896 | 1975 | |||
| Charlotte | 49ers | Charlotte | NC | 30,448 | American | FCS independent, CUSA | 1946 | 2015 | |||
| Cincinnati | Bearcats | Cincinnati | OH | 50,921 | Big 12 | OAC, Buckeye, MAC, MVC, CUSA, Big East, American | 1885 | 1983 | - | ||
| 1948 | 1946 | ||||||||||
| 1948 | |||||||||||
| 1981 | |||||||||||
| Clemson | Tigers | Clemson | SC | 27,341 | ACC | SIAA, SAIAA, SoCon | 1896 | ||||
| Coastal Carolina | Chanticleers | Conway | SC | 10,473 | Sun Belt | Big South | 2003 | 2017 | |||
| Colorado | Buffaloes | Boulder | CO | 37,956 | Big 12 | CFA, Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, Big Eight, Pac-12 | 1890 | ||||
| Colorado State | Rams | Fort Collins | CO | 32,777 | Mountain West | CFA, Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, WAC | 1890 | ||||
| Delaware | Fightin' Blue Hens | Newark | DE | 24,221 | CUSA | Mason–Dixon, MAC, DII independent, FCS independent, Yankee, A-10, CAA Football | 1889 | 2025 | |||
| Duke | Blue Devils | Durham | NC | 17,620 | ACC | SoCon | 1888 | ||||
| East Carolina | Pirates | Greenville | NC | 28,021 | American | NSC, Carolinas, SoCon, CUSA | 1932 | 1966 | |||
| Eastern Michigan | Eagles | Ypsilanti | MI | 15,370 | MAC | MIAA, MCC, IIAC, PAC | 1891 | 1982 | 1976 | 1981 | |
| Florida Atlantic | Owls | Boca Raton | FL | 30,155 | American | Sun Belt, C-USA | 2001 | 2006 | |||
| FIU | Panthers | Miami | FL | 56,732 | CUSA | Sun Belt | 2002 | 2006 | |||
| Florida | Gators | Gainesville | FL | 55,781 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1906 | ||||
| Florida State | Seminoles | Tallahassee | FL | 45,130 | ACC | Dixie | 1947 | 1955 | |||
| Fresno State | Bulldogs | Fresno | CA | 24,585 | Mountain West | CCC, NCAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1921 | 1969 | |||
| Georgia | Bulldogs | Athens | GA | 40,118 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | ||||
| Georgia Southern | Eagles | Statesboro | GA | 27,091 | Sun Belt | SoCon | 1924 | 2014 | |||
| Georgia State | Panthers | Atlanta | GA | 55,466 | Sun Belt | CAA Football | 2010 | 2013 | |||
| Georgia Tech | Yellow Jackets | Atlanta | GA | 43,844 | ACC | SIAA, SoCon, SEC | 1892 | ||||
| Hawaii | Rainbow Warriors | Honolulu | HI | 19,097 | Mountain West | WAC | 1909 | 1974 | |||
| Houston | Cougars | Houston | TX | 47,031 | Big 12 | Lone Star, Gulf Coast, MVC, SWC, CUSA, American | 1946 | 1949 | |||
| Illinois | Fighting Illini | Urbana-Champaign | IL | 56,607 | Big Ten | IIFL | 1890 | ||||
| Indiana | Hoosiers | Bloomington | IN | 45,328 | Big Ten | IIAA | 1887 | ||||
| Iowa | Hawkeyes | Iowa City | IA | 29,909 | Big Ten | WIUFA, MVC | 1889 | ||||
| Iowa State | Cyclones | Ames | IA | 30,708 | Big 12 | MVC, Big 8 | 1892 | ||||
| Jacksonville State | Gamecocks | Jacksonville | AL | 9,540 | CUSA | Independent, SIAA, SSC, GSC, DII Independent, Southland, OVC, AQ7, ASUN | 1904 | 2023 | |||
| James Madison | Dukes | Harrisonburg | VA | 22,224 | Sun Belt | DII Independent, VCAA, Yankee, A-10, CAA Football | 1972 | 2022 | |||
| Kansas | Jayhawks | Lawrence | KS | 26,780 | Big 12 | KCAC, WIUFA, MVC, Big 8 | 1890 | ||||
| Kansas State | Wildcats | Manhattan | KS | 20,229 | Big 12 | MVC, Big 8 | 1896 | ||||
| Kennesaw State | Owls | Kennesaw | GA | 45,152 | CUSA | ASUN, FCS independent | 2015 | 2024 | |||
