The 25 greatest FCS programs of all time

In 2023, Jacksonville State debuted on the FBS level, following a simply stellar but relatively short stint as an FCS program. From 2003-22, the Gamecocks endured just one losing season. During that stretch, they won at least 10 games six times, including five in a row from 2013-17. JSU, which won Division II national titles in 1977 and '92, made 10 appearances in the FCS playoffs, with the highlight coming in 2015 under coach John Grass, when it reached the championship game, only to lose 37-10 to North Dakota State. 

Beginning in the late 1990s and lasting for much of the current century, Illinois State has been a staple of success on the FCS level. All eight of the Redbirds' playoff appearances have come since 1998. They've gone 10-8 in such contests, reached the quarterfinals six times, the semifinals on two occasions, and fell short of the school's first national championship by losing to North Dakota State 29-27 in the 2014 title game. In addition, ISU has won eight conference titles and produced notable NFL players, such as former defensive back Mike Prior and receiver Laurent Robinson.

Entering the 2023 season, McNeese State had reached the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs 16 times — tied for seventh-most all time. And while the Cowboys have won 11 of those postseason contests and reached the national championship game in 1997 and 2002, the program is still searching for its title — leaving the Cowboys as the only I-AA/FCS to reach the title game twice and not win. Still, McNeese has won the Southland Conference 14 times and produced notable players such as receiver Stephen Starring and defensive end Kavika Pittman. 

During the 1970s, Western Kentucky was among the best to play the game at the Division I-AA level. The Hilltoppers won the Ohio Valley Conference title five times during the decade and again in 1980. However, it was 2002 when WKU enjoyed its most successful season in program history at any level. Under the direction of coach Jack Harbaugh and behind an offense that averaged 253 rushing yards per game, the Hilltoppers went 12-3 and beat McNeese State 34-14 to win the school's only football national championship.

New Hampshire began playing football in the 1890s and has won more than 54 percent of its games. The program has won 15 conference titles and made the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs 17 times. Twice, the Wildcats reached the semifinals (2013, '14). The program has also produced more than 30 All-Americans and prominent NFL players, such as former Chicago Bears cornerback Jerry Azumah, who, as a college running back, rushed for a national-record 6,193 career yards and won the Walton Payton Award — given to the subdivision's top offensive player.

Come for the legendary marching band, stay for the football. Florida A&M won the first Division I-AA National Championship Game, capping a 12-1 1978 campaign with a 35-28 title-game victory over Massachusetts. Since then, the Rattlers have been one of the most successful historically Black colleges (HBCUs) in the subdivision's history. A program that's made eight overall postseason appearances at the I-AA/FCS level has also produced such marquee names as College Hall of Famer Willie Galimore and Ken Riley. 

The Salukis won the Division I-AA national championship in 1983 and have remained one of the subdivision's most successful programs. Since the turn of this current century, SIU has appeared in the FCS playoffs nine times and reached the quarterfinals on five occasions. In addition, Southern has won eight overall conference championships and has victories at FBS schools Northwestern and Northern Illinois in 2002 and '23, respectively. The Salukis program has also produced some successful NFL talent like quarterback Jim Hart, receiver Kevin House, running back Brandon Jacobs, and linebacker Bart Scott. Not to mention, it was proving ground for coach Jerry Kill, who went on to enjoy success at Northern Illinois and Minnesota.

Entering the 2023 season, Northern Iowa's 22 Division I-AA/FCS playoff appearances tied for second-most in NCAA history. Take it further, and the Panthers' 26 playoff victories are fourth. That latter number also happens to be the most by any team that has not won a national championship within the subdivision. That's the only knock on this historically successful program that reached the title game in 2005, has won 33 conference championships, and produced Hall-of-Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.

Traditionally overshadowed by its perennial power of a basketball program, the Wildcats can play some football, too. Villanova, which played at the Division I-A level from 1894-1980, has reached the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs 14 times, made it all the way to the semifinals on three occasions, and won the whole thing in 2009, capping a 14-1 campaign with a 23-21 victory over Montana in the national championship game. That squad was coached by the legendary Andy Talley, who won 229 of his 257 games with the Wildcats. However, the program might be best known for producing Hall of Famer Howie Long and longtime NFL running back Brian Westbrook. 

