{"id":883940,"date":"2026-09-08T02:32:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T02:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/883940\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T02:32:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T02:32:23","slug":"college-football-reaches-778-schools-with-10-new-programs-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/883940\/","title":{"rendered":"College Football Reaches 778 Schools with 10 New Programs in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n Story Links
\n
\n <\/p>\n

\nIRVING, Texas (Sept. 9, 2026) \u2013 The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) reported today that football continues to expand, with 778 colleges and universities nationwide now offering football programs. The growth continues with 17 institutions across all NCAA divisions, the NAIA and independent schools launching programs in 2026 or announcing plans to take the field in the coming years.
\n\u00a0
\n“The continued growth of college football is a tremendous testament to the enduring appeal of our game,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “Ten programs are taking the field this fall, with seven more on the way, creating hundreds of new opportunities for young people to pursue a college education while continuing to play the game they love. Every new program means more student-athletes experiencing the lessons, friendships and opportunities that make college football so special.”
\n\u00a0
\nThe 2026 season marks a banner year for college football growth, with 10 institutions taking the field with new or reinstated programs, the most in a single year since 2013. The 2026 institutions include Andrew College (GA), Lackawanna College (PA) and Monroe University (NY), three former junior college programs making the transition to four-year football. Two others, Azusa Pacific University (CA) and Whittier College (CA), are bringing football back after previously discontinuing their programs. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (IN) is making the transition from sprint football to traditional football. Chicago State University (IL), Mount Mercy University (IA), Schreiner University (TX) and Trinity College of Florida round out the 10 programs taking the field in 2026. Seven more schools listed below will begin play in 2027 and beyond.
\n\u00a0

\n“Football can be a powerful asset for colleges and universities looking to strengthen their institutions,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “We continue to hear from campus leaders about the impact it can have on enrollment and retention, alumni engagement, school spirit and connections with the surrounding community. Seeing schools across the country invest in football, whether launching a program, bringing one back or expanding to a new level, demonstrates the value they believe the game can bring to their campuses.”
\n\u00a0
\n\"1978
\n
\nThe expansion of college football is not a recent phenomenon but a continuation of a long-standing trend. Since 1978, when the NCAA began tracking attendance figures, the number of schools playing NCAA football has increased by 194, growing from 484 to 678 institutions by 2026. Including NAIA and independent schools, and accounting for upcoming programs, the total now stands at 778 colleges and universities offering football.
\n\u00a0
\nThis surge in football programs is a clear reflection of the sport’s enduring popularity and its capacity to drive significant benefits for colleges. In the last decade alone, 62 football programs have been added by NCAA, NAIA, or independent institutions, illustrating the continued demand for the sport at all levels.
\n\u00a0
\n\"Football
\n
\nImpact on Enrollment and Campus Life<\/p>\n

Football’s appeal goes beyond the excitement on the field. Small colleges often cite the sport as a strategic tool for increasing enrollment and addressing gender imbalances, while larger universities point to its ability to raise an institution’s profile and create a vibrant campus atmosphere. Across all levels, football can strengthen an institution’s identity and provide a powerful rallying point for students, alumni and the surrounding community.

\n\u00a0

\nWhether launching football for the first time, making the transition from the junior college ranks or restoring a program, the schools are making significant investments in the game and creating hundreds of new opportunities for student-athletes. Just as importantly, they are turning to football as a way to bolster enrollment and retention, energize campus life, engage alumni and strengthen connections with their surrounding communities.

\n\u00a0

\nThe Whittier Example: Why Whittier Brought Football Back

\n\u00a0

\nThree years after Whittier College committed to rebuilding enrollment and strengthening its fiscal health, 103 student-athletes are on campus preparing for the return of the Poet football program. For Whittier College President Kristine Dillon, their presence signals success in helping to rebuild enrollment and strengthen the College’s financial future.

\n\u00a0

\nWhittier, which first fielded a football team in 1907, faced enrollment and financial challenges similar to many small colleges nationwide. In 2022, the College discontinued several athletic programs, including football, to reduce expenses.

