List of NCAA Division I FBS football programs
This is a list of the 130 schools in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States. By definition, all schools in this grouping have varsity football teams.
Schools in Division I FBS are distinguished from those in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision by being allowed to provide scholarship aid to a total of 85 players, and may grant a full scholarship to all 85. FCS schools are limited to financial assistance amounting to a maximum of 63 full scholarships, although some conferences voluntarily place further restrictions on athletic aid. The NCAA classifies FBS football as a "head-count" sport, meaning that each player receiving any athletically-related aid from the school counts fully against the 85-player limit. By contrast, FCS football is classified as an "equivalency" sport, which means that scholarship aid is limited to the equivalent of a specified number of full scholarships. In turn, this means that FCS schools can freely grant partial scholarships, but are also limited to a total of 85 players receiving assistance. Another NCAA rule mandates that any multi-sport athlete who plays football and receives any athletic aid is counted against the football limit, with an exception for players in non-scholarship FCS programs who receive aid in another sport. The three service academies that play in Division I FBS—Air Force, Army, and Navy—are theoretically subject to this rule, but are exempt in practice because all students at these schools receive full scholarships from the federal government.
Starting in 2014, the FBS began playing a four-team tournament culminating in a National Championship Game to determine its national champion, a system that will be in place from the 2014-2025 seasons by contract with ESPN, broadcaster of the games. But since the College Football Playoff is not sanctioned by the NCAA, this makes FBS football the only sport without an NCAA-sanctioned champion. The FCS is the highest division in college football to hold a playoff tournament sanctioned by the NCAA to determine its champion.
Formerly, Division I FBS football was the only NCAA sport without a formal tournament to determine an undisputed national champion, with the FBS schools instead playing in a series of postseason bowl games, culminating in the BCS National Championship Game, which attempted to crown a single national champion. Other organizations, most notably the Associated Press, crowned their own champions via polling. The BCS and AP have not always agreed on a single champion. Before the BCS, the AP was considered to be the deciding body for crowning a Champion, but it was started as a regional voting body, much like every other organization before the BCS. Most of the years preceding the BCS era, the Championships were claimed by more than one school.
Conference affiliations are current for the upcoming 2020 season.
FBS programs
| Team | Nickname | City | State | Enrollment | Current Conference | Former Conferences | First Played | Joined FBS |
| Air Force | Falcons | Colorado Springs | Colorado | 4,237 | Mountain West | WAC | 1955 | |
| Akron | Zips | Akron | Ohio | 19,200 | MAC | OAC, MCC, OVC | 1891 | 1987 |
| Alabama | Crimson Tide | Tuscaloosa | Alabama | 38,500 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | |
| Appalachian State | Mountaineers | Boone | North Carolina | 19,100 | Sun Belt | NSC, SoCon | 1928 | 2014 |
