Major Conference Realignment Reshapes FCS Football Landscape
Date: October 10, 2023
As FCS football heads into a new era, the offseason has been marked by dramatic conference realignments, with a ripple effect felt across various teams and leagues. With multiple schools transitioning from FCS to FBS and others joining the ranks of the Championship Subdivision, the landscape is evolving rapidly.
In a significant shift, schools like James Madison and Jacksonville State will move from FCS to the FBS level in 2022 and 2023, respectively. They are set to join the Sun Belt and Conference USA. By 2025, both Delaware and Missouri State are also making this leap, fundamentally altering their competitive environments.
Amid these departures, the FCS is welcoming new programs, including Texas A&M-Commerce, Lindenwood, and New Haven, slated to elevate from Division II. These institutions aim to strengthen the FCS presence and contribute to its playoff dynamics.
Several well-established programs are changing conferences for competitive balance and better matches. Richmond, William & Mary, and Villanova will transition from the CAA to the Patriot League for football by 2026, while Stephen F. Austin returns to the Southland from the WAC.
The changing dynamics have implications for the playoff structure; conferences must maintain a minimum number of eligible teams to secure automatic bids. The ASUN and WAC have merged to form the United Athletic Conference to address this need, while the Big South and OVC have established a partnership to share playoff bids.
Amid these transitions, the importance of robust conference structures remains paramount, influencing team success and playoff eligibility. The future of FCS football promises exciting changes as teams strategize for newfound opportunities, signals perhaps the most significant shift in FCS history.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
