FCS Football Conference Realignment: The 2025 Landscape
In a transformative offseason for FCS football, significant conference changes are reshaping the competitive landscape. Several teams are shifting to the FBS level, while new programs join the FCS ranks, marking 2025 as a pivotal year for the sport.
Notable departures include James Madison, which transitions from the CAA to the Sun Belt in 2022, and Sam Houston and Jacksonville State, both moving to Conference USA in 2023. Kennesaw State, Delaware, and Missouri State will follow suit, joining the FBS by 2025, while Saint Francis (PA) will drop to Division III.
On the flip side, several teams are stepping up from Division II to the FCS. Texas A&M-Commerce and Lindenwood are set to join the Southland and Ohio Valley Conferences, respectively, by 2026. Stonehill and potential newcomers Texas-Rio Grande Valley and Chicago State are also making their debut in upcoming seasons.
Within the FCS, conference dynamics are evolving rapidly. Richmond and William & Mary will move to the Patriot League for football, while Stephen F. Austin is returning to the Southland from the WAC. Savannah State, after switching to the Southern Conference, will join as a football member.
However, the reshuffle also poses challenges, with some conferences nearing the critical membership threshold of six teams needed to qualify for automatic playoff bids. Notably, the ASUN and Big South are affected, with both expected to struggle with participation levels.
As FCS football navigates these changes, the formation of collaborative alliances, like the partnership between the ASUN and WAC to create the United Athletic Conference, aims to bolster playoff eligibility and competitive balance. With these shifts, the future of FCS football promises an exciting and unpredictable landscape.
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