| Arizona | Wildcats | Tucson | Arizona | 45,200 | Pac-12 | BIAA, WAC | 1899 | |
| Arizona State | Sun Devils | Tempe | Arizona | 51,800 | Pac-12 | BIAA, WAC | 1896 | |
| Arkansas | Razorbacks | Fayetteville | Arkansas | 27,800 | SEC | SWC | 1894 | |
| Arkansas State | Red Wolves | Jonesboro | Arkansas | 22,000 | Sun Belt | Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference, Southland, Big West | 1911 | 1992 |
| Army | Black Knights | West Point | New York | 4,300 | Independent | C-USA | 1890 | |
| Auburn | Tigers | Auburn | Alabama | 30,400 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | |
| Ball State | Cardinals | Muncie | Indiana | 22,500 | MAC | IIC, ICC | 1924 | |
| Baylor | Bears | Waco | Texas | 17,200 | Big 12 | TIAA, SWC | 1899 | |
| Boise State | Broncos | Boise | Idaho | 25,500 | Mountain West | ICAC, Big Sky, Big West, WAC | 1933 | 1996 |
| Boston College | Eagles | Chestnut Hill | Massachusetts | 14,700 | ACC | Big East | 1893 | |
| Bowling Green | Falcons | Bowling Green | Ohio | 23,000 | MAC | Northwest Ohio Intercollegiate Athletic Association, OAC | 1919 | |
| Buffalo | Bulls | Buffalo | New York | 31,500 | MAC | New York State Conference | 1894 | 1999 |
| BYU | Cougars | Provo | Utah | 33,600 | Independent | Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, WAC, MW | 1922 | |
| California | Golden Bears | Berkeley | California | 42,500 | Pac-12 | PCC | 1882 | |
| Central Michigan | Chippewas | Mount Pleasant | Michigan | 21,700 | MAC | MCC, IIAC | 1896 | |
| Charlotte | 49ers | Charlotte | North Carolina | 29,700 | C-USA | Sun Belt, C-USA, A-10 | 2013 | 2015 |
| Cincinnati | Bearcats | Cincinnati | Ohio | 46,000 | American | OAC, Buckeye Intercollegiate Athletic Association, MAC, MVC, C-USA, Big East | 1885 | |
| Clemson | Tigers | Clemson | South Carolina | 25,000 | ACC | SIAA, SAIAA, SoCon | 1896 | |
| Coastal Carolina | Chanticleers | Conway | South Carolina | 10,600 | Sun Belt | Big South | 2003 | 2017 |
| Colorado | Buffaloes | Boulder | Colorado | 33,200 | Pac-12 | Colorado Football Association, Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, Big Eight, Big 12 | 1890 | |
| Colorado State | Rams | Fort Collins | Colorado | 33,800 | Mountain West | Colorado Football Association, Rocky Mountain, Mountain States, WAC | 1890 | |
| Duke | Blue Devils | Durham | North Carolina | 15,900 | ACC | SoCon | 1888 | |
| East Carolina | Pirates | Greenville | North Carolina | 29,100 | American | NSC, Carolinas, SoCon, C-USA | 1932 | |
| Eastern Michigan | Eagles | Ypsilanti | Michigan | 20,300 | MAC | MIAA, MCC, IIAC, PAC | 1891 | |
| FIU | Panthers | Miami | Florida | 56,800 | C-USA | Sun Belt | 2002 | 2006 |
| Florida | Gators | Gainesville | Florida | 56,100 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1906 | |
| Florida Atlantic | Owls | Boca Raton | Florida | 30,800 | C-USA | Sun Belt | 2001 | 2006 |
| Florida State | Seminoles | Tallahassee | Florida | 41,900 | ACC | Dixie | 1947 | |
| Fresno State | Bulldogs | Fresno | California | 25,000 | Mountain West | California Coast Conference, NCAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1921 | |
| Georgia | Bulldogs | Athens | Georgia | 38,200 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | |
| Georgia Southern | Eagles | Statesboro | Georgia | 26,400 | Sun Belt | SoCon | 1924 | 2014 |
| Georgia State | Panthers | Atlanta | Georgia | 52,800 | Sun Belt | CAA | 2010 | 2013 |
