List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs

This is a list of schools in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association that play football in the United States as a varsity sport and are members of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Football Championship Subdivision] , known as Division I-AA from 1978 through 2005. There are 129 FCS programs as of the 2025 NCAA [Division I FCS football season|2025 season]. Conference affiliations are current for the 2025 season. The teams in this subdivision compete in a 24-team playoff for the NCAA Division I Football Championship. All leagues allow scholarships with the exception of the Ivy League and Pioneer Football League.

FCS programs

Team	Name	School	City	State	Program established		Conference
Abilene Christian	Wildcats	Abilene Christian University	Abilene	Texas	1919	2017	UAC
Alabama A&M	Bulldogs	Alabama A&M University	Normal	Alabama	1912	1999	SWAC
Alabama State	Hornets	Alabama State University	Montgomery	Alabama	1901	1982	SWAC
Albany	Great Danes	State University of New York at Albany	Albany	New York	1922	1999	CAA Football
Alcorn State	Braves	Alcorn State University	Lorman	Mississippi	1921	1978	SWAC
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Golden Lions	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff	Arkansas	1916	1998	SWAC
Austin Peay	Governors	Austin Peay State University	Clarksville	Tennessee	1930	1978	UAC
Bethune–Cookman	Wildcats	Bethune–Cookman University	Daytona Beach	Florida	1925	1980	SWAC
Brown	Bears	Brown University	Providence	Rhode Island	1878	1982	Ivy
Bryant	Bulldogs	Bryant University	Smithfield	Rhode Island	1999	2012	CAA Football
Bucknell	Bison	Bucknell University	Lewisburg	Pennsylvania	1883	1978	Patriot
Butler	Bulldogs	Butler University	Indianapolis	Indiana	1887	1993	PFL
Cal Poly	Mustangs	California Polytechnic State University	San Luis Obispo	California	1915	1994	Big Sky
Campbell	Fighting Camels	Campbell University	Buies Creek	North Carolina	1925; 2008	2008	CAA Football
Central Arkansas	Bears	University of Central Arkansas	Conway	Arkansas	1908	2010	UAC
Central Connecticut	Blue Devils	Central Connecticut State University	New Britain	Connecticut	1935	1993	NEC
Charleston Southern	Buccaneers	Charleston Southern University	North Charleston	South Carolina	1985	1993	OVC–Big South
Chattanooga	Mocs	University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	Chattanooga	Tennessee	1899	1982	SoCon
	Bulldogs	The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina	Charleston	South Carolina	1905	1982	SoCon
Colgate	Raiders	Colgate University	Hamilton	New York	1890	1982	Patriot
Columbia	Lions	Columbia University	New York	New York	1870	1982	Ivy
Cornell	Big Red	Cornell University	Ithaca	New York	1887	1982	Ivy
Dartmouth	Big Green	Dartmouth College	Hanover	New Hampshire	1881	1982	Ivy
Davidson	Wildcats	Davidson College	Davidson	North Carolina	1896	1978; 1993	PFL
Dayton	Flyers	University of Dayton	Dayton	Ohio	1903	1993	PFL
Delaware State	Hornets	Delaware State University	Dover	Delaware	1924	1978; 1980	MEAC
Drake	Bulldogs	Drake University	Des Moines	Iowa	1893	1982; 1993	PFL
Duquesne	Dukes	Duquesne University	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	1891	1993	NEC
East Tennessee State	Buccaneers	East Tennessee State University	Johnson City	Tennessee	1920; 2015	1982; 2015	SoCon
East Texas A&M	Lions	East Texas A&M University	Commerce	Texas	1915	2025	Southland
Eastern Illinois	Panthers	Eastern Illinois University	Charleston	Illinois	1899	1981	OVC–Big South
Eastern Kentucky	Colonels	Eastern Kentucky University	Richmond	Kentucky	1891	1978	UAC
Eastern Washington	Eagles	Eastern Washington University	Cheney	Washington	1901	1984	Big Sky
Elon	Phoenix	Elon University	Elon	North Carolina	1909	1999	CAA Football
Florida A&M	Rattlers	Florida A&M University	Tallahassee	Florida	1907	1979	SWAC
Fordham	Rams	Fordham University	New York	New York	1881	1989	Patriot
Furman	Paladins	Furman University	Greenville	South Carolina	1889	1982	SoCon
Gardner–Webb	Runnin' Bulldogs	Gardner–Webb University	Boiling Springs	North Carolina	1946	2002	OVC–Big South
Georgetown	Hoyas	Georgetown University	Washington	District of Columbia	1881	1993	Patriot
Grambling State	Tigers	Grambling State University	Grambling	Louisiana	1927	1978	SWAC