\n\u00a0

\nWhittier’s enrollment had fallen from roughly 1,700 students before the pandemic to fewer than 700. Dillon developed a five- to six-year strategic plan focused on growing enrollment and fundraising. Almost immediately, alumni encouraged her to restore a football tradition that included NFF College Football Hall of Fame coach Don Coryell, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach George Allen, and U.S. President and NFF Gold Medal recipient Richard Nixon.

\n\u00a0

\n“I needed people to trust that Whittier was the same school they cared about,” Dillon said. “I needed to improve morale, and football was a big part of what many people thought showed it was the college they knew and loved. So, in some ways, it was symbolic of Whittier’s past connecting to its future.”

\n\u00a0

\nInvesting in the return of the football program is part of the broader strategy to rebuild enrollment, strengthen fundraising and restore confidence.

\n\u00a0

\n“Bringing football back confirms Whittier’s resilience,” Dillon said. “For small colleges today, it’s important to be able to show you’ve got a plan and it’s got momentum.”

\n\u00a0

\nWhittier needed approximately $850,000 upfront to restart football properly, a target alumni and trustees exceeded, and separately raised more than $500,000 to renovate the George Allen Fitness Center, pushing the initial investment beyond $1.3 million.

\n\u00a0

\nThe investment is already producing measurable enrollment benefits. Whittier recruited 35 freshmen during a developmental year without games, allowing new coach Cory White to build his staff and roster. The 103 football student-athletes are widely engaged in campus life today and would likely not have otherwise enrolled. Overall enrollment has climbed to approximately 950, with entering classes increasing 15% to 20% annually during Dillon’s three years. The goal is a sustainable enrollment of 1,400.

\n\u00a0

\nThe return of Poet football has also energized alumni, improved morale and signaled growth rather than retrenchment.

\n\u00a0

\n“We’re not measuring the wins and losses in this first year. We’re measuring what we’ve accomplished just to get here,” Dillon said. “Of course, we’re going to be enthusiastic for wins but what has already happened off the field has solidified Whittier’s future, and that’s what we’re most proud of.”<\/p>\n

The Lackawanna Example: From Junior College Football to NCAA Division II

\n\u00a0

\nLackawanna College’s move from junior college athletics to NCAA Division II football represents the next step in a broader transformation that has been underway at the institution for nearly a decade. The Scranton, Pennsylvania-based college began accepting students into bachelor’s degree programs in 2017 and has since added master’s degrees, helping drive enrollment growth of nearly 40 percent over the past decade. For Lackawanna President Dr. Jill Murray, transitioning athletics to the four-year level represents a natural progression.

\n\u00a0

\n“There’s a lot of connective tissue,” Murray said. “The move from associate degrees to bachelor’s degrees was very intentional. Bachelor’s to also adding master’s degrees was very intentional. The move to adding different centers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was intentional, and a lot of that is tied to athletics.”

\n\u00a0

\nThe transition requires a significant investment. Lackawanna already had football infrastructure and a program dating to 1993, but Murray estimates approximately $1.6 million in new expenses for additional sports, full-time coaches, staffing and NCAA administrative and compliance requirements.

\n\u00a0

\n“Athletics is a big part of the college experience,” Murray said. “It helps with enrollment. It helps with retention, and students like to come to a college where they have some great options\u2026. Students leave traditionally after two years with us on the JUCO side. Now they’re going to stay for four, maybe five years. So, retention also played a big factor in the decision.”

\n\u00a0

\nThe potential enrollment and retention returns are significant. Lackawanna had roughly 200-250 student-athletes last year and expects 300-350 this year, with a goal of 400-600 within five years. The transition will also place Lackawanna in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), providing the Falcons with stable regional competition and natural rivalries against established programs such as Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg and West Chester.

\n\u00a0

\nFor other college presidents, Murray cautions against viewing football and athletics as an enrollment cure-all, instead seeing them as one component of a broader strategy for institutional growth.

