# List of NCAA Division I FBS football programs

This is a list of the 134 schools in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. By definition, all schools in this grouping have varsity football teams.
Schools in Division I FBS are distinguished from those in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) by being allowed to provide scholarship aid to a total of 85 players, and may grant a full scholarship to all 85. FCS schools are limited to financial assistance amounting to a maximum of 63 full scholarships, although some conferences voluntarily place further restrictions on athletic aid. The NCAA classifies FBS football as a "head-count" sport, meaning that each player receiving any athletically-related aid from the school counts fully against the 85-player limit. By contrast, FCS football is classified as an "equivalency" sport, which means that scholarship aid is limited to the equivalent of a specified number of full scholarships. In turn, this means that FCS schools can freely grant partial scholarships, but are also limited to a total of 85 players receiving assistance. Another NCAA rule mandates that any multi-sport athlete who plays football and receives any athletic aid is counted against the football limit, with an exception for players in non-scholarship FCS programs who receive aid in another sport. The three service academies that play in Division I FBS, Air Force, Army, and Navy, are theoretically subject to this rule, but are exempt in practice because all students at these schools receive full scholarships from the federal government.
Starting in 2014, the FBS began playing a tournament known as the College Football Playoff (CFP) culminating in a National Championship Game to determine its national champion, a system that has been in place from the 2014–2025 seasons by contract with ESPN, broadcaster of the games. The CFP featured four teams from its first season in 2014 through the 2023 season, and is expanding to 12 teams in 2024. But since the CFP is not sanctioned by the NCAA, this makes FBS football the only sport without an NCAA-sanctioned champion. The FCS is the highest division in college football to hold a playoff tournament sanctioned by the NCAA to determine its champion.
Conference affiliations are current for the 2024 season.
The list includes all current and former FBS, Division I-A, Division I, University Division, and Major-College football teams since 1946 when the NCAA started having continuous records of major football teams. In the 1940s, 50s, and 60s major-status was only based on whether the team had a majority of their schedule filled with major opponents which caused schools like Arizona State to lose "major" status in certain years and schools that were on the borderline like Idaho and Pacific who scheduled each other in certain seasons to change status almost every other year.

## FBS programs

In addition to the following list of FBS programs, there is also a List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums.
| School | Nickname | City | State | Enrollment | Current Conference | Former Conferences | First Year | Joined FBS | First Joined FBS | Left FBS |
| Air Force | Falcons | USAF Academy | CO | 4,181 | Mountain West | WAC | 1955 | 1957 | 1957 | – |
| Akron | Zips | Akron | OH | 14,516 | MAC | OAC, MCC, OVC | 1891 | 1987 | 1987 | – |
| Alabama | Crimson Tide | Tuscaloosa | AL | 38,316 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 |
