NCAA Division I FCS independent schools

NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision independent schools are four-year institutions in the United States whose football programs are not part 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 current 2020–21 FCS football season, mostly moved from its originally planned fall 2020 schedule to spring 2021 due to COVID-19, three schools are playing as FCS independents. Presbyterian will spend only the 2020–21 season as an independent. Presbyterian began a transition to non-scholarship FCS football in 2017 and will play the final season of that transition as an FCS independent before joining the Pioneer Football League in 2021; it remains a full but non-football member of the Big South Conference. Also in 2020, Dixie State and Tarleton State moved up from Division II, with both joining the non-football Western Athletic Conference. Both schools announced they would play as FCS independents for the foreseeable future. They will leave independent status in July 2021 when the WAC reinstates football at the FCS level. The WAC had initially planned to relaunch its football league for the 2022 season with the arrival of five new members with FCS football.[1] However, the relaunch of football was moved to fall 2021 after the Southland Conference, which was home to four of the five incoming WAC members, expelled those schools effective at the end of the 2020–21 school year.[2][3]

A fourth school, Robert Morris, had initially planned to play the 2020 season as an independent. Robert Morris left the football-sponsoring Northeast Conference for the non-football Horizon League in July 2020 and had planned to join Big South football in 2021. However, after three Big South football teams opted out of playing in the conference's rescheduled spring 2021 season (with two playing in fall 2020 and the other not playing at all in 2020–21), the conference brought Robert Morris into its football league ahead of schedule. The Colonials will play in the Big South's spring 2021 season and are eligible for the league title.[4]

The only school that had played as an FCS independent in the most recently completed 2019 season, North Dakota, joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference in July 2020. The Fighting Hawks left the Big Sky Conference for the non-football Summit League in July 2018, but agreed to honor existing contracts to play Big Sky members in football, and thus played a full Big Sky football schedule in both 2018 and 2019.

Current FCS independents
YearsTeamNicknamePrevious ConferenceFuture Conference
2020PresbyterianBlue HoseBig SouthPFL (2021–future)
2020Dixie StateTrailblazersRMAC (Division II)WAC (2021–future)
2020Tarleton StateTexansLSC (Division II)WAC (2021–future)

Former FCS independents

The following is a complete list of teams which have been Division I-AA/FCS Independents since the formation of Division I-AA in 1978. The "Current Conference" column indicates affiliations for the 2020–21 college football season. Years listed in this table are football seasons; since football is a fall sport, this means that the final season of independent status, or for 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.

