How Many College Football Teams Are There?

Division 1 FBS

Division 1 (D1) is the highest level of competition for college sports, including football. In college football, Division 1 is actually split into two levels: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). FBS is the top level of competitive college football and is home to the top-ranking athletes from across the country.

Schools with this delineation can give out up to 85 full-ride scholarships, which is one of the reasons this level is so attractive to college athletes. They also tend to be larger schools, with more comprehensive student-athlete programs and access to highly-trained and successful coaches and training staff.

So, how many D1 college football teams are there? 

Well, in FBS, you’ll find 129 football teams across the following 11 conferences:

• American Athletic Conference
• Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
• Big 12
• Big Ten
• Conference USA
• Independents
• Mid-American Conference
• Mountain West Conference
• PAC-12 Conference
• Southeastern Conference
• Sun Belt Conference

Some of the current top teams for these conferences include the Georgia Bulldogs from the University of Georgia, Ohio State, the University of Michigan Wolverines, and the Alabama Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama. You’ll also find beloved teams like the UCLA Bruins, the Syracuse Orange, the University of Wyoming Cowboys, the Ole Miss Rebels, the University of South Alabama Jaguars, or the Stanford Cardinals.

Throughout history, some FBS teams have stood out, advancing to later games and winning National Championship games. Top teams from football past include the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, USC Trojans, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, and the University of Oklahoma Sooners.

To determine the national champion of the NCAA Division 1 FBS champion, a four-tournament series is played. In 2022, the winner was the Georgia Bulldogs from the University of Georgia.   

Division 1 FCS

Playing Division 1 football under the FCS is also possible. These teams and athletes face similar levels of intensity, athletic rigor, and training as those under the FBS umbrella. They also have scholarships to award. 

FCS schools are typically smaller in size and population than FBS schools, so they can only award up to 63 scholarships to student-athletes. However, those scholarships can be divided. Like FBS schools, TCS schools must also adhere to the rules and regulations set out by the NCAA.

In FCS, you’ll find 125 teams divided into the following 14 conferences:

• Big Sky Conference
• Big South Conference
• Colonial Athletic Conference
• Ivy League
• Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
• Missouri Valley Football Conference
• Northeast Conference
• Ohio Valley Conference
• Patriot League
• Pioneer Football League
• Southern Conference
• Southland Conference
• Southwestern Athletic Conference
• United Athletic Conference

At the top of the rankings for FCS performance, you’ll find teams like: 

• The South Dakota State Jackrabbits from South Dakota State University
• The North Dakota State Bison from North Dakota State University
• The Incarnate Word Cardinals from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas
• The Montana State Bobcats from Montana State University
• The Sacramento State Hornets from California State University, Sacramento. 

In 2022, South Dakota State beat North Dakota State for the FCS championship title for the first time in history.

The FCS does come from an interesting history and background. From 1978 to 2005, it was known as NCAA Division I-AA Football to the FBS’ NCAA Division I-A, and just four teams played in the first year. By 1982, they had expanded to 12 teams, and a 16-team playoff configuration was in place by 1986. Today, there is a 24-team playoff in order to advance to the championship.

Over the last several decades, a few iconic FCS teams have risen to prominence and made impressive showings in the rankings. The top nine teams with the highest number of wins in FCS history include Yale University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, North Dakota State, Dartmouth College, the University of Delaware, the University of Dayton in Ohio, and Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.     

Division II Football

Another level of college athletics is Division II, which is still host to many impressive performers at high-quality schools across the country. 

It has been ranked as the intermediate level of college football since 1973, before which the smaller schools in the NCAA were grouped together as part of the College Division. After that period, the smaller schools were split into Division 2 and Division 3, based largely on whether there were athletic scholarships available to students.

D2 schools are still eligible to give athletic scholarships, which means these schools may be good fits for students who want to find that ideal education without sacrificing their spot on the team. However, the 36 available D2 athletic scholarships can be split up between players, so there is less of a guarantee of a complete scholarship than in some of the larger D1 schools.

That said, you have many exciting options to pick from regarding the right D2 school for your education or your support. 

Are you wondering, “How many college football teams are there in division 2?” Easy answer: There are 169 Division 2 football teams, part of the following 17 football conferences:

• Center Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• Great American Conference
• Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
• Great Lakes Valley Conference
• Great Midwest Athletic Conference
• Gulf South Conference
• Independents
• Lone Star Conference
• Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Conference
• Mountain East Conference
• Northeast-10 Conference
• Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
• Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
• Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
• South Atlantic Conference
• Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

A few features set D2 apart from D1, in addition to the different scholarship systems for student-athletes. Teams will play up to eleven games over the course of the season, leading up to the start of the Division 2 playoffs, which take place in November. 28 teams start in the playoffs, which then narrow down to 16 teams based on seed standing. A national championship game is played in December.

Another reason that D2 stands out from D1 sports is variety. Some of the stadiums where games are played are large and expansive, and others highlight local talent, with a great view of the field from close seats. 

Some of the top D2 teams from history include: 

• Pittsburg State University
• Tuskegee University
• Hillsdale College
• Carson Newman University in Tennessee
• University of Central Oklahoma
• West Chester University
• Texas A&M University Kingsville
• Northwest Missouri State University
• Virginia State University
• Truman State University 

The champion for both 2021 and 2022 was Ferris State University from Big Rapids, Michigan. 

Grab the Best Deals on College Football Tickets From TickPick Today

There’s a lot to love about college football, whether you’re all about following the stats and seed rankings or you just like the chance to see your favorite player out on the field without breaking the bank.

College football is a big and exciting sport, with hundreds of teams and players to follow from Utah to Fresno to Coastal Carolina. It’s easy to find the right team, coach, and players to root for when the time comes for the next big game. In fact, college football can be found in 49 of the 50 states across America, which means there’s a good chance you’ll have a game taking place close by.

There are several different divisions and conferences for college football, and understanding what sets them apart can help you find the best team and support them as they move through the ranks. 

At the top, you’ll find Division 1 football under the Football Bowl Subdivision, including Clemson University in South Carolina, Iowa State University, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Kentucky. These are the teams with top picks for student-athletes, and because the schools are larger, they typically have the most resources and expertise to grow and advance their teams.

In D1, you’ll also find the Football Championship Subdivision, with schools like Houston Christian University, Columbia University in New York, Portland State University in Oregon, and the University of San Diego. FCS schools are smaller than FBS schools but are still a great option for students looking to showcase their skills.

Next is D2, which is an intermediate level of skill, highlighted by well over 100 teams from across the country, including the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Colorado School of Mines, Mississippi College, and Quincy University in Illinois. These college football teams have a different breakdown for scholarships and championships, but many impressive athletes have still emerged from D2.When you’re ready to pick up tickets to your next college football game for the Arizona Wildcats, Arkansas Razorbacks, Auburn Tigers, or Baylor Bears, make TickPick your first stop. Find the best tickets for the best games — and all at the best prices — with support from our team today.