| Kent State | Golden Flashes | Kent | OH | 26,597 | MAC | OAC | 1920 | 1982 | 1962 | 1981 | |
| Kentucky | Wildcats | Lexington | KY | 30,390 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1881 | ||||
| Liberty | Flames | Lynchburg | VA | 95,148 | CUSA | Big South, Independent | 1973 | 2018 | |||
| Louisiana | Ragin' Cajuns | Lafayette | LA | 16,225 | Sun Belt | LIAA, LIC, Gulf States, SIAA, Southland, Big West | 1902 | 1974 | |||
| Louisiana Tech | Bulldogs | Ruston | LA | 11,037 | CUSA | LIAA, LIC, Gulf States, SIAA, Southland, Big West, WAC | 1901 | 1989 | 1975 | 1981 | |
| Louisville | Cardinals | Louisville | KY | 22,140 | ACC | KIAC, SIAA, KIAC, OVC, MVC, CUSA, Big East, American | 1910 | 1962 | 1951 | 1951 | |
| LSU | Tigers | Baton Rouge | LA | 35,912 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1893 | ||||
| Marshall | Thundering Herd | Huntington | WV | 11,125 | Sun Belt | WVIAC, Buckeye, OVC, MAC, SoCon, CUSA | 1895 | 1997 | 1962 | 1981 | |
| Maryland | Terrapins | College Park | MD | 41,272 | Big Ten | MIFA, SAIAA, SoCon, ACC | 1888 | ||||
| Memphis | Tigers | Memphis | TN | 21,622 | American | Mississippi Valley, SIAA, Missouri Valley, CUSA | 1912 | 1960 | |||
| Miami (FL) | Hurricanes | Coral Gables | FL | 19,096 | ACC | SIAA, Big East | 1926 | ||||
| Miami (OH) | RedHawks | Oxford | OH | 19,216 | MAC | OAC, Buckeye | 1888 | 1982 | 1948 | ||
| 1961 | 1949 | ||||||||||
| 1981 | |||||||||||
| Michigan | Wolverines | Ann Arbor | MI | 50,278 | Big Ten | None | 1879 | ||||
| Michigan State | Spartans | East Lansing | MI | 49,659 | Big Ten | MIAA | 1885 | ||||
| Middle Tennessee | Blue Raiders | Murfreesboro | TN | 20,857 | CUSA | VSAC, SIAA, OVC, Sun Belt | 1911 | 1999 | |||
| Minnesota | Golden Gophers | Minneapolis | MN | 52,376 | Big Ten | None | 1882 | ||||
| Mississippi State | Bulldogs | Starkville | MS | 23,086 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1895 | ||||
| Missouri | Tigers | Columbia | MO | 31,412 | SEC | WIUFA, Big 8, Big 12 | 1890 | ||||
| Missouri State | Bears | Springfield | MO | 23,418 | CUSA | MIAA, Mid-Continent, MVFC | 1909 | 2025 | |||
| Navy | Midshipmen | Annapolis | MD | 4,528 | American | Independent | 1879 | ||||
| NC State | Wolfpack | Raleigh | NC | 36,831 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | ||||
| Nebraska | Cornhuskers | Lincoln | NE | 24,431 | Big Ten | WIUFA, MVC, Big 8, Big 12 | 1890 | ||||
| Nevada | Wolf Pack | Reno | NV | 21,034 | Mountain West | NCAC, Big Sky, Big West, WAC | 1896 | 1992 | 1950 | ||
| New Mexico | Lobos | Albuquerque | NM | 21,738 | Mountain West | BIAA, WAC | 1892 | ||||
| New Mexico State | Aggies | Las Cruces | NM | 13,904 | CUSA | BIAA, MVC, Big West, Sun Belt, WAC, Independent | 1893 | 1959 | - | ||
| 1952 | 1947 | ||||||||||
| 1953 | |||||||||||
| North Carolina | Tar Heels | Chapel Hill | NC | 31,733 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon | 1888 | ||||
| North Texas | Mean Green | Denton | TX | 46,940 | American | TIAA, Lone Star, GCC, MVC, Southland, Big West, Sun Belt, CUSA | 1913 | 1995 | 1957 | 1981 | |
| Northern Illinois | Huskies | DeKalb | IL | 16,234 | MAC | IIAC, Big West | 1899 | 1982 | 1969 | 1981 | |
| Northwestern | Wildcats | Evanston | IL | 22,933 | Big Ten | None | 1876 | ||||
| Notre Dame | Fighting Irish | South Bend | IN | 13,139 | Independent | ACC | 1887 | ||||
