Conference changes for 2025–26

It's July 1, the day when many realignment moves become official. After the craziness last year, things are a bit calmer this time around (before ramping up again a year from now).

As in previous years, this list focuses on football and basketball. Schools that sponsor football are in bold.

#Division I

• Delaware leaves the CAA (FCS) for CUSA (FBS).
• Grand Canyon... does something. They were scheduled to leave the WAC for the WCC this year, then they announced plans to join the MWC next year and canceled the WCC move, hoping to join the MWC as soon as this year. It's not clear where they'll be in 2025–26; and it's worth noting that all three conferences have released fall women's volleyball schedules that don't include GCU.
• Massachusetts (FBS) leaves the A-10 and football independence for the MAC.
• Missouri State leaves the MVC and MVFC (FCS) for CUSA (FBS).
• New Haven leaves the NE10 (D2) for the NEC (FCS). Similar to what other recent NEC additions have done, football will play as an independent at least for this year.
• Richmond football (FCS) leaves the CAA for the Patriot League. Other sports remain in the A-10.
• Seattle leaves the WAC for the WCC.
• UTRGV football begins play, competing in the Southland (FCS).
• Also of note: the Ivy League (FCS) will participate in the playoffs for the first time.

Reclassification updates

• Kennesaw State has completed its reclassification to FBS and is now eligible for the postseason.
• Delaware and Missouri State are in their second and final year of reclassification to FBS. Both are ineligible for the FBS and FCS postseasons.
• East Texas A&M, Lindenwood, Queens, St. Thomas, Southern Indiana, and Stonehill have completed their Division I reclassification periods and are now eligible for the postseason. All six completed it a year ahead of schedule, due to the NCAA reducing the standard period by a year and allowing teams already in the process to use the shorter timeline if they meet the criteria.
• Le Moyne is in its third (and likely final) year of reclassification.
• Mercyhurst and West Georgia are in their second year.
• New Haven is set to begin its first year.

Future changes

All the changes listed below take effect for 2026–27 unless otherwise noted.

• Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, and West Georgia (FCS, ASun/UAC) join the WAC for all sports, which then rebrands as the UAC... Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State (FBS/MWC) join the new Pac-12... California Baptist and Utah Valley (WAC) join the Big West... Chicago State (NEC) adds football, playing as an FCS independent in 2026 before joining the NEC (also FCS) the following year... Gonzaga (WCC) joins the new Pac-12... Grand Canyon joins the MWC, if they haven't already... Hawaii (FBS, Big West/MWC) joins the MWC for all sports... Northern Illinois (FBS, MAC) joins the MWC for football and the Horizon for other sports... Oregon State and Washington State (FBS, WCC/functionally independent) rejoin the new Pac-12... Sacramento State (FCS, Big Sky) joins the Big West and goes independent in football... St. Francis (PA) (FCS, NEC) drops to D3, joining the PAC... Southern Utah and Utah Tech (FCS, WAC/UAC) join the Big Sky... Texas State (FBS, SBC) joins the new Pac-12... UC Davis (FCS, Big West/Big Sky) joins the MWC for everything except football, which remains in the Big Sky... UTEP (FBS, CUSA) joins the MWC... Villanova and William & Mary football (FCS, CAA) join the Patriot, while other sports are unaffected.