| Appalachian State | Mountaineers | Boone | NC | 20,641 | Sun Belt | NSC, SoCon | 1928 | 2014 | 1974 | 1981 |
| Arizona | Wildcats | Tucson | AZ | 49,471 | Big 12 | BIAA, WAC, Pac-12 | 1899 |
| Arizona State | Sun Devils | Tempe | AZ | 77,881 | Big 12 | BIAA, WAC, Pac-12 | 1896 | 1956 | - 1950 | 1948 1954 |
| Arkansas | Razorbacks | Fayetteville | AR | 29,068 | SEC | SWC | 1894 |
| Arkansas State | Red Wolves | Jonesboro | AR | 12,863 | Sun Belt | AIC, Southland, Big West | 1911 | 1992 | 1975 | 1981 |
| Army | Black Knights | West Point | NY | 4,594 | American | CUSA, Independent | 1890 |
| Auburn | Tigers | Auburn | AL | 31,526 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 |
| Ball State | Cardinals | Muncie | IN | 19,337 | MAC | IIC, ICC | 1924 | 1982 | 1975 | 1981 |
| Baylor | Bears | Waco | TX | 20,626 | Big 12 | TIAA, SWC | 1899 |
| Boise State | Broncos | Boise | ID | 25,830 | Mountain West | ICAC, Big Sky, Big West, WAC | 1933 | 1996 | 1996 | – |
| Boston College | Eagles | Chestnut Hill | MA | 15,046 | ACC | Big East | 1893 |
| Bowling Green | Falcons | Bowling Green | OH | 17,645 | MAC | NOIAA, OAC | 1919 | 1982 | 1962 | 1981 |
| Buffalo | Bulls | Buffalo | NY | 32,332 | MAC | NYSC | 1894 | 1999 | 1962 | 1970 |
| BYU | Cougars | Provo | UT | 34,802 | Big 12 | Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, WAC, MW, Independent | 1922 |
| California | Golden Bears | Berkeley | CA | 45,435 | ACC | PCC, Pac-12 | 1882 |
| Central Michigan | Chippewas | Mount Pleasant | MI | 15,465 | MAC | MCC, IIAC | 1896 | 1975 | 1975 | – |
| Charlotte | 49ers | Charlotte | NC | 30,448 | American | FCS independent, CUSA | 1946 | 2015 | 2015 | – |
| Cincinnati | Bearcats | Cincinnati | OH | 50,921 | Big 12 | OAC, Buckeye, MAC, MVC, CUSA, Big East, American | 1885 | 1983 | - 1948 | 1946 1948 1981 |
| Clemson | Tigers | Clemson | SC | 27,341 | ACC | SIAA, SAIAA, SoCon | 1896 |
| Coastal Carolina | Chanticleers | Conway | SC | 10,473 | Sun Belt | Big South | 2003 | 2017 | 2017 | – |
| Colorado | Buffaloes | Boulder | CO | 37,956 | Big 12 | CFA, Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, Big Eight, Pac-12 | 1890 |
| Colorado State | Rams | Fort Collins | CO | 32,777 | Mountain West | CFA, Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, WAC | 1890 |
| Duke | Blue Devils | Durham | NC | 17,620 | ACC | SoCon | 1888 |
| East Carolina | Pirates | Greenville | NC | 28,021 | American | NSC, Carolinas, SoCon, CUSA | 1932 | 1966 | 1966 | – |
| Eastern Michigan | Eagles | Ypsilanti | MI | 15,370 | MAC | MIAA, MCC, IIAC, PAC | 1891 | 1982 | 1976 | 1981 |
| Florida Atlantic | Owls | Boca Raton | FL | 30,155 | American | Sun Belt, C-USA | 2001 | 2006 | 2006 | – |
| FIU | Panthers | Miami | FL | 56,732 | CUSA | Sun Belt | 2002 | 2006 | 2006 | – |
| Florida | Gators | Gainesville | FL | 55,781 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1906 |
| Florida State | Seminoles | Tallahassee | FL | 45,130 | ACC | Dixie | 1947 | 1955 | 1955 | – |
| Fresno State | Bulldogs | Fresno | CA | 24,585 | Mountain West | CCC, NCAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1921 | 1969 | 1969 | – |
| Georgia | Bulldogs | Athens | GA | 40,118 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 |
| Georgia Southern | Eagles | Statesboro | GA | 27,091 | Sun Belt | SoCon | 1924 | 2014 | 2014 | – |
| Georgia State | Panthers | Atlanta | GA | 55,466 | Sun Belt | CAA Football | 2010 | 2013 | 2013 | – |
| Georgia Tech | Yellow Jackets | Atlanta | GA | 43,844 | ACC | SIAA, SoCon, SEC | 1892 |