| Ohio | Bobcats | Athens | OH | 24,429 | MAC | OAC, Buckeye | 1894 | 1982 | 1948 | ||
| 1961 | 1948 | ||||||||||
| 1981 | |||||||||||
| Ohio State | Buckeyes | Columbus | OH | 61,677 | Big Ten | OAC | 1889 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Sooners | Norman | OK | 28,042 | SEC | Southwest, Big 8, Big 12 | 1895 | ||||
| Oklahoma State | Cowboys | Stillwater | OK | 24,660 | Big 12 | Southwest, MVIAA, MVC, Big 8 | 1901 | ||||
| Old Dominion | Monarchs | Norfolk | VA | 23,494 | Sun Belt | FCS independent, CAA Football, CUSA | 1930 | 2014 | |||
| Ole Miss | Rebels | Oxford | MS | 21,203 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1893 | ||||
| Oregon | Ducks | Eugene | OR | 22,257 | Big Ten | PCC, Independent, Pac-12 | 1894 | ||||
| Oregon State | Beavers | Corvallis | OR | 33,193 | Pac-12 | PCC, Independent | 1893 | ||||
| Penn State | Nittany Lions | University Park | PA | 47,560 | Big Ten | Independent | 1881 | ||||
| Pittsburgh | Panthers | Pittsburgh | PA | 29,238 | ACC | Big East | 1890 | ||||
| Purdue | Boilermakers | West Lafayette | IN | 49,639 | Big Ten | IIAA | 1887 | ||||
| Rice | Owls | Houston | TX | 8,285 | American | TIAA, SWC, WAC, CUSA | 1912 | ||||
| Rutgers | Scarlet Knights | Piscataway | NJ | 50,804 | Big Ten | Middle Atlantic, Big East, American | 1869 | ||||
| Sam Houston | Bearkats | Huntsville | TX | 21,679 | CUSA | Independent, TIAA, LSC, GSC, Southland, WAC | 1912 | 2023 | |||
| San Diego State | Aztecs | San Diego | CA | 35,732 | Mountain West | SCJCC, SCIAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1921 | 1969 | |||
| San Jose State | Spartans | San Jose | CA | 37,133 | Mountain West | CCC, NCAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1892 | 1950 | |||
| SMU | Mustangs | University Park | TX | 12,385 | ACC | TIAA, SWC, WAC, CUSA, American | 1915 | 1989 | 1986 | ||
| South Alabama | Jaguars | Mobile | AL | 13,992 | Sun Belt | FCS Independent | 2009 | 2012 | |||
| South Carolina | Gamecocks | Columbia | SC | 35,471 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon, ACC | 1892 | ||||
| South Florida | Bulls | Tampa | FL | 44,322 | American | C-USA, Big East | 1997 | 2001 | |||
| Southern Miss | Golden Eagles | Hattiesburg | MS | 14,146 | Sun Belt | Gulf States, SIAA. C-USA | 1912 | 1963 | 1960 | 1960 | |
| Stanford | Cardinal | Stanford | CA | 17,680 | ACC | PCC, Pac-12 | 1891 | ||||
| Syracuse | Orange | Syracuse | NY | 21,772 | ACC | Big East | 1889 | ||||
| TCU | Horned Frogs | Fort Worth | TX | 11,938 | Big 12 | TIAA, SWC, WAC, CUSA, MW | 1896 | ||||
| Temple | Owls | Philadelphia | PA | 35,626 | American | Middle Atlantic, Big East, MAC, Big East | 1894 | 1971 | |||
| Tennessee | Volunteers | Knoxville | TN | 31,701 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1891 | ||||
| Texas | Longhorns | Austin | TX | 51,991 | SEC | SIAA, TIAA, SWC, Big 12 | 1883 | ||||
| Texas A&M | Aggies | College Station | TX | 72,530 | SEC | SIAA, SWC, Big 12 | 1876 | ||||
| Texas State | Bobcats | San Marcos | TX | 37,864 | Sun Belt | TIAA, Lone Star, Gulf Star, Southland, WAC | 1904 | 2012 | |||
| Texas Tech | Red Raiders | Lubbock | TX | 40,542 | Big 12 | BIAA, SWC | 1925 | ||||
| Toledo | Rockets | Toledo | OH | 17,045 | MAC | NOIAA, OAC | 1917 | 1962 | |||
| Troy | Trojans | Troy | AL | 14,901 | Sun Belt | AIC, SIAA, ACC, MSAC, Gulf South, Southland | 1909 | 2002 | |||
