As an avid college football fan and data analyst, I am fascinated by the histories, statistics, and business developments that have shaped the modern world of major NCAA football. In this in-depth guide, I‘ll be breaking down the FBS – Football Bowl Subdivision – to examine how it has come to represent the highest echelon within the sport.
First, let‘s start with the basic definition. FBS stands for Football Bowl Subdivision, which is the top division of collegiate play within the NCAA‘s Division I. The FBS is comprised of 10 conferences and 130 total teams as of 2022 that meet the strict membership criteria required.
These major athletic programs are dubbed "Bowl Subdivision" teams because of their access to the postseason bowl games which serve as the concluding highlights to each season. Essentially all major college football teams that one would see vying for a national championship – Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, etc. – are members of the FBS.
To fully understand the FBS, it‘s helpful to examine the key differences compared to the lower-tier FCS (Football Championship Subdivision):
Scholarships
- FBS programs can provide 85 full scholarships to players annually
- FCS schools are limited to just 63 scholarships
This gives FBS teams deeper rosters with more talent across the board. It allows them to better absorb injuries and contends with attrition from players leaving the program.
Attendance Minimums
- FBS teams must average at least 15,000 fans per home game over a 2-year span
- No attendance requirements exist for the FCS
The attendance minimum aims to ensure FBS teams have a built-in audience and revenue stream from ticket sales. Forcontext, the average attendance across FBS in 2019 was over 40,000 fans per game.
Revenue Generation
- Median revenue for FBS programs in 2020: $81.6 million
- Median revenue for FCS programs: $10.1 million
The gap in revenue, largely driven by massive TV contracts and sponsor deals in FBS, is a crucial differentiator between the two levels. This revenue allows FBS schools to invest further in facilities, salaries, recruiting, etc.
Postseason Format
- FBS uses a four-team playoff plus four major bowl games
- FCS holds a 24-team playoff to determine its champion
The FBS bowl system, while controversial, is enormously lucrative and generates huge TV ratings. Meanwhile FCS crowns its champ through a more traditional playoff.
Media Exposure
- FBS games are regularly televised on major national networks
- FCS receives very limited national TV coverage
The reach of major networks like ESPN has played a huge role in increasing the visibility, popularity and revenue potential of FBS football over the past three decades.
Prestige and Interest
- FBS is king when it comes to fan interest, coverage, and tradition
- FCS programs are typically regional or smaller fan bases
Ask any college football fan, and their knowledge of and interest in FBS will dwarf that of the lower FCS subdivision. The FBS is home to the legendary programs, rivalries, and traditions that fuel the passion of college football.
College football was originally divided into Divisions I, II and II until legislation passed in 1978 to formally create a new subset – Division I-A schools – to differentiate the most competitive and financially successful programs. This division, which adopted the FBS moniker in 2006, contained the major athletic powers.
The remaining Division I teams were dubbed Division I-AA and later became today‘s FCS. Over time, the gap in resources and notoriety widened substantially between the haves in FBS and have-nots in FCS.
From 1978 through 2021, 26 different schools have made the jump from FCS up to the FBS level. Most cite increased television revenue, recruiting advantages, and boosted regional prestige as the driving factors. James Madison University is the most recent to transition to FBS, joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022 after a successful FCS tenure.
The NCAA mandates these main criteria for colleges wishing to ascend to the FBS level:
- Sponsor 16+ varsity sports (minimum 6 men‘s, 8 women‘s)
- Average 15,000+ in paid football attendance
- Provide an average of 90% of the maximum football scholarships
- Offer minimum financial aid for each varsity sport
- Play 5 regular season home football games against FBS schools
Additionally, the school must obtain an invite to join an existing FBS conference, which comes with more stipulations like facilities investments. It‘s a challenging process – since just 2000, only 11 schools have successfully transitioned from FCS to FBS.
Let‘s examine the landscape across the 10 conferences and 130 total teams that comprise the modern FBS:
Most Teams:
- SEC – 14 members
- Big Ten – 14
- ACC – 14
Newest Additions:
- Utah State, San Jose State (Mountain West, 2013)
- Charlotte (Conference USA, 2015)
- Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt, 2017)
Recent Defectors:
- Idaho (back to FCS, 2018)
- UConn (Independent, 2020)
Strongest Conferences by Titles:
- SEC – 12
- ACC – 11
- Big Ten – 9
Most Titles by Team:
- Alabama – 6
- Notre Dame, USC – 5
- Ohio State, Miami (FL) – 4
Heavily Concentrated States:
- Texas (12 FBS teams)
- California, Florida, Ohio (7)
- Pennsylvania, North Carolina (5)
Cities with Multiple Teams:
- Los Angeles (USC, UCLA)
- Houston (Houston, Rice)
- Washington D.C. (Maryland, Navy)
The distribution of teams highlights both the regional passion for college football across the South and Midwest, as well hotbeds like California and Texas that produce high amounts of D1 talent.
