List of NAIA football programs

Map of NAIA football programs, 2026

This is a list of schools in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) that have football as a varsity sport.[1] In the 2026 season, there are a total of 96 NAIA football programs.

NAIA football programs

Institution Nickname City State Program Established Conference
for football		 Primary
conference
Andrew College Fighting Tigers Cuthbert Georgia 2024 Independent
(Appalachian Athletic Conference in 2027.)		 Southern States Athletic Conference
Arizona Christian University Firestorm Phoenix Arizona 2014 Frontier Conference Great Southwest Athletic Conference
Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes Little Rock Arkansas 2007 Sooner Athletic Conference Continental Athletic Conference
Ave Maria University Gyrenes Naples Florida 2011 The Sun Conference
Avila University Eagles Kansas City Missouri 1999 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Baker University Wildcats Baldwin City Kansas 1890 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Benedictine College Ravens Atchison Kansas 1902 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Bethany College Terrible Swedes Lindsborg Kansas 1893 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Bethel University Wildcats McKenzie Tennessee 1900 Mid-South Conference
Bethel College Threshers Newton Kansas 1914 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Bluefield University Rams Bluefield Virginia 1941;
2012		 Appalachian Athletic Conference
Briar Cliff University Chargers Sioux City Iowa 2003 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Campbellsville University Tigers Campbellsville Kentucky 1988 Mid-South Conference
Carroll College Fighting Saints Helena Montana 1920 Frontier Conference
Central Methodist University Eagles Fayette Missouri 1896 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Clarke University Pride Dubuque Iowa 2019 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Concordia University-Nebraska Bulldogs Seward Nebraska 2000 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Culver–Stockton College Wildcats Canton Missouri N/A Heart of America Athletic Conference
Cumberland University Phoenix Lebanon Tennessee 1894 Mid-South Conference
University of the Cumberlands Patriots Williamsburg Kentucky 1985 Mid-South Conference
Dakota State University Trojans Madison South Dakota 2006 Frontier Conference
Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers Mitchell South Dakota 1897 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Defiance College Yellow Jackets Defiance Ohio 1903 Mid-States Football Association Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Dickinson State University Blue Hawks Dickinson North Dakota 1925 Frontier Conference
Doane University Tigers Crete Nebraska 1891 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Dordt University Defenders Sioux Center Iowa 2008 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers La Grande Oregon 1929 Frontier Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference
Evangel University Valor Springfield Missouri 1977 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Faulkner University Eagles Montgomery Alabama 2007 Independent
(Appalachian Athletic Conference in 2027.)		 Southern States Athletic Conference
Florida Memorial University Lions Miami Gardens Florida 1945;
2020		 The Sun Conference
Friends University Falcons Wichita Kansas N/A Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Georgetown College Tigers Georgetown Kentucky 1893 Mid-South Conference
Graceland University Yellowjackets Lamoni Iowa 1910 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Grand View University Vikings Des Moines Iowa 2008 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Hastings College Broncos Hastings Nebraska 1895 Great Plains Athletic Conference
College of Idaho Coyotes Caldwell Idaho 1905;
2014		 Frontier Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference
Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats Marion Indiana 2018 Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
Judson University Eagles Elgin Illinois 2021 Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes Salina Kansas 1893 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Keiser University Seahawks West Palm Beach Florida 2018 The Sun Conference
Kentucky Christian University Knights Grayson Kentucky 2008 Appalachian Athletic Conference River States Conference
Langston University Lions Langston Oklahoma 1922 Sooner Athletic Conference
Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils Southfield Michigan 1933;
2018		 Mid-States Football Association Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Lindsey Wilson University Blue Raiders Columbia Kentucky 2010 Mid-South Conference
Louisiana Christian University Wildcats Pineville Louisiana 1908;
2000		 Sooner Athletic Conference Red River Athletic Conference
Madonna University Crusaders Livonia Michigan 2020 Mid-States Football Association Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Marian University Knights Indianapolis Indiana 2007 Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
Mayville State University Comets Mayville North Dakota N/A Frontier Conference
McPherson College Bulldogs McPherson Kansas 1917 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers Olathe Kansas 1979 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Midland University Warriors Fremont Nebraska 1895 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Missouri Baptist University Spartans St. Louis Missouri 2014 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Missouri Valley College Vikings Marshall Missouri 1892 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Montana State University-Northern Lights Havre Montana 1957 Frontier Conference