\n\u00a0

\n“Athletics is not a silver bullet,” Murray said. “It can’t be your only growth strategy\u2026I just like to highlight the fact that football is a crown jewel. We value football, love football.”

\n\u00a0

\nLooking ahead, another seven schools are preparing to add or expand football. Bismarck State College (ND), Calumet College of St. Joseph (IN), Midway University (KY), Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TX), Shawnee State University (OH), Stillman College (AL) and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WV) are all in various stages of launching, reinstating or transitioning their football programs, with four of the seven planning to take the field in 2027.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \n<\/p>\n

Ten Programs Launching in 2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAndrew College\u2020 Cuthbert, GA: NAIA, Southern States Athletic Conference \u2013 President Dr. William “Rusty” Kennedy, Athletics Director Brian Skortz, Head Coach Nick Garrett. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAzusa Pacific University* (Azusa, CA): NCAA Division III, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference \u2013 President Dr. Adam J. Morris, Athletics Director Gary Pine, Head Coach AJ Parnell. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tChicago State University (Chicago, IL): NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Northeast Conference, beginning in 2027 \u2013 President Zaldwaynaka Scott, Athletics Director Dr. Monique Carroll, Head Coach Bobby Rome II.\u00a0 (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tLackawanna College\u2020 (Scranton, PA): NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania\u00a0State Athletic\u00a0Conference \u2013 President Dr. Jill Murray, Athletics Director Erik Larson, Head Coach Mark Ross. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tMonroe University\u2020 (New Rochelle, NY): NCAA Division II, Northeast 10 Conference \u2013 President Marc Jerome, Athletics Director Luis Melendez, Head Coach Kevin Pulley Jr. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tMount Mercy University (Cedar Rapids, IA): NAIA, Heart of America Athletic Conference \u2013 President Dr. Todd A. Olson, Athletics Director Paul Gavin, Head Coach MD Daniels. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tSaint Mary-of-the-Woods College\u2021 (St. Mary’s, IN): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association \u2013 President Brennan J. Randolph, Athletics Director Kevin Lanke, Head Coach Blaine Powell. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tSchreiner University (Kerrville, TX): NCAA Division III, American Southwest Conference \u2013 President Dr. Charlie McCormick, Athletics Director Bill Raleigh, Head Coach Keith Allen. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tTrinity College of Florida (Trinity, FL): NAIA, Independent \u2013 President Dr. Christopher Gates, Athletics Director Bryan Johnson, Head Coach Takashi Walker. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tWhittier College* (Whittier, CA): NCAA Division III, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference \u2013 President Dr. Kristine E. Dillon, Athletics Director Rock Carter, Head Coach Cory White. (2026) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seven Programs Set to Launch in Future Seasons

