Notable headlines
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April 25 – The NCAA approved an increase in the number of seeded teams in the FCS playoff bracket from 8 to 16, effective for the 2024 season. The number of qualifying teams and the bracket format will remain otherwise unchanged.[2]
May 29 – Stephen F. Austin announced it would leave the United Athletic Conference (UAC) on July 1 to rejoin the Southland Conference (SLC) after a three-year absence.[3]
Conference changes and new programs
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Conference standings
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Postseason
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The FCS will again feature a 24-team postseason bracket: 10 teams decided via automatic bids issued to conference champions, and 14 at-large bids (see above). Where previously the top eight teams were seeded, the top sixteen teams will be seeded this year, a new change from the 2023 season .[2]
Bowl game
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Rankings
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The top 25 from the Stats Perform and USA Today Coaches Polls.
Kickoff games
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The regular season will begin on Saturday, August 24 with four games in Week 0 :
Coaching changes
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Preseason and in-season
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This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2024, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2024, see 2023 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes .
School
Outgoing coach
Date
Reason
Replacement
End of season
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This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.
School
Outgoing coach
Date
Reason
Replacement
See also
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References
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^ "FCS Championship: Future dates and sites" . NCAA.com . Retrieved January 24, 2024 .
^ a b Herder, Sam (April 25, 2024). "Seeded Teams In 24-Team FCS Playoff Bracket Increases From 8 To 16" . HeroSports.com . Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
^ "SFA Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25" (Press release). Southland Conference. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024 .
^ "Coastal Athletic Association adding Bryant University in '24" . ESPN.com . August 10, 2023.
^ "Kennesaw State to join Conference USA in July 2024" . ESPN.com . October 14, 2022.
^ "Mercyhurst University marks new era in athletics with move to Division I" . hurstathletics.com . Mercyhurst University. April 4, 2024.
^ "Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference" . merrimack.edu . Merrimack College. October 23, 2023.
^ "RMU Football to Rejoin Northeast Conference for 2024 Season" . rmucolonials.com . Robert Morris University. November 28, 2023.
^ "Sacred Heart University Joining the MAAC" . sacredheartpioneers.com . Sacred Heart University. March 14, 2024.
^ "SFA Accepts Bid to Southland Conference for 2024-25 Season" . sfajacks.com . Stephen F. Austin State University. May 29, 2024.
^ "UWG, United Athletic Conference Reveal 2024 Conference Football Slate" . uwgathletics.com . University of West Georgia. November 14, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024 .
^ "UWG Athletics to Transition to NCAA Division I" . westga.edu . Retrieved May 30, 2024 .
^ "UAC Welcomes West Georgia as its 11th Member" . uacfootball.com . United Athletic Conference. August 8, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024 .
^ "University of West Georgia Announces Move to NCAA Division I" . SI.com . September 8, 2023.
^ "Western Illinois University to Join the OVC in 2023-24" . ovcsports.com . December 5, 2023.