List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team

Last updated

The list of current Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools that have participated in the playoffs leading to the NCAA Division I Football Championship stands at 92. Known as Division I-AA from 1978 through 2005, it was renamed FCS prior to the 2006 season. [1] [2]

Contents

Field

The playoffs began with four teams in 1978, then expanded to eight in 1981, twelve in 1982, and sixteen in 1986. The bracket went to five rounds with a field of twenty teams in 2010, [3] and to 24 teams in 2013. [4]

YearsTeamsByes
1978–19804
19818
1982–1985124
1986–2009160
2010–20122012
2013–248

Current FCS members

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTotalPct.Championships
Abilene Christian Wildcats 120242024000–
Albany Great Danes 320112023224.500
Alcorn State Braves 319841994033.000
Austin Peay Governors 220192023224.500
Bethune–Cookman Wildcats 520022013055.000
Butler Bulldogs 120132013011.000
Cal Poly Mustangs 420052016145.200
Central Arkansas Bears 520112019257.286
Central Connecticut Blue Devils 320172024022.000
Charleston Southern Buccaneers 120152015112.500
Chattanooga Mocs 519842023459.444
The Citadel Bulldogs 519882016256.286
Colgate Raiders 111982201871118.389
Davidson Wildcats 320202022033.000
Dayton Flyers 120152015011.000
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 1919812023261844.5912003
Delaware State Hornets 120072007011.000
Drake Bulldogs 220232024011.000
Duquesne Dukes 320152023134.250
East Tennessee State Buccaneers 319962021233.400
Eastern Illinois Panthers 161982201541620.200
Eastern Kentucky Colonels 2319792024162036.4441979, 1982
Eastern Washington Eagles 1519852021201434.5882010
Elon Phoenix 420092022044.000
Florida A&M Rattlers 8197820215712.4171978
Fordham Rams 620022022369.333
Furman Paladins 2019822023211839.5381988
Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 220222023123.333
Grambling State Tigers 319801989033.000
Hampton Pirates 519972006055.000
Holy Cross Crusaders 619832022257.286
Howard Bison 119931993011.000
Idaho Vandals 141982202471219.368
Idaho State Bengals 219811983314.7501981
Illinois State Redbirds 91998202410818.556
Incarnate Word Cardinals 420182024224.500
Indiana State Sycamores 319832014235.400
Jackson State Tigers 121978199701212.000
Lafayette Leopards 520042023055.000
Lamar Cardinals 120182018011.000
Lehigh Mountain Hawks 121979202461117.353
Maine Black Bears 8198720185813.385
McNeese Cowboys 1619912015111627.407
Mercer Bears 220232024112.500
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils 119841984011.000
Missouri State Bears 419892021145.200
Monmouth Hawks 320172020134.250
Montana Grizzlies [a] 2819822024382563.6031995, 2001
Montana State Bobcats 1419842024141226.5381984
Morgan State Bears 120142014011.000
Murray State Racers 519792002156.167
New Hampshire Wildcats 1819912024151732.469
Nicholls Colonels 7198620233710.300
Norfolk State Spartans 120112011011.000
North Carolina A&T Aggies 519862016156.167
North Carolina Central Eagles 120232023011.000
North Dakota Fighting Hawks 520162023156.167
North Dakota State Bison 152010202447451.9222011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2017, 2018, 2019,
2021
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks [b] 619962024156.167
Northern Iowa Panthers 2219852021262248.542
Northwestern State Demons 6198820044610.400
Portland State Vikings 220002015022.000
Rhode Island Rams 419812024235.400
Richmond Spiders 1419842024171229.5862008
Robert Morris Colonials 120102010011.000
Sacramento State Hornets 420192023246.333
Sacred Heart Pioneers 420132021044.000
Saint Francis Red Flash 220162022022.000
Samford Bulldogs 619912022358.375
San Diego Toreros 520142019257.286
South Carolina State Bulldogs 619812013268.250
South Dakota Coyotes 420172024224.500
South Dakota State Jackrabbits 1420092024221133.6672022, 2023
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks 520102024145.200
Southeastern Louisiana Lions 520132022459.444
Southern Illinois Salukis 1119832023111021.5241983
Southern Utah Thunderbirds 320132017033.000
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks [c] 8198820217815.467
Stony Brook Seawolves 420112018347.429
Tarleton State Texans 120242024000–
Tennessee State Tigers [d] 519862024145.200
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 120112011011.000
Towson Tigers 320112018336.500
UC Davis Aggies 320182024123.333
UT Martin Skyhawks 320062024123.333
Villanova Wildcats 1619892024131326.5002009
VMI Keydets 120202020011.000
Wagner Seahawks 120122012112.500
Weber State Wildcats 101987202281018.444
Western Carolina Catamounts 119831983314.750
Western Illinois Leathernecks 111988201771118.389
William & Mary Tribe 111986202281018.444
Wofford Terriers 102003201991019.474
Youngstown State Penguins 131987202330939.7691991, 1993, 1994, 1997