| Hawaii | Rainbow Warriors | Honolulu | HI | 19,097 | Mountain West | WAC | 1909 | 1974 | 1974 | – |
| Houston | Cougars | Houston | TX | 47,031 | Big 12 | Lone Star, Gulf Coast, MVC, SWC, CUSA, American | 1946 | 1949 | 1949 | – |
| Illinois | Fighting Illini | Urbana-Champaign | IL | 56,607 | Big Ten | IIFL | 1890 |
| Indiana | Hoosiers | Bloomington | IN | 45,328 | Big Ten | IIAA | 1887 |
| Iowa | Hawkeyes | Iowa City | IA | 29,909 | Big Ten | WIUFA, MVC | 1889 |
| Iowa State | Cyclones | Ames | IA | 30,708 | Big 12 | MVC, Big 8 | 1892 |
| Jacksonville State | Gamecocks | Jacksonville | AL | 9,540 | CUSA | Independent, SIAA, SSC, GSC, DII Independent, Southland, OVC, AQ7, ASUN | 1904 | 2023 | 2023 | – |
| James Madison | Dukes | Harrisonburg | VA | 22,224 | Sun Belt | DII Independent, VCAA, Yankee, A-10, CAA Football | 1972 | 2022 | 2022 | – |
| Kansas | Jayhawks | Lawrence | KS | 26,780 | Big 12 | KCAC, WIUFA, MVC, Big 8 | 1890 |
| Kansas State | Wildcats | Manhattan | KS | 20,229 | Big 12 | MVC, Big 8 | 1896 |
| Kennesaw State | Owls | Kennesaw | GA | 45,152 | CUSA | ASUN, FCS independent | 2015 | 2024 | 2024 | – |
| Kent State | Golden Flashes | Kent | OH | 26,597 | MAC | OAC | 1920 | 1982 | 1962 | 1981 |
| Kentucky | Wildcats | Lexington | KY | 30,390 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1881 |
| Liberty | Flames | Lynchburg | VA | 95,148 | CUSA | Big South, Independent | 1973 | 2018 | 2018 | – |
| Louisiana | Ragin' Cajuns | Lafayette | LA | 16,225 | Sun Belt | LIAA, LIC, Gulf States, SIAA, Southland, Big West | 1902 | 1974 | 1974 | – |
| Louisiana-Monroe | Warhawks | Monroe | LA | 8,565 | Sun Belt | Gulf States, Southland, Independent | 1951 | 1994 | 1975 | 1981 |
| Louisiana Tech | Bulldogs | Ruston | LA | 11,037 | CUSA | LIAA, LIC, Gulf States, SIAA, Southland, Big West, WAC | 1901 | 1989 | 1975 | 1981 |
| Louisville | Cardinals | Louisville | KY | 22,140 | ACC | KIAC, SIAA, KIAC, OVC, MVC, CUSA, Big East, American | 1910 | 1962 | 1951 | 1951 |
| LSU | Tigers | Baton Rouge | LA | 35,912 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1893 |
| Marshall | Thundering Herd | Huntington | WV | 11,125 | Sun Belt | WVIAC, Buckeye, OVC, MAC, SoCon, CUSA | 1895 | 1997 | 1962 | 1981 |
| Maryland | Terrapins | College Park | MD | 41,272 | Big Ten | MIFA, SAIAA, SoCon, ACC | 1888 |
| Memphis | Tigers | Memphis | TN | 21,622 | American | Mississippi Valley, SIAA, Missouri Valley, CUSA | 1912 | 1960 | 1960 | – |
| Miami (FL) | Hurricanes | Coral Gables | FL | 19,096 | ACC | SIAA, Big East | 1926 |
| Miami (OH) | RedHawks | Oxford | OH | 19,216 | MAC | OAC, Buckeye | 1888 | 1982 | 1948 1961 | 1949 1981 |
| Michigan | Wolverines | Ann Arbor | MI | 50,278 | Big Ten | None | 1879 |
| Michigan State | Spartans | East Lansing | MI | 49,659 | Big Ten | MIAA | 1885 |
| Middle Tennessee | Blue Raiders | Murfreesboro | TN | 20,857 | CUSA | VSAC, SIAA, OVC, Sun Belt | 1911 | 1999 | 1999 | – |
| Minnesota | Golden Gophers | Minneapolis | MN | 52,376 | Big Ten | None | 1882 |
| Mississippi State | Bulldogs | Mississippi State | MS | 23,086 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1895 |
| Missouri | Tigers | Columbia | MO | 31,412 | SEC | WIUFA, Big 8, Big 12 | 1890 |
| Navy | Midshipmen | Annapolis | MD | 4,528 | American | Independent | 1879 |
| NC State | Wolfpack | Raleigh | NC | 36,831 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon | 1892 |
| Nebraska | Cornhuskers | Lincoln | NE | 24,431 | Big Ten | WIUFA, MVC, Big 8, Big 12 | 1890 |
