The National Club Football Association (NCFA) is an association of collegiate American football teams. It is a member of CollClubSports and manages the NCFA National Championship.
NCFA teams are typically operated by student sports clubs rather than faculty, and do not formally form part of a school's intercollegiate athletic program. The clubs can be based at any post-secondary college or university provided the institution in question agrees to officially recognize football as a club sport. In contrast the Intercollegiate Club Football Federation (ICFF) recognized, in addition to the above, student clubs without official recognition and independent programs that combine students at multiple schools that would otherwise be unable to play college football (the NCFA allows its members to play such independent teams but does not allow those teams to contest for the championship). A number of clubs had membership in both the ICFF and NCFA, especially in the midwest and south (only in the Northeast, where the ICFF's Yankee conference expelled several NCFA member teams in 2015, was there a major distinction between the two; the Yankee conference last played in 2016, with its remaining members either folding or joining the NCFA).
From 2012 through 2015, the NCFA National Championship Game was held at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia, which had also been the site of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. From 2016 through 2019, the NCFA National Championship Game was held at West Family Stadium on the campus of West Liberty University in Wheeling, West Virginia. In 2021 and 2022, the NCFA National Championship Game was moved to Waynesburg University at John F. Wiley Stadium. After one season at UPMC Graham Field in 2023, the title game returned to Waynesburg University in 2024. In 2025, the NCFA National Championship game was set to be hosted by the University of Toledo at the Glass Bowl. However, due to significant snow in the area, the game was moved to Mulhollan Field on the campus of Wright State University.
The 2020 Fall season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Active Member Schools The organization has 14 active clubs for the 2025 season. All current members are located east of the Mississippi River, primarily in the East Coast and Great Lakes regions of the United States. All but three programs are at public institutions; Loyola Chicago and Sacred Heart are private Catholic universities while Clarkson is a private nonsectarian university.
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined ColorsGreat Lakes - East Division Columbus, Ohio 1870 Public 61,369 Buckeyes 2012 Toledo, Ohio 1872 Public 18,319 Rockets 2021 Wright State University Fairborn, Ohio 1964 Public 17,074 Raiders 2010 Great Lakes - West Division Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois 1870 Private(Catholic, Jesuit) 16,437 Ramblers 2012 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1956 Public 33,502 Panthers 2013 Oakland University Auburn Hills, Michigan 1957 Public 20,519 Golden Grizzlies 2013 Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 1855 Public 49,695 Spartans 2015 North Atlantic Division Clarkson University Potsdam, New York 1896 Private (Nonsectarian) 2,848 Golden Knights 2012 Coppin State University Baltimore, Maryland 1900 Public 2,724 Eagles 2012 George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia 1957 Public 35,047 Patriots 2011 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut 1963 Private(Catholic, diocesan) 5,974 Pioneers 2015 Burlington, Vermont1791Public12,164Catamounts2010South Atlantic Division Columbus State University Columbus, Georgia 1958 Public 7,925 Cougars 2011 Columbia, South Carolina 1801 Public 35,388 Gamecocks 2010
Of the 14 active member schools for the 2025 season, five (Michigan State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Sacred Heart, Toledo) have parent NCAA programs. The remaining 9 teams operate as their schools' only active football programs, despite not being sponsored by their respective athletic departments.
Former members The NCFA has 52 former, or inactive, member clubs. Several former programs moved to other collegiate football athletic organizations.
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Currentconference University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama 1820 Public 38,320 Crimson Tide 2013 2013Folded Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina 1899 Public 20,641 Mountaineers 2019 2019Folded The Apprentice School Newport News, Virginia 1919 Private (Vocational) 725 Builders 2018 2018USCAA Central Connecticut State University New Britain, Connecticut 1849 Public 9,653 Blue Devils 2015 2016FoldedCentral Georgia Technical CollegeMacon, Georgia1962Public(Community/Technical)3,896Titans20222024NJCAA Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, Georgia 1963 Public 14,000 Golden Eagles 2010 2012Folded Clayton State University Morrow, Georgia 1969 Public 6,900 Lakers 2024 2025 NSAC Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 1889 Public 28,466 Tigers 2010 2011Folded University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colorado 1965 Public 12,753 Mountain Lions 2019 2019Folded Community Christian College Georgia Norcross, Georgia 1994 Private (Christian) 490 Knights 2018 2018Independent DePaul University Chicago, Illinois 1898 Private (Catholic) 38,320 Blue Demons 2015 2015Folded Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, Connecticut 1889 Public 4,125 Warriors 2012 2022Folded Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan 1849 Public 15,370 Eagles 2017 2019Folded University of Florida Gainesville, Florida 1853 Public 56,567 Gators 2017 2018Folded Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, Florida 1991 Public 15,373 Eagles 2018 2019Folded University of Fort Lauderdale Lauderhill, Florida 