BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League formally announced the addition of Villanova as an associate member for football beginning for the 2026 season.
The Wildcats mark the third team to join the Patriot League as football associate members since May 2024, joining former conference rivals Richmond and William & Mary.
“The addition of Villanova as our 10th football member represents a significant and exciting moment for the Patriot League,” Patriot League Commissioner Jennifer Heppel said. “Villanova has consistently demonstrated excellence on the field, establishing itself as a premier FCS football program while also upholding a strong commitment to academic achievement. Combined with the recent additions of Richmond and William & Mary and the continued strength of our current members, this expansion solidifies the Patriot League’s standing as one of the strongest in the FCS.”
“This is an exciting day for Villanova as we accept an invitation to join the Patriot League as an associate member for football beginning in 2026,” said Villanova Vice President and Director of Athletics Eric Roedl. “We have great respect for the institutions that make up a very competitive FCS conference and we share in their strong academic missions. The geographic footprint of the Patriot League is a perfect fit for Villanova, and as we get ready to embark on a new chapter for our football program, we remain committed to competing at the highest levels of the FCS and continuing to add to our accomplished history on the gridiron.”
The Patriot League’s membership within the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) expands to 10 teams with the addition of Villanova. They join charter members Bucknell University, Colgate University, The College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College and Lehigh University, along with associate members Fordham University, Georgetown University, University of Richmond and William & Mary.
"We are proud to welcome Villanova to the Patriot League as a football member,” Colgate University President and Chair of the Patriot League Council of Presidents Brian W. Casey said. “Villanova brings a tradition of athletic excellence that aligns perfectly with the League’s core values. This is a momentous step forward—one that brings new energy, deepens our competitive landscape, and reaffirms our shared commitment to academic and athletic distinction."
“Villanova looks forward to joining the Patriot League next season as an associate member, aligning with institutions that uphold an unwavering commitment to academic and athletic distinction and the holistic development of student-athletes,” said University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. “This League embodies the finest principles of collegiate athletics, where achievement on the field is matched by excellence in the classroom. We are proud to align with such esteemed institutions, forging a new chapter for Villanova Football."
“We are excited to join a conference where the member institutions share similar values, both athletically and academically,” said Villanova Head Football Coach Mark Ferrante. “The geographic alignment makes sense for our program and our student-athletes, and we believe this move will foster strong regional rivalries while maintaining our commitment to excellence on and off the field. It’s a natural fit that positions us well for the future.”
Before adding Richmond, William & Mary and Villanova, Georgetown was the last football program to join the Patriot League, arriving for the 2001 season. The Patriot League never had more than eight football-playing institutions (2001-03) before the recent additions of the Wildcats and the Tribe.
With the expanded membership beginning in 2026, eight of the 10 programs have finished ranked in the Stats Perform and AFCA FCS Coaches Poll since 2015. During that span, the 10 programs have combined to win 17 games in the FCS Playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinal round eight times, including two apiece by Colgate, Richmond and Villanova. Holy Cross and William & Mary have both advanced to the quarterfinals once.
The Patriot League will continue to feature a full conference schedule to determine the League champion and automatic bid to the NCAA DI FCS Championship when the League expands to 10 teams in 2026.
“Having every team play each other will support historic rivalries and create meaningful new traditions,” Heppel said. “Our student-athletes, coaches and fans all have a strong sense of institutional pride and identity. Sharing the nine-game journey toward the crowning of a Patriot League champion will create excitement for all of our fans, strengthen our identity and position the League for success and visibility on the national stage.”