| Nevada | Wolf Pack | Reno | NV | 21,034 | Mountain West | NCAC, Big Sky, Big West, WAC | 1896 | 1992 | 1950 | |
| New Mexico | Lobos | Albuquerque | NM | 21,738 | Mountain West | BIAA, WAC | 1892 |
| New Mexico State | Aggies | Las Cruces | NM | 13,904 | CUSA | BIAA, MVC, Big West, Sun Belt, WAC, Independent | 1893 | 1959 | - 1952 | 1947 1953 |
| North Carolina | Tar Heels | Chapel Hill | NC | 31,733 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon | 1888 |
| North Texas | Mean Green | Denton | TX | 46,940 | American | TIAA, Lone Star, GCC, MVC, Southland, Big West, Sun Belt, CUSA | 1913 | 1995 | 1957 | 1981 |
| Northern Illinois | Huskies | DeKalb | IL | 16,234 | MAC | IIAC, Big West | 1899 | 1982 | 1969 | 1981 |
| Northwestern | Wildcats | Evanston | IL | 22,933 | Big Ten | None | 1876 |
| Notre Dame | Fighting Irish | South Bend | IN | 13,139 | Independent | ACC | 1887 |
| Ohio | Bobcats | Athens | OH | 24,429 | MAC | OAC, Buckeye | 1894 | 1982 | 1948 1961 | 1948 1981 |
| Ohio State | Buckeyes | Columbus | OH | 61,677 | Big Ten | OAC | 1889 |
| Oklahoma | Sooners | Norman | OK | 28,042 | SEC | Southwest, Big 8, Big 12 | 1895 |
| Oklahoma State | Cowboys | Stillwater | OK | 24,660 | Big 12 | Southwest, MVIAA, MVC, Big 8 | 1901 |
| Old Dominion | Monarchs | Norfolk | VA | 23,494 | Sun Belt | FCS independent, CAA Football, CUSA | 1930 | 2014 | 2014 | – |
| Ole Miss | Rebels | University | MS | 21,203 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1893 |
| Oregon | Ducks | Eugene | OR | 22,257 | Big Ten | PCC, Independent, Pac-12 | 1894 |
| Oregon State | Beavers | Corvallis | OR | 33,193 | Pac-12 | PCC, Independent | 1893 |
| Penn State | Nittany Lions | University Park | PA | 47,560 | Big Ten | Independent | 1881 |
| Pittsburgh | Panthers | Pittsburgh | PA | 29,238 | ACC | Big East | 1890 |
| Purdue | Boilermakers | West Lafayette | IN | 49,639 | Big Ten | IIAA | 1887 |
| Rice | Owls | Houston | TX | 8,285 | American | TIAA, SWC, WAC, CUSA | 1912 |
| Rutgers | Scarlet Knights | Piscataway | NJ | 50,804 | Big Ten | Middle Atlantic, Big East, American | 1869 |
| Sam Houston | Bearkats | Huntsville | TX | 21,679 | CUSA | Independent, TIAA, LSC, GSC, Southland, WAC | 1912 | 2023 | 2023 | – |
| San Diego State | Aztecs | San Diego | CA | 35,732 | Mountain West | SCJCC, SCIAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1921 | 1969 | 1969 | – |
| San Jose State | Spartans | San Jose | CA | 37,133 | Mountain West | CCC, NCAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1892 | 1950 | 1950 | – |
| SMU | Mustangs | University Park | TX | 12,385 | ACC | TIAA, SWC, WAC, CUSA, AAC | 1915 | 1989 | 1986 | |
| South Alabama | Jaguars | Mobile | AL | 13,992 | Sun Belt | FCS Independent | 2009 | 2012 | 2012 | – |
| South Carolina | Gamecocks | Columbia | SC | 35,471 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon, ACC | 1892 |
| South Florida | Bulls | Tampa | FL | 44,322 | American | C-USA, Big East | 1997 | 2001 | 2001 | – |
| Southern Miss | Golden Eagles | Hattiesburg | MS | 14,146 | Sun Belt | Gulf States, SIAA. C-USA | 1912 | 1963 | 1960 | 1960 |
| Stanford | Cardinal | Stanford | CA | 17,680 | ACC | PCC, Pac-12 | 1891 |
| Syracuse | Orange | Syracuse | NY | 21,772 | ACC | Big East | 1889 |
| TCU | Horned Frogs | Fort Worth | TX | 11,938 | Big 12 | TIAA, SWC, WAC, CUSA, MW | 1896 |
| Temple | Owls | Philadelphia | PA | 35,626 | American | Middle Atlantic, Big East, MAC, Big East | 1894 | 1971 | 1971 | – |
| Tennessee | Volunteers | Knoxville | TN | 31,701 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1891 |
