The University of West Florida (UWF) held a press conference Thursday morning to announce its transition to the NCAA Division I level, beginning in Fall 2026.
UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. opened the conference with the declaration that earlier that morning the UWF Board of Trustees (BOT) voted unanimously to approve the transition.
UWF will join the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) as a full multi-sport member, and the football program will join the United Athletic Conference (UAC), competing at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, the second highest level of college football in the United States.
The Timeline
UWF will be eligible for conference championships with the move to the Division I level starting in Fall 2026. However, full NCAA post-season eligibility will not begin until after the three-year reclassification process is complete.
NCAA states that conferences inviting Division II and III schools to join Division I must “confirm the school meets academic requirements, participate in an academic review, satisfy all Division I core guarantees and attestation requirements, complete an NCAA self-study program, and meet financial aid requirements.”
The Dollars and Cents
West Florida will also have to pay a $2 million Division I entry fee.
When asked about the upfront investment cost on Thursday, UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. said the university is well on their way to have that finalized and ready to submit before the June 1 deadline.
In response to the breakdown of the financial investment, Diaz said there’s a lot of revenues that already exist with fees.
“Our teams are working feverishly on those revenue streams, on donors and new donors, and new corporate partners, and support from the community in this region as we go forward,” he said.
The UWF Board of Trustees will vote on an increase of the UWF student athletic fee by $2 per credit hour on Thursday, April 23. The increase was proposed to help strengthen the UWF athletics programs in conjunction with the NCAA divisional change, and would take effect in Fall 2026.
Gulf South Conference’s Response
Jason Oliveira, Assistant Commissioner for Gulf South Conference (GSC) issued a statement in response to West Florida’s reclassification.
“The Gulf South Conference acknowledges the challenges this latest Division I reclassification creates for GSC football-playing members,” said Oliveira.
“The conference has explored and continues to actively pursue traditional membership solutions and non-traditional partnerships to support GSC Football opportunities. Securing these opportunities has become more challenging in recent years as institutional aspirations and goals continue to evolve as part of a rapidly changing NCAA landscape and increasing financial pressures within higher education,” he said.
The New Lineup
West Florida becomes the 4th FCS program located in Florida, and joins Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Tarleton State, and West Georgia as a UAC member.
For more updates and to learn more about the transition visit uwf.edu/DI.