| Tulane | Green Wave | New Orleans | LA | 13,127 | American | SIAA, SoCon, SEC, CUSA | 1893 | ||||
| Tulsa | Golden Hurricane | Tulsa | OK | 3,832 | American | OIC, Big Four, MVC, WAC, CUSA | 1895 | ||||
| UAB | Blazers | Birmingham | AL | 22,289 | American | FCS Independent, CUSA | 1991 | 2017 | 1996 | 2014 | |
| UCF | Knights | Orlando | FL | 70,406 | Big 12 | MAC, CUSA, American | 1979 | 1996 | |||
| UCLA | Bruins | Los Angeles | CA | 47,516 | Big Ten | SCIAC, PCC, Pac-12 | 1919 | ||||
| UConn | Huskies | Storrs | CT | 32,146 | Independent | Yankee, A-10, Big East, American | 1896 | 2000 | |||
| ULM | Warhawks | Monroe | LA | 8,565 | Sun Belt | Gulf States, Southland, Independent | 1951 | 1994 | 1975 | 1981 | |
| UMass | Minutemen | Amherst | MA | 32,045 | MAC | Yankee, A-10, CAA Football, Independent | 1879 | 2012 | |||
| UNLV | Rebels | Las Vegas | NV | 30,679 | Mountain West | Big West, WAC | 1968 | 1978 | |||
| USC | Trojans | Los Angeles | CA | 49,318 | Big Ten | PCC, Pac-12 | 1888 | ||||
| Utah | Utes | Salt Lake City | UT | 34,464 | Big 12 | CFA, RMAC, Mountain States, WAC, MW, Pac-12 | 1892 | ||||
| Utah State | Aggies | Logan | UT | 27,426 | Mountain West | CFA, RMAC, Mountain States, Big West, Independent, Sun Belt, WAC | 1892 | ||||
| UTEP | Miners | El Paso | TX | 24,003 | CUSA | BIAA, WAC | 1914 | ||||
| UTSA | Roadrunners | San Antonio | TX | 34,734 | American | WAC, CUSA | 2011 | 2012 | |||
| Vanderbilt | Commodores | Nashville | TN | 13,796 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1890 | ||||
| Virginia | Cavaliers | Charlottesville | VA | 26,026 | ACC | SAIAA, SoCon | 1887 | ||||
| Virginia Tech | Hokies | Blacksburg | VA | 37,279 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon, Big East | 1892 | ||||
| Wake Forest | Demon Deacons | Winston-Salem | NC | 8,947 | ACC | SoCon | 1888 | ||||
| Washington | Huskies | Seattle | WA | 52,439 | Big Ten | PCC, Pac-12 | 1889 | ||||
| Washington State | Cougars | Pullman | WA | 29,843 | Pac-12 | PCC, Independent | 1893 | ||||
| West Virginia | Mountaineers | Morgantown | WV | 25,474 | Big 12 | SoCon, WVIAC, Big East | 1891 | ||||
| Western Kentucky | Hilltoppers | Bowling Green | KY | 16,750 | CUSA | SIAA, KIAC, OVC, MVFC, Sun Belt | 1913 | 2009 | |||
| Western Michigan | Broncos | Kalamazoo | MI | 19,038 | MAC | MCC | 1905 | 1982 | 1962 | 1981 | |
| Wisconsin | Badgers | Madison | WI | 47,932 | Big Ten | None | 1889 | ||||
| Wyoming | Cowboys | Laramie | WY | 11,479 | Mountain West | CFA, RMAC, WAC | 1893 |
;Notes
Transitioning FBS programs
| School | Team | City | State | Current | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| conference | Future | |||||||
| conference | First | |||||||
| played | FBS transition | |||||||
| begins | FBS football full | |||||||
| membership | ||||||||
| Delaware | Fightin' Blue Hens | Newark | Delaware | Conference USA | 1889 | 2024 | 2026 | |
| Missouri State | Bears | Springfield | Missouri | Conference USA | 1909 | 2024 | 2026 |
Former programs
| Team | School | City | State | Former FBS conference | First FBS season | Final FBS season | Subsequent and current status | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorn State Braves | Alcorn State University | Lorman | Mississippi | SWAC | 1977 | FCS | ||||||
