West Florida is expected to move from Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision, according to multiple reports. The news was first reported by The Big Mountain Podcast.
The move is not official as of this writing, but is expected to become complete later this week.
The Argonauts will compete in the United Athletic Conference in football, and the ASUN in other sports. The UAC began as football-only arrangement that hosts the ASUN and WAC's football teams; current members include Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Tarleton and West Georgia. Southern Utah and Utah Tech were past members of the UAC but will join the Big Sky this fall. The UAC announced its schedule back in December, but 11th-hour league changes have become the norm lately: North Dakota State and Sacramento State both moved from FCS to FBS just last month, and either the Sun Belt or Conference USA will have to re-work its own conference slate after one conference inevitably loses the tug-of-war over Louisiana Tech.
Located in Pensacola, Fla., West Florida's football team has been successful from the moment its feet hit the turf. The Argos blasted off in 2016 and reached the Division II playoffs in 2017. By 2019, UWF was the Division II national champion. Since 2017, the Argonauts are 76-24 with six playoff berths and three trips to the D2 semifinals. That includes a 10-2 mark with a trip to the second round of the Division II playoffs and a Gulf South Conference co-championship in 2025.
Last month, UWF broke ground on Darrell Gooden Stadium, which will open in 2027. The stadium will host up to 7,500, with multiple premium seating areas.
"This stadium changes what's possible for our program," said head coach Kaleb Nobles. "It enhances recruiting, allows us to attract quality opponents, and gives our student-athletes a first-class environment that reflects the direction of UWF Athletics. Most importantly, it gives our fans and community a place they can truly call home."
West Florida will be the 10th school to join FCS this decade, including four just last season: Stonehill, St. Thomas, Lindenwood, East Texas A&M and UTRGV.
West Florida will become the fourth FCS program within Florida's borders. Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M both compete in the SWAC, and Stetson plays in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League. In a state with seven FBS institutions, and a location that puts UWF on the doorstep of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and even Louisiana, West Florida should be able to compete immediately at the FCS level.
The UAC placed two teams in the FCS playoffs last season: conference champ Tarleton earned the No. 4 overall seed and reached the quarterfinals, and Abilene Christian advanced to the second round after winning a first-round game at home versus Lamar.
Meanwhile, the loss of West Florida could be a crippling blow for the Gulf South. Founded in 1970, the GSC was down to just four football-playing members last season: champion Valdosta State, UWF, Delta State, and West Alabama.