\n(Listed chronologically and then alphabetically.)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tBismarck State College (Bismarck, ND): NAIA, Frontier Conference \u2013 President Dr. Brian Kalk, Athletics Director Jason Harris, Head Coach Chris Stutzriem. (2027) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tCalumet College of St. Joseph\u2021 (Hammond, IN): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association \u2013 President Dr. Ron Tulley, Athletics Director David Lopez, Head Coach Jason Novak. (2027) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tMidway University\u2021 (Midway, KY): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association \u2013 President Dr. John P. Marsden, Athletics Director Heath Morgan, Head Coach Krae Kelso. (2027) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tTexas A&M University-Texarkana (Texarkana, TX): NCAA Division II, Lone Star Conference \u2013 President Dr. Ross Alexander, Athletics Director Ryan Wall, Head Coach Joshua Eargle. (2027) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tShawnee State University (Portsmouth, OH): NCAA Division II, Mountain East Conference \u2013 President Dr. Eric Andrew Braun, Athletics Director Gerald Cadogan, Head Coach Mark Snyder. (2028) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tStillman College (Tuscaloosa, AL): NAIA, Conference TBD \u2013 President Dr. Yolanda Page, Athletics Director Terrance Whittle, Head Coach TBD. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tWest Virginia University Institute of Technology (Beckley, WV): NAIA, Conference TBD \u2013 President Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, Athletics Director Kenneth Howell, Head Coach TBD. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"2026
\n
\nExpanding Options to Play College Football
\n\u00a0
\nThere are also 121 junior college football programs, 15 collegiate sprint football teams and 303 institutions offering women’s flag football, including four-year colleges and universities, junior colleges and community colleges.
\n\u00a0
\nSprint football, a full-contact sport for players weighing 178 pounds or less and played under the same rules as traditional college football, has experienced significant growth in recent years. The sport dates to 1934, and Army West Point, Navy, Cornell and Pennsylvania evolved into what would be known as the Eastern 150-Pound Football League and then the Eastern Lightweight Football League.
\n\u00a0
\nThe league eventually became the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) in 1998, and since 2008, the CSFL has added seven programs. The most recent additions include D’Youville University (NY), which began playing this fall, and New York Institute of Technology, which will begin play in 2027. The additions will bring the CSFL to 11 programs.
\n\u00a0
\nThe Midwest Sprint Football League (MSFL), which launched in 2022, expanded the sport to the middle of the country. In the past few years, the MSFL has seen several of its members transition to traditional programs in the NAIA. It will field four teams this year, bringing the total of sprint football teams to 15 nationwide.
\n\u00a0
\nCollegiate women’s flag football continues to expand rapidly. The NAIA became the first collegiate athletics association to recognize the sport on a national level, with official competition beginning in 2021 with 15 teams. A total of 60 NAIA institutions are expected<\/a> to sponsor women’s flag football during the 2026-27 academic year, when the sport will become the association’s 30th championship sport.
\n\u00a0
\nThe growth has quickly spread to the NCAA ranks. In spring 2025, the Atlantic East Conference, which competes in Division III, became the first NCAA conference at any level to conduct a full varsity women’s flag football season. During the 2026-27 academic year, more than 100 NCAA schools across Divisions I, II and III are expected to compete, and the NCAA is now pursuing legislation<\/a> that could lead to the first national collegiate women’s flag football championship in spring 2028.
\n\u00a0
\nFlag football is also experiencing rapid growth at the youth and high school levels, and it will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Played by an estimated 20 million people in more than 100 countries across six continents, flag football has become the most inclusive and accessible format of football. The game is currently played by people of all ages and genders, with women and girls driving some of the sport’s fastest growth.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Four Programs Launched in 2025<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tMaine Maritime Academy* (Castine, ME): NCAA Division III, Commonwealth Coast Conference
\n\tUniversity of Rio Grande (Rio Grande, OH): NAIA, Appalachian Athletic Conference\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tRoanoke College (Salem, VA): NCAA Division III, Old Dominion Athletic Conference
\n\tThe University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Rio Grande Valley, TX): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Southland Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Six Programs Launched in 2024<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAnderson University (Anderson, SC): NCAA Division II, South Atlantic Conference
\n\tCalvin University (Grand Rapids, MI): NCAA Division III, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
\n\tCentenary College of Louisiana (Shreveport, LA): NCAA Division III, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
\n\tNew England College (Henniker, NH): NCAA Division III, Great Northeast Athletic Conference
\n\tSimpson University (Redding, CA): NAIA, California Pacific Conference
\n\tWilliam Woods University (Fulton, MO): NAIA, Heart of America Athletic Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Four Programs Launched in 2023<\/p>\n


\n\tArkansas Baptist College (Little Rock, AR): NAIA, Sooner Athletic Conference
\n\tEastern University (St. Davids, PA): NCAA Division III, Middle Atlantic Conference
\n\tJohn Melvin University\u00a7 (Pace, FL):\u00a0 Gulf-Atlantic Christian Athletic Alliance
\n\tThomas University (Thomasville, GA): NAIA, Sun Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