| Georgia Tech | Yellow Jackets | Atlanta | Georgia | 32,700 | ACC | SIAA, SoCon, SEC | 1892 | |
| Hawaii | Rainbow Warriors | Honolulu | Hawai'i | 17,700 | Mountain West | WAC | 1909 | |
| Houston | Cougars | Houston | Texas | 42,700 | American | Lone Star, Gulf Coast, MVC, SWC, C-USA | 1946 | |
| Illinois | Fighting Illini | Urbana–Champaign | Illinois | 51,200 | Big Ten | Illinois Intercollegiate Football League | 1890 | |
| Indiana | Hoosiers | Bloomington | Indiana | 43,700 | Big Ten | IIAA | 1887 | |
| Iowa | Hawkeyes | Iowa City | Iowa | 33,000 | Big Ten | WIUFA, MVC | 1889 | |
| Iowa State | Cyclones | Ames | Iowa | 33,400 | Big 12 | MVC, Big 8 | 1892 | |
| Kansas | Jayhawks | Lawrence | Kansas | 27,700 | Big 12 | KCAC, WIUFA, MVC, Big 8 | 1890 | |
| Kansas State | Wildcats | Manhattan | Kansas | 21,700 | Big 12 | MVC, Big 8 | 1896 | |
| Kent State | Golden Flashes | Kent | Ohio | 39,300 | MAC | OAC | 1920 | |
| Kentucky | Wildcats | Lexington | Kentucky | 29,200 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1881 | |
| Liberty | Flames | Lynchburg | Virginia | 15,000 | Independent | Big South | 1973 | 2018 |
| Louisiana | Ragin' Cajuns | Lafayette | Louisiana | 19,200 | Sun Belt | Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Louisiana Intercollegiate Conference, Gulf States Conference, SIAA, Southland, Big West | 1902 | |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Warhawks | Monroe | Louisiana | 8,800 | Sun Belt | Gulf States Conference, Southland, Independent | 1951 | 1994 |
| Louisiana Tech | Bulldogs | Ruston | Louisiana | 12,400 | C-USA | Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Louisiana Intercollegiate Conference, Gulf States Conference, SIAA, Southland, Big West, WAC | 1901 | 1989 |
| Louisville | Cardinals | Louisville | Kentucky | 22,600 | ACC | KIAC, SIAA, KIAC, OVC, MVC, C-USA, Big East, American | 1910 | |
| LSU | Tigers | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | 30,800 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1893 | |
| Marshall | Thundering Herd | Huntington | West Virginia | 13,200 | C-USA | WVIAC, Buckeye Conference, OVC, MAC, SoCon | 1895 | 1997 |
| Maryland | Terrapins | College Park | Maryland | 41,200 | Big Ten | MIFA, SAIAA, SoCon, ACC | 1888 | |
| Memphis | Tigers | Memphis | Tennessee | 21,500 | American | Mississippi Valley Conference, SIAA, MVC, C-USA | 1912 | |
| Miami | Hurricanes | Coral Gables | Florida | 17,300 | ACC | SIAA, Big East | 1926 | |
| Miami | RedHawks | Oxford | Ohio | 24,300 | MAC | OAC, Buckeye Conference | 1888 | |
| Michigan | Wolverines | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 46,000 | Big Ten | 1879 | ||
| Michigan State | Spartans | East Lansing | Michigan | 50,300 | Big Ten | MIAA | 1885 | |
| Middle Tennessee | Blue Raiders | Murfreesboro | Tennessee | 21,900 | C-USA | VSAC, SIAA, OVC, Sun Belt | 1911 | 1999 |
| Minnesota | Golden Gophers | Minneapolis | Minnesota | 47,800 | Big Ten | 1882 | ||
| Mississippi State | Bulldogs | Starkville | Mississippi | 22,200 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1895 | |
| Missouri | Tigers | Columbia | Missouri | 30,000 | SEC | WIUFA, Big 8, Big 12 | 1890 | |
| Navy | Midshipmen | Annapolis | Maryland | 4,600 | American | Independent | 1879 | |
| NC State | Wolfpack | Raleigh | North Carolina | 35,500 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon | 1892 | |