YearsTeamPrevious ConferenceConference JoinedCurrent Conference
2013Abilene ChristianLone Star (Div. II)Southland (2014–2020)WAC (2021–future)[1][2]
1987–1991Arkansas StateSouthlandDivision I-A Independent (1992)Sun Belt (2001–present)[N 1]
1997–2000Austin PeayOhio Valley[N 2]Pioneer Football League (2001–2005)
2006Pioneer Football LeagueOhio Valley (2007–present)
1978–1985BucknellDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1993–1998BuffaloDivision III IndependentMid-American Conference (1999–present)[N 4]
1996–2003Cal PolyAmerican WestGreat West (2004–2011)[N 5]Big Sky (2012–present)
2001Cal State NorthridgeBig SkyDropped football
2006Central ArkansasGulf South (Div. II)Southland (2007–2020)WAC (2021)[5]
ASUN (2022–future)[N 6]
1993–1995Central ConnecticutDivision II IndependentNortheast (1996–present)
1993–2001Charleston SouthernNo football programBig South (2002–present)
2013–2014CharlotteNo football programC–USA (2015–present)[N 7]
2016Coastal CarolinaBig SouthSun Belt (2017–present)[N 8]
1982–1985ColgateDivision I-A IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1989DavidsonColonial League[N 3]Division III Independent (1990–1992)
1993–2000Division III IndependentPioneer Football League (2001–present)
1980–1985DelawareDivision II IndependentYankee Conference (1986–1996)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 9][N 10]
1993DuquesneDivision III IndependentMAAC (1994–2007)Northeast (2008–present)
2015East Tennessee StateNo football program[N 11]Southern (2016–present)[N 12]
1984–1986Eastern WashingtonDivision II IndependentBig Sky (1987–present)
1998–2001ElonDivision II IndependentBig South (2002)CAA Football (2014–present)
1984–1987Florida A&MMEAC[N 13]MEAC (1988–2003, 2005–2020)SWAC (2021–future)
2004MEAC[N 14]MEAC (2005–2020)SWAC (2021–future)
2002–2004FIUNo football programSun Belt (2005–2012)C–USA (2013–present)
2001–2004Florida AtlanticNo football programSun Belt (2005–2012)C–USA (2013–present)
1989FordhamLiberty Football ConferencePatriot League (1990–present)
2000GeorgetownMAACPatriot League (2001–present)
1984–1991Georgia SouthernClub footballSouthern (1992–2013)Sun Belt (2014–present)
2011Georgia StateUnclassified (exhibition only)CAA Football (2012)Sun Belt (2013–present)
2018HamptonMEACBig South (2019–present)
1991–2000HofstraDivision III IndependentAtlantic 10 (2001–2006)Dropped football
1982–1985Holy CrossDivision I-A IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
2013Houston BaptistNo football programSouthland (2014–present)
2008IonaMAAC (1993–2007)Dropped football
2013Incarnate WordLone Star (Div. II)Southland (2014–present)
1982–1985Indiana StateDivision I-A IndependentMVFC (1997–present)[N 15]
1998–2000JacksonvilleNo football programPioneer Football League (2001–2019)Dropped football
1980–1992James MadisonDivision III IndependentYankee Conference (1993–1996)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 16][N 10]
1978–1985LafayetteDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1987–1989LamarSouthlandDropped program (1989–2009)[6]
2010No football programSouthland (2011–2020)[6]WAC (2021–future)[1][2]
1997–1998La SalleNo football program (1942–1996)MAAC (1999–2007)Dropped football
1978–1985LehighDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1986–present)[N 3]
1988–2001LibertyDivision II IndependentBig South (2002–2017)[N 17]Division I FBS independent (2018–present)[N 18]
1987–1988Louisiana TechSouthlandDivision I-A Independent (1989–1992)C–USA (2013–present)
1993MaristLiberty Football ConferenceMAAC (1994–2007)
2008MAACPioneer Football League (2009–present)
1994–1995MonmouthUnclassified IndependentNortheast (1996–2012)
2013NortheastBig South (2014–present)
1996–2000Morehead StateOhio ValleyPioneer Football League (2001–present)
2001–2002Morris BrownSIAC (Div. II)Dropped football
1978NevadaDivision II IndependentBig Sky (1979–1991)Mountain West (2012–present)
1980–1983NichollsDivision II IndependentGulf Star (1984–1986)Southland (1992–present)
1987–1990Gulf StarSouthland (1991–present)
2018North AlabamaGulf South (Div. II)Big South (2019–present)
2018–2019 North DakotaBig SkyMVFC (2020–present)
1978–1992NortheasternDivision II IndependentYankee (1993–1996)Dropped football (2010)
2003Northern ColoradoNorth CentralGreat West (2004–2005)Big Sky (2006–present)
1978–1983Northwestern StateDivision I IndependentGulf Star (1984–1986)Southland (1987–present)
2009–2010Old DominionNo football programCAA Football (2011–2012)
2013CAA FootballC–USA (2014–present)
1978–1980Portland StateDivision II IndependentDivision II Independent (1981)Big Sky (1996–present)
1982–1985RichmondDivision I-A IndependentYankee Conference (1986–1996)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 10]
1994–1995Robert MorrisNo football programNortheast (1996–2019)Big South (2020–present)
1993–1995Saint Francis (PA)Division III IndependentNortheast (1996–present)
1989–2002SamfordDivision III IndependentOhio Valley (2003–2007)Southern (2008–present)
2002–2009Savannah StateDivision II IndependentMEAC (2010–2018)SIAC (Div. II; 2019–present)
2011South AlabamaUnclassified (exhibition only)Sun Belt (2012–present)[N 19]
1997–2000South FloridaNo football programDivision I-A Independent (2001–2002)American (2013–present)[N 20]
1980–1983Southeastern LouisianaDivision II IndependentGulf Star (1984–1985)Southland (2005–present)
2003–2004No football program[N 21]Southland (2005–present)
1996–2003Southern UtahAmerican WestGreat West (2004–2011)[N 5]Big Sky (2012–2021)
WAC (2022–future)[1]
1998–1999St. John'sMAACNortheast (2000–2002)Dropped football (2003)
1993–2003Saint Mary'sDivision II IndependentDropped football (2004)
2007Stony BrookNortheastBig South (2008–2012)CAA Football (2013–present)
1981–1987Tennessee StateDivision I-A IndependentOhio Valley (1988–present)
1987–1996TowsonDivision II IndependentPatriot League (1997–2003)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 22]
1993–1995TroyDivision II IndependentSouthland (1996–2000)
2001SouthlandDivision I-A Independent (2002–2003)Sun Belt (2004–present)[N 23]
1993–1995UABDivision III IndependentDivision I-A Independent (1996–1998)C–USA (2017–present)[N 24]
1990–1995UCFDivision II IndependentDivision I-A Independent (1996–2001)American (2013–present)
2011UTSANo football programWAC (2012)C–USA (2013–present)
1987VillanovaNo football programYankee Conference (1988–1996)CAA Football (2007–Present)
1993–1995WagnerLiberty Football ConferenceNortheast (1996–present)
1982–1998Western KentuckyOhio ValleyOhio Valley (1999–2000)
2007–2008Gateway Football Conference[N 15]Sun Belt (2009–2013)C–USA (2014–present)
1982–1992William & MaryDivision I-A IndependentYankee Conference (1993–1996)CAA Football (2007–present)[N 16][N 10]
1995–1996WoffordDivision II IndependentSouthern (1997–present)
2006Winston–Salem StateCIAA (Div. II)MEAC (2007–2009)CIAA (Div. II) (2010–present)
1988–1996Youngstown State Ohio ValleyMVFC (1997–present)[N 15]