| Texas | Longhorns | Austin | TX | 51,991 | SEC | SIAA, TIAA, SWC, Big 12 | 1883 |
| Texas A&M | Aggies | College Station | TX | 72,530 | SEC | SIAA, SWC, Big 12 | 1876 |
| Texas State | Bobcats | San Marcos | TX | 37,864 | Sun Belt | TIAA, Lone Star, Gulf Star, Southland, WAC | 1904 | 2012 | 2012 | – |
| Texas Tech | Red Raiders | Lubbock | TX | 40,542 | Big 12 | BIAA, SWC | 1925 |
| Toledo | Rockets | Toledo | OH | 17,045 | MAC | NOIAA, OAC | 1917 | 1962 | 1962 | – |
| Troy | Trojans | Troy | AL | 14,901 | Sun Belt | AIC, SIAA, ACC, MSAC, Gulf South, Southland | 1909 | 2002 | 2002 | – |
| Tulane | Green Wave | New Orleans | LA | 13,127 | American | SIAA, SoCon, SEC, CUSA | 1893 |
| Tulsa | Golden Hurricane | Tulsa | OK | 3,832 | American | OIC, Big Four, MVC, WAC, CUSA | 1895 |
| UAB | Blazers | Birmingham | AL | 22,289 | American | FCS Independent, CUSA | 1991 | 2017 | 1996 | 2014 |
| UCF | Knights | Orlando | FL | 70,406 | Big 12 | MAC, CUSA, American | 1979 | 1996 | 1996 | – |
| UCLA | Bruins | Los Angeles | CA | 47,516 | Big Ten | SCIAC, PCC, Pac-12 | 1919 |
| UConn | Huskies | Storrs | CT | 32,146 | Independent | Yankee, A-10, Big East, American | 1896 | 2000 | 2000 | – |
| UMass | Minutemen | Amherst | MA | 32,045 | Independent | Yankee, A-10, CAA Football, MAC | 1879 | 2012 | 2012 | – |
| UNLV | Rebels | Las Vegas | NV | 30,679 | Mountain West | Big West, WAC | 1968 | 1978 | 1978 | – |
| USC | Trojans | Los Angeles | CA | 49,318 | Big Ten | PCC, Pac-12 | 1888 |
| Utah | Utes | Salt Lake City | UT | 34,464 | Big 12 | CFA, RMAC, Mountain States, WAC, MW, Pac-12 | 1892 |
| Utah State | Aggies | Logan | UT | 27,426 | Mountain West | CFA, RMAC, Mountain States, Big West, Independent, Sun Belt, WAC | 1892 |
| UTEP | Miners | El Paso | TX | 24,003 | CUSA | BIAA, WAC | 1914 |
| UTSA | Roadrunners | San Antonio | TX | 34,734 | American | WAC, CUSA | 2011 | 2012 | 2012 | – |
| Vanderbilt | Commodores | Nashville | TN | 13,796 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1890 |
| Virginia | Cavaliers | Charlottesville | VA | 26,026 | ACC | SAIAA, SoCon | 1887 |
| Virginia Tech | Hokies | Blacksburg | VA | 37,279 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon, Big East | 1892 |
| Wake Forest | Demon Deacons | Winston-Salem | NC | 8,947 | ACC | SoCon | 1888 |
| Washington | Huskies | Seattle | WA | 52,439 | Big Ten | PCC, Pac-12 | 1889 |
| Washington State | Cougars | Pullman | WA | 29,843 | Pac-12 | PCC, Independent | 1893 |
| West Virginia | Mountaineers | Morgantown | WV | 25,474 | Big 12 | SoCon, WVIAC, Big East | 1891 |
| Western Kentucky | Hilltoppers | Bowling Green | KY | 16,750 | CUSA | SIAA, KIAC, OVC, MVFC, Sun Belt | 1913 | 2009 | 2009 | – |
| Western Michigan | Broncos | Kalamazoo | MI | 19,038 | MAC | MCC | 1905 | 1982 | 1962 | 1981 |
| Wisconsin | Badgers | Madison | WI | 47,932 | Big Ten | None | 1889 |
| Wyoming | Cowboys | Laramie | WY | 11,479 | Mountain West | CFA, RMAC, WAC | 1893 |

### Notes

* ↑ 9 states (Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont) and Washington, D.C. do not currently have FBS programs.
* ↑ According to conferences in football, not necessarily a team's primary conference.
* ↑ While the academy is often described as being in Colorado Springs, virtually the entire grounds, including the football stadium, lies outside the city limits in an area designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as "Air Force Academy" and the U.S. Postal Service as "USAF Academy".
