WILLIAMSBURG — Marking an exciting new chapter in the history of William & Mary Athletics, W&M football will be joining the Patriot League as an associate member, beginning with the 2026 season, the university announced today.

“We are excited to accept this invitation from the Patriot League as football members,” said W&M President Katherine A. Rowe. “It is a delight to be president of a university with such a robust commitment to excellence in Division I sports. We are constantly looking at how best we can support students who compete in every one of our sports. This move is a perfect fit for our football program, and we look forward to the future.”

Twenty of W&M’s remaining 22 sports remain members of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The conference’s continuous growth and geographic expansion have led to the development of strong rivalries and intense competition, which will continue in the next significant phase of W&M Athletics. Men’s gymnastics will continue to compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and women’s gymnastics will remain in the Gymnastics East Conference (GEC).

“We have enjoyed our association with the CAA since becoming a founding member in 1985, and the decision surrounding our football program does nothing to diminish our enthusiasm for those partnerships,” said Brian D. Mann, Director of Athletics. “Our commitment to the league remains strong, and we value the opportunity for our 20 programs to compete for CAA Championships. I look forward to working with Commissioner Joe D’Antonio and our league partners to provide the best possible competitive experience for our student-athletes.”

The Patriot League’s football members include Bucknell University, Colgate University, Fordham University, Georgetown University, The College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College and Lehigh University. University of Richmond football starts play in the Patriot League this season.

“Moving football to the Patriot League is a strategic decision that will align our program with other schools that play competitive football in a strong FCS conference with student-athletes who achieve at the highest level,” said Mann. “Joining a conference with Richmond, with whom we have a football rivalry encompassing 135 games, is another tremendous benefit. We can look forward to closing each football season with Richmond in the battle for the Capitol Cup in front of cheering alumni, friends, and fans.”

W&M Football’s associate membership in the Patriot League allows competition for a conference championship, along with fostering additional rivalries and strengthening a longstanding relationship.

“We are excited about our future in the Patriot League,” W&M head football coach Mike London said. “Our commitment to excellence on the field will not change. We’re stepping into a new chapter with the same intensity, preparation, and hunger to win. Our full focus will be on competing for the CAA Football Championship in 2025, and we will look forward to the new challenges our move to the Patriot League will bring in 2026 and beyond.”

Joining the Patriot League is being applauded by W&M Hall of Fame Head Football Coach Jimmye Laycock ’70, who coached Tribe football for 39 seasons. “I support this decision, which is an excellent move for William & Mary Football. The Patriot League has steadily grown in prominence in the FCS and will be an ideal fit for the Tribe. Our campus leadership has provided the football program with a stable home and positioned it for success in the future.”

With the Patriot League’s current football makeup, conference teams have reached the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs five times since 2015. Overall, member schools have appeared in 29 FCS playoff games over the last 10 years.

In its football history, W&M has earned 11 NCAA Playoff berths, reaching the national semifinals twice (2004 and 2009) and winning a program record 11 wins in each of those seasons. Overall, the school has won 16 conference championships, seen 119 players earn All-America honors, and had 74 players drafted into the NFL. The program also boasts notable alumni Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ’95 and Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott ’98.

Tribe football, which joined the CAA’s Football Conference in 2007, will continue to play in the CAA this year and will be able to compete in the 2025 CAA Football Championship.

I am pleased to welcome William & Mary as our ninth football member. This is an important day for the League. William & Mary’s commitment to academic excellence, athletic performance and community engagement reflects a holistic approach to student-athlete development that aligns with our membership and will make them an ideal institutional partner for the League.

We are pleased to welcome William & Mary to the Patriot League for football beginning in 2026. Their well-deserved reputation for academic success and their dedication to the development of their student-athletes helps further strengthen the Patriot League’s mission and vision.

As an alumnus of the program, I am excited that W&M football will play in a highly competitive conference on the rise. As the former Rector of the university, I appreciate aligning the program with schools that truly emphasize the importance of being both a student and an athlete. And from my perspective as a fan of Tribe Football, I am thrilled to see we have preserved one of the South’s oldest rivalry games between W&M and Richmond.

To me, the most important element of our football program after the character of our coaches and student-athletes is that they have the opportunity to play highly competitive football that prepares them to compete nationally at the end of each season. To be able to do that in a conference with schools top to bottom that so clearly share our commitment to academic excellence is ideal. The combination of William & Mary football and the patriot league is powerful. And I couldn’t be more excited about beating the snot out of Richmond for conference championships for years to come.