The FBS is expanding, with another two FCS programs making the move up to the level for the 2025 college football season. With the Delaware Blue Hens joining the Missouri State Bears in Conference USA, there will be just six states that don’t boast an FBS program from next season. Which states are they?
There Are Just Six States Without an FBS College Football Program
North Dakota
Whenever college football expansion is discussed, the North Dakota State Bison is linked to a move to the FBS level. It’s understandable; the Fargo-based program has been the standard-bearer in the FCS in recent years, landing multiple national titles, putting several players into the NFL, and pumping talent into the transfer portal that makes its way to the FBS.
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However, their success in the FCS is also an incentive not to make the move. Why make the financial investment to become an FBS outfit with no guarantees of success when you can be at the forefront of your level each and every season? Recent Mountain West realignment would have been a solid fit for the Bison or the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
South Dakota
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are in a similar situation to their powerhouse rivals in the North. They’re a successful football program at the FCS level, with a caliber of players and a fanbase that could comfortably facilitate a jump to the FBS level. However, there is no real noise from within or around the team about wanting to make the move up a level anytime soon.
There is even less conversation around the South Dakota Coyotes making the move to the FBS level. The program played FBS competition hard in 2024, with a 27-13 defeat to the Wisconsin Badgers flattering the Big Ten program somewhat.
Rhode Island
There are four DI universities in Rhode Island, but one of them (Providence College) doesn’t have a football program whatsoever, let alone an FBS-level one. The Brown Bears play in the Ivy League. The Bryant Bulldogs play in the Bog South Conference, and the Rhode Island Rams play in Colonial Athletic Association Football (CAA) and finished with an 11-2 record in 2024.
Vermont
Vermont is about as far removed from having an FBS football program as any state in America. They don’t have a single football team at the DI or DII levels but have three DIII outfits.
The Middlebury Panthers play in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The Castleton Spartans play in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference, and the Norwich Cadets play in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference.
New Hampshire
While they don’t have an FBS program, New Hampshire boasts two competitive FCS outfits. The Dartmouth Big Green has their name etched on 29 Ivy League titles, sharing the 2024 crown with Harvard and Columbia. From 2025, they’ll be able to compete for an FCS national title due to historic changes in conference regulations.
Meanwhile, the New Hampshire Wildcats have been to the FCS Playoffs twice in the past three seasons after going five years without a playoff appearance. While they regularly play FBS opposition, there is no hint that the Wildcats are striving to move up to the FBS level.
Maine
The Maine Black Bears are the only FCS program in the state of Maine. They face FBS opposition in their 2025 non-CAA Football schedule with a road trip to the Liberty Flames and Georgia Southern Eagles.
With just four wins over programs from the top level of the sport during the team’s football history (two against the UMass Minutemen), they’re some way from being competitive enough to consider a transition to the FBS. The state has six football teams playing at the DIII level, but none at the DII level.
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