#Division II

• Academy of Art (PacWest) drops all sports.
• Ferrum leaves the ODAC (D3) for Conference Carolinas (D2).
• Jamestown leaves the NSAA (NAIA) for the NSIC (D2).
• Limestone (SAC) closes.
• Middle Georgia State (if approved for provisional D2 membership) leaves the SSAC (NAIA) for the PBC (D2).
• Mississippi College (GSC) drops football. A year from now, the school's name will change to Mississippi Christian.
• New Haven leaves the NE10 (D2) for the NEC (FCS). Similar to what other recent NEC additions have done, football will play as an independent at least for this year.
• Sonoma State (CCAA) drops all sports.
• UC Merced leaves the Cal Pac (NAIA) for the CCAA (D2).
• UT Dallas leaves the ASC (D3) for the LSC (D2).
• Conference Carolinas begins sponsorship of football, with new member Ferrum joined by six existing all-sports conference members (2024 football conference in parentheses): Barton (SAC), Chowan (GSC), Erskine (GSC), North Greenville (GSC), Shorter (Ind), and UNC Pembroke (MEC). Note that between this and Mississippi College dropping the sport, the GSC is down to 4 football schools.
• Some housekeeping: St. Augustine's has been officially expelled from the CIAA (after a suspension last year) and it's unknown whether they'll play any sports this year. Last year they seem to have only competed in cross country, which puts them well below D2 minimums. Also below the D2 minimum is Bloomfield, which has continued to drop sports since being acquired by Montclair State. The D2 Membership Committee will likely address these cases at its July meeting.

Reclassification/Provisional updates

All of these are subject to approval by the Membership Committee at its July meeting. There are currently both a 2-year membership process and a 3-year membership process, which I will list separately for clarity.

3-year process:

• Thomas More and USC Beaufort have completed their Division II reclassification periods and are now eligible for the postseason.
• Jessup, Menlo, Roosevelt, Sul Ross State, and Vanguard are entering their third and final year of the process, unless given waivers to skip it (as one school was last year).
• Point Park enters the second year.
• Middle Georgia State enters the first year.

2-year process:

• Jamestown, UC Merced, and UT Dallas enter the second and final year.
• Ferrum enters the first year.

Future changes

• Azusa Pacific (PacWest) drops to D3 in 2026, joining the SCIAC and re-adding football... Fresno Pacific (PacWest) joins the CCAA in 2026... Lackawanna (NJCAA)) joins D2 and the PSAC at an uncertain date... Shawnee State (NAIA, RSC) joins D2 and the MEC in 2026, and will add football in 2028.

#Division III

• Alfred State football leaves the ECFC for the Empire 8. Other sports remain in the AMCC... for this year. (See below.)
• Anna Maria leaves the GNAC and ECFC football for the MASCAC.
• Bryn Athyn (UEC) drops all sports.
• Carnegie Mellon football leaves the PAC for the Centennial.
• Castleton football leaves the MASCAC for the NJAC. Other sports remain in the Little East.
• Dean football leaves the ECFC for the MASCAC. Other sports remain in the GNAC.
• Ferrum leaves the ODAC (D3) for Conference Carolinas (D2).
• Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes.
• Gallaudet football leaves the ECFC for the ODAC.
• Hendrix leaves the SAA for the SCAC.
• Hilbert football leaves the Empire 8 for the Liberty League. Other sports remain in the AMCC.
• Hiram leaves the NCAC for the PAC.
• John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC.
• Johnson & Wales (NC) and Regent, both new provisional D3 members, join the C2C. This is not particularly significant at present, since the C2C has no regular-season conference play and both will be ineligible for D3 championships for 3 years.
• Johnson & Wales (RI) leaves the GNAC for the CNE.
• Keystone is on the brink of closure. As far as I know, they remain in the UEC for most sports, but football is no longer in the Landmark and will play a weird hybrid D3/club/JV schedule.
• LeTourneau leaves the ASC for the SCAC.
• Maine Maritime football, after playing a partial schedule last year in their return from a 4-year hiatus, resumes play full-time, competing in the CNE. Other sports remain in the NAC.
• Maryville (TN) football leaves the USA South for the SAA. Other sports remain in the CCS for now but will join the SAA next year.
• Mount Mary, a women's college, leaves the C2C (D3) for the CCAC (NAIA).
• New England College football begins play, competing in the CNE. Other sports remain in the GNAC.
• Northland (UMAC) closes.
• Roanoke football begins play, competing in the ODAC.
• St. Elizabeth leaves the UEC for the AEC.
• Southwestern (TX) and Trinity (TX), already football members of the SAA, join for all sports, leaving the SCAC.
• UT Dallas leaves the ASC (D3) for the LSC (D2).
• Western Connecticut football leaves the MASCAC for the Landmark. Other sports remain in the Little East.
• Since last year's post, the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) has rebranded as the Conference of New England (CNE).
• The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) is now defunct.

