What will become of the FCS?

[ScarletDave]

Seeing the CUSA news today (Marshall, ODU and Southern Miss are bolting for the Sun Belt), CUSA is trying to stay afloat by adding the top FCS teams - JMU, Jacksonville State, and Sam Houston State. With Georgia Southern, App State already moved up, that really leaves very few “historical powers” left in the FCS - NDSU, Montana, Northern Iowa, maybe you could say North and South Dakota … but at some point, will there be too many teams in the FBS? Will the FCS not have high-power enough teams to stay relevant with their playoffs and ESPN tv deal? What will the structure look like?

 

[JDNB]

I believe JMU is headed to the Sun Belt.

 

[tico brown]

Someone has to put an asterisk next to North Dakota State’s “dynasty” run. As great as NDSU is as a program, they would never have won all of those NCs if Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, and a couple of other former FCS powers have stayed in FCS.

 

[RUAldo]

At this point, FCS is basically a bunch of club teams. I suspect it’s largely a matter of economics for each school and they must make enough to sustain the programs (for the time-being).

 

[superfan01]

UConn can go to FCS and help

 

[mdk01]

At this point, FCS is basically a bunch of club teams. I suspect it’s largely a matter of economics for each school and they must make enough to sustain the programs (for the time-being).

I think the Ivies, Colgate, Lafayette, Lehigh and a bunch of other schools might take issue with being called club teams.

 

[Scarlet Blind]

In 2021, FBS had 130 teams, FCS 128 teams

2022-23, James Madison is moving to FBS and Sun Belt, Lindenwood, Texas A&M-Commerce and Southern Indiana start the process joining FCS from D2 football. Dixie St, who joined D1 basketball and FCS this past season with Tarleton St, will now be known as Utah Tech University.

The counts will be 131 FBS teams and 130 FCS teams.
Jacksonville St and Sam Houston St moves FBS and CUSA in 2023 will take the count to 133 and 128. FCS will be fine.

In 2022, Sun Belt 10 to 14 teams, CUSA 14 to 11 teams

2023 moves
SHSt and Jacksonville St CUSA 11 to 13

BYU Ind. to Big12
Cincinnati AAC to Big12
Houston AAC to Big12
UCF AAC to Big12
Big 12 10 to 14, AAC 11 to 8

Charlotte CUSA to AAC
FAU CUSA to AAC
N.Texas CUSA to AAC
Rice CUSA to AAC
UAB CUSA to AAC
UTSA CUSA to AAC
AAC 8 to 14, CUSA 13 to 7

Liberty Ind to CUSA
NMSt Ind to CUSA
CUSA 7 to 9, if they want to add UMass, UConn and Army could get them to 12.
Notre Dame would be the only Independent left standing in 2023.

Wouldn't doubt Oklahoma and Texas try to move sooner than 2025.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

UConn can go to FCS and help

They asked and FCS said, no thanks but we heard Division 2 MIGHT be interested in your school.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Speaking of James Madison, that is where Jamree Kromah ended up.

 

[ScarletDave]

Speaking of James Madison, that is where Jamree Kromah ended up.

James Madison has a huge stadium and following - Harrisonburg is a great college town and the campus is massive, and has some really nice new buildings. Virginia football fans can’t be too excited about this, don’t be surprised to see JMU reach the top-25 sooner than UVA will next ..