Exciting Changes Coming to FCS Football Landscape
As we dive into the college football offseason, realignment in the FCS is very much on the table. With several teams making significant shifts, it’s essential to stay updated on where these schools are headed.
In the near future, a handful of prominent teams will be moving from the FCS to the FBS. Notably, James Madison made its transition in 2022, joining the Sun Belt Conference. Other notable moves include Sam Houston and Jacksonville State also making the leap in 2023, although both will not be eligible for postseason play during this transition. For fans of the Kennesaw State Owls, keep an eye out as they will depart for the FBS starting in 2024.
New to the FCS, we have East Texas A&M, Lindenwood, and Stonehill, all joining from Division II status and already making eligibility adjustments that will allow them to compete in postseason play as early as 2025.
The FCS conferences themselves are also undergoing changes. The ASUN and WAC will merge to form a new football-specific conference, the UAC, in 2026. This is crucial since a conference’s strength is often measured by the number of teams it has eligible for the playoffs. The Big South, meanwhile, has seen significant drops in membership, with projections indicating only two teams remaining in 2024.
As of now, the Missouri Valley and Patriot leagues are also experiencing shifts. For example, Richmond and William & Mary are leaving the CAA for the Patriot League for football respectively in 2025 and 2026. Similarly, Northern Arizona plans to transition to an independent status, reflecting the many ways teams are reconfiguring for future competition.
With these numerous moves, college football fans have quite the exciting future ahead. While changes can sometimes feel overwhelming, they promise new rivalries and stories waiting to unfold in this dynamic sport.