One Program Launched in 2022<\/p>\n


\n\tHilbert College (Hamburg, New York): NCAA Division III, Independent <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seven Programs Launched in 2021<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tBluefield State College (Bluefield, West Virginia): NCAA Division II, Independent
\n\tJudson University (Elgin, Illinois): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association
\n\tKeystone College (La Plume, Pennsylvania): NCAA Division III, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
\n\tLincoln University\u00a7 (Oakland, California): Independent
\n\tMount Marty University (Yankton, South Dakota): NAIA, Great Plains Athletic Conference
\n\tPost University (Waterbury, Connecticut): NCAA Division II, Independent
\n\tUniversity of Fort Lauderdale\u00a0(Lauderhill, Florida):\u00a0National Christian College Athletic Association <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Five Programs Launched in 2020<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tBarton College (Wilson, North Carolina): NCAA Division II, South Atlantic Conference
\n\tErskine College (Due West, South Carolina): NCAA Division II, South Atlantic Conference
\n\tFlorida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, Florida): NAIA, Sun Conference
\n\tMadonna University (Livonia, Michigan): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association
\n\tRoosevelt University (Chicago, Illinois): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Four Programs Launched in 2019<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tClarke University (Dubuque, Iowa): NAIA, Heart of America Athletic Conference
\n\tFranklin Pierce University (Rindge, New Hampshire): NCAA Division II, Northeast-10 Conference
\n\tSt. Thomas University (Miami Gardens, Florida): NAIA, Sun Conference
\n\tWheeling University (Wheeling, West Virginia): NCAA Division II, Mountain East Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seven Programs Launched in 2018<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAllen University (Columbia, South Carolina): NCAA Division II, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
\n\tAlvernia University (Reading, Pennsylvania): NCAA Division III, Middle Atlantic Conference
\n\tIndiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Indiana): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association
\n\tKeiser University (West Palm Beach, Florida): NAIA, Sun Conference
\n\tLawrence Technological University (Southfield, Michigan): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association
\n\tOttawa University-Arizona (Surprise, Arizona): NAIA, Sooner Athletic Conference
\n\tUniversity of New England (Biddeford, Maine): NCAA Division III, Commonwealth Coast Football <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Four Programs Launched in 2017<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tDean College (Franklin, Massachusetts): NCAA Division III, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
\n\tSt. Andrews University\u00a7 (Laurinburg, North Carolina): NAIA, Mid-South Conference
\n\tTexas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, Texas): NAIA, Sooner Athletic Conference
\n\tUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham, Alabama): NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, American Athletic Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Three Programs Launched in 2016<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tDavenport University (Grand Rapids, Michigan): NCAA Division II, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
\n\tUniversity of Texas Permian Basin (Odessa,\u00a0Texas): NCAA Division II, Lone Star Conference
\n\tUniversity of West Florida (Pensacola, Florida): NCAA Division II, Gulf South Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Four Programs Launched in 2015<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tEast Tennessee State University (Johnson City, Tennessee): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Southern Conference
\n\tFinlandia University\u00a7 (Hancock, Michigan): NCAA Division III, Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. (Note: Entire School Subsequently Closed in May of 2023.)
\n\tKennesaw State University (Kennesaw, Georgia): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, ASUN Conference (Note: Joining the NCAA Division I Bowl Championship Subdivision, Conference USA, in 2024.)
\n\tLyon College (Batesville, Arkansas): NAIA, Sooner Athletic Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Six Programs Launched in 2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tArizona Christian University (Glendale, Arizona): NAIA, Sooner Athletic Conference
\n\tCollege of Idaho (Caldwell, Idaho): NAIA, Frontier Conference
\n\tGeorge Fox University (Newberg, Oregon): NCAA Division III, Northwest Conference
\n\tLimestone University (Gaffney, South Carolina): NCAA Division II, South Atlantic Conference
\n\tMissouri Baptist University (St. Louis, Missouri): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association
\n\tSoutheastern University (Lakeland, Florida): NAIA, Sun Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

