List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team
The list of current Football Championship Subdivision schools that have participated in the playoffs leading to the NCAA Division I Football Championship stands at 92. Prior to 2006 the FCS was known as Division I-AA before being renamed by the NCAA.[1][2] The playoffs began with four teams in 1978 and last expanded to include 16 teams in 1987. The field expanded again to 20 teams beginning with the 2010 playoffs.[3] The field expanded to 24 teams beginning in 2013.[4]
Current FCS members
- Teams in bold are participating in the 2021 fall postseason.
- Results updated through January 19, 2022
Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Total | Pct. | Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany Great Danes | 2 | 2011 | 2019 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
Alcorn State Braves | 3 | 1984 | 1994 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
Austin Peay Governors | 1 | 2019 | 2019 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .667 | |
Bethune–Cookman Wildcats | 5 | 2002 | 2013 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .000 | |
Butler Bulldogs | 1 | 2013 | 2013 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Cal Poly Mustangs | 4 | 2005 | 2016 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .200 | |
Central Arkansas Bears | 5 | 2011 | 2019 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
Central Connecticut Blue Devils | 2 | 2017 | 2019 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | |
Charleston Southern Buccaneers | 1 | 2015 | 2015 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
Chattanooga Mocs | 4 | 1984 | 2015 | 3 | 4 | 7 | .429 | |
The Citadel Bulldogs | 5 | 1988 | 2016 | 2 | 5 | 6 | .286 | |
Colgate Raiders | 11 | 1982 | 2018 | 7 | 11 | 18 | .389 | |
Davidson Wildcats | 2 | 2020 | 2021 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | |
Dayton Flyers | 1 | 2015 | 2015 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens | 17 | 1981 | 2020 | 24 | 16 | 40 | .600 | 2003 |
Delaware State Hornets | 1 | 2007 | 2007 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Duquesne Dukes | 2 | 2015 | 2018 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
East Tennessee State Buccaneers | 3 | 1996 | 2021 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .400 | |
Eastern Illinois Panthers | 16 | 1982 | 2015 | 4 | 16 | 20 | .200 | |
Eastern Kentucky Colonels | 21 | 1979 | 2014 | 16 | 19 | 35 | .457 | 1979, 1982 |
Eastern Washington Eagles | 15 | 1985 | 2021 | 20 | 14 | 34 | .588 | 2010 |
Elon Phoenix | 3 | 2009 | 2018 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
Florida A&M Rattlers | 8 | 1978 | 2021 | 5 | 7 | 12 | .417 | 1978 |
Fordham Rams | 5 | 2002 | 2015 | 3 | 5 | 8 | .375 | |
Furman Paladins | 18 | 1982 | 2019 | 19 | 17 | 36 | .528 | 1988 |
Grambling State Tigers | 3 | 1980 | 1989 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
Hampton Pirates | 5 | 1997 | 2006 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .000 | |
Holy Cross Crusaders | 5 | 1983 | 2021 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
Howard Bison | 1 | 1993 | 1993 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Idaho Vandals | 11 | 1982 | 1995 | 6 | 11 | 17 | .353 | |
Idaho State Bengals | 2 | 1981 | 1983 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .750 | 1981 |
Illinois State Redbirds | 8 | 1998 | 2019 | 10 | 8 | 18 | .556 | |
Incarnate Word Cardinals | 2 | 2018 | 2021 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
Indiana State Sycamores | 3 | 1983 | 2014 | 2 | 3 | 5 | .400 | |
Jackson State Tigers | 12 | 1978 | 1997 | 0 | 12 | 12 | .000 | |
Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 10 | 2003 | 2020 | 7 | 10 | 17 | .412 | |
Kennesaw State Owls | 4 | 2017 | 2021 | 5 | 4 | 9 | .556 | |
Lafayette Leopards | 4 | 2004 | 2013 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .000 | |
Lamar Cardinals | 1 | 2018 | 2018 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Lehigh Mountain Hawks | 11 | 1979 | 2017 | 6 | 11 | 17 | .353 | |
Maine Black Bears | 8 | 1987 | 2018 | 5 | 8 | 13 | .385 | |
McNeese State Cowboys | 16 | 1991 | 2015 | 11 | 16 | 27 | .407 | |
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils | 1 | 1984 | 1984 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Missouri State Bears | 4 | 1989 | 2021 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .200 | |
Monmouth Hawks | 3 | 2017 | 2020 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .250 | |
Montana Grizzlies[a] | 26 | 1982 | 2021 | 36 | 24 | 60 | .600 | 1995, 2001 |
Montana State Bobcats | 11 | 1984 | 2021 | 12 | 10 | 22 | .545 | 1984 |
Morgan State Bears | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Murray State Racers | 5 | 1979 | 2002 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
