The CAA announced today that Campbell University has accepted an invitation to join the conference as a full member on July 1, 2023.
The CAA continues to grow as the largest conference in the FCS. There will be 15 CAA football members in 2023: UAlbany, Campbell, Delaware, Elon, Hampton, Maine, Monmouth, New Hampshire, North Carolina A&T, Rhode Island, Richmond, Stony Brook, Towson, Villanova, William & Mary.
After losing powerhouse James Madison to the FBS this offseason, the CAA has added four members, all from the Big South. Hampton and Monmouth joined in 2022, NC A&T is joining for mostly all sports in 2022 and football in 2023, and Campbell is joining in 2023.
The Big South continues to lose members after building its membership back up. The Big South had nine members in 2021. Kennesaw State and North Alabama are now in the ASUN. Monmouth, Hampton, NC A&T, and Campbell are departing for the CAA. The Big South added Bryant this offseason.
The league will be down to four football members in 2023. However, the Big South and the OVC announced an association starting in 2023 where they will combine for one FCS playoff auto-bid.
Big South (4) – OVC (6) Association: 10
Big South – Bryant, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Robert Morris
OVC – Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, SEMO, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin
“We are excited to welcome Campbell University as the newest member of the Colonial Athletic Association,” CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio said. “Campbell is an outstanding academic institution that features a successful and competitive athletic program. Both of these attributes fit perfectly into the Conference’s vision that calls for our membership to work together to advance nationally competitive athletic programs – coupled with outstanding academic programs – that empower student-athletes as whole persons to strive at the highest level in every aspect of their lives. The CAA continues to be focused on making decisions that ensures its membership a competitive and sustainable model.”
Campbell went 3-8 in 2021, but the Camels recently signed a top FCS recruiting class under head coach Mike Minter.
“The leadership team at Campbell University is grateful to the Colonial Athletic Association for the invitation to join this outstanding athletic conference,” said Campbell University President J. Bradley Creed. “Campbell’s athletic teams have demonstrated that we can compete with some of the best teams in the country. This move to the CAA aligns extremely well for Campbell in terms of the profile of sports and athletics, as well as the academic reputation of these highly regarded colleges and universities.”