No appearances [a]

Conference alignments are current for the ongoing 2024 season.

* – The Big South–OVC Football Association began play in 2023 as a de facto merger of the football leagues of the Big South Conference and Ohio Valley Conference.

† – CAA Football is technically separate from the all-sports Coastal Athletic Association, although both leagues share the same administration.

‡ – The United Athletic Conference began play in 2023 as a merger of the football leagues of the Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference.

Former FCS members

Twenty-eight former FCS schools have participated in the playoffs. Of these, 25 have moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), while the other three no longer sponsor football.

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTotalPct.Championships
Akron Zips [e] 119851985011.000
Arkansas State Red Wolves [e] [f] 4198419876410.600
Appalachian State Mountaineers [e] 2019862012241741.5852005, 2006, 2007
Boise State Broncos [e] 5198019948412.6671980
Boston University Terriers [g] 519821994257.286
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers [e] 6200620154610.400
Florida Atlantic Owls [e] 120032003213.667
Georgia Southern Eagles [e] 1919852012451358.7761985, 1986, 1989
1990, 1999, 2000
Hofstra Pride [g] 519952001257.286
Jacksonville State Gamecocks [e] 102003202071017.412
James Madison Dukes [e] 1819872021241640.6002004, 2016
Kennesaw State Owls [e] 420172021549.556
Liberty Flames [e] 120142014112.500
Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks [e] [i] 419871993538.6251987
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs [e] 219821984426.667
Marshall Thundering Herd [e] 81987199623629.7931992, 1996
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders [e] 7198419946713.462
Nevada Wolf Pack [e] 7197819919716.563
North Texas Mean Green [e] 419831994044.000
Northeastern Huskies [g] 120022002011.000
Old Dominion Monarchs [e] 220112012224.500
Sam Houston Bearkats [e] [c] 1319862021241236.6672020
Texas State Bobcats [e] 220052008224.500
Troy Trojans [e] [h] 7199320005712.417
UCF Knights [e] 219901993224.500
UConn Huskies [e] [d] 119981998112.500
UMass Minutemen [e] 81978200710717.5881998
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers [e] 8198720048715.5332002

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ According to conferences in football, not necessarily a team's primary conference.
  2. ↑ The Ivy League did not participate in the FCS playoffs prior to the 2025 season.
  3. ↑ The program was officially branded as "Sam Houston State" for almost all of its FCS tenure. The word "State" was dropped from the athletic branding, but not the university name, in 2020.
  4. ↑ The program was officially branded as "Connecticut" before 2013 (well after its move to FBS), though "UConn" was widely used informally before that time.

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References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ "NCAA Q&A on Postseason Football". NCAA. December 4, 2006. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  2. ↑ David Worlock (December 17, 2007). "Postseason Football Q&A". NCAA. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  3. ↑ "NCAA approves playoff expansion to 20 teams for 2010". The Sports Network. April 25, 2008. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Three Division I championships to expand". NCAA. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
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