| Boston University Terriers | Boston University | Boston | Massachusetts | Independent | 1947 | 1967 | College Division | |||||
| Discontinued | ||||||||||||
| Brown Bears | Brown University | Providence | Rhode Island | Ivy | 1981 | FCS | ||||||
| Bucknell Bison | Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Pennsylvania | Independent | 1947 | Small-College | ||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Cal State Fullerton Titans | California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton | California | Big West | 1975 | 1992 | Discontinued | |||||
| Centenary Gentlemen | Centenary College of Louisiana | Shreveport | Louisiana | LIC | 1947 | Discontinued | ||||||
| Division III | ||||||||||||
| Chattanooga Mocs | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Tennessee | Southern | 1977 | 1981 | FCS | |||||
| Chicago Maroons | University of Chicago | Chicago | Illinois | Big Ten | 1939 | Discontinued | ||||||
| Division III | ||||||||||||
| Colgate Raiders | Colgate University | Hamilton | New York | Independent | 1981 | FCS | ||||||
| Colorado College Tigers | Colorado College | Colorado Springs | Colorado | Rocky Mountain | 1947 | Small-College | ||||||
| Discontinued | ||||||||||||
| Columbia Lions | Columbia University | Manhattan | New York | Ivy | 1981 | FCS | ||||||
| Cornell Big Red | Cornell University | Ithaca | ||||||||||
| Dartmouth Big Green | Dartmouth College | Hanover | New Hampshire | |||||||||
| Davidson Wildcats | Davidson College | Davidson | North Carolina | Southern | - | |||||||
| 1967 | 1953 | |||||||||||
| 1976 | Division II | |||||||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Dayton Flyers | University of Dayton | Dayton | Ohio | Independent | 1956 | 1976 | Division III | |||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Denver Pioneers | University of Denver | Denver | Colorado | Skyline | 1960 | Discontinued | ||||||
| Detroit Titans | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Michigan | Independent | 1964 | |||||||
| Drake Bulldogs | Drake University | Des Moines | Iowa | Missouri Valley | 1973 | 1981 | FCS | |||||
| Duquesne Dukes | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | Independent | 1947 | 1950 | Discontinued | |||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| East Tennessee State Buccaneers | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Tennessee | Southern | 1978 | 1981 | FCS | |||||
| Florida A&M Rattlers | Florida A&M University | Tallahassee | Florida | Independent | 2004 | |||||||
| Fordham Rams | Fordham University | Bronx | New York | 1954 | Discontinued | |||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Furman Paladins | Furman University | Greenville | South Carolina | Southern | - | |||||||
| 1965 | ||||||||||||
| 1971 | 1957 | |||||||||||
| 1965 | ||||||||||||
| 1981 | FCS | |||||||||||
| Georgetown Hoyas | Georgetown University | Washington | District of Columbia | Independent | 1950 | Discontinued | ||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Grambling State Tigers | Grambling State University | Grambling | Louisiana | SWAC | 1977 | FCS | ||||||
| Hardin-Simmons Cowboys | Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene | Texas | Independent | - | |||||||
| 1950 | 1948 | |||||||||||
| 1962 | College Division | |||||||||||
| Division III | ||||||||||||