| Nebraska | Cornhuskers | Lincoln | Nebraska | 25,800 | Big Ten | WIUFA, MVC, Big 8, Big 12 | 1890 | |
| Nevada | Wolf Pack | Reno | Nevada | 21,600 | Mountain West | NCAC, Big Sky, Big West, WAC | 1896 | 1992 |
| New Mexico | Lobos | Albuquerque | New Mexico | 26,300 | Mountain West | BIAA, WAC | 1892 | |
| New Mexico State | Aggies | Las Cruces | New Mexico | 21,900 | Independent | BIAA, MVC, Big West, Sun Belt, WAC | 1893 | |
| North Carolina | Tar Heels | Chapel Hill | North Carolina | 29,800 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon | 1888 | |
| North Texas | Mean Green | Denton | Texas | 39,400 | C-USA | TIAA, Lone Star, Gulf Coast Conference, MVC, Southland, Big West, Sun Belt | 1913 | 1995 |
| Northern Illinois | Huskies | DeKalb | Illinois | 20,000 | MAC | IIAC, Big West | 1899 | |
| Northwestern | Wildcats | Evanston | Illinois | 21,200 | Big Ten | 1876 | ||
| Notre Dame | Fighting Irish | South Bend | Indiana | 12,300 | Independent | 1887 | ||
| Ohio | Bobcats | Athens | Ohio | 34,900 | MAC | OAC, Buckeye Conference | 1894 | |
| Ohio State | Buckeyes | Columbus | Ohio | 68,100 | Big Ten | OAC | 1889 | |
| Oklahoma | Sooners | Norman | Oklahoma | 28,500 | Big 12 | Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference, SWC, MVC, Big 8 | 1895 | |
| Oklahoma State | Cowboys | Stillwater | Oklahoma | 25,300 | Big 12 | Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference, SWC, MVC, Big 8 | 1901 | |
| Old Dominion | Monarchs | Norfolk | Virginia | 25,000 | C-USA | CAA | 2009 | 2014 |
| Ole Miss | Rebels | Oxford | Mississippi | 23,200 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1890 | |
| Oregon | Ducks | Eugene | Oregon | 22,700 | Pac-12 | PCC, Independent | 1894 | |
| Oregon State | Beavers | Corvallis | Oregon | 30,900 | Pac-12 | PCC, Independent | 1893 | |
| Penn State | Nittany Lions | University Park | Pennsylvania | 46,600 | Big Ten | 1881 | ||
| Pittsburgh | Panthers | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 28,600 | ACC | Big East | 1890 | |
| Purdue | Boilermakers | West Lafayette | Indiana | 43,400 | Big Ten | IIAA | 1887 | |
| Rice | Owls | Houston | Texas | 7,100 | C-USA | TIAA, SWC, WAC | 1912 | |
| Rutgers | Scarlet Knights | Piscataway | New Jersey | 70,900 | Big Ten | Middle Atlantic, Big East, American | 1869 | |
| San Diego State | Aztecs | San Diego | California | 34,900 | Mountain West | Southern California Junior College Conference, SCIAC, CCAA, Big West, WAC | 1921 | 1969 |
| San Jose State | Spartans | San Jose | California | 32,800 | Mountain West | California Coast Conference, NCAC, California Collegiate, Big West, WAC | 1892 | |
| SMU | Mustangs | University Park | Texas | 11,800 | American | TIAA, SWC, WAC, C-USA | 1915 | |
| South Alabama | Jaguars | Mobile | Alabama | 15,100 | Sun Belt | 2009 | 2012 | |
| South Carolina | Gamecocks | Columbia | South Carolina | 50,100 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon, ACC | 1892 | |
| South Florida | Bulls | Tampa | Florida | 50,700 | American | C-USA, Big East | 1997 | 2001 |
| Southern Miss | Golden Eagles | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | 14,500 | C-USA | Gulf States Conference, SIAA | 1912 | |
| Stanford | Cardinal | Stanford | California | 16,500 | Pac-12 | PCC | 1891 | |
| Syracuse | Orange | Syracuse | New York | 22,900 | ACC | Big East | 1889 | |
| TCU | Horned Frogs | Fort Worth | Texas | 10,400 | Big 12 | TIAA, SWC, WAC, C-USA, MW | 1896 | |
