View source for NCAA Division I FCS independent schools

{{Short description|US institutions whose football programs are not part of a conference}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title           = NCAA Division I FCS<br> independent schools
| logo            = NCAA_logo.svg 
| logo_size       = 150
| founded         = {{Start date and age|1978}}
| association     = [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]
| division        = [[NCAA Division I|Division I]]
| subdivision     = [[Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]]
| teams           = 2 (1 in 2026)
| sports          = 1
| mens            = 1
| region          =  
| website         = {{url|https://www.ncaa.com/standings/football/fcs/fcs-independent|ncaa.com/independents}}
| map             = 
| map_size        = 
}}

'''NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision independent schools''' are four-year institutions in the United States whose [[American football|football]] programs are not members of a [[college football|football]] [[List of NCAA conferences|conference]]. This means that [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]] independents are not required to schedule each other for competition as conference schools do.

As of the 2025 season, [[Merrimack Warriors football|Merrimack]] and [[Sacred Heart Pioneers football|Sacred Heart]] will be competing as independents since their primary conference, the [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference]], does not sponsor football.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://sacredheartpioneers.com/news/2024/2/5/five-home-games-highlights-2024-shu-football-schedule.aspx |title=Five Home Games Highlight 2024 SHU Football Schedule |publisher=Sacred Heart Pioneers |date=February 5, 2024 |access-date=February 8, 2024 |quote=The Pioneers, in their first season as an FCS Independent, begin 2024 with three straight home games, including the opener against Delaware State on Aug. 31.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-08 |title=Football Releases 2024 Schedule |url=https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2024/2/8/football-releases-2024-schedule.aspx |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Merrimack College Athletics |language=en}}</ref> They were previously members of the [[Northeast Conference]], which sponsored the sport. Following the 2025 season, Sacred Heart will leave the independent ranks to join [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://caasports.com/news/2025/7/22/caa-football-welcomes-sacred-heart-university-as-its-newest-member-for-2026-season.aspx |title=CAA Football Welcomes Sacred Heart University As Its Newest Member For 2026 Season|publisher=CAA Football |date=July 22, 2025 |access-date=July 22, 2025}}</ref>

As of the 2026 season, the [[California State University, Sacramento]] (Sacramento State), will join the [[Big West Conference]] as a full member, leaving the [[Big Sky Conference]].  Big West does not sponsor football, so the [[Sacramento State Hornets football]] team will operate as an FCS Independent.

==Current FCS independents==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Institution
! scope="col"| Location
! scope="col"| Founded
! scope="col"| {{abbr|First|First season}}
! scope="col"| Joined
! scope="col"| Type
! scope="col"| Enrollment
! scope="col"| Endowment
! scope="col"| Nickname
! class="unsortable" scope="col"| Colors
! scope="col"| Primary conference
|-
| scope="row"|'''[[Merrimack College]]'''
| [[North Andover, Massachusetts]]
| 1947
| 1996
| 2024
| Private<br>([[Augustinians|Augustinian]])
| 5,505
| $55,700,000
| [[Merrimack Warriors football|Warriors]]
| {{college color boxes|Merrimack Warriors}}
| [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]]
|-bgcolor=ffa0a0
| scope="row"|'''[[Sacred Heart University]]'''
| [[Fairfield, Connecticut]]
| 1963
| 1991
| 2024
| Private<br />([[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholic]])
| 6,524
| $246,000,000
| [[Sacred Heart Pioneers football|Pioneers]]
| {{college color boxes|Sacred Heart Pioneers}}
| [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]]
|}

==Former FCS independents==
The following is a complete list of teams that have been Division I-AA/FCS Independents since the formation of Division I-AA in 1978. The "Current Conference" column indicates affiliations for the 2023 college football season. The years listed in this table are football seasons; since football is a fall sport, this means that the final season of independent status, or membership in a given conference, is the calendar year before a conference change took effect.<!-- For purposes of this table, the 2020–21 season will be classified with its originally planned 2020 date.-->

Teams in ''italics'' are current FBS members; this includes second-year transitional schools that are counted as FBS for scheduling purposes but not bowl game eligibility. Because James Madison met FBS scheduling requirements in its first season in the [[Sun Belt Conference]] in 2022 (specifically five home games against FBS opposition), it was allowed to skip the first year of the normal two-year process.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: ; font-size:95%"
! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|NCAA|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Years
! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|NCAA|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Team
! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|NCAA|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Previous conference
! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|NCAA|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Conference joined
! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|NCAA|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Current conference
|-
| 2013 || [[Abilene Christian Wildcats football|Abilene Christian]] || [[Lone Star Conference|Lone Star]] ([[NCAA Division II|Div. II]]) || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2014–2020) || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/uacfbrelease |title=ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=April 17, 2023 |access-date=April 21, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 1987–1991 || ''[[Arkansas State Red Wolves football|Arkansas State]]'' || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] (1992) || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2001–present)<ref group=N>Arkansas State has been a full Sun Belt member since 1991, but the conference did not sponsor football until 2001.</ref>
|-
| 1997–2000 || rowspan=2 | [[Austin Peay Governors football|Austin Peay]] || [[Ohio Valley Conference|Ohio Valley]]<ref group=N>Austin Peay only departed OVC football; it remained a full but non-football member before returning to OVC football in 2007.</ref> || [[Pioneer Football League]] (2001–2005) || rowspan=2 | [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/>
|-
| 2006 || Pioneer Football League || Ohio Valley (2007–2021)
|-
| 1978–1985 || [[Bucknell Bisons football|Bucknell]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Patriot League]] (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N>The conference now known as the Patriot League began in 1986 as the football-only Colonial League. It adopted its current name in 1990, when it became an all-sports conference.</ref>
|-
| 1993–1998 || ''[[Buffalo Bulls football|Buffalo]]'' || [[NCAA Division III independent schools|Division III Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Mid-American Conference]] (1999–present)<ref name=Buffalo group=N>Buffalo became a full member of the MAC in 1998, but was not a football member until 1999.</ref>
|-
| 1996–2003 || [[Cal Poly Mustangs football|Cal Poly]] || [[American West Conference|American West]] || [[Great West Conference|Great West]] (2004–2011)<ref name="Great West" group=N>The Great West Conference began in 2004 as the Great West Football Conference. It became an all-sports conference in 2008.</ref> || [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] (2012–present)
|-
| 2001 || [[Cal State Northridge Matadors football|Cal State Northridge]] || [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] || colspan=2 | Dropped football
|-
| 2006 || [[Central Arkansas Bears football|Central Arkansas]] || [[Gulf South Conference|Gulf South (Div. II)]] || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2007–2020) || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/>
|-
| 1993–1995 || [[Central Connecticut Blue Devils football|Central Connecticut]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (1996–present)
|-
| 1993–2001 || [[Charleston Southern Buccaneers football|Charleston Southern]] || No football program || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] (2002–2022) || [[OVC–Big South Football Association|OVC–Big South]] (2023–present)
|-
| 2013–2014 || [[Charlotte 49ers football|''Charlotte'']] || No football program || [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (2015–2022) || [[American Athletic Conference|American]] (2023–present)<ref name=American2023>{{cite press release|url=https://theamerican.org/news/2022/6/15/general-american-announces-entrance-agreements-with-incoming-members-for-2023-24-season.aspx |title=American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023-24 Season |publisher=American Athletic Conference |date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=June 16, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football|Coastal Carolina]]'' || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] || colspan=2 | [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2017–present){{refn|group=N|Coastal Carolina joined the Sun Belt Conference as a full but non-football member in 2016, and joined Sun Belt football in 2017.}}
|-
| 1982–1985 || [[Colgate Raiders football|Colgate]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Patriot League]] (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/>
|-
| 1989 || rowspan=2 | [[Davidson Wildcats football|Davidson]] || [[Patriot League|Colonial League]]<ref name=Patriot group=N/> || [[NCAA Division III independent schools|Division III Independent]] (1990–1992) ||
|-
| 1993–2000 || Division III Independent || colspan=2 | [[Pioneer Football League]] (2001–present)
|-
