Villanova changes conferences in football, leaving CAA for Patriot League in 2026

Villanova will leave the Coastal Athletic Association — its home football conference for the last 18 seasons — and join the Patriot League beginning in 2026, the school announced Thursday morning.

The football program, which plays in the FCS subdivision of Division I, is the only Villanova sport joining the Patriot League. The Big East does not sponsor football.

Villanova, which has reached the FCS playoffs with 10-win seasons in three of the last four years, cited in its announcement “aligning with institutions that uphold an unwavering commitment to academic and athletic distinction.”

“This league embodies the finest principles of collegiate athletics, where achievement on the field is matched by excellence in the classroom,” university president Rev. Peter Donohue said in a press release. “We are proud to align with such esteemed institutions, forging a new chapter for Villanova football.”

Villanova is one of a few institutions to recently leave the CAA for the Patriot League, following the departures of football rivals Richmond and William & Mary. Richmond begins play in the Patriot League in 2025, while William & Mary will join alongside Villanova in 2026, which will give the Patriot League 10 programs for football.

The other seven Patriot League teams are Bucknell, Colgate, Fordham, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lafayette, and Lehigh.

The Patriot League will feature a full conference schedule to determine a champion and an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs when the league expands in 2026.

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The CAA, once at 16 teams, is now down to 12. Delaware, another Villanova rival, left the FCS entirely and will play its first FBS season in 2025.

Villanova also pointed to the Patriot League’s geography. The average road trip for games is 175 miles, and none of its road league opponents require a plane trip. The CAA featured occasional road games in North Carolina and Maine.

“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,” coach Mark Ferrante, who is entering his ninth season at Villanova, said in a release. “It’s a natural fit that positions us well for the future.”

The Wildcats finished the 2024 season with a 10-4 record and lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Their 2025 schedule features a Sept. 13 road game at Penn State a week after a season opener at home vs. Colgate.