* 1 2 American football-only member. Primary conference: Patriot.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State join the Pac-12 in 2026.
* ↑ At that time, the school was a two-year college known as Boise Junior College. The school did not become a four-year institution until 1965, and only began playing football against four-year schools in 1968.
* ↑ BC's main campus and stadium have Chestnut Hill mailing addresses. However, Chestnut Hill is not an incorporated community; the stadium is within the city limits of Newton.
* ↑ UB's campus has a Buffalo mailing address, but most of the campus, including the football stadium, is in the adjacent town of Amherst.
* ↑ The team played in its first three years of existence (1946–1948), but folded in 1949. The football program was restarted in 2013; 12 years ago.
* ↑ The FIU campus has a Miami mailing address, but is located outside the Miami city limits in University Park, Florida, an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County.
* ↑ Mountain West football-only member. Primary conference: Big West.
* 1 2 3 Houston, Memphis, and SMU had originally planned to join the Big East Conference in 2013. However, the conference split along football lines in July 2013, with the seven non-FBS schools of the original conference buying the "Big East" name and reorganizing as a new, non-football Big East Conference. The FBS schools that did not leave at that time for the ACC joined the three newcomers, remaining in the original conference structure under the new name of American Athletic Conference.
* ↑ The Illinois campus is bisected by the Urbana–Champaign border. The academic administration and most of the undergraduate campus are in Urbana; the athletic administration and most athletic facilities are in Champaign.
* ↑ Due to stadium renovations, Kansas is playing its 2024 home schedule at two off-campus venues. The two non-conference games are being played at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, and the four conference games at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
* ↑ The KSU campus has a Kennesaw mailing address, but is located in unincorporated Cobb County.
* ↑ While national media use "Louisiana-Monroe", the school, Sun Belt Conference, and NCAA all use "ULM" as the primary athletic brand.
* ↑ Miami currently plays its home games off campus in Miami Gardens, Florida at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
* 1 2 3 4 Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Wisconsin have never switched conferences.
* ↑ Although Mississippi State is usually identified as being in Starkville, virtually all of the Mississippi State campus, including the athletic facilities, is actually in an unincorporated area of Oktibbeha County designated by the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Postal Service as "Mississippi State".
* ↑ With Northwestern having demolished its on-campus stadium to replace it on-site with a new stadium, it will play its 2024 home schedule at two separate venues. Most games will be played at a temporary on-campus stadium, while two games will be played at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
* ↑ Even though Notre Dame is a member of the ACC in other sports, it was a member of the ACC in football for the 2020 season due to COVID-19 impacts.
* ↑ The team played in its first eleven years of existence (1930–1940) as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, but folded in 1940. The football program was restarted in 2009; 16 years ago.
* ↑ Although Ole Miss is usually identified as being in Oxford, the entire campus is in an unincorporated area of Lafayette County designated by both the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Postal Service as "University".
* ↑ "University Park" is the United States Postal Service designation for the Penn State campus, which straddles the boundary between State College and College Township. The football stadium is in College Township.
* ↑ Pittsburgh plays its home games off campus at Acrisure Stadium, home of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.
* ↑ The Rutgers campus is divided between New Brunswick and Piscataway. The overall administration and most campus buildings are in New Brunswick, while the athletic administration and most sports facilities, including the football stadium, are in Piscataway.
* ↑ South Florida plays its home games off campus at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
* ↑ While the university is often described as being in Palo Alto, the core of the campus, including the football stadium, lies outside the city limits in the census-designated place of Stanford. The entire campus, including the small parts within the Palo Alto city limits, has a mailing address of Stanford.
* ↑ Temple plays its home games off campus at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
* ↑ UCF has an Orlando mailing address, but the main campus, including all athletic facilities, is located in unincorporated Orange County.
* ↑ UConn currently plays its home games off campus at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
* ↑ The UMass campus has an Amherst mailing address, but the football stadium is in the adjacent town of Hadley.
* ↑ UMass joins the MAC on July 1, 2025.
* ↑ The UNLV campus is not within the City of Las Vegas, but is instead in the unincorporated community of Paradise. The Rebels play off campus at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, also within the boundaries of Paradise. The U.S. Postal Service considers all unincorporated communities in the Las Vegas Valley, including Paradise, to have a Las Vegas address.
* ↑ UTEP joins the MW in 2026.

