As North Dakota State and Sacramento State prepare to move up, the success of past FCS to FBS transitions offers a look at which programs adapted best to college football’s highest level. Since Division I split into two subdivisions back in 1978, 30 programs that once competed at the FCS level – then known as 1-AA – have moved up to the FBS level, which was then known as Division 1-A.
This article looks at the five programs that experienced the greatest success after making the jump to FBS.
When Division I split, several conferences – including the Southern, Missouri Valley, Ivy and Southland conferences – remained at the Division I-A level until dropping to Division I-AA in 1982. The Mid-American Conference also spent one season in Division I-AA before returning to Division I-A in 1983.
New Mexico State, Tulsa and Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana) remained at the I-A level after 1982. Southern Conference members Appalachian State and Marshall, Southland members Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech, and independents North Texas and Northeast Louisiana (now known as Louisiana-Monroe) also dropped to I-AA.
Because those schools were already members of Division I-A when it was formed, they are not included on this list. Schools that joined FBS after the 2023 season are also excluded because this ranking considers only a program’s first three seasons at the FBS level.
Honorable Mentions: Central Florida (19-14 from 1996-98); Idaho (20-14 from 1996-98); Georgia Southern (23-14 from 2014-16)
5. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
- First season: 1904
- Record in last season in FCS: 9-2 (2022)
- Record in first three seasons in FBS: 27-14 (2023-25)
Jacksonville State spent its final two FCS seasons in the ASUN-WAC football partnership between the Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference. The Gamecocks won 10 conference championships during their 27 years at the FCS level, including nine as members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
In its first season at the FBS level, the Gamecocks went 9-4 and received an invitation to the New Orleans Bowl because there were not enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all postseason slots.
4. Liberty Flames
- First season: 1973
- Record in last season in FCS: 6-5 (2017)
- Record in first three seasons in FBS: 24-12 (2018-20)
Liberty joined the Division I-AA ranks in 1988 and remained an independent until the Big South Conference began sponsoring football in 2002. During its 15 seasons in the conference, the Flames either won outright or shared the conference championship eight times.
In their final FCS season, the Flames finished 6-5 and placed fourth in the conference despite being ineligible for postseason play. In a rare move, Liberty transitioned to FBS without receiving an invitation from an existing FBS conference. The NCAA granted the school a waiver, allowing the Flames to compete as an independent for their first five seasons.
Liberty finished 6-6 in its first FBS season. Although the Flames could have applied for a bowl waiver, there were already enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all available bowl slots.
3. Nevada Wolf Pack
- First season: 1896
- Record in last season in 1-AA: 12-1 (1991)
- Record in first three seasons in 1-A: 23-11 (1992-94)
Nevada spent all but one of its Division I-AA seasons in the Big Sky Conference. Unlike many programs making the transition today, the Wolf Pack remained eligible for the postseason during their final Division I-AA season and entered the playoffs as the top overall seed.
After defeating McNeese State, Nevada lost to eventual national champion Youngstown State 30-28. Although the Wolf Pack won only seven games in their first Division I-A season, they captured the Big West Conference championship with a 5-1 league record.
Nevada remains the only program to win a conference championship and earn a bowl berth in its first season after moving up. Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt Conference in 2014 but was not eligible for a bowl game.
2. South Florida Bulls
- First season: 1997
- Record in last season in 1-AA: 7-4 (2000)
- Record in first three seasons in 1-A: 24-9 (2001-03)
South Florida spent its first four seasons as a Division I-AA independent and never reached the playoffs. In the program’s final season before moving up, the Bulls earned their first victory over a Division I-A opponent, defeating recently promoted UConn 21-13 on the road.
The Bulls competed as an independent for two seasons before joining Conference USA and lost only five games during that span. Although South Florida has never won a conference championship, it shared the American Athletic Conference East Division title with Temple in 2016 before losing the tiebreaker.
1. James Madison Dukes
- First season: 1972
- Record in last season in FCS: 12-2 (2021)
- Record in first three seasons in FBS: 27-9 (2022-24)
During another dominant season in the then-Colonial Athletic Association, James Madison announced in November 2021 that it would move to FBS and join the Sun Belt Conference.
Because the invitation was accepted during the season, the Dukes remained eligible for the 2021 FCS playoffs. As the No. 3 seed, James Madison received a first-round bye and advanced to the semifinals before losing to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
The Dukes’ transition year was unusual because all but one of their opponents competed at the FBS level, allowing them to play a full FBS schedule immediately. James Madison shared the Sun Belt East Division title with Coastal Carolina but was barred from postseason play because of NCAA transition rules. As a result, the Dukes were not permitted to compete in the conference championship game despite defeating Coastal Carolina 47-7 in the regular-season finale.
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