Following a particularly wild offseason, a handful of schools will be on the move across FCS college football on Friday when NCAA conference changes go into effect for the 2022-23 academic year.
The FCS will grow to 130 programs, a record for the Division I subdivision, with three schools beginning the transition from Division II. James Madison will depart the FCS to move up to the FBS.
FCS Membership Additions on July 1
ASUN: Austin Peay (from Ohio Valley Conference), Kennesaw State (Big South), North Alabama (Big South)
Big South: Bryant (Northeast)
CAA: Hampton (Big South), Monmouth (Big South); also, James Madison departs for the Sun Belt in the FBS
Northeast: Stonehill (Division II)
OVC: Lindenwood (D-II)
Southland: Texas A&M-Commerce (D-II); UPDATE: Lamar (WAC) following July 11 announcement
Western Athletic: Southern Utah (Big Sky); in addition, current member Dixie State to be renamed Utah Tech
Future FCS Changes
In 2023, North Carolina A&T and Campbell will leave the Big South and give CAA Football 15 programs (an FCS record for a single conference) and Murray State will move into the Missouri Valley Football Conference from the OVC, while the Big South and OVC have planned an FCS partnership. Also, Jacksonville State (ASUN) and Sam Houston (WAC) will move up to the FBS in Conference USA.
In 2025, Texas-Rio Grande is expected to have an FCS start-up program in the WAC.