## Transitioning FBS programs

| School | Team | City | State | Current conference | Future conference | First played | FBS transition begins | FBS football full membership |
| Kennesaw State | Owls | Kennesaw | Georgia | CUSA | CUSA | 2015 | 2023 | 2025 |
* ↑ The Kennesaw State campus has a Kennesaw mailing address but entirely lies within unincorporated Cobb County.
* ↑ Kennesaw State officially obtained FBS membership as of July 1, 2024. However, it is ineligible for postseason play.

## Future FBS programs

| School | Team | City | State | Current conference | Future conference | First played | FBS transition begins | FBS football full membership |
| Delaware | Fightin' Blue Hens | Newark | Delaware | CAA Football | CUSA | 1889 | 2024 | 2026 |
| Missouri State | Bears | Springfield | Missouri | Missouri Valley Football Conference | CUSA | 1909 | 2024 | 2026 |

## Former programs

| Team | School | City | State | Former FBS conference | First FBS season | Final FBS season | Subsequent and Current status |
| Alcorn State Braves | Alcorn State University | Lorman | Mississippi | SWAC | 1977 | 1977 | FCS |
| Boston University Terriers | Boston University | Boston | Massachusetts | Independent | 1947 | 1967 | College Division Discontinued |
| Brown Bears | Brown University | Providence | Rhode Island | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |
| Bucknell Bison | Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Pennsylvania | Independent | | 1947 | Small-College FCS |
| Cal State Fullerton Titans | California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton | California | Big West | 1975 | 1992 | Discontinued |
| Centenary Gentlemen | Centenary College of Louisiana | Shreveport | Louisiana | LIC | 1947 | 1947 | Discontinued Division III |
| Chattanooga Mocs | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Tennessee | Southern | 1977 | 1981 | FCS |
| Chicago Maroons | University of Chicago | Chicago | Illinois | Big Ten | | 1939 | Discontinued Division III |
| Colgate Raiders | Colgate University | Hamilton | New York | Independent | | 1981 | FCS |
| Colorado College Tigers | Colorado College | Colorado Springs | Colorado | Rocky Mountain | | 1947 | Small-College Discontinued |
| Columbia Lions | Columbia University | Manhattan | New York | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |
| Cornell Big Red | Cornell University | Ithaca | New York | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |
| Dartmouth Big Green | Dartmouth College | Hanover | New Hampshire | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |
| Davidson Wildcats | Davidson College | Davidson | North Carolina | Southern | - 1967 | 1953 1976 | Division II FCS |
| Dayton Flyers | University of Dayton | Dayton | Ohio | Independent | 1956 | 1976 | Division III FCS |
| Denver Pioneers | University of Denver | Denver | Colorado | Skyline | | 1960 | Discontinued |
| Detroit Titans | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Michigan | Independent | | 1964 | Discontinued |
| Drake Bulldogs | Drake University | Des Moines | Iowa | Missouri Valley | 1973 | 1981 | FCS |
| Duquesne Dukes | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | Independent | 1947 | 1950 | Discontinued FCS |
| East Tennessee State Buccaneers | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Tennessee | Southern | 1978 | 1981 | FCS |
| Florida A&M Rattlers | Florida A&M University | Tallahassee | Florida | Independent | 2004 | 2004 | FCS |
| Fordham Rams | Fordham University | Bronx | New York | Independent | | 1954 | Discontinued FCS |
| Furman Paladins | Furman University | Greenville | South Carolina | Southern | - 1965 1971 | 1957 1965 1981 | FCS |
| Georgetown Hoyas | Georgetown University | Washington | District of Columbia | Independent | | 1950 | Discontinued FCS |
| Grambling State Tigers | Grambling State University | Grambling | Louisiana | SWAC | 1977 | 1977 | FCS |
| Hardin-Simmons Cowboys | Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene | Texas | Independent | - 1950 | 1948 1962 | College Division Division III |
| Harvard Crimson | Harvard University | Cambridge | Massachusetts | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |
| Holy Cross Crusaders | College of the Holy Cross | Worcester | Massachusetts | Independent | | 1981 | FCS |
| Idaho Vandals | University of Idaho | Moscow | Idaho | WAC | - 1969 1996 | 1966 1977 2017 | FCS |
| Illinois State Redbirds | Illinois State University | Normal | Illinois | Missouri Valley | 1976 | 1981 | FCS |
