What Are the Smallest Division I Football Schools?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

According to Athnet scholarship recruiters, the smallest Division I Football schools are defined as student populations of 5,000 or less. Of the 347 Division I schools boasting over 6,000 athletic teams, there are currently 23 universities and colleges that fall under this criteria and are scattered across 49 of the 50 states. The NCAA Division I schools provide athletic opportunities for over 170,000 student-athletes each year.

The smallest schools and their locations in alphabetical order are:

  1. Alcorn State University, Mississippi
  2. Bethune-Cookman University, Florida
  3. Bucknell University, Pennsylvania
  4. Butler University, Indiana
  5. Charleston Southern University, South Carolina
  6. Colgate University, New York
  7. College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts
  8. Davidson College, North Carolina
  9. Delaware State University, Delaware
  10. Furman University, South Carolina
  11. Jacksonville University, Florida
  12. Lafayette College, Pennsylvania
  13. Mississippi Valley State University, Mississippi
  14. Saint Francis University, Pennsylvania
  15. Savannah State University, Georgia
  16. U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado
  17. U.S. Military Academy, New York
  18. University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
  19. University of Tulsa, Oklahoma
  20. Valparaiso University, Indiana
  21. Virginia Military Institute, Virginia
  22. Wagner College, New York
  23. Wofford College, South Carolina

Although small and many not well known, schools such as Butler University, the U.S. Air Force Academy and others boast competitive football teams. Students looking to play football at a small DI school should consider these options and be sure to look into scholarship opportunities through the NCAA or other recruiting options.

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