FCS Football Faces Major Realignment Ahead of 2025 Season
The landscape of FCS football is undergoing significant changes as numerous teams transition between divisions and conferences, shaping the future of the Championship Subdivision. With hundreds of FCS teams, the impending realignment reflects a dynamic offseason that has caught the attention of football fans and analysts alike.
Several schools are making the leap to the FBS level, including James Madison, which joined the Sun Belt in 2022, and Jacksonville State and Sam Houston, both of which will elevate to FBS competition in 2023. Kennesaw State is set to follow suit in 2024, while Missouri State and Delaware will transition in 2025. Notably, UC Davis will stay in FCS for football when it joins the Mountain West for other sports in 2026.
On the flip side, the FCS welcomes new programs. Texas A&M-Commerce, Lindenwood, and Stonehill, among others, are set to move up from Division II, with Texas-Rio Grande Valley introducing its football program in 2025.
Conference realignments are not limited to team movements. The ASUN and WAC have merged to form a football-only entity, the United Athletic Conference, beginning in 2023. Meanwhile, teams like Richmond and William & Mary will transition to the Patriot League for football.
This shifting landscape raises questions about conference viability, as several fall below the required six teams to maintain automatic bids for the FCS playoffs. Particularly, the Big South and ASUN are facing potential challenges in the coming years due to depleting memberships.
As these changes unfold, the FCS community anticipates a redefined competitive environment, influencing everything from conference championships to playoff qualifications. The future of FCS football promises to be as unpredictable as it is exciting.
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