| Harvard Crimson | Harvard University | Cambridge | Massachusetts | Ivy | 1981 | FCS | ||||||
| Holy Cross Crusaders | College of the Holy Cross | Worcester | Independent | 1981 | ||||||||
| Idaho Vandals | University of Idaho | Moscow | Idaho | WAC | - | |||||||
| 1969 | ||||||||||||
| 1996 | 1966 | |||||||||||
| 1977 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | ||||||||||||
| Illinois State Redbirds | Illinois State University | Normal | Illinois | Missouri Valley | 1976 | 1981 | ||||||
| Indiana State Sycamores | Indiana State University | Terre Haute | Indiana | |||||||||
| Jackson State Tigers | Jackson State University | Jackson | Mississippi | SWAC | 1977 | |||||||
| Lafayette Leopards | Lafayette College | Easton | Pennsylvania | Middle Three | 1950 | Small-College | ||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Lamar Cardinals | Lamar University | Beaumont | Texas | Southland | 1974 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/05/sports/ivy-league-is-forced-to-lose-major-team-football-status.html | title=IVY LEAGUE IS FORCED TO LOSE MAJOR-TEAM FOOTBALL STATUS | first=Gordon S. | last=White Jr. | date=December 5, 1981 | work=The New York Times}} | FCS |
| Lehigh Engineers | Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania | Middle Three | 1947 | Small-College | ||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Long Beach State 49ers | California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach | California | Big West | 1973 | 1991 | Discontinued | |||||
| Loyola Lions | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Independent | 1950 | 1951 | Small-College | ||||||
| Discontinued | ||||||||||||
| Marquette Warriors | Marquette University | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | 1960 | Discontinued | |||||||
| McNeese Cowboys | McNeese State University | Lake Charles | Louisiana | Southland | 1975 | 1981 | FCS | |||||
| Merchant Marine Mariners | United States Merchant Marine Academy | Kings Point | New York | Independent | 1947 | Small-College | ||||||
| Division III | ||||||||||||
| Montana Grizzlies | University of Montana | Missoula | Montana | 1962 | College Division | |||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Montana State Bobcats | Montana State University | Bozeman | Rocky Mountain | 1948 | Small-College | |||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| NYU Violets | New York University | New York | New York | Independent | - | |||||||
| 1951 | 1948 | |||||||||||
| 1952 | Discontinued | |||||||||||
| Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff | Arizona | Border | 1947 | Small-College | ||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Northern Colorado Bears | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | Colorado | Rocky Mountain | ||||||||
| Pacific Tigers | University of the Pacific | Stockton | California | Big West | - | |||||||
| 1962 | ||||||||||||
| 1966 | ||||||||||||
| 1969 | 1960 | |||||||||||
| 1963 | ||||||||||||
| 1966 | ||||||||||||
| 1995 | Discontinued | |||||||||||
| Penn Quakers | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | Ivy | 1981 | FCS | ||||||
| Princeton Tigers | Princeton University | Princeton | New Jersey | |||||||||
| Richmond Spiders | University of Richmond | Richmond | Virginia | Independent | ||||||||