In my analysis, here are two key realignment moves I could envision unfolding over the next decade:
Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten
The Big Ten has expanded east in recent years, but the Pac-12‘s struggles put flagship programs like Oregon and Washington in play to move and bring the Big Ten into Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
Boise State and San Diego State to the Pac-12
With USC and UCLA set to leave, the weakened Pac-12 could look to add established Group of 5 brands like Boise and SDSU that fit the western geography and bring hungry fan bases.
Adding flagship programs is crucial for conferences to drive more revenue and maintain national relevance during realignment. There are always ripple effects from each major move.
While passionate fandom and tradition fuels college football, the multi-billion dollar revenues derived from massive television contracts, sponsorships, and donations are what truly sets the FBS apart financially.
Television
- The SEC signed a 20-year deal worth $3 billion with ESPN in 2022
- The Big Ten secured a 7-year, $2.64 billion TV contract in 2021
- Compare to the FCS, where rights deals generate just ~$700,000 per year
Attendance
- The average SEC program brought in $21.8 million in ticket sales in 2019
- Michigan tops all schools, generating $38 million in home ticket revenue in 2022
Donors
- Oregon received $84.4 million in contributions and donations in 2021
- Texas leads the way with $175.7 million in donations in 2022
The massive revenues explain how the elite FBS schools afford nicknames like "Alabama‘s $100 Million Football Facility" – the financial gap continues to widen.
The NFL Draft each year illustrates that FCS programs produce legitimate pro talent, even if paling in quantity compared to the FBS:
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34 players drafted from FCS schools in 2022, led by standouts from North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Montana State.
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There have been 33 1st round picks all-time from the FCS including Dallas Cowboy QB Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) and retired Giants DE Michael Strahan (Texas Southern).
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As of 2022, a total of 243 former FCS players were on NFL rosters – over 20 per team on average.
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The MEAC and SWAC conferences claim extensive alumni in the NFL like Chargers WR Keenan Allen (California University of Pennsylvania) and 49ers CB Richard Sherman (Stanford).
While generally less visible, the FCS demonstrates each year via NFL rosters that future professional talent hones their skills at all levels of college football.
Let‘s compare the game day and fan experience between the upper echelon of FBS and top FCS programs:
FBS Game Day
- Lavish tailgating with RVs and catering
- Packed stadiums seating over 100,000 screaming fans
- Bands, cheerleaders, and wild student sections
- Post-game celebrations at the massive sports bars
FCS Game Day
- Smaller but lively tailgates often with local fare
- Crowds averaging 10-15,000 of very loyal fans
- Smaller but lively bands and cheer squads
- Post-game fun at old-school pubs and eateries
While lacking the sheer scale, FCS games still produce tremendous atmosphere and camaraderie. But the FBS scenes like LSU‘s Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night remain sacred American sporting experiences.
For FBS schools that perennially struggle with attendance and revenue, I think testing life at the FCS level for 3-5 years makes sense in certain situations:
- Less pressure for wins brings lowered expectations
- Chance to renew local rivalries within FCS
- Build up wins and possible playoff run momentum
- Potential for increased fan support as underdog
Schools like UMass, New Mexico State, or Connecticut could follow Idaho‘s lead in dropping down and trying to reset with more achievable goals. Of course, the money lost is substantial. But for some flailing teams, a time in FCS purgatory could ultimately provide the spark to rebuild stronger.
In closing, the FBS undoubtedly represents the highest tier when it comes to the visibility, finances, competition levels, and national prestige around NCAA football. Key defining attributes include:
- Fueled by massive revenues from television, donors, and ticket sales
- Home to nearly all of college football‘s legendary programs, rivalries, and traditions
- Features the best collection of players, coaches, and teams year to year
- Sources of pride for mega-universities and conferences
- Benefits from constant massive media coverage and promotion
At the same time, as the NFL draft shows, excellent athletes and coaches inhabit the FCS as well. But the FBS will always remain the supreme entity in college football given the structural factors that separate it financially from the smaller FCS. Understanding these differences provides helpful color when debating the landscape of modern college football.