Montana Technological University Orediggers Butte Montana 1902 Frontier Conference
University of Montana Western Bulldogs Dillon Montana N/A Frontier Conference
Morningside University Mustangs Sioux City Iowa 1898 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Mount Marty University Lancers Yankton South Dakota 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Mount Mercy University Mustangs Cedar Rapids Iowa 2026 Heart of America Athletic Conference
Nelson University Lions Waxahachie Texas 1996 Sooner Athletic Conference
Northwestern College Red Raiders Orange City Iowa 1950 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies Goodwell Oklahoma N/A Sooner Athletic Conference
Olivet Nazarene University Tigers Bourbonnais Illinois 1976 Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Ottawa University Braves Ottawa Kansas 1891 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Ottawa University Arizona Spirit Surprise Arizona 2018 Sooner Athletic Conference Great Southwest Athletic Conference
Peru State College Bobcats Peru Nebraska 1900 Heart of America Athletic Conference
University of Pikeville Bears Pikeville Kentucky 2001 Appalachian Athletic Conference
Point University Skyhawks West Point Georgia 2012 Appalachian Athletic Conference
Reinhardt University Eagles Waleska Georgia 2013 Appalachian Athletic Conference
University of Rio Grande RedStorm Rio Grande Ohio 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference River States Conference
Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears Billings Montana 1931 Frontier Conference
St. Ambrose University Fighting Bees Davenport Iowa 1893;
1974		 Heart of America Athletic Conference
University of St. Francis (IL) Fighting Saints Joliet Illinois 1986 Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
University of Saint Francis (IN) Cougars Fort Wayne Indiana 1998 Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
University of Saint Mary Spires Leavenworth Kansas 2000 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Pomeroys Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Indiana 2022 Mid-States Football Association River States Conference
Saint Thomas University Bobcats Miami Gardens Florida 2019 The Sun Conference
Saint Xavier University Cougars Chicago Illinois 1993 Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Simpson University Red Hawks Redding California 2023 Frontier Conference California Pacific Conference
Southeastern University Fire Lakeland Florida 2014 The Sun Conference
Southern Oregon University Raiders Ashland Oregon 1927 Frontier Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference
Southwestern College Moundbuilders Winfield Kansas 1903 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Sterling College Warriors Sterling Kansas 1893 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Tabor College Bluejays Hillsboro Kansas N/A Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Taylor University Trojans Upland Indiana N/A Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
Texas College Steers Tyler Texas 1922;
2004		 Sooner Athletic Conference Red River Athletic Conference
Texas Wesleyan University Rams Fort Worth Texas 1933;
2017		 Sooner Athletic Conference
Thomas University Night Hawks Thomasville Georgia 2022 The Sun Conference Southern States Athletic Conference
Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs Barbourville Kentucky 1905;
1922;
1984		 Appalachian Athletic Conference
Valley City State University Vikings Valley City North Dakota N/A Frontier Conference
Waldorf University Warriors Forest City Iowa 1965 Great Plains Athletic Conference
Warner University Royals Lake Wales Florida 2013 The Sun Conference
Wayland Baptist University Pioneers Plainview Texas 2012 Sooner Athletic Conference
Webber International University Warriors Babson Park Florida 2003 The Sun Conference
William Penn University Statesmen Oskaloosa Iowa 1892 Heart of America Athletic Conference
William Woods University Owls Fulton Missouri 2024 Heart of America Athletic Conference

Future NAIA football programs

School Nickname City State Conference for football Primary
conference		 Begins
play
Bismarck State College Mystics Bismarck North Dakota Frontier Conference 2027[2]
Calumet College of St. Joseph Crimson Wave Hammond Indiana Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference 2027[3]
Manchester University Spartans North Manchester Indiana TBA Crossroads League 2027[4]
Midway University Eagles Midway Kentucky Mid-States Football Association River States Conference 2027[5]
Stillman College Tigers Tuscaloosa Alabama TBA HBCU Athletic Conference TBA[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Football Qualification Plan 2009" (PDF). NAIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  2. ↑ "BSC announces addition of football program" (Press release). Bismarck State Mystics. November 6, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ "CCSJ Football program officially moves to NAIA, joining MSFA in 2027" (Press release). Calumet College of St. Joseph. April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Manchester University to Join Crossroads League in Fall of 2027". Crossroads League. August 27, 2026. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Midway University football to move to NAIA, joining MSFA in 2027-28" (Press release). Midway University. May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Stillman College Announces Return of Football" (Press release). Stillman College. August 14, 2026. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
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