| Southern Illinois Salukis | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale | Illinois | Missouri Valley | 1973 | |||||||
| Tennessee State Tigers | Tennessee State University | Nashville | Tennessee | Independent | 1977 | 1980 | ||||||
| Texas Arlington Mavericks | University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington | Texas | Southland | 1972 | 1981 | I-AA | |||||
| Discontinued | ||||||||||||
| The Citadel Bulldogs | The Citadel | Charleston | South Carolina | Southern | - | |||||||
| 1959 | 1952 | |||||||||||
| 1981 | FCS | |||||||||||
| VMI Keydets | Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | Virginia | 1981 | ||||||||
| William & Mary Tribe | College of William & Mary | Williamsburg | Virginia | Independent | ||||||||
| Villanova Wildcats | Villanova University | Villanova | Pennsylvania | 1980 | Discontinued | |||||||
| FCS | ||||||||||||
| Western Carolina Catamounts | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | North Carolina | Southern | 1977 | 1981 | FCS | |||||
| Western Reserve Red Cats | Western Reserve University | Cleveland | Ohio | MAC | 1948 | Small-College | ||||||
| Division III | ||||||||||||
| West Texas State Buffalos | West Texas State University | Canyon | Texas | Missouri Valley | 1958 | 1981 | FCS | |||||
| Division II | ||||||||||||
| Wichita State Shockers | Wichita State University | Wichita | Kansas | Independent | 1986 | Discontinued | ||||||
| Xavier Musketeers | Xavier University | Cincinnati | Ohio | 1960 | 1973 | |||||||
| Yale Bulldogs | Yale University | New Haven | Connecticut | Ivy | 1981 | FCS |
;Notes
Notes
- Several schools have different athletic nicknames for men's and women's teams. Usually, this is a matter of preceding the main nickname with "Lady", such as LSU Lady Tigers and Tennessee Lady Vols. The two FBS schools nicknamed Cowboys, Oklahoma State and Wyoming, use Cowgirls for women's teams. However, in some cases, the women's team nickname has a completely different form, as in Hawaii Rainbow Wahine and Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. Because this is a list of American football programs, which are traditionally all-male, only the men's form is given.
- The Pac-12 considers the Pacific Coast Conference or PCC as part of its own history, even though the PCC was established with different charter members and was disbanded due to major crisis and scandal. There is considerable continuity between the two leagues. The Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU), which would eventually become the Pac-12, was founded by five former PCC members, and by 1964 all of the final PCC members except for Idaho had been reunited in the AAWU.
- Texas leads the nation with 13 FBS programs based in the state.
References
Sources
References
- "Division I-FBS Football Institutions".
- "Major-College Alignment History Page 2".
- (September 2, 2023). "Celebrating 10 years of Charlotte football".
- (May 11, 2016). "ODU Athletics History Timeline".
- Idaho Vandals. (April 28, 2016). "President Staben - "The University of Idaho Vandal football team will accept an invitation to join the Big Sky Conference" beginning in '18".
- White Jr., Gordon S.. (December 5, 1981). "IVY LEAGUE IS FORCED TO LOSE MAJOR-TEAM FOOTBALL STATUS". The New York Times.
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