| 1980–1985 || ''[[Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football|Delaware]]'' || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Yankee Conference]] (1986–1996) || [[Conference USA]] (2025–present) <ref group=N>Delaware had been a full member of the [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|Coastal Athletic Association]] from 2001 to 2024 (when that conference was known as the Colonial Athletic Association). However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football to govern that sport.</ref><ref name=CAA group=N>CAA Football is the direct successor of both the Yankee Conference and A-10 football conference. The football-only Yankee Conference was absorbed by the A-10 after the 1996 season. After the 2006 season, the A-10 dropped football after all of its football members joined the newly formed CAA Football. The Yankee Conference's automatic bid to the I-AA/FCS playoffs passed in succession to the A-10 and CAA Football.</ref><ref group=N>Delaware begun its transition to FBS in 2024 and joined [[Conference USA]] in 2025.</ref>
|-
| 1993 || [[Duquesne Dukes football|Duquesne]] || [[NCAA Division III independent schools|Division III Independent]] || [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]] (1994–2007) || [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (2008–present)
|-
| 2015 || [[East Tennessee State Buccaneers football|East Tennessee State]] || No football program{{refn|group=N|ETSU resurrected its football program, dormant since the end of the 2003 season, in 2015, playing that season as an independent before joining Southern Conference football in 2016.}} || colspan=2 | [[Southern Conference|Southern]] (2016–present){{refn|group=N|ETSU, which had previously been a Southern Conference member from 1978 to 2005, rejoined the SoCon in 2014, initially as a non-football member.}}
|-
| 1984–1986 || [[Eastern Washington Eagles football|Eastern Washington]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] (1987–present)
|-
| 1998–2001 || [[Elon Phoenix football|Elon]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] (2002) || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2014–present)
|-
| 1984–1987 || rowspan=2 | [[Florida A&M Rattlers football|Florida A&M]] || [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]]<ref group=N>Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 1986 & 1987, but games played did not count as conference games.</ref>|| [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] (1988–2003, 2005–2020) || [[Southwestern Athletic Conference|SWAC]] (2021–present)
|-
| 2004 || [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]]<ref group=N>Florida A&M was a member of the MEAC in 2004, but games played did not count as conference games</ref> || [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] (2005–2020) || [[Southwestern Athletic Conference|SWAC]] (2021–present)
|-
| 2002–2004 || ''[[FIU Panthers football|FIU]]'' || No football program || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2005–2012) || [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (2013–present)
|-
| 2001–2004 || ''[[Florida Atlantic Owls football|Florida Atlantic]]'' || No football program || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2005–2012) || [[American Athletic Conference|The American]] (2023–present)<ref name=American2023/>
|-
| 1989 || [[Fordham Rams football|Fordham]] || [[Liberty Football Conference]] || colspan=2 | [[Patriot League]] (1990–present)
|-
| 2000 || [[Georgetown Hoyas football|Georgetown]] || [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]] || colspan=2 | [[Patriot League]] (2001–present)
|-
| 1984–1991 || ''[[Georgia Southern Eagles football|Georgia Southern]]'' || Club football || [[Southern Conference|Southern]] (1992–2013) || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2014–present)
|-
| 2010–2011 || ''[[Georgia State Panthers football|Georgia State]]'' || No football program || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2012) || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2013–present)
|-
| 2018 || [[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton]] || [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] (2019–2021) || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2022–present)
|-
| 1991–2000 || [[Hofstra Pride football|Hofstra]] || Division III Independent || [[Atlantic 10 Conference|Atlantic 10]] (2001–2006) || Dropped football
|-
| 1982–1985 || [[Holy Cross Crusaders football|Holy Cross]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Patriot League]] (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/>
|-
| 2013 || [[Houston Christian Huskies football|Houston Christian]]{{refn|group=N|Known before 2022 as Houston Baptist.}} || No football program || colspan=2 | [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2014–present)
|-
| 2008 || [[Iona Gaels football|Iona]] || [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]] (1993–2007)|| colspan=2 | Dropped football
|-
| 2013 || [[Incarnate Word Cardinals football|Incarnate Word]] || [[Lone Star Conference|Lone Star]] ([[NCAA Division II|Div. II]]) || colspan=2 | [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2014–present)
|-