Montana State has been successful in playing football at just about every classification. The program won an NAIA title in 1956, then claimed the Division II crown in 1976 and captured its only Division I-AA/FCS championship in 1984, when Dave Arnold's group went 12-2. And while the national title drought continues, entering the 2023 season, the Bobcats remained a perennial football force. In total, Montana State has won 22 conference championships and made 12 playoff appearances. It has reached the semifinals three times beginning in 2019 and lost 38-10 to North Dakota State in the national title contest to conclude the 2021 season. The school also produced longtime NFL kicker Jan Stenerud.

While UMass has not enjoyed any consistent success since moving up to the FBS level in 2012, the program built quite the legacy as a Division I-AA/FCS participant. The Minutemen won 22 league titles (Colonial Athletic, Atlantic 10, Yankee Conference), qualified for the playoffs eight times, and played in the first I-AA championship game in 1978. With the 1998 season still the pinnacle of the program. Led by 2,500-yard rusher Marcel Shipp and All-American linebacker Khari Samuel, UMass went 12-3 and knocked off Georgia Southern 55-43 in a wild championship game to win the school's first national title of the kind. The Minutemen returned to the title game in 2006 but lost to Appalachian State. 

Since 2000 and entering the 2023 season, Richmond has made nine playoff appearances on the FCS level. While a member of this subdivision, the best of the bunch came in 2008 when the Spiders won a national championship. Now, Richmond has not returned to the title game since that magical season but did reach the semifinals in 2015. Still, the Spiders' 16-11 playoff record, spanning 12 appearances, ranks among the best in the history of Division I-AA/FCS. Richmond has also posted impressive victories over FBS teams such as Duke and Virginia in recent years.

It's been a while since Furman won a national championship on the FCS — 1988, to be exact. However, the consistent success of the Paladins' program has not subsided. It's made the playoffs 13 times in the years following that title, and the school's 19 overall postseason berths on the Division I-AA/FCS level are fourth-most all time. Furman has gone 20-18 in the playoffs and also played for the national title in 2001. The program, which produced the likes of Sam Wyche, Billy Napier, and Stanford Jennings, has won 14 Southern Conference championships.

Sam Houston is currently trying to find its footing on the FBS level. However, from 2011-'21, the Bearkats went 111-33, went to the FCS playoffs nine times, and won the 2020 national championship when the season was played during the spring of 2021 due to COVID-19. Amid that span, Sam Houston also reached the semifinals nine times. In all, the Bearkats posted a 24-12 record while making 13 FCS playoff appearances. When it comes to individual honors, quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe won the Walter Payton Award as the FCS's most outstanding offensive player in 2016 and '17.

Yes, this was the college home of star Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, but he had some good talent surrounding him at EWU. The Jerry Rice Award winner, honoring the FCS's best freshman in 2013, and the Walter Payton Award winner in 2015, Kupp is the NCAA leader (spanning all divisions) with 6,464 career receiving yards. Meanwhile, his 428 receptions and 73 touchdowns are FCS records. The Eagles, who won the Division I-AA national title in 2010, reached the semifinals in 2013 and '16 with Kupp and made it to the championship game in 2018. Entering the 2023 campaign, EWU has made 15 playoff appearances at this level, going 20-14.

Delaware's lone FCS national championship came at the end of the 2003 season. However, the Blue Hens' 25 playoff wins, entering the 2023 season, rank fifth all-time in the history of the subdivision. They also reached the FCS national title game during both the 2007 season and 2010. In all, the Blue Hens have made four appearances in the Division I-AA/FCS national championship game. Delaware has also produced a host of players who enjoyed NFL success. Most notably, quarterbacks Rich Gannon and Joe Flacco and defensive back Mike Adams.

When digging into the Division I-AA/FCS record books, Eastern Kentucky's presence is prominent. A two-time national champion (1979, 1982), EKU is tied for second all-time in subdivision history with 22 playoff appearances. With the most recent coming in 2022 — its first since 2014. A moment that signaled a potential resurgence for one of the great college football programs of the last 40 years. From 1979-'82, the Colonels reached the Division I-AA national championship game four straight seasons. Overall, Eastern Kentucky is 16-20 in the playoffs. 

