This is a list of schools in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) that have football as a varsity sport. In the 2026 season, there are a total of 96 NAIA football programs.
NAIA football programs Institution Nickname City State Program Established Conferencefor football Primaryconference Andrew College Fighting Tigers Cuthbert Georgia 2024 Independent 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 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 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 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 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 University 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 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 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 Fighting Bees Davenport Iowa 1893;1974 Heart of America Athletic Conference Fighting Saints Joliet Illinois 1986 Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Cougars Fort Wayne Indiana 1998 Mid-States Football Association Crossroads League 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 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 SchoolNickname City State Conference for footballPrimaryconference Beginsplay Bismarck State College Mystics Bismarck North Dakota Frontier Conference 2027 Calumet College of St. Joseph Crimson Wave Hammond Indiana Mid-States Football Association Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference 2027 Manchester UniversitySpartans North Manchester Indiana TBA Crossroads League 2027 Midway University Eagles Midway Kentucky Mid-States Football Association River States Conference 2027 Stillman College Tigers Tuscaloosa Alabama TBA HBCU Athletic Conference 2027 Wilberforce University Bulldogs Wilberforce Ohio TBA HBCU Athletic Conference 2027
See also List of NAIA institutions List of current NAIA football coaches NAIA football national championship List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team List of NCAA Division I FBS football programs List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs List of NCAA Division II football programs List of NCAA Division III football programs List of community college football programs List of NCAA institutions with club football teams List of defunct college football teams
References