Reclassification/Provisional updates

All of these are subject to approval by the Membership Committee at its July meeting.

• Hartford and Lyon have completed their Division III provisional periods and are now eligible for the postseason.
• Carlow is entering its third and final year of the process.
• Penn State Brandywine enters year two.
• Johnson & Wales (NC) and Regent enter year one.

Future changes

All the changes listed below take effect for 2026–27 unless otherwise noted.

• Azusa Pacific (D2, PacWest) drops to D3, joining the SCIAC and re-adding football... Alfred State (AMCC/E8) joins the SUNYAC, keeping football in the E8... Cobleskill and SUNY Delhi (NAC) join the SUNYAC... Luther (ARC) joins the Midwest... Maryville (TN) (CCS/SAA) joins the SAA for all sports... Marywood (AEC) joins the MAC Freedom... McMurry and Schreiner (SCAC) join the ASC, concurrent with Schreiner adding football... Neumann (AEC) joins the MAC Commonwealth... New Jersey City (NJAC) joins the CUNYAC... New Paltz (SUNYAC) joins the NJAC... Rosemont (UEC) drops all sports... St. Francis (PA) (FCS, NEC) drops to D3, joining the PAC... Washington (MO)** football (CCIW) joins the NCAC... Whittier (SCIAC) re-adds football.

#NAIA

• Bellevue, Dakota State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, and Valley City State leave the NSAA for the Frontier, which now has 14 football members, allowing for two divisions with auto bids. The East will contain the 4 NSAA football schools plus Montana Tech, MSU Northern, and Rocky Mountain, while the West will contain the other 6 existing members plus Simpson (see below). The NSAA is now defunct.
• Bismarck State joins the NAIA and Frontier.
• Concordia (MI) (WHAC, MSFA Mideast football) drops all sports.
• Defiance, which played a transitional football schedule on joining the NAIA last year, is now a full member of the MSFA Mideast. Other sports remain in the WHAC.
• Georgia Gwinnett (independent) adds men's and women's basketball.
• Hesston joins the NAIA as an independent.
• Huston–Tillotson and Paul Quinn leave the RRAC for the HBCUAC.
• Jamestown leaves the NSAA (NAIA) for the NSIC (D2).
• Kentucky Christian leaves the Appalachian for the RSC; football remains in the Appalachian.
• La Sierra and Soka (the latter of which has no basketball) leave the Cal Pac for the GSAC.
• Middle Georgia State (if approved for provisional D2 membership) leaves the SSAC (NAIA) for the PBC (D2).
• Missouri Baptist and William Woods, already in the Heart for football, join for all sports, leaving the AMC.
• Mount Mary, a women's college, leaves the C2C (D3) for the CCAC (NAIA).
• Multnomah (Cascade) ends undergraduate programs and drops all sports.
• North American drops football, which had been competing as a Sooner affiliate/schedule partner (it was unclear which).
• Northern New Mexico, formerly independent, joins the Cal Pac. They will technically be an associate member due to not meeting the sport sponsorship minimum.
• Providence Christian (Cal Pac, non-basketball) drops all sports.
• Rio Grande football begins play, competing in the Appalachian. Other sports remain in the RSC.
• St. Andrews (Appalachian) closes.
• Simpson football, previously independent, joins the Frontier and will be in the West Division. Other sports remain in the Cal Pac.
• Spartanburg Methodist, previously independent, joins the Appalachian.
• Stanton joins the NAIA and the Cal Pac.
• UC Merced leaves the Cal Pac (NAIA) for the CCAA (D2).
• The KCAC's football divisions have been reorganized. This only matters for auto bid purposes, as the conference plays a full round robin.

Future changes

• Shawnee State (RSC) joins D2 and the MEC in 2026, and will add football in 2028... Siena Heights (WHAC/MSFAME) closes in 2026... Xavier [LA] (RRAC) joins the SSAC in 2026.