Hampton	Pirates	Hampton University	Hampton	Virginia	1902	1997	CAA Football
Harvard	Crimson	Harvard University	Cambridge	Massachusetts	1873	1982	Ivy
Holy Cross	Crusaders	College of the Holy Cross	Worcester	Massachusetts	1891	1982	Patriot
Houston Christian	Huskies	Houston Christian University	Houston	Texas	2013	2014	Southland
Howard	Bison	Howard University	Washington	District of Columbia	1882	1978; 1980	MEAC
Idaho	Vandals	University of Idaho	Moscow	Idaho	1893	1978; 2018	Big Sky
Idaho State	Bengals	Idaho State University	Pocatello	Idaho	1902	1978	Big Sky
Illinois State	Redbirds	Illinois State University	Normal	Illinois	1887	1982	MVFC
Incarnate Word	Cardinals	University of the Incarnate Word	San Antonio	Texas	2009	2017	Southland
Indiana State	Sycamores	Indiana State University	Terre Haute	Indiana	1895	1982	MVFC
Jackson State	Tigers	Jackson State University	Jackson	Mississippi	1911	1978	SWAC
Lafayette	Leopards	Lafayette College	Easton	Pennsylvania	1882	1978	Patriot
Lamar	Cardinals	Lamar University	Beaumont	Texas	1923; 2009	1982; 2010	Southland
Lehigh	Mountain Hawks	Lehigh University	Bethlehem	Pennsylvania	1884	1978	Patriot
Lindenwood	Lions	Lindenwood University		Missouri	1990	2025	OVC–Big South
LIU	Sharks	Long Island University	Brookville	New York	1957	2019	NEC
Maine	Black Bears	University of Maine	Orono	Maine	1892	1978	CAA Football
Marist	Red Foxes	Marist University	Poughkeepsie	New York	1965	1993	PFL
McNeese	Cowboys	McNeese State University	Lake Charles	Louisiana	1950	1982	Southland
Mercer	Bears	Mercer University	Macon	Georgia	1891; 2013	2013	SoCon
Merrimack	Warriors	Merrimack College	North Andover	Massachusetts	1947	2023	Independent
Mississippi Valley State	Delta Devils	Mississippi Valley State University	Itta Bena	Mississippi	1953	1980	SWAC
Monmouth	Hawks	Monmouth University	West Long Branch	New Jersey	1993	1994	CAA Football
Montana	Grizzlies	University of Montana	Missoula	Montana	1897	1978	Big Sky
Montana State	Bobcats	Montana State University	Bozeman	Montana	1897	1978	Big Sky
Morehead State	Eagles	Morehead State University	Morehead	Kentucky	1924	1978	PFL
Morgan State	Bears	Morgan State University	Baltimore	Maryland	1897	1986	MEAC
Murray State	Racers	Murray State University	Murray	Kentucky	1924	1978	MVFC
New Hampshire	Wildcats	University of New Hampshire	Durham	New Hampshire	1893	1978	CAA Football
Nicholls	Colonels	Nicholls State University	Thibodaux	Louisiana	1972	1980	Southland
Norfolk State	Spartans	Norfolk State University	Norfolk	Virginia	1938	1997	MEAC
North Alabama	Lions	University of North Alabama	Florence	Alabama	1912	2022	UAC
North Carolina A&T	Aggies	North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro	North Carolina	1901	1978; 1980	CAA Football
North Carolina Central	Eagles	North Carolina Central University	Durham	North Carolina	1921	2011	MEAC
North Dakota	Fighting Hawks	University of North Dakota	Grand Forks	North Dakota	1894	2012	MVFC
North Dakota State	Bison	North Dakota State University	Fargo	North Dakota	1894	2008	MVFC
Northern Arizona	Lumberjacks	Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff	Arizona	1915	1978	Big Sky
Northern Colorado	Bears	University of Northern Colorado	Greeley	Colorado	1892	2007	Big Sky
Northern Iowa	Panthers	University of Northern Iowa	Cedar Falls	Iowa	1895	1981	MVFC
Northwestern State	Demons	Northwestern State University	Natchitoches	Louisiana	1907	1978	Southland
Penn	Quakers	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1876	1982	Ivy
Portland State	Vikings	Portland State University	Portland	Oregon	1947	1978; 1998	Big Sky
Prairie View A&M	Panthers	Prairie View A&M University	Prairie View	Texas	1906	1978	SWAC
Presbyterian	Blue Hose	Presbyterian College	Clinton	South Carolina	1913	2011	PFL
Princeton	Tigers	Princeton University	Princeton	New Jersey	1869	1982	Ivy
Rhode Island	Rams	University of Rhode Island	Kingston	Rhode Island	1895	1978	CAA Football
Richmond	Spiders	University of Richmond	Richmond	Virginia	1881	1982	Patriot
Robert Morris	Colonials	Robert Morris University	Moon Township	Pennsylvania	1994	1998	NEC
Sacramento State	Hornets	California State University, Sacramento	Sacramento	California	1954	1993	Big Sky
Sacred Heart	Pioneers	Sacred Heart University	Fairfield	Connecticut	1991	1999	Independent
Saint Francis (PA)	Red Flash	Saint Francis University	Loretto	Pennsylvania	1909	1993	NEC
