Conference Moves for 2016 and the Future
2016
Independents:
UMass - The Minutemen left the MAC following the 2015 season when their football-only membership expired and the school declined to join the conference a full member. With the move, UMass joins Army, BYU, and Notre Dame as FBS Independents.
2017
Conference USA:
UAB - Alabama-Birmingham dropped football following the end of the 2014 season. After much protest and debate, along with a new financial report, the program was reinstated and will begin play again in 2017 after a two year moratorium. Due to the unique circumstances, the usual probation period for new FBS programs will be lifted, meaning the Blazers will be eligible for the Conference USA championship and a bowl game in 2017.
Sun Belt:
Coastal Carolina - The newest member of the FBS will make its debut in 2017. While all other sports joined the Sun Belt in 2016, the Chanticleers currently play as an FCS Independent and will wait until next season to compete in football. CCU will be a transitional member for 2017 and become bowl eligible in 2018.
Idaho - With the NCAA's offseason announcement that 12 members would no longer be needed to hold a conference championship game, the Sun Belt voted not to renew the affiliate contract for the Vandals, as well as New Mexico State, after the 2017 season. Following the news, Idaho announced it would be the first program in history to drop from FBS to FCS, moving to the Big Sky Conference in 2018.
New Mexico State - The Aggies have reported they will remain at the FBS level following the 2017 season. With no conference invites yet announced, NMSU is expected to return to independent status. They were last an independent in 2013, when they were left without a conference following the dissolution of WAC football.
2018
Independents:
Liberty - The Flames will transition from the FCS to FBS with a waiver that allows them to stay independent. Usually a school needs to join an existing FBS conference to make the jump.
Independents:
UMass - The Minutemen left the MAC following the 2015 season when their football-only membership expired and the school declined to join the conference a full member. With the move, UMass joins Army, BYU, and Notre Dame as FBS Independents.
2017
Conference USA:
UAB - Alabama-Birmingham dropped football following the end of the 2014 season. After much protest and debate, along with a new financial report, the program was reinstated and will begin play again in 2017 after a two year moratorium. Due to the unique circumstances, the usual probation period for new FBS programs will be lifted, meaning the Blazers will be eligible for the Conference USA championship and a bowl game in 2017.
Sun Belt:
Coastal Carolina - The newest member of the FBS will make its debut in 2017. While all other sports joined the Sun Belt in 2016, the Chanticleers currently play as an FCS Independent and will wait until next season to compete in football. CCU will be a transitional member for 2017 and become bowl eligible in 2018.
Idaho - With the NCAA's offseason announcement that 12 members would no longer be needed to hold a conference championship game, the Sun Belt voted not to renew the affiliate contract for the Vandals, as well as New Mexico State, after the 2017 season. Following the news, Idaho announced it would be the first program in history to drop from FBS to FCS, moving to the Big Sky Conference in 2018.
New Mexico State - The Aggies have reported they will remain at the FBS level following the 2017 season. With no conference invites yet announced, NMSU is expected to return to independent status. They were last an independent in 2013, when they were left without a conference following the dissolution of WAC football.
2018
Independents:
Liberty - The Flames will transition from the FCS to FBS with a waiver that allows them to stay independent. Usually a school needs to join an existing FBS conference to make the jump.