1995 Private(Christian, (non-denominational) 192 Eagles 2017 2020NCCAA Gordon State College Barnesville, Georgia 1872 Public 4,555 Highlanders 2021 2025 NSAC University of Hartford Hartford, Connecticut 1957 Private (Nonsectarian) 5,740 Hawks 2015 2018Folded Holland College Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada 1969 Public 2,600 Holland Hurricanes 2013 2013Atlantic Football League Johnson & Wales University Providence, Rhode Island 1914 Private (Nonsectarian) 5,676 Wildcats 2018 2018Folded Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia 1963 Public 41,181 Owls 2012 2016Folded Lander University Greenwood, South Carolina 1872 Public 4,167 Bearcats 2017 2017FoldedLongwood UniversityFarmville, Virginia1839Public4,470Lancers20102024Folded Macon State College Macon, Georgia 1965 Public N/A Blue Storm 2012 2013Merged with Middle Georgia College to become MGSU University of Maine Orono, Maine 1865 Public 11,561 Black Bears 2010 2012Folded University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, Maryland 1886 Public 2,333 Shore Hawks 2012 2016Folded Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado 1965 Public 15,682 Roadrunners 2016 2016Folded Miami University Oxford, Ohio 1809 Public 24,377 RedHawks 2011 2022Folded University of Michigan–Flint Flint, Michigan 1956 Public 6,418 Wolverines 2010;2013 2010;2017Folded Middle Georgia State University Macon, Georgia 1884 Public 7,885 Knights 2012 2020Folded University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana 1956 Public 8,231 Privateers 2010 2012Folded University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina 1789 Public 20,029 Tar Heels 2010 2011Folded University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina 1891 Public 19,764 Spartans 2016 2022Folded Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia 1930 Public 24,286 Monarchs 2012 2013Folded Onondaga Community College Syracuse, New York 1961 Public 7,320 Lazers 2012 2013Folded Orangeburg–Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, South Carolina 1968 Public 2,100 Wildcats 2011 2015FoldedPittsburgh, Pennsylvania1787Public28,391Panthers20162023Folded Radford University Radford, Virginia 1910 Public 10,700 Highlanders 2010 2015Folded University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Private (Nonsectarian) 2,300 Red Storm 2010 2010Folded Robert Morris University - Peoria Peoria, Illinois 2000 Private (Nonsectarian) N/A Eagles 2013 2016Folded, University later closed in 2021 Rollins College Winter Park, Florida 1885 Private (Nonsectarian) 3,127 Tars 2011;2016 2013;2018Folded Roosevelt University Chicago, Illinois 1872 Private (Nonsectarian) 3,725 Lakers 2018 2018Folded Shepherd Bible College 2012 2012College Closed University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 1963 Public 15,193 Jaguars 2010 2010Folded Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, Illinois 1957 Public 12,860 Cougars 2011 2019Folded University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas 1895 Public 40,990 Mavericks 2010 2010Folded Texas State University San Marcos, Texas 1899 Public 38,231 Bobcats 2013 2013Folded Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas 1923 Public 40,528 Red Raiders 2010 2010Folded Tusculum University Tusculum University 1794 Private (Presbyterian) 1,400 Pioneers 2014 2014Folded Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia 1838 Public 28,919 Rams 2011 2012Folded University of Wisconsin–Parkside Somers, Wisconsin 1968 Public 4,000 Rangers 2013 2013Folded Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio 1831 Private (Catholic) 6,129 Musketeers 2011 2012Folded
NCFA National Championship The NCFA National Championship Bowl is the final game of the National Club Football Association season, pitting the semi-finalists of the NCFA Playoffs against one another. From 2012 to 2014, the game featured the top-two teams in the country as determined by the NCFA Coaches Poll and Power Rankings. Starting in 2015, the NCFA instituted an eight-team playoff, which featured four conference championship games. Those four winners would determine the semifinalists before the championship was played.
The 2019 NCFA National Championship Bowl Game between Ohio State University and Oakland University featured the first simulcast of the event, with the game being broadcast live on both video and radio outlets. The Buckeyes won the game, 36–9, over the Golden Grizzlies.
Following the canceled 2020 season, the 2021 NCFA National Championship Bowl Game featured the top two teams in the league's final Power Rankings rather than a playoff due to lingering financial effects felt by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the location of the game was moved to Waynesburg University, a more centralized location for the remaining teams in the league. Ohio State went on to beat George Mason University 42-27, to capture their second national championship.
Beginning in 2022, the NCFA reinstated the playoff system after realigning the league into three conferences. The three conference champions and one at-large team are now eligible for a four-team playoff. The at-large team is the highest ranked non-conference champion in the final NCFA Power Rankings. Gordon State would go on to defeat Ohio State in the National Championship game 35-15 in the first year of the realigned league.
Following the dissolution of more NCFA programs following the 2024 season, the NCFA realigned the remaining 14 teams into two major conferences – the Mid-Atlantic and the Great Lakes – and eliminated the semifinal round of its playoff with the two conference champions participating in the national championship game. Coppin State, champions of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio State, champions of the Great Lakes, met in the 2025 NCFA National Championship Game with Ohio State coming away with a 28-8 victory.