| 1982–1985 || [[Indiana State Sycamores football|Indiana State]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Missouri Valley Football Conference|MVFC]] (1997–present)<ref name=MVFC group=N>The MVFC did not adopt its current name until 2008. Before then, it was known as the [[Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference]] (1982–1993) and Gateway Football Conference (1993–2008).</ref>
|-
| 1998–2000 || [[Jacksonville Dolphins football|Jacksonville]] || No football program || [[Pioneer Football League]] (2001–2019) || Dropped football
|-
| 1980–1992 || [[James Madison Dukes football|''James Madison'']] || [[NCAA Division III independent schools|Division III Independent]] || [[Yankee Conference]] (1993–1996) || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2022–present)
|-
| 2023 || [[2023 Kennesaw State Owls football team|''Kennesaw State'']] || [[Atlantic Sun Conference|ASUN]] || colspan=2 | [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (2024–present)
|-
| 1978–1985 || [[Lafayette Leopards football|Lafayette]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Patriot League]] (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/>
|-
| 1987–1989 || rowspan=2 | [[Lamar Cardinals football|Lamar]] || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] || colspan=2 |Dropped program (1989–2009)<ref name="lamar">{{cite web|title=Lamar Football 2012 Info Guide|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lama/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/6-3-1.pdf|publisher=Lamar University Department of Athletics|access-date=March 30, 2015|page=101|archive-date=July 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728060009/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lama/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/6-3-1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2010 || No football program || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2011–2020)<ref name="lamar" /> || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2022–present)<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.southland.org/news/2022/7/11/general-lamar-university-prepares-for-early-move-to-southland-conference.aspx |title=Lamar University Prepares for Early Move to Southland Conference |publisher=Southland Conference |date=July 11, 2022 |access-date=July 12, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 1997–1998 || [[La Salle Explorers|La Salle]] || No football program (1942–1996) || [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]] (1999–2007) || Dropped football
|-
| 1978–1985 || [[Lehigh Mountain Hawks football|Lehigh]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Patriot League]] (1986–present)<ref name=Patriot group=N/>
|-
| 1988–2001 || ''[[Liberty Flames football|Liberty]]'' || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] (2002–2017)<ref group=N>Liberty became a full member of the Big South in 1991, remaining a member until joining the non-football [[Atlantic Sun Conference|ASUN Conference]] in 2018, but the Big South did not sponsor football until 2002.</ref> || [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (2023–present)<ref group=N>Liberty began a transition to FBS in the 2017 season, and became a full FBS member in 2019.</ref><ref name=CUSA23>{{cite press release|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2021/11/4/general-conference-usa-adds-four-members.aspx |title=Conference USA Adds Four Members |publisher=Conference USA |date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 1987–1988 || ''[[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech]]'' || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] (1989–1992) || [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (2013–present)
|-
| 1993 || rowspan=2 | [[Marist Red Foxes football|Marist]] || [[Liberty Football Conference]] || [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]] (1994–2007) ||
|-
| 2008 || MAAC || colspan=2 | [[Pioneer Football League]] (2009–present)
|-
| 1993–1995 || rowspan=2 | [[Monmouth Hawks football|Monmouth]] || No football program || [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (1996–2012) || rowspan=2 | [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2022–present)
|-
| 2013 || Northeast || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] (2014–2021)
|-
| 1996–2000 || [[Morehead State Eagles football|Morehead State]] || [[Ohio Valley Conference|Ohio Valley]] || colspan=2 | [[Pioneer Football League]] (2001–present)
|-
| 2001–2002 || [[Morris Brown Wolverines football|Morris Brown]] || [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|SIAC (Div. II)]] || colspan=2 | Dropped football
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Nevada Wolf Pack football|Nevada]]'' || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] (1979–1991) || [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]] (2012–present)
|-
| 1980–1983 || rowspan=2 | [[Nicholls Colonels football|Nicholls]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Gulf Star Conference|Gulf Star]] (1984–1986) || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (1992–present)
|-
| 1987–1990 || Gulf Star || colspan=2 | [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (1991–present)
|-
| 2018 || [[North Alabama Lions football|North Alabama]] || [[Gulf South Conference|Gulf South]] ([[NCAA Division II|Div. II]]) || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] (2019–2021) || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/>