ABOUT VILLANOVA FOOTBALL
Villanova begins its 128th season of varsity football in 2025 and marks its 40th anniversary of becoming a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member in 1985. During their FCS tenure, the Wildcats have reached the FCS playoffs 16 times and advanced at least to the quarterfinals in 10 of those seasons. Villanova won its first national championship in 2009. On an individual level, the Wildcats have had three Walter Payton Award winners, one Jerry Rice Award winner, 31 first team All-Americans and 22 major conference award winners. Villanova football student-athletes have been Academic All-Americans 14 times, and the program has compiled a multi-year NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 983 as well as an average NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 90 percent over the last 10 years.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL HISTORY
The Patriot League will enter its 40th season of competition this fall at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The League formed in 1986 with charter members Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Lehigh. Fordham has maintained its football member status since 1990, as the Rams were full members from 1990-94 before becoming associate members in 1995. Georgetown has competed as a Patriot League football associate member since 2001. Richmond will begin play in the Patriot League as an associate member in 2025. Villanova and William & Mary join the League for football in 2026. Davidson (1987-88) and Towson (1997-03) also competed in the Patriot League as football associate members. Full Patriot League members - the U.S. Military Academy (Army West Point) and U.S. Naval Academy (Navy) - play football in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL IN THE POLLS
Patriot League co-champion Lehigh finished the 2024 season ranked 21st in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the Stats Perform FCS Poll. Co-Champion Holy Cross, who has claimed at least a share of the League crown for six straight seasons, finished outside of the Top 25 after being ranked in both polls in the previous three seasons. The League had finished with two ranked teams in two of the last three seasons, with Lafayette (No. 17 FCS Coaches, No. 20 Stats Perform) and Holy Cross (No. 22 FCS Coaches) in 2023. In 2022, the Crusaders (No. 6 FCS Coaches, No. 7 STATS) and Fordham (No. 13 FCS Coaches, No. 16 STATS) both finished ranked and earned bids to the postseason. Villanova and Richmond have been ranked in both polls in each of the last two seasons, with William & Mary receiving votes last season. The Tribe finished No. 8 in both polls in 2022, with Richmond ranking 12th in the FCS Coaches poll and 11th in the Stats Perform poll.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON SUCCESS
Last season, Lehigh advanced to the NCAA DI FCS Championship Second Round after a 20-16 victory over No. 9 Richmond in the opening round. The Mountain Hawks’ postseason success follows a recent trend for the League. Since 2015, three Patriot League football teams have advanced to the quarterfinal round of the FCS Playoffs. In 2022, Holy Cross advanced to the quarterfinals, where they were defeated by national champion South Dakota State. The 2022 season also marked the second time since 2015 that the Patriot League received multiple bids to the FCS Playoffs. Colgate reached the quarterfinal round in 2015 and 2018 when the Raiders boasted the nation’s top-scoring defense (9.3 ppg) before falling to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL BUILDING ON SUCCESS
In 13 months, the Patriot League has added three programs with a strong tradition of success at the FCS level. Richmond, William & Mary and Villanova have combined to receive 41 berths in the NCAA Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs. The aforementioned schools have 39 postseason wins, 21 quarterfinal and 11 semifinals 11 appearances. Richmond claimed the 2008 FCS National Championship with a 24-7 win over Montana. In 2009, Villanova defeated Montana, 23-21, to claim the national title.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL IN THE PROS
Since the League’s inception in 1986, 12 Patriot League football student-athletes have been selected in the NFL Draft, with Holy Cross offensive lineman C.J. Hanson most recently being a seventh-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. During the 2024 season, nine former Patriot League student-athletes spent time on NFL rosters, including Fordham All-American Chase Edmonds (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), who ranks fifth in FCS history in career rushing yards (5,862).
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL ACADEMIC PROWESS
The Patriot League has been among the premier academic football conferences in NCAA Division I. According to the most recent data released by the NCAA in December 2024, the League’s seven football programs achieved the best Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score (96) and top Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) score (91) among all NCAA DI FCS conferences. For more than a decade, the Patriot League has ranked among the best NCAA Division I conferences in GSR and FGR, posting the top FGR and ranking in the top two in GSR since 2020. The League also leads the 32 NCAA DI conferences in Academic Progress Rate (APR) (996) and retention (996), placing second in eligibility (996) trends by conference, according to data released by the NCAA in May 2025.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.