11 Programs Launched in 2013<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAlderson Broaddus University\u00a7 (Philippi, West Virginia): NCAA Division II, Mountain East Conference (Note: Entire School Subsequently Closed in 2022.)
\n\tBerry College (Mount Berry, Georgia): NCAA Division III, Southern Athletic Association
\n\tHendrix College (Conway, Arkansas): NCAA Division III, Southern Athletic Association
\n\tHouston Christian University (Houston, Texas): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Southland Conference
\n\tMercer University (Macon, Georgia): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Southern Conference
\n\tOklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee, Oklahoma): NCAA Division II, Great American Conference
\n\tReinhardt University (Waleska, Georgia): NAIA, Mid-South Conference
\n\tSouthwestern University (Georgetown, Texas): NCAA Division III, American Southwest Conference
\n\tStetson University (DeLand, Florida): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Pioneer Football League
\n\tUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, North Carolina): NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, American Athletic Conference
\n\tWarner University (Lake Wales, Florida): NAIA, Sun Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

Four Programs Launched in 2012<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tBluefield College (Bluefield, Virginia): NAIA, Mid-South Conference
\n\tMisericordia University (Dallas, Pennsylvania): NCAA Division III, Middle Atlantic Conference
\n\tPoint University (West Point, Georgia): NAIA, Mid-South Conference
\n\tWayland Baptist University (Plainview, Texas):\u00a0 NAIA, Sooner Athletic Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seven Programs Launched in 2011<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAve Maria University (Ave Maria, Florida): NAIA, Sun Conference
\n\tConcordia University Ann Arbor\u00a7 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association
\n\tPresentation College\u00a7 (Aberdeen, South Dakota): NAIA, North Star Athletic Association (Note: Entire School Subsequently Closed in 2022.)
\n\tSiena Heights University\u00a7 (Adrian, Michigan): NAIA, Mid-States Football Association
\n\tStevenson University (Owings Mills, Maryland): NCAA Division III, Middle Atlantic Conference
\n\tUniversity of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas): NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, American Athletic Conference
\n\tVirginia University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, Virginia): National Christian College Athletic Association <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Six Programs Launched in 2010<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tGeorgia State University (Atlanta, Georgia): NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Sun Belt Conference
\n\tLamar University (Beaumont, Texas): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Southland Conference
\n\tLindsey Wilson College (Columbia, Kentucky): NAIA, Mid-South Conference
\n\tNotre Dame College\u00a7 (South Euclid, Ohio): NCAA Division II, Mountain East Conference
\n\tPacific University (Forest Grove, Oregon): NCAA Division III, Northwest Conference
\n\tUniversity of South Alabama (Mobile, Alabama): NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Sun Belt Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Five Programs Launched in 2009<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAnna Maria College\u00a7 (Paxton, Massachusetts): NCAA Division III, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
\n\tCastleton University (Castleton, Vermont): NCAA Division III, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
\n\tOld Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia): NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Sun Belt Conference
\n\tUniversity of New Haven (West Haven, Connecticut): NCAA Division II, Northeast-10 Conference
\n\tUniversity of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Southland Conference <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Eight Programs Launched in 2008<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tCampbell University (Buies Creek, North Carolina): NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Big South Conference
\n\tCollege of St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minnesota): NCAA Division III, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
\n\tColorado State University-Pueblo (Pueblo, Colorado): NCAA Division II, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
\n\tDordt University (Sioux Center, Iowa): NAIA, Great Plains Athletic Conference
\n\tGrand View University (Des Moines, Iowa): NAIA, Heart of America Athletic Conference
\n\tKentucky Christian University (Grayson, Kentucky): NAIA, Mid-South Conference
\n\tLake Erie College (Painesville, Ohio): NCAA Division II, Great Midwest Athletic Conference
\n\tLincoln University (Lincoln University, Pennsylvania): NCAA Division II, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association <\/p>\n

\u00a0
\n* School previously had a football program, relaunching as listed

\n\u2020 Transitioned from Junior College

\n\u2021 Transitioned from Sprint Football

\n\u00a7 School closed or program subsequently discontinued
\n\u00a0
\nABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
\nFounded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy\u00ae, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Learn more at footballfoundation.org<\/a> and follow @NFFNetwork on X<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n