Chicago State Cougars football

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Chicago State Cougars football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2026 Chicago State Cougars football team
Chicago State Athletics wordmark.png
First season 2026; 1 year's time
Athletic directorMonique Carroll
Head coach Bobby Rome II
1st season, 0–0 (–)
Location Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
NCAA division Division I FCS
Conference
All-time record0–0 (–)
ColorsGreen and white [1]
   
Website GoCSUCougars.com

The Chicago State Cougars football team will represent the Chicago State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. Chicago's only Division I football program, they will compete as an independent in 2026 and in the Northeast Conference beginning in 2027.

Contents

Background

The team is the only NCAA Division I football program in the city of Chicago, Illinois. [2] At the time of inception of Cougar football, the following collegiate athletic programs participate in NCAA Division I athletic competition for many sports in the city of Chicago: DePaul Blue Demons in the Big East Conference (since 2005), [3] Loyola Ramblers in the Atlantic 10 Conference (since 2022), [4] and UIC Flames in the Missouri Valley Conference (since 2022). [5] Within Cook County, Illinois, the Northwestern Wildcats football program based in Evanston competes in the Big Ten Conference (since 1896), [6] [7] and plays occasional games hosted at Wrigley Field in Chicago (since 2010). [8]

The most recent NCAA Division I football program in Chicago was the 1939 edition of the Chicago Maroons football team representing the University of Chicago in the Big Ten Conference. [2] Prior to the establishment of Chicago State, 10 schools had started NCAA Division I football programs since 2000, only two of them have been at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level and seven have been in Texas, Georgia or Florida. [9] The last newly created Division I football program in Illinois was the Southern Illinois Salukis football program in 1904, [9] which had its inaugural game on October 4, 1913. [10]

History

On January 26, 2023, Chicago State announced an exploratory committee to consider pursuing Division I Football competition. The committee included NFL veterans Howard Griffith, Vaughn Bryant, Tom Thayer and Otis Wilson, Chicago high school football coaches, community leaders and school officials. [11] On September 21, 2023, Chicago State announced a fundraising initiative to expand its athletics program. [12] [13] When Chicago State announced that the Chicago State Cougars would be competing in the Northeast Conference on December 5, 2023, it was considered an early step towards launching a football program. [14] On February 11, 2025, Chicago State began its football head coach search. [15] The school announced Bobby Rome II as head coach for its newly created team on April 8, 2025. [9]

The team will compete as an Independent in 2026 (starting on August 29, 2026) and in the Northeast Conference for 2027. Initial temporary and eventual permanent stadium plans remain forthcoming as of December 2025, but a temporary on-campus practice field was included in the initial decision. [2]

Classifications

Conference memberships

References

  1. ↑ Chicago State University Brand Style Guide (PDF). September 1, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 De Lima, Matt (December 19, 2025). "Chicago gains first Division I college football program in 2026". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  3. ↑ "It's Official: DePaul To Join BIG EAST Conference". DePaul University. November 4, 2003. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ Mikula, Jeremy (November 16, 2021). "Loyola is moving to the Atlantic 10 Conference in July after nearly a decade in the Missouri Valley". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ "UIC to Join the Missouri Valley Conference" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. January 26, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ "About the Conference". Big Ten Conference. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  7. ↑ Larson, Eliza (April 10, 2024). "Northwestern football 'staying home' with temporary enhancements to the Lanny and Sharon Martin facility on lakefront". Northwestern University . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  8. ↑ Greenstein, T. (April 23, 2010). "Done deal: Illinois at Northwestern at Wrigley Field". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Chicago State University names first football coach in school history". WFLD. April 8, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Remember the time..." The Southern Illinoisan . August 29, 2010. p. 16. Retrieved December 25, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Sheridan, Jake (January 26, 2023). "Chicago State to explore adding a Division I football program — and it could potentially start in 2025". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  12. ↑ McDaniel, Mike (September 22, 2023). "Chicago State Aims to Add FCS Football Program". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ Vannini, Chris (September 21, 2023). "Chicago State moves closer to adding FCS football program after fundraising proposal approved". The Athletic . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  14. ↑ Tumulty, Brónagh; Ong, Eli (December 5, 2023). "Chicago State University to join D1 sports conference, one step closer to football team". WGN-TV . Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Chicago State Begins Search for Head Football Coach". Chicago State University. February 11, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
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