	Tommies		Saint Paul	Minnesota	1904	2025	PFL
Samford	Bulldogs	Samford University	Birmingham	Alabama	1902	1989	SoCon
San Diego	Toreros	University of San Diego	San Diego	California	1956	1993	PFL
South Carolina State	Bulldogs	South Carolina State University	Orangeburg	South Carolina	1906	1978; 1980	MEAC
South Dakota	Coyotes	University of South Dakota	Vermillion	South Dakota	1889	2012	MVFC
South Dakota State	Jackrabbits	South Dakota State University	Brookings	South Dakota	1889	2008	MVFC
Southeast Missouri State	Redhawks	Southeast Missouri State University	Cape Girardeau	Missouri	1902	1990	OVC–Big South
Southeastern Louisiana	Lions	Southeastern Louisiana University	Hammond	Louisiana	1930; 2003	1980; 2003	Southland
Southern	Jaguars	Southern University	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	1915	1978	SWAC
Southern Illinois	Salukis	Southern Illinois University Carbondale	Carbondale	Illinois	1904	1982	MVFC
Southern Utah	Thunderbirds	Southern Utah University	Cedar City	Utah	1929	1993	UAC
Stephen F. Austin	Lumberjacks	Stephen F. Austin State University	Nacogdoches	Texas	1923	1986	Southland
Stetson	Hatters	Stetson University	DeLand	Florida	1901; 2013	2013	PFL
Stonehill	Skyhawks	Stonehill College		Massachusetts	1970	2025	NEC
Stony Brook	Seawolves	Stony Brook University	Stony Brook	New York	1969	1999	CAA Football
Tarleton State	Texans	Tarleton State University	Stephenville	Texas	1899	2024	UAC
Tennessee State	Tigers	Tennessee State University	Nashville	Tennessee	1916	1981	OVC–Big South
Tennessee Tech	Golden Eagles	Tennessee Technological University	Cookeville	Tennessee	1917	1978	OVC–Big South
Texas Southern	Tigers	Texas Southern University	Houston	Texas	1947	1978	SWAC
Towson	Tigers	Towson University	Towson	Maryland	1968	1987	CAA Football
UC Davis	Aggies	University of California, Davis	Davis	California	1915	2007	Big Sky
UT Martin	Skyhawks	University of Tennessee at Martin	Martin	Tennessee	1953	1992	OVC–Big South
Utah Tech	Trailblazers	Utah Tech University		Utah	1911	2024	UAC
	Vaqueros		Brownsville & Edinburg	Texas	2025	2025	Southland
Valparaiso	Beacons	Valparaiso University	Valparaiso	Indiana	1906	1993	PFL
Villanova	Wildcats	Villanova University	Villanova	Pennsylvania	1894	1987	Patriot
VMI	Keydets	Virginia Military Institute	Lexington	Virginia	1873	1982	SoCon
Wagner	Seahawks	Wagner College	New York	New York	1927	1993	NEC
Weber State	Wildcats	Weber State University	Ogden	Utah	1962	1978	Big Sky
Western Carolina	Catamounts	Western Carolina University	Cullowhee	North Carolina	1931	1982	SoCon
Western Illinois	Leathernecks	Western Illinois University	Macomb	Illinois	1903	1981	OVC–Big South
William & Mary	Tribe	College of William & Mary	Williamsburg	Virginia	1893	1982	Patriot
Wofford	Terriers	Wofford College	Spartanburg	South Carolina	1889	1995	SoCon
Yale	Bulldogs	Yale University	New Haven	Connecticut	1872	1982	Ivy
Youngstown State	Penguins	Youngstown State University	Youngstown	Ohio	1938	1981	MVFC

Transitioning from Division II

The following programs are transitioning from NCAA Division II to FCS, or have announced definitive plans to do so. Under current NCAA rules, they must have an invitation from a Division I conference to begin the transition. During the normally four-year transition period, they are ineligible for the FCS playoffs. Since January 2025, the NCAA has expedited the reclassification period for schools, by one year, with schools already reclassifying to Division I being given the option to use either the new, shorter reclassification period or the original, longer period they initially agreed to. The new transition period is three years instead of the previous four for schools transitioning from Division II.

Team	School	City	State	Founded	First played	Conference	Full membership
Mercyhurst Lakers	Mercyhurst University	Erie	Pennsylvania	1926	1981	NEC	2027
New Haven Chargers		West Haven	Connecticut	1920	1973	NEC	2028
West Georgia Wolves	University of West Georgia		Georgia	1906	1981	UAC	2027

Programs moving to FCS

This lists existing members of Division I that have announced plans to start FCS programs. Conference affiliations are those expected to be in effect for the season when the program begins FCS play.

Team	School	City	State	Future conference	Begins play
Chicago State Cougars	Chicago State University	Chicago	Illinois	Independent	2026