NCAA Division I-A Independent Schools

NCAA Division I-A independent schools are four-year institutions whose football programs are not part of a football conference. This does not mean that 1-A independents schedule each other for competition like conference schools do. There are considerably less independent schools than in years past; many independent schools later join (or attempt to join) established conferences.

Here is a current list (2003) of NCAA Division I-A Independent Schools:

• University of Connecticut (UConn)
• United States Naval Academy (Navy)
• University of Notre Dame
• Troy State University

In 2004, UConn will join the Big East in football; it is already a Big East member in other sports. The United States Military Academy will abandon its football-only membership in Conference USA and become an independent. There is also a possibility that Temple University may become an independent; its football program is slated for expulsion from the Big East.