A STORY OF 134 PROGRAMS, 134 IDENTITIE IN THE FBS
A full‑scale portrait of every school competing at the highest level of college football.
College football’s top division — the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) — is a sprawling, chaotic, beautiful ecosystem of 134 programs. Some are blue‑bloods with national titles stacked like trophies in a museum. Others are regional powerhouses, rising challengers, or proud underdogs with traditions older than the NFL itself.
This is the full story of every FBS school, organized by conference, each with a short profile capturing its essence.
🏆 POWER FIVE PROGRAMS
BIG TEN CONFERENCE (18)
A coast‑to‑coast super‑conference built on tradition and television power.
Illinois — Home of Red Grange, early football royalty. Indiana — Basketball school with a football heart trying to break through. Iowa — Grit, linemen, wrestling toughness, and the iconic Wave. Maryland — East Coast flair with Big Ten ambition. Michigan — A blue‑blood giant with national titles and iconic rivalries. Michigan State — Tough, physical, and built on defensive identity. Minnesota — Historic powerhouse with seven early national titles. Nebraska — Once the sport’s most feared dynasty, still a national brand. Northwestern — Academic powerhouse with periodic football magic. Ohio State — A modern superpower with unmatched consistency. Penn State — “Linebacker U,” whiteouts, and national championship pedigree. Purdue — The “Cradle of Quarterbacks.” Rutgers — Birthplace of college football, still chasing modern success. Wisconsin — Smash‑mouth football, elite RB tradition, and Camp Randall energy. UCLA — West Coast swagger, Olympic pedigree, and rising football ambition. USC — Hollywood’s team; Heismans, dynasties, and national titles. Oregon — Innovation, speed, and Nike‑powered identity. Washington — Pacific Northwest powerhouse with a rich QB lineage.
SEC (16)
The sport’s dominant force — speed, size, and national titles everywhere.
Alabama — The modern dynasty; championships define the brand. Auburn — Iron Bowl intensity and Heisman‑level stars. Arkansas — Passionate fanbase, physical identity, SEC West grit. Florida — Swamp mystique, Heismans, and championship peaks. Georgia — The new powerhouse; elite recruiting and defense. Kentucky — Basketball school with a growing football presence. LSU — Death Valley, Heismans, and NFL factories at every position. Mississippi State — Cowbells, toughness, and baseball excellence. Ole Miss — Quarterback lineage and Southern charm. Missouri — Border‑state battler with SEC East success. South Carolina — Passionate fans, rising football identity. Tennessee — Rocky Top tradition and a resurging program. Texas A&M — 12th Man, massive resources, and SEC ambition. Vanderbilt — Academic elite with flashes of football success. Texas — A national brand with history, money, and expectations. Oklahoma — Heisman factory and offensive juggernaut.
ACC (17)
A blend of tradition, academics, and rising football powers.
Boston College — Northeast toughness and Doug Flutie legacy. Clemson — Modern dynasty built on culture and recruiting. Duke — Basketball royalty with improving football. Florida State — 90s powerhouse returning to form. Georgia Tech — Engineering excellence and triple‑option history. Louisville — Explosive offenses and Lamar Jackson magic. Miami — Swagger, speed, and national championship DNA. NC State — Consistent, physical, and quarterback‑friendly. North Carolina — Jordan’s school with growing football ambition. Pitt — Defensive identity and a deep NFL pipeline. Syracuse — Historic program with Northeast roots. Virginia — Academic prestige and balanced athletics. Virginia Tech — Enter Sandman, Beamer Ball, and defensive tradition. Wake Forest — Smallest Power Five school with big heart. Cal — West Coast academics and NFL‑ready talent. Stanford — Intellectual brutality and elite NFL production. SMU — Dallas swagger, Pony Express legacy, and modern resurgence.
BIG 12 (16)
A conference reinventing itself with speed, offense, and new geography.