As of October 2023, South Dakota State is king of the FCS hill. The 2022 FCS national champion, all 12 of the Jackrabbits' playoff appearances have come since 2009. Entering the 2023 season, the program has an 18-11 record in the playoffs. Meanwhile, SDSU has won more than 110 games since the beginning of the 2012 campaign. Since 2016, the Jackrabbits have reached the semifinals five times and the national title game on two occasions. Two-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Jim Langer and star Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert remain the two most prominent football products of the school.

No team has made more playoff appearances at the Division I-AA/FCS level than Montana — with 27. Now, it's been some time since the Grizzlies hoisted the national championship trophy (1995, 2001), but the program is still going strong as one of the most consistently successful in the FCS. Montana's 37 playoffs wins rank second all time, winning the Big Sky Conference title a whopping 18 times, though the most recent came in 2009. In 1995, quarterback Dave Dickenson won the Walter Payton Award, while Bill Kelly, a Grizzlies star during the 1920s, is a College Hall of Famer.

It's still remarkable the heights the Marshall football program reached following the 1970 plane crash that killed 37 players, five coaches, administrators, family, and friends of the program. While the Thundering Herd has enjoyed consistent success as an FBS school, it became a power on the I-AA level during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. Marshall reached the national championship game in 1987, '91, '92. '93, '95 and '96. It won two of those contests (1992, '96). The Herd won the latter title with a guy named Randy Moss catching 69 passes for 1,489 yards and 24 touchdowns that season.

It hasn't taken long for James Madison to find success on the FBS level since joining those ranks in 2022. That came after the program made 18 playoff appearances on the FCS level and won the title in 2004 and '16. The Dukes also reached the national championship game in 2017 and '19. From 2016-'21, James Madison went 70-11 and paved the way for the program to move its way up to the highest level of college football. All the while never forgetting what it took and achieved to get to this point.

One of three schools to claim at least three national championships on the Division I-AA/FCS level, App State won those titles in 2005, '06, and '07 — thus building a mini-dynasty during the early oughts. While part of this subdivision, the Mountaineers made 20 playoff appearances and went 24-17 during those games. Now, Appalachian State has enjoyed some solid success as an FBS squad in recent years. Still, even amid those national titles and all the playoff victories, the crowning jewel in program history came when it stunned then-No. 5 Michigan 34-32 in 2007, under the direction of legendary coach Jerry Moore, to become the first FCS school to beat a ranked FBS opponent.

Among current FCS teams, Youngstown State's 29 playoff victories rank third all time. All but seven of those wins came during the 1990s, when, under the direction of coach Jim Tressel, the school won its four Division I-AA national titles — good for third-most in NCAA history. The Penguins were crowned champions in 1991, '93, '94 and '97. They also reached the title game in 1992 and '99. Now, success has been hit or miss since then for the program, but Youngstown State did return to the FCS National Championship Game in 2016 under the direction of former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini.

The only school in Division I-AA/FCS history to win a national title in three different decades. Georgia Southern won it all six times (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000) — ranking second in the subdivision's history. And while the Eagles continue to hold their own on their own as a FBS program, what they did on the level below is pretty special. Georgia Southern won 10 Southern Conference titles, reached the playoffs 19 times, going 45-13, and finished as national runner-up twice (1988, 1998). Coach Erk Russell won three of those championships.

Where do we start? How about the FCS-record nine national championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)? Or maybe the record-five-straight championships won from 2011-'15. Then there are the 10 national championship game appearances, also an FCS record, or the 43 playoff victories. Those numbers are bound to improve after the 2023 season. Meanwhile, former coach Chris Klieman  (now at Kansas State) won four of those titles — tying the aforementioned Jim Tressel for the most in I-AA/FCS history. Did we mention that the Bison have had two recent quarterbacks drafted in the top five of the NFL Draft (Carson Wentz went No. 2 in 2016, and Trey Lance No. 3 in 2021)? Yeah, not too shabby.