The 2026 junior college football season is the season of intercollegiate junior college football running from August to December 2026. The season will end with three national champions: one from the National Junior College Athletic Association's (NJCAA) Division I and Division III, respectively, and one from the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A).
Conference changes and new programs
Membership changes TeamFormer conferenceNew conferenceRefAndrew Fighting TigersGCAASSAC (NAIA)De Anza Mountain LionsGolden Coast LeagueBay 6 LeagueDiablo Valley VikingsBay 6 LeagueNorcal LeagueLackawanna FalconsNortheastPSAC (NCAA)Monroe MustangsNortheastNortheast 10 (NCAA)Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden NorsemenSWJCFCICCACOrange Coast PiratesNCLNo programSalem Mighty OaksNew programIndependent (NJCAA D–III)Shasta KnightsNorcal LeagueGolden Coast LeagueSnow BadgersIndependent (NJCAA D–I)SWJCFC
Notable headlines August 4, 2026 – Before the season, Pierce College puts its season on hiatus citing insufficient roster numbers. September 10, 2026 – Minnesota West C&T cancels the remainder of its season citing insufficient roster numbers.
Conference standings NJCAA Division I
NJCAA Division III
3C2A SCFA
NCFC
Rankings
The Top 25 from the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls
Preseason polls
NJCAA DI RankTeam1Iowa Western (8)2Hutchinson (2)3Northwest Mississippi 4Tyler5Mississippi Gulf Coast6Georgia Military7Trinity Valley8Coffeyville9Copiah–Lincoln10Garden City11East Mississippi12Navarro13Snow14Butler (KS)15Iowa Central
NJCAA DIII RankTeam1DuPage (6)2NDSCS3Louisburg 4Erie5Rochester C&T
Postseason Playoffs The NJCAA announced the schedules for the Division I and Division III playoffs on November 17, 2025. This is the third consecutive season the NJCAA Division I championship was held at West Texas A&M University's Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, after previously being held at Catholic High School for Boys' War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas.
NJCAA Division I
Red Grange Bowl
3C2A State Championship SCFA
NCFC
Championship
Bowls 3C2A + Non-3C2A Playoff GamesDateGameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResultsAmerican Division Championship BowlNCFCGolden State BowlNCFCGridiron Classic BowlNCFCNorthern California BowlNCFCPepsi Sequoia BowlNCFCAmerican Championship BowlSCFASoCal BowlSCFAGolden State BowlSCFAPatriotic BowlSCFAWestern State BowlSCFA
Coaching changes Preseason and in-season This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2026, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games. School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position Fresno City Tony Caviglia May 26, 2026 Retired Josh Brown Sacramento State co-defensive coordinator (2024–25) Santa Ana Simon Fuentes (interim) June 26, 2026 Permanent replacement Kevin Clune Cal Poly linebackers coach (2024–25) East Mississippi Buddy Stephens August 31, 2026 Fired Preston Rice (interim) East Mississippi offensive coordinator (2025)
See also 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season 2026 NCAA Division II football season 2026 NCAA Division III football season 2026 NAIA football season 2026 U Sports football season
References