Baylor — High‑octane offenses and defensive toughness. BYU — National fanbase and quarterback tradition. Cincinnati — Playoff breakthrough and Midwest strength. Houston — Explosive offenses and Texas recruiting. Iowa State — Loyal fanbase and rising national respect. Kansas — Basketball giant with improving football. Kansas State — Development powerhouse and disciplined identity. Oklahoma State — Offense, mullets, and Bedlam energy. TCU — Playoff runner‑up with a gritty culture. Texas Tech — Air Raid birthplace and QB lineage. UCF — Fast, young, and ambitious with a huge enrollment. West Virginia — Appalachian passion and unique identity. Arizona — Rising program with offensive firepower. Arizona State — Sun Devil swagger and NFL talent. Colorado — Prime Time era and historic tradition. Utah — Physical, disciplined, and consistently elite.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (14)
The strongest Group of Five league, full of rising programs.
Charlotte — Newer program with big‑city potential. East Carolina — Pirate passion and upset history. FAU — South Florida talent and rapid growth. Memphis — Explosive offenses and NFL skill players. Navy — Triple‑option discipline and national respect. North Texas — Texas recruiting and modern offense. Rice — Academics and steady improvement. SMU — Now ACC‑bound, but AAC legacy remains strong. South Florida — Huge potential in a talent‑rich region. Temple — Tough, gritty, and historically underrated. Tulane — Smart, disciplined, and recent New Year’s Six success. Tulsa — Small school with big‑game moments. UAB — Rebuilt from scratch into a winner. UTSA — One of the fastest‑rising programs in America.
MOUNTAIN WEST (12)
Altitude, toughness, and some of the best G5 atmospheres.
Air Force — Discipline, speed, and option mastery. Boise State — Blue turf, giant‑killer reputation. Colorado State — Proud tradition and strong facilities. Fresno State — Valley toughness and upset power. Hawaii — Island identity and high‑flying offenses. Nevada — Pistol offense birthplace. New Mexico — Passionate fanbase seeking resurgence. San Diego State — Defense, punting, and SoCal grit. San Jose State — Underdog success stories. UNLV — Vegas energy and rising investment. Utah State — Mountain toughness and QB production. Wyoming — Hard‑nosed football at high altitude.
MAC (12)
Midweek chaos, Midwest pride, and underdog magic.
Akron — Rebuilding with local talent. Ball State — Consistent and competitive. Bowling Green — Historic program with MAC titles. Buffalo — Physical, cold‑weather football. Central Michigan — NFL receivers and gritty identity. Eastern Michigan — Blue‑collar toughness. Kent State — Speed and offensive creativity. Miami (OH) — Cradle of Coaches. Northern Illinois — G5 powerhouse with major upsets. Ohio — Consistent winners with strong culture. Toledo — MAC powerhouse with NFL talent. Western Michigan — Row the Boat legacy and strong recruiting.
SUN BELT (14)
The Fun Belt — rising fast with passionate fanbases.
Appalachian State — Giant‑killer and perennial contender. Arkansas State — Coaching cradle and explosive offenses. Coastal Carolina — Teal turf and national breakout. Georgia Southern — Option tradition and championships. Georgia State — Urban program with upside. James Madison — FCS powerhouse turned instant FBS contender. Louisiana — Consistent winners with strong culture. ULM — Underdog spirit. Marshall — Proud history and passionate fans. Old Dominion — Young program with big wins. South Alabama — Rapid growth and strong recruiting. Southern Miss — Tradition and toughness. Texas State — Rising fast with new energy. Troy — Defense, discipline, and championships.
CONFERENCE USA (10)
A rebuilding league with new geography and new energy.
FIU — Miami location with long‑term potential. Jacksonville State — FCS powerhouse turned FBS winner. Kennesaw State — Newest FBS member with strong FCS roots. Liberty — New Year’s Six breakthrough and major investment. Louisiana Tech — Tradition and NFL quarterbacks. Middle Tennessee — Bowl regular with upset ability. New Mexico State — Resurgent program with national attention. Sam Houston — FCS champion stepping up. UTEP — Historic program with passionate fans. Western Kentucky — Air Raid legacy and QB production.
INDEPENDENTS (2)
Unique identities outside conference structures.
Notre Dame — National brand, historic rivalries, and championship tradition. UConn — Rebuilding with strong regional identity.