List of NAIA football programs

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This is a list of schools in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) that have football as a varsity sport.[1] In the 2024 season, there are a total of 97 NAIA football programs.

NAIA football programs

Institution Nickname City State Conference
for football
Primary
conference
Arizona Christian University
Firestorm
Phoenix Arizona Frontier Conference Golden State Athletic Conference
Arkansas Baptist College
Buffaloes
Little Rock Arkansas Sooner Athletic Conference
Continental Athletic Conference
Ave Maria University Gyrenes Naples Florida The Sun Conference
Avila University
Eagles
Kansas City Missouri Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Baker University Wildcats Baldwin City Kansas Heart of America Athletic Conference
Benedictine College Ravens Atchison Kansas Heart of America Athletic Conference
Bethany College Terrible Swedes Lindsborg Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Bethel University
Wildcats
McKenzie Tennessee Mid-South Conference
Bethel College Threshers Newton Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Bluefield University Rams Bluefield Virginia Appalachian Athletic Conference
Briar Cliff University
Chargers
Sioux City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference
Campbellsville University
Tigers
Campbellsville Kentucky Mid-South Conference
Carroll College
Fighting Saints Helena Montana Frontier Conference
Central Methodist University Eagles Fayette Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference
Clarke University
Pride
Dubuque Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference
Concordia University–Michigan
Cardinals
Ann Arbor Michigan Mid-States Football Association Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Concordia University–Nebraska
Bulldogs
Seward Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference
Culver–Stockton College
Wildcats
Canton Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference
Cumberland University
Phoenix
Lebanon Tennessee Mid-South Conference
University of the Cumberlands
Patriots
Williamsburg Kentucky Mid-South Conference
Dakota State University
Trojans
Madison South Dakota North Star Athletic Association
Dakota Wesleyan University
Tigers
Mitchell South Dakota Great Plains Athletic Conference
Defiance College[a]
Yellow Jackets
Defiance Ohio Mid-States Football Association Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Dickinson State University
Blue Hawks
Dickinson North Dakota North Star Athletic Association
(Frontier Conference in 2025.)
Doane University
Tigers
Crete Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference
Dordt University
Defenders
Sioux Center Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference
Eastern Oregon University
Mountaineers
La Grande Oregon Frontier Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference
Evangel University
Valor
Springfield Missouri Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Faulkner University
Eagles
Montgomery Alabama Mid-South Conference Southern States Athletic Conference
Florida Memorial University Lions Miami Gardens Florida The Sun Conference
Friends University Falcons Wichita Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Georgetown College Tigers Georgetown Kentucky Mid-South Conference
Graceland University Yellowjackets Lamoni Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference
Grand View University Vikings Des Moines Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference
Hastings College
Broncos
Hastings Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference
College of Idaho
Coyotes
Caldwell Idaho Frontier Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference
Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats Marion Indiana Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
University of Jamestown
Jimmies
Jamestown North Dakota North Star Athletic Association[b]
Judson University
Eagles
Elgin Illinois Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes Salina Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Keiser University Seahawks West Palm Beach Florida The Sun Conference
Kentucky Christian University Knights Grayson Kentucky Appalachian Athletic Conference
Langston University
Lions
Langston Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference
Lawrence Technological University
Blue Devils
Southfield Michigan Mid-States Football Association Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Lindsey Wilson College
Blue Raiders
Columbia Kentucky Mid-South Conference
Louisiana Christian University Wildcats Pineville Louisiana Sooner Athletic Conference Red River Athletic Conference
Madonna University
Crusaders
Livonia Michigan Mid-States Football Association Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Marian University
Knights
Indianapolis Indiana Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
Mayville State University
Comets
Mayville North Dakota North Star Athletic Association
McPherson College Bulldogs McPherson Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers Olathe Kansas Heart of America Athletic Conference
Midland University
Warriors
Fremont Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference
Missouri Baptist University Spartans St. Louis Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference American Midwest Conference
(Heart of America Athletic Conference as full-member in 2025.)
Missouri Valley College
Vikings
Marshall Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference
Montana State University–Northern
Lights
Havre Montana Frontier Conference
Montana Technological University Orediggers Butte Montana Frontier Conference
University of Montana Western
Bulldogs
Dillon Montana Frontier Conference
Morningside University
Mustangs
Sioux City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference
Mount Marty University
Lancers
Yankton South Dakota Great Plains Athletic Conference
North American University
Stallions
Stafford Texas Sooner Athletic Conference Red River Athletic Conference
Northwestern College
Red Raiders
Orange City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference
Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies Goodwell Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference
Olivet Nazarene University
Tigers
Bourbonnais Illinois Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Ottawa University Braves Ottawa Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Ottawa University Arizona
Spirit
Surprise Arizona Sooner Athletic Conference Golden State Athletic Conference
Peru State College
Bobcats
Peru Nebraska Heart of America Athletic Conference
University of Pikeville Bears Pikeville Kentucky Appalachian Athletic Conference
Point University Skyhawks West Point Georgia Appalachian Athletic Conference
Reinhardt University Eagles Waleska Georgia Appalachian Athletic Conference
Rocky Mountain College
Battlin' Bears
Billings Montana Frontier Conference
St. Ambrose University
Fighting Bees
Davenport Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
St. Andrews University Knights Laurinburg North Carolina Appalachian Athletic Conference
University of St. Francis (Ill.)
Fighting Saints
Joliet Illinois Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars Fort Wayne Indiana Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
University of Saint Mary Spires Leavenworth Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Saint Thomas University
Bobcats
Miami Gardens Florida The Sun Conference
Saint Xavier University
Cougars
Chicago Illinois Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Siena Heights University
Saints
Adrian Michigan Mid-States Football Association Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Simpson University
Red Hawks
Redding California TBD California Pacific Conference
Southeastern University
Fire Lakeland Florida The Sun Conference
Southern Oregon University Raiders Ashland Oregon Frontier Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Lions
Waxahachie Texas Sooner Athletic Conference
Southwestern College Moundbuilders Winfield Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Sterling College Warriors Sterling Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Tabor College Bluejays Hillsboro Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Taylor University Trojans Upland Indiana Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League
Texas College
Steers
Tyler Texas Sooner Athletic Conference Red River Athletic Conference
Texas Wesleyan University
Rams
Fort Worth Texas Sooner Athletic Conference
Thomas University Night Hawks Thomasville Georgia The Sun Conference Southern States Athletic Conference
Union College Bulldogs Barbourville Kentucky Appalachian Athletic Conference
Valley City State University
Vikings
Valley City North Dakota North Star Athletic Association
Waldorf University
Warriors
Forest City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference
Warner University Royals Lake Wales Florida The Sun Conference
Wayland Baptist University
Pioneers
Plainview Texas Sooner Athletic Conference
Webber International University Warriors Babson Park Florida The Sun Conference
William Penn University
Statesmen
Oskaloosa Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference
William Woods University
Owls
Fulton Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference American Midwest Conference
(Heart of America Athletic Conference as full-member in 2025.)
  1. ^ Transitioning from the NCAA Division III.
  2. ^ Joining Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NCAA Division II) in 2025, pending NCAA approval.

Future NAIA football programs

School Nickname City State Conference for football Primary
conference
Begins
play
University of Rio Grande
RedStorm
Rio Grande Ohio Appalachian Athletic Conference River States Conference 2025[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Football Qualification Plan 2009" (PDF). NAIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  2. ^ Dannelly, Jason (April 23, 2024). "University of Rio Grande Adding Football in Fall '25". victorysportsnetwork.co. Retrieved April 23, 2024.