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NCAA Division I FCS independent schools
US institutions whose football programs are not part of a conference
US institutions whose football programs are not part of a conference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| title | NCAA Division I FCS |
| independent schools | |
| logo | NCAA_logo.svg |
| logo_size | 150 |
| founded | |
| association | NCAA |
| division | Division I |
| subdivision | FCS |
| teams | 2 (3 in 2026) |
| sports | 1 |
| mens | 1 |
| website |
independent schools
NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision independent schools are four-year institutions in the United States whose football programs are not members of a football conference. This means that FCS independents are not required to schedule each other for competition as conference schools do.
As of the most recent 2025 season, Merrimack and Sacred Heart competed as independents since their primary conference, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, does not sponsor football. They were previously members of the Northeast Conference (now officially known as NEC), which sponsored the sport. Following the 2025 season, Sacred Heart will leave the independent ranks to join CAA Football.
As of the 2026 season, California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) will join the Big West Conference as a full member, leaving the Big Sky Conference. Since the Big West does not sponsor football, the Sacramento State Hornets football team will operate as an FCS independent. Also for 2026, Chicago State, a full NEC member, will play its first season of varsity football as an FCS independent before joining NEC football in 2027.
Current FCS independents
| Institution | Location | Founded | First | Joined | Type | Enrollment | Endowment | Nickname | Colors | Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack College | North Andover, Massachusetts | 1947 | 1996 | 2024 | Private | |||||
| (Augustinian) | 5,505 | $55,700,000 | Warriors | MAAC | ||||||
| Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, Connecticut | 1963 | 1991 | 2024 | Private | |||||
| (Catholic) | 6,524 | $246,000,000 | Pioneers | MAAC |
Former FCS independents
The following is a complete list of teams that have been Division I-AA/FCS Independents since the formation of Division I-AA in 1978. The "Current Conference" column indicates affiliations for the 2023 college football season. The years listed in this table are football seasons; since football is a fall sport, this means that the final season of independent status, or membership in a given conference, is the calendar year before a conference change took effect.
Teams in italics are current FBS members; this includes second-year transitional schools that are counted as FBS for scheduling purposes but not bowl game eligibility. Because James Madison met FBS scheduling requirements in its first season in the Sun Belt Conference in 2022 (specifically five home games against FBS opposition), it was allowed to skip the first year of the normal two-year process.
| NCAA | border=1 | color=#ffffff}}" | Years | NCAA | border=1 | color=#ffffff}}" | Team | NCAA | border=1 | color=#ffffff}}" | Previous conference | NCAA | border=1 | color=#ffffff}}" | Conference joined | NCAA | border=1 | color=#ffffff}}" | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Abilene Christian | Lone Star (Div. II) | Southland (2014–2020) | UAC (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1987–1991 | Arkansas State | Southland | Division I-A Independent (1992) | Sun Belt (2001–present)Arkansas State has been a full Sun Belt member since 1991, but the conference did not sponsor football until 2001. | |||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Austin Peay | Ohio ValleyAustin Peay only departed OVC football; it remained a full but non-football member before returning to OVC football in 2007. | Pioneer Football League (2001–2005) | UAC (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Pioneer Football League | Ohio Valley (2007–2021) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1985 | Bucknell | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1986–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1998 | Buffalo | Division III Independent | Mid-American Conference (1999–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2003 | Cal Poly | American West | Great West (2004–2011)The Great West Conference began in 2004 as the Great West Football Conference. It became an all-sports conference in 2008. | Big Sky (2012–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Cal State Northridge | Big Sky | Dropped football | ||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Central Arkansas | Gulf South (Div. II) | Southland (2007–2020) | UAC (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Central Connecticut | Division II Independent | Northeast (1996–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993–2001 | Charleston Southern | No football program | Big South (2002–2022) | OVC–Big South (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Charlotte | No football program | CUSA (2015–2022) | American (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Coastal Carolina | Big South | Sun Belt (2017–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1985 | Colgate | Division I-A Independent | Patriot League (1986–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Davidson | Colonial League | Division III Independent (1990–1992) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993–2000 | Division III Independent | Pioneer Football League (2001–present) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1980–1985 | Delaware | Division II Independent | Yankee Conference (1986–1996) | Coastal Athletic Association]] from 2001 to 2024 (when that conference was known as the Colonial Athletic Association). However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football to govern that sport.Delaware begun its transition to FBS in 2024 and joined Conference USA in 2025. | |||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Duquesne | Division III Independent | MAAC (1994–2007) | Northeast (2008–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | East Tennessee State | No football program | Southern (2016–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1986 | Eastern Washington | Division II Independent | Big Sky (1987–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2001 | Elon | Division II Independent | Big South (2002) | CAA Football (2014–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1984–1987 | Florida A&M | MEACFlorida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 1986 & 1987, but games played did not count as conference games. | MEAC (1988–2003, 2005–2020) | SWAC (2021–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2004 | MEACFlorida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 2004, but games played did not count as conference games | MEAC (2005–2020) | SWAC (2021–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | FIU | No football program | Sun Belt (2005–2012) | CUSA (2013–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Florida Atlantic | No football program | Sun Belt (2005–2012) | The American (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Fordham | Liberty Football Conference | Patriot League (1990–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Georgetown | MAAC | Patriot League (2001–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1991 | Georgia Southern | Club football | Southern (1992–2013) | Sun Belt (2014–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Georgia State | No football program | CAA Football (2012) | Sun Belt (2013–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Hampton | MEAC | Big South (2019–2021) | CAA Football (2022–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1991–2000 | Hofstra | Division III Independent | Atlantic 10 (2001–2006) | Dropped football | |||||||||||||||
| 1982–1985 | Holy Cross | Division I-A Independent | Patriot League (1986–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Houston Christian | No football program | Southland (2014–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Iona | MAAC (1993–2007) | Dropped football | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Incarnate Word | Lone Star (Div. II) | Southland (2014–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1985 | Indiana State | Division I-A Independent | MVFC (1997–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Jacksonville | No football program | Pioneer Football League (2001–2019) | Dropped football | |||||||||||||||
| 1980–1992 | James Madison | Division III Independent | Yankee Conference (1993–1996) | Sun Belt (2022–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | *Kennesaw State* | ASUN | CUSA (2024–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1985 | Lafayette | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1986–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1989 | Lamar | Southland | Dropped program (1989–2009) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | No football program | Southland (2011–2020) | Southland (2022–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | La Salle | No football program (1942–1996) | MAAC (1999–2007) | Dropped football | |||||||||||||||
| 1978–1985 | Lehigh | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1986–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1988–2001 | Liberty | Division II Independent | Big South (2002–2017)Liberty became a full member of the Big South in 1991, remaining a member until joining the non-football ASUN Conference in 2018, but the Big South did not sponsor football until 2002. | CUSA (2023–present)Liberty began a transition to FBS in the 2017 season, and became a full FBS member in 2019. | |||||||||||||||
| 1987–1988 | Louisiana Tech | Southland | Division I-A Independent (1989–1992) | CUSA (2013–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Marist | Liberty Football Conference | MAAC (1994–2007) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | MAAC | Pioneer Football League (2009–present) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Monmouth | No football program | Northeast (1996–2012) | CAA Football (2022–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Northeast | Big South (2014–2021) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2000 | Morehead State | Ohio Valley | Pioneer Football League (2001–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Morris Brown | SIAC (Div. II) | Dropped football | ||||||||||||||||
| 1978 | Nevada | Division II Independent | Big Sky (1979–1991) | Mountain West (2012–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1980–1983 | Nicholls | Division II Independent | Gulf Star (1984–1986) | Southland (1992–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1987–1990 | Gulf Star | Southland (1991–present) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | North Alabama | Gulf South (Div. II) | Big South (2019–2021) | UAC (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | North Dakota | Big Sky | MVFC (2020–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1992 | Northeastern | Division II Independent | Yankee (1993–1996) | Dropped football (2010) | |||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Northern Colorado | North Central | Great West (2004–2005) | Big Sky (2006–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1978–1983 | Northwestern State | Division I Independent | Gulf Star (1984–1986) | Southland (1987–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Old Dominion | No football program | CAA Football (2011–2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | CAA Football | CUSA (2014–2021) | Sun Belt (2022–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1980 | Portland State | Division II Independent | Division II Independent (1981) | Big Sky (1996–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Presbyterian | Big South Conference | Pioneer Football League (2021–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1985 | Richmond | Division I-A Independent | Yankee Conference (1986–1996) | CAA Football (2007–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Robert Morris | No football program | Northeast (1996–2019) | Northeast (2024–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Saint Francis (PA) | Division III Independent | Northeast (1996–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1989–2002 | Samford | Division III Independent | Ohio Valley (2003–2007) | Southern (2008–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2002–2009 | Savannah State | Division II Independent | MEAC (2010–2018) | SIAC (Div. II; 2019–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2011 | South Alabama | Unclassified (exhibition only) | Sun Belt (2012–present)South Alabama has been a Sun Belt member from the conference's creation in 1976. However, the Sun Belt did not sponsor football until 2001. South Alabama did not start a football program until 2009, and did not play Sun Belt football until 2012. | ||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | South Florida | No football program | Division I-A Independent (2001–2002) | American (2013–present)The original Big East Conference split into the football-sponsoring American Athletic Conference and a new non-football Big East Conference in 2013. South Florida remained with the FBS schools in The American. | |||||||||||||||
| 1980–1983 | Southeastern Louisiana | Division II Independent | Gulf Star (1984–1985) | Southland (2005–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | No football programSoutheastern Louisiana dropped football after the 1985 season. | Southland (2005–present) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2003 | Southern Utah | American West | Great West (2004–2011) | UAC (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | MAAC | Northeast (2000–2002) | Dropped football (2003) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993–2003 | Saint Mary's | Division II Independent | Dropped football (2004) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Stony Brook | Northeast | Big South (2008–2012) | CAA Football (2013–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Tarleton | Lone Star (Division II) | WAC (2021–2022) | UAC (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1981–1987 | Tennessee State | Division I-A Independent | Ohio Valley (1988–2022) | OVC–Big South (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1987–1996 | Towson | Division II Independent | Patriot League (1997–2003) | CAA Football (2007–present)Towson was a CAA member at the conference's formation in 1979, but left in 1981; after having been a member of four other conferences, it rejoined the CAA in 2001. However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football to govern that sport. | |||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Troy | Division II Independent | Southland (1996–2000) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Southland | Division I-A Independent (2002–2003) | Sun Belt (2004–present)Troy joined the Sun Belt for football in 2004, and became an all-sports member in 2005. | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | UAB | Division III Independent | Division I-A Independent (1996–1998) | American (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1990–1995 | UCF | Division II Independent | Division I-A Independent (1996–2001) | Big 12 (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Utah Tech | RMAC (Division II) | WAC (2021–2022) | UAC (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 2011 | UTSA | No football program | WAC (2012) | American (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Villanova | No football program | Yankee Conference (1988–1996) | CAA Football (2007–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Wagner | Liberty Football Conference | Northeast (1996–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1998 | Western Kentucky | Ohio Valley | Ohio Valley (1999–2000) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Gateway Football Conference | Sun Belt (2009–2013) | CUSA (2014–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1992 | William & Mary | Division I-A Independent | Yankee Conference (1993–1996) | CAA Football (2007–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Wofford | Division II Independent | Southern (1997–present) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Winston–Salem State | CIAA (Div. II) | MEAC (2007–2009) | CIAA (Div. II) (2010–present) | |||||||||||||||
| 1988–1996 | Youngstown State | Ohio Valley | MVFC (1997–present) |
Notes
References
References
- (February 5, 2024). "Five Home Games Highlight 2024 SHU Football Schedule". Sacred Heart Pioneers.
- (2024-02-08). "Football Releases 2024 Schedule".
- (July 22, 2025). "CAA Football Welcomes Sacred Heart University As Its Newest Member For 2026 Season". CAA Football.
- (December 18, 2025). "Chicago State University Ushers in a New Era with Addition of Football, Bringing Chicago Its Only NCAA Division I Program". Chicago State Cougars.
- (April 17, 2023). "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference". Western Athletic Conference.
- The conference now known as the Patriot League began in 1986 as the football-only Colonial League. It adopted its current name in 1990, when it became an all-sports conference.
- Buffalo became a full member of the MAC in 1998, but was not a football member until 1999.
- (June 16, 2022). "American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023-24 Season". American Athletic Conference.
- CAA Football is the direct successor of both the Yankee Conference and A-10 football conference. The football-only Yankee Conference was absorbed by the A-10 after the 1996 season. After the 2006 season, the A-10 dropped football after all of its football members joined the newly formed CAA Football. The Yankee Conference's automatic bid to the I-AA/FCS playoffs passed in succession to the A-10 and CAA Football.
- The MVFC did not adopt its current name until 2008. Before then, it was known as the [[Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference]] (1982–1993) and Gateway Football Conference (1993–2008).
- "Lamar Football 2012 Info Guide". Lamar University Department of Athletics.
- (July 11, 2022). "Lamar University Prepares for Early Move to Southland Conference". Southland Conference.
- (November 5, 2021). "Conference USA Adds Four Members". Conference USA.
- (June 10, 2022). "American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure". American Athletic Conference.
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