List of NAIA football programs

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 edit

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.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Football Qualification Plan 2009" (PDF). NAIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.