See also

Notes
  1. Arkansas State has been a full Sun Belt member since 1991, but the conference did not sponsor football until 2001.
  2. Austin Peay only departed OVC football; it remained a full but non-football member before returning to OVC football in 2007.
  3. 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.
  4. Buffalo became a full member of the MAC in 1998, but was not a football member until 1999.
  5. The Great West Conference began in 2004 as the Great West Football Conference. It became an all-sports conference in 2008.
  6. ASUN will sponsor football in 2022, but without a timetable on when conference competition is to begin.
  7. Charlotte's second and current stint as a Conference USA member began in 2013, the same time that it began its football program. The football team completed its FBS transition in 2015 and joined C-USA football at that time.
  8. Coastal Carolina joined the Sun Belt Conference as a full but non-football member in 2016, and joined Sun Belt football in 2017.
  9. Delaware has been a full CAA member since 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 (A10).
  10. The CAA football conference is the direct successor of both the Yankee Conference and A10 football conference. The football-only Yankee Conference was absorbed by the A10 after the 1996 season. After the 2006 season, the A10 dropped football after all of its football members joined the newly formed CAA football conference. The Yankee Conference's automatic bid to the I-AA/FCS playoffs passed in succession to the A10 and CAA.
  11. ETSU resurrected its football program, dormant since the end of the 2003 season, in 2015, playing that season as an independent before joining Southern Conference football in 2016.
  12. ETSU, which had previously been a Southern Conference member from 1978 to 2005, rejoined the SoCon in 2014, initially as a non-football member.
  13. Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 1986 & 1987, but games played did not count as conference games.
  14. Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 2004, but games played did not count as conference games
  15. 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).
  16. James Madison and William & Mary have been CAA members since the conference's establishment in 1979. However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A10).
  17. 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.
  18. Liberty began a transition to FBS in the 2017 season, and became a full FBS member in 2019.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Southeastern Louisiana dropped football after the 1985 season.
  22. 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 (A10).
  23. Troy joined the Sun Belt for football in 2004, and became an all-sports member in 2005.
  24. UAB joined Conference USA in 1995, but did not join for football until 1999. The school dropped football after the 2014 season, but reinstated the sport in 2017, remaining a C-USA member throughout its football hiatus.

References
  1. "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  2. Blum, Sam (January 14, 2021). "As WAC announces addition of 5 schools, Frisco-based Southland Conference left in no man's land". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  3. "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. "Big South Announces Football 2021 Spring Schedule" (Press release). Big South Conference. November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  5. Jeyarajah, Shehan (January 28, 2021). "Report: Three schools to join WAC football for 2021 season only". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  6. "Lamar Football 2012 Info Guide" (PDF). Lamar University Department of Athletics. p. 101. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
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