|-
| 2018–2019 || [[North Dakota Fighting Hawks football|North Dakota]] || [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] || colspan=2 | [[Missouri Valley Football Conference|MVFC]] (2020–present)
|-
| 1978–1992 || [[Northeastern Huskies football|Northeastern]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Yankee Conference|Yankee]] (1993–1996) || Dropped football (2010)
|-
| 2003 || [[Northern Colorado Bears football|Northern Colorado]] || [[North Central Conference|North Central]] || [[Great West Conference|Great West]] (2004–2005) || [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] (2006–present)
|-
| 1978–1983 || [[Northwestern State Demons football|Northwestern State]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I Independent]] || [[Gulf Star Conference|Gulf Star]] (1984–1986) || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (1987–present)
|-
| 2009–2010 || rowspan=2 | ''[[Old Dominion Monarchs football|Old Dominion]]'' || No football program || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2011–2012) ||
|-
| 2013 || CAA Football || [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (2014–2021) || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2022–present)
|-
| 1978–1980 || [[Portland State Vikings football|Portland State]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || Division II Independent (1981) || [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] (1996–present)
|-
| 2020 || [[Presbyterian Blue Hose football|Presbyterian]] || [[Big South Conference]] || colspan=2 | [[Pioneer Football League]] (2021–present)
|-
| 1982–1985 || [[Richmond Spiders football|Richmond]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] || [[Yankee Conference]] (1986–1996) || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2007–present)<ref name=CAA group=N/>
|-
| 1994–1995 || [[Robert Morris Colonials football|Robert Morris]] || No football program || [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (1996–2019) || [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (2024–future)
|-
| 1993–1995 || [[Saint Francis Red Flash football|Saint Francis (PA)]] || [[NCAA Division III independent schools|Division III Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (1996–present)
|-
| 1989–2002 || [[Samford Bulldogs football|Samford]] || [[NCAA Division III independent schools|Division III Independent]] || [[Ohio Valley Conference|Ohio Valley]] (2003–2007) || [[Southern Conference|Southern]] (2008–present)
|-
| 2002–2009 || [[Savannah State Tigers football|Savannah State]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] (2010–2018) || [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|SIAC]] ([[NCAA Division II|Div. II]]; 2019–present)
|-
| 2011 || ''[[South Alabama Jaguars football|South Alabama]]'' || Unclassified (exhibition only) || colspan=2 | [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2012–present)<ref group=N>South Alabama has been a Sun Belt member from the conference's creation in 1976. However, the Sun Belt did not sponsor football until 2001. South Alabama did not start a football program until 2009, and did not play Sun Belt football until 2012.</ref>
|-
| 1997–2000 || ''[[South Florida Bulls football|South Florida]]'' || No football program || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] (2001–2002) || [[American Athletic Conference|American]] (2013–present)<ref group=N>The [[2010–2013 Big East Conference realignment#Catholic 7|original Big East Conference split]] into the football-sponsoring [[American Athletic Conference]] and a new non-football [[Big East Conference]] in 2013. South Florida remained with the FBS schools in The American.</ref>
|-
| 1980–1983 || rowspan=2 | [[Southeastern Louisiana Lions football|Southeastern Louisiana]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Gulf Star Conference|Gulf Star]] (1984–1985)  || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2005–present)
|-
| 2003–2004 || No football program<ref group=N>Southeastern Louisiana dropped football after the 1985 season.</ref> || colspan=2 | [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (2005–present)
|-
| 1996–2003 || [[Southern Utah Thunderbirds football|Southern Utah]] || [[American West Conference|American West]] || [[Great West Conference|Great West]] (2004–2011)<ref name="Great West" group=N/> || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/>
|-
| 1998–1999 || {{sort|Saint Johns|[[St. John's Red Storm football|St. John's]]}} || [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]] || [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (2000–2002) || Dropped football (2003)
|-
| 1993–2003 || [[Saint Mary's Gaels football|Saint Mary's]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || colspan=2 | Dropped football (2004)
|-
| 2007 || [[Stony Brook Seawolves football|Stony Brook]] || [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] || [[Big South Conference|Big South]] (2008–2012) || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2013–present)
|-
| 2020 || [[Tarleton State Texans football|Tarleton]]<!--The school no longer uses "State" in its athletic branding.--> || [[Lone Star Conference|Lone Star]] ([[NCAA Division II|Division II]]) || [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] (2021–2022) || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/>