New Hampshire Wildcats | 16 | 1991 | 2017 | 14 | 16 | 30 | .467 | |
Nicholls State Colonels | 6 | 1986 | 2019 | 3 | 6 | 9 | .333 | |
Norfolk State Spartans | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
North Carolina A&T Aggies | 5 | 1986 | 2016 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
North Dakota Fighting Hawks | 3 | 2016 | 2020 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .250 | |
North Dakota State Bison | 12 | 2010 | 2021 | 41 | 3 | 44 | .932 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 |
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks[b] | 5 | 1996 | 2017 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
Northern Iowa Panthers | 22 | 1985 | 2021 | 26 | 22 | 48 | .542 | |
Northwestern State Demons | 6 | 1988 | 2004 | 4 | 6 | 10 | .400 | |
Portland State Vikings | 2 | 2000 | 2015 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | |
Rhode Island Rams | 3 | 1981 | 1985 | 2 | 3 | 5 | .400 | |
Richmond Spiders | 11 | 1984 | 2016 | 15 | 10 | 25 | .600 | 2008 |
Robert Morris Colonials | 1 | 2010 | 2010 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Sacramento State Hornets | 2 | 2019 | 2021 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | |
Sacred Heart Pioneers | 4 | 2013 | 2021 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .000 | |
Saint Francis Red Flash | 1 | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Sam Houston State Bearkats | 13 | 1986 | 2021 | 24 | 12 | 36 | .667 | 2020 |
Samford Bulldogs | 5 | 1991 | 2017 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
San Diego Toreros | 5 | 2014 | 2019 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
South Carolina State Bulldogs | 6 | 1981 | 2013 | 2 | 6 | 8 | .250 | |
South Dakota Coyotes | 2 | 2017 | 2021 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 11 | 2009 | 2021 | 14 | 11 | 25 | .560 | |
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks | 3 | 2010 | 2019 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .250 | |
Southeastern Louisiana Lions | 4 | 2013 | 2021 | 3 | 4 | 7 | .429 | |
Southern Illinois Salukis | 10 | 1983 | 2021 | 10 | 9 | 19 | .526 | 1983 |
Southern Utah Thunderbirds | 3 | 2013 | 2017 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks[c] | 8 | 1988 | 2021 | 7 | 8 | 15 | .467 | |
Stony Brook Seawolves | 4 | 2011 | 2018 | 3 | 4 | 7 | .429 | |
Tennessee State Tigers[d] | 4 | 1986 | 2013 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .200 | |
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Towson Tigers | 3 | 2011 | 2018 | 3 | 3 | 6 | .500 | |
UC Davis Aggies | 2 | 2018 | 2021 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
UT Martin Skyhawks | 2 | 2006 | 2021 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
Villanova Wildcats | 14 | 1989 | 2021 | 13 | 13 | 26 | .500 | 2009 |
VMI Keydets | 1 | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Wagner Seahawks | 1 | 2012 | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
Weber State Wildcats | 9 | 1987 | 2020 | 7 | 9 | 16 | .438 | |
Western Carolina Catamounts | 1 | 1983 | 1983 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .750 | |
Western Illinois Leathernecks | 11 | 1988 | 2017 | 7 | 11 | 18 | .389 | |
William & Mary Tribe | 10 | 1986 | 2015 | 7 | 10 | 17 | .412 | |
Wofford Terriers | 10 | 2003 | 2019 | 9 | 10 | 19 | .474 | |
Youngstown State Penguins | 12 | 1987 | 2016 | 29 | 8 | 37 | .784 | 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997 |
No appearances[a]
- ASUN Conference (1) – North Alabama
- Big Sky Conference (1) – Northern Colorado
- Big South Conference (3) – Bryant, Campbell (joining CAA in 2023), Gardner-Webb
- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (1) – North Carolina Central
- Northeast Conference (3) – LIU, Merrimack, Stonehill (Merrimack eligible in 2023, Stonehill eligible in 2026)
- Ohio Valley Conference (1) – Lindenwood (eligible in 2026)
- Patriot League (2) – Bucknell, Georgetown
- Pioneer Football League (7) – Drake, Marist, Morehead State, Presbyterian, St. Thomas (MN), Stetson, Valparaiso (St. Thomas eligible in 2025)
- Southern Conference (1) – Mercer
- Southland Conference (2) – Houston Baptist, Texas A&M–Commerce (Commerce eligible in 2026)
- Southwestern Athletic Conference (6) – Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Prairie View A&M, Southern, Texas Southern
- Western Athletic Conference (3) – Abilene Christian, Utah Tech, Tarleton State (Tarleton State and Utah Tech eligible in 2024)
Ivy League teams do not participate in any postseason in football, citing academic concerns.[5][6]
Former FCS members
There have been 25 former FCS schools that have participated in the playoffs. Of these, 22 have moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), while the other three no longer sponsor football.
Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Total | Pct. | Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akron Zips[e] | 1 | 1985 | 1985 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Arkansas State Red Wolves[e][f] | 4 | 1984 | 1987 | 6 | 4 | 10 | .600 | |
Appalachian State Mountaineers[e] | 20 | 1986 | 2012 | 24 | 17 | 41 | .585 | 2005, 2006, 2007 |
Boise State Broncos[e] | 5 | 1980 | 1994 | 8 | 4 | 12 | .667 | 1980 |
Boston University Terriers[g] | 5 | 1982 | 1994 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers[e] | 6 | 2006 | 2015 | 4 | 6 | 10 | .400 | |
Connecticut Huskies[e] | 1 | 1998 | 1998 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
Florida Atlantic Owls[e] | 1 | 2003 | 2003 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .667 | |
Georgia Southern Eagles[e] | 19 | 1985 | 2012 | 45 | 13 | 58 | .776 | 1985, 1986, 1989 1990, 1999, 2000 |
Hofstra Pride[g] | 5 | 1995 | 2001 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
James Madison Dukes[e] | 18 | 1987 | 2021 | 24 | 16 | 40 | .600 | 2004, 2016 |
Liberty Flames[e] | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks[e][i] | 4 | 1987 | 1993 | 5 | 3 | 8 | .625 | 1987 |
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs[e] | 2 | 1982 | 1984 | 4 | 2 | 6 | .667 | |
Marshall Thundering Herd[e] | 8 | 1987 | 1996 | 23 | 6 | 29 | .793 | 1992, 1996 |
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders[e] | 7 | 1984 | 1994 | 6 | 7 | 13 | .462 | |
Nevada Wolf Pack[e] | 7 | 1978 | 1991 | 9 | 7 | 16 | .563 | |
North Texas Mean Green[e] | 4 | 1983 | 1994 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .000 | |
Northeastern Huskies[g] | 1 | 2002 | 2002 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
Old Dominion Monarchs[e] | 2 | 2011 | 2012 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
Texas State Bobcats[e] | 2 | 2005 | 2008 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
Troy Trojans[e][h] | 7 | 1993 | 2000 | 5 | 7 | 12 | .417 | |
UCF Knights[e] | 2 | 1990 | 1993 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
UMass Minutemen[e] | 8 | 1978 | 2007 | 10 | 7 | 17 | .588 | 1998 |
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers[e] | 8 | 1987 | 2004 | 8 | 7 | 15 | .533 | 2002 |
Notes
- ^ According to conferences in football, not necessarily a team's primary conference.
- a Montana's competition in the 2011 Division I FCS Championship was vacated by action of the NCAA Committee on Infractions (record was 2–1).
- b Northern Arizona's competition in the 1999 Division I-AA Championship was vacated by action of the NCAA Committee on Infractions (record was 0–1).
- c Stephen F. Austin's competition in the 1989 Division I-AA Championship was vacated by action of the NCAA Committee on Infractions (record was 3–1).
- d Tennessee State's competition in the 1981 and 1982 Division I-AA Championships was vacated by action of the NCAA Committee on Infractions (record was 1–2).
- e Now a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
- f During Arkansas State's entire tenure in Division I-AA (1982–1991), the school nickname was Indians. The Red Wolves nickname was adopted in 2008.
- g School no longer sponsors football.
- h During Troy's entire tenure in Division I-AA (1993–2001), its name was Troy State University. The school adopted its current name in 2005.
- i The team was the Northeast Louisiana Indians during its entire tenure in Division I-AA (1982–1993). The school changed its name to the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 1999, and its nickname to Warhawks in 2006.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs
- List of NCAA Division I FBS football bowl records
- List of NCAA Division II Football Championship appearances by team
- List of NCAA Division III Football Championship appearances by team
References
- General
- Jim Wright, ed. (August 1, 2009). "Championships" (PDF). 2009 Division I Football Records Book. NCAA. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ "NCAA Q&A on Postseason Football". NCAA. December 4, 2006. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- ^ David Worlock (December 17, 2007). "Postseason Football Q&A". NCAA. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Three Division I championships to expand". NCAA. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ Torre, Pablo (November 29, 2007). "No playoffs for you!". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
- ^ David Burrick (September 18, 2003). ""Ivy League not likely to see I-AA playoffs"". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved June 27, 2009.