“House settlement” and “opting in” have been buzzwords this offseason.
Opting in means the ability for schools to directly revenue-share with players, no longer facing scholarship limits but roster limits with the ability to grandfather in roster spots this year, moving NIL deals in-house, and more.
Below is a list of FCS schools opting in and out of the House settlement in the 2025-26 academic year, per the College Sports Commission.
FCS Schools Opting In
Big Sky
Cal Poly, Montana, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Weber State
CAA
UAlbany, Bryant, Campbell, Elon, Hampton, Maine, Monmouth, New Hampshire, North Carolina A&T, Rhode Island, Stony Brook, Towson, Villanova, William & Mary
MEAC
Delaware State, Howard, Morgan State, Norfolk State, South Carolina State
MVFC
Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Youngstown State
NEC
Duquesne, Long Island University, Robert Morris
OVC-Big South Football Association
Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, SEMO, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin, Western Illinois
Patriot
Fordham, Georgetown, Richmond
Pioneer
Butler, Davidson, Dayton, Drake, Marist, Morehead State, San Diego, St. Thomas, Valparaiso
SoCon
Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Furman, Mercer, Samford, Western Carolina, Wofford
Southland
East Texas A&M, Lamar, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin, UTRGV
SWAC
Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Grambling State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, Southern, Texas Southern
United Athletic Conference
Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Abilene Christian, Southern Utah, Tarleton State, Utah Tech
Independent
Merrimack, Sacred Heart
FCS Schools Opting Out
Big Sky
Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Portland State, UC Davis
Ivy
Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Yale
MEAC
North Carolina Central
NEC
Central Connecticut State, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis U, Stonehill College, Wagner
OVC-Big South Football Association
Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Tennessee State
Patriot
Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh
Pioneer
Presbyterian, Stetson
SoCon
The Citadel, VMI
Southland
Houston Christian, Incarnate Word
United Athletic Conference
Central Arkansas, West Georgia