|-
| 1981–1987 || [[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] || [[Ohio Valley Conference|Ohio Valley]] (1988–2022) || [[OVC–Big South Football Association|OVC–Big South]] (2023–present)
|-
| 1987–1996 || [[Towson Tigers football|Towson]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Patriot League]] (1997–2003) || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2007–present)<ref group=N>Towson was a CAA member at the conference's formation in 1979, but left in 1981; after having been a member of four other conferences, it rejoined the CAA in 2001. However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football to govern that sport.</ref>
|-
| 1993–1995 || rowspan=2 | ''[[Troy Trojans football|Troy]]'' || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[Southland Conference|Southland]] (1996–2000) ||
|-
| 2001 || Southland || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] (2002–2003) || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2004–present)<ref group=N>Troy joined the Sun Belt for football in 2004, and became an all-sports member in 2005.</ref>
|-
| 1993–1995 || ''[[UAB Blazers football|UAB]]'' || [[NCAA Division III independent schools|Division III Independent]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] (1996–1998) || [[American Athletic Conference|American]] (2023–present)<ref name=American2023/>
|-
| 1990–1995 || ''[[UCF Knights football|UCF]]'' || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] (1996–2001) || [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]] (2023–present)<ref name=XII23>{{cite press release|url=https://theamerican.org/news/2022/6/10/general-american-announces-agreements-with-ucf-cincinnati-and-houston-on-departure.aspx |title=American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure |publisher=American Athletic Conference |date=June 10, 2022 |access-date=June 10, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 2020 || [[Utah Tech Trailblazers football|Utah Tech]]{{refn|group=N|Known before 2022 as Dixie State.}} || [[Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference|RMAC]] ([[NCAA Division II|Division II]]) || [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] (2021–2022) || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] (2023–present)<ref name=UAC23/>
|-
| 2011 || ''[[UTSA Roadrunners football|UTSA]]'' || No football program || [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] (2012) || [[American Athletic Conference|American]] (2023–present)<ref name=American2023/>
|-
| 1987 || [[Villanova Wildcats football|Villanova]] || No football program || [[Yankee Conference]] (1988–1996) || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2007–present)
|-
| 1993–1995 || [[Wagner Seahawks football|Wagner]] || [[Liberty Football Conference]] || colspan=2 | [[Northeast Conference|Northeast]] (1996–present)
|-
| 1982–1998 || rowspan=2 | ''[[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football|Western Kentucky]]'' || [[Ohio Valley Conference|Ohio Valley]] || Ohio Valley (1999–2000) ||
|-
| 2007–2008 || [[Missouri Valley Football Conference|Gateway Football Conference]]<ref name=MVFC group=N/> || [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2009–2013) || [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (2014–present)
|-
| 1982–1992 || [[William & Mary Tribe football|William & Mary]] || [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Division I-A Independent]] || [[Yankee Conference]] (1993–1996) || [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]] (2007–present){{refn|group=N|William & Mary has been a CAA member since the conference's establishment in 1979. However, the CAA did not sponsor football until 2007, when it effectively took over the football league previously sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), establishing the separate entity of CAA Football for that sport.}}<ref name=CAA group=N/>
|-
| 1995–1996 || [[Wofford Terriers football|Wofford]] || [[NCAA Division II independent schools|Division II Independent]] || colspan=2 | [[Southern Conference|Southern]] (1997–present)
|-
| 2006 || [[Winston-Salem State Rams|Winston–Salem State]] || [[Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association|CIAA (Div. II)]] || [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] (2007–2009) || [[Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association|CIAA (Div. II)]] (2010–present)
|-
| 1988–1996 || [[Youngstown State Penguins football|Youngstown State]]
|| [[Ohio Valley Conference|Ohio Valley]] || colspan=2 | [[Missouri Valley Football Conference|MVFC]] (1997–present)<ref name=MVFC group=N/>
|}

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs]]
* [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools]]
* [[NCAA Division I independent schools]]
* [[NCAA Division II independent schools]]
* [[NCAA Division III independent schools]]
* [[NAIA independent schools]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="N"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website}}

{{NCAA Division I FCS conference navbox}}
{{College football}}

[[Category:NCAA Division I FCS football independents]]