| Temple | Owls | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 40,000 | American | Middle Atlantic, Big East, MAC, Big East | 1894 | |
| Tennessee | Volunteers | Knoxville | Tennessee | 28,900 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1891 | |
| Texas | Longhorns | Austin | Texas | 51,800 | Big 12 | SIAA, TIAA, SWC | 1893 | |
| Texas A&M | Aggies | College Station | Texas | 69,400 | SEC | SIAA, SWC, Big 12 | 1894 | |
| Texas State | Bobcats | San Marcos | Texas | 38,800 | Sun Belt | TIAA, Lone Star, Gulf Star, Southland, WAC | 1904 | 2012 |
| Texas Tech | Red Raiders | Lubbock | Texas | 38,200 | Big 12 | BIAA, SWC | 1925 | |
| Toledo | Rockets | Toledo | Ohio | 23,100 | MAC | Northwestern Ohio Intercollegiate Athletic Association, OAC | 1917 | |
| Troy | Trojans | Troy | Alabama | 18,100 | Sun Belt | Alabama Intercollegiate Conference, SIAA, Alabama Collegiate Conference, Mid-South Athletic Conference, Gulf South, Southland | 1909 | 2002 |
| Tulane | Green Wave | New Orleans | Louisiana | 14,100 | American | SIAA, SoCon, SEC, C-USA | 1893 | |
| Tulsa | Golden Hurricane | Tulsa | Oklahoma | 4,300 | American | Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference, Big 4 Conference, MVC, WAC, C-USA | 1895 | |
| UAB | Blazers | Birmingham | Alabama | 21,900 | C-USA | 1991 | 1999 | |
| UCF | Knights | Orlando | Florida | 68,600 | American | MAC, C-USA | 1979 | 1996 |
| UCLA | Bruins | Los Angeles | California | 45,400 | Pac-12 | SCIAC, PCC | 1919 | |
| UConn | Huskies | Storrs | Connecticut | 32,200 | Independent | Yankee, A-10, Big East, American | 1896 | 2000 |
| UMass | Minutemen | Amherst | Massachusetts | 30,600 | Independent | Yankee, A-10, CAA, MAC | 1879 | 2012 |
| UNLV | Rebels | Las Vegas | Nevada | 30,500 | Mountain West | Big West, WAC | 1968 | 1978 |
| USC | Trojans | Los Angeles | California | 45,700 | Pac-12 | PCC | 1888 | |
| UTEP | Miners | El Paso | Texas | 25,100 | C-USA | BIAA, WAC | 1914 | |
| UTSA | Roadrunners | San Antonio | Texas | 30,700 | C-USA | WAC | 2011 | 2012 |
| Utah | Utes | Salt Lake City | Utah | 33,000 | Pac-12 | Colorado Football Association, RMAC, Mountain States, WAC, MW | 1892 | |
| Utah State | Aggies | Logan | Utah | 29,400 | Mountain West | Colorado Football Association, RMAC, Mountain States, Big West, Independent, Sun Belt, WAC | 1892 | |
| Vanderbilt | Commodores | Nashville | Tennessee | 13,100 | SEC | SIAA, SoCon | 1890 | |
| Virginia | Cavaliers | Charlottesville | Virginia | 24,400 | ACC | SAIAA, SoCon | 1888 | |
| Virginia Tech | Hokies | Blacksburg | Virginia | 33,400 | ACC | SAIAA, SIAA, SoCon, Big East | 1892 | |
| Wake Forest | Demon Deacons | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | 8,100 | ACC | Big Five Conference, SoCon | 1888 | |
| Washington | Huskies | Seattle | Washington | 47,900 | Pac-12 | PCC | 1889 | |
| Washington State | Cougars | Pullman | Washington | 30,600 | Pac-12 | PCC, Independent | 1893 | |
| West Virginia | Mountaineers | Morgantown | West Virginia | 30,000 | Big 12 | SoCon, WVIAC, Big East | 1891 | |
| Western Kentucky | Hilltoppers | Bowling Green | Kentucky | 20,300 | C-USA | SIAA, KIAC, OVC, MVFC, Sun Belt | 1913 | 2009 |
| Western Michigan | Broncos | Kalamazoo | Michigan | 22,900 | MAC | MCC | 1905 | |
| Wisconsin | Badgers | Madison | Wisconsin | 44,400 | Big Ten | 1889 | ||
| Wyoming | Cowboys | Laramie | Wyoming | 12,400 | Mountain West | Colorado Football Association, RMAC, WAC | 1893 |
;Notes