| Indiana State Sycamores | Indiana State University | Terre Haute | Indiana | Missouri Valley | 1976 | 1981 | FCS |
| Jackson State Tigers | Jackson State University | Jackson | Mississippi | SWAC | 1977 | 1977 | FCS |
| Lafayette Leopards | Lafayette College | Easton | Pennsylvania | Middle Three | | 1950 | Small-College FCS |
| Lamar Cardinals | Lamar University | Beaumont | Texas | Southland | 1974 | 1981 | FCS |
| Lehigh Engineers | Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania | Middle Three | | 1947 | Small-College FCS |
| Long Beach State 49ers | California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach | California | Big West | 1973 | 1991 | Discontinued |
| Loyola Lions | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | California | Independent | 1950 | 1951 | Small-College Discontinued |
| Marquette Warriors | Marquette University | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | Independent | | 1960 | Discontinued |
| McNeese Cowboys | McNeese State University | Lake Charles | Louisiana | Southland | 1975 | 1981 | FCS |
| Merchant Marine Mariners | United States Merchant Marine Academy | Kings Point | New York | Independent | | 1947 | Small-College Division III |
| Montana Grizzlies | University of Montana | Missoula | Montana | Independent | | 1962 | College Division FCS |
| Montana State Bobcats | Montana State University | Bozeman | Montana | Rocky Mountain | | 1948 | Small-College FCS |
| NYU Violets | New York University | New York | New York | Independent | - 1951 | 1948 1952 | Discontinued |
| Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff | Arizona | Border | | 1947 | Small-College FCS |
| Northern Colorado Bears | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | Colorado | Rocky Mountain | | 1947 | Small-College FCS |
| Pacific Tigers | University of the Pacific | Stockton | California | Big West | - 1962 1966 1969 | 1960 1963 1966 1995 | Discontinued |
| Penn Quakers | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |
| Princeton Tigers | Princeton University | Princeton | New Jersey | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |
| Richmond Spiders | University of Richmond | Richmond | Virginia | Independent | | 1981 | FCS |
| Southern Illinois Salukis | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale | Illinois | Missouri Valley | 1973 | 1981 | FCS |
| Tennessee State Tigers | Tennessee State University | Nashville | Tennessee | Independent | 1977 | 1980 | FCS |
| Texas Arlington Mavericks | University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington | Texas | Southland | 1972 | 1981 | I-AA Discontinued |
| The Citadel Bulldogs | The Citadel | Charleston | South Carolina | Southern | - 1959 | 1952 1981 | FCS |
| VMI Keydets | Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | Virginia | Southern | | 1981 | FCS |
| William & Mary Tribe | College of William & Mary | Williamsburg | Virginia | Independent | | 1981 | FCS |
| Villanova Wildcats | Villanova University | Villanova | Pennsylvania | Independent | | 1980 | Discontinued FCS |
| Western Carolina Catamounts | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | North Carolina | Southern | 1977 | 1981 | FCS |
| Western Reserve Red Cats | Western Reserve University | Cleveland | Ohio | MAC | 1948 | 1948 | Small-College Division III |
| West Texas State Buffalos | West Texas State University | Canyon | Texas | Missouri Valley | 1958 | 1981 | FCS Division II |
| Wichita State Shockers | Wichita State University | Wichita | Kansas | Independent | | 1986 | Discontinued |
| Xavier Musketeers | Xavier University | Cincinnati | Ohio | Independent | 1960 | 1973 | Discontinued |
| Yale Bulldogs | Yale University | New Haven | Connecticut | Ivy | | 1981 | FCS |

### Notes

* ↑ Florida A&M did not complete the FBS transition phase and backed out after the first year.
* ↑ Harvard's overall administration and undergraduate campus are in Cambridge. However, the athletic department offices and most athletic facilities, including the football stadium, are within the Boston city limits and have a Boston mailing address.
* ↑ Long Beach State rebranded its athletic program as "The Beach" effective in 2020–21, long after football was discontinued.
* ↑ McNeese dropped the word "State" from its athletic branding in 2016. The university's formal name has not changed.
* ↑ The school now brands itself in both athletics and academics as UT Arlington or UTA, although the university's formal name has not changed.
* ↑ West Texas State joined the Texas A&M University System in 1990, and in 1993 the university's name was renamed to West Texas A&M University.