Colleges in Florida With Football Teams

Florida is a great place for college football fans. The state is home to 43 accredited, nonprofit, four-year colleges, and 18 of those schools have college football teams. From top DI colleges like Florida and Florida State to smaller DII and NAIA schools, the state hosts teams at all levels of college athletics.

Our guide to football colleges in Florida offers an overview of every team in the Sunshine State. Read on to learn more about top teams, bitter rivalries, and championship glory.

There are 10 DI colleges in Florida that compete in football, some of which rank among the best-known in college sports. Teams like UF and FSU compete at the highest levels of NCAA football, boasting multiple national championships.

With an enrollment of over 2,700 students, Bethune-Cookman is one of the smallest D1 colleges in Florida. Based in Daytona Beach, this historically Black college has struggled athletically in recent years, with the Wildcats posting a 2-9 record for the 2022 season.

Based in Deland, Florida, Stetson is a small private college that enrolls around 4,000 students. The Stetson Hatters compete in the Pioneer Football League, posting a 4-6 record during the 2022 season. With a history dating back to 1894, Stetson boasts one of the oldest Florida college football teams.

Home to more than 9,000 students, Florida A&M is a historically Black college based in Tallahassee. One of the top HBCUs for football in the state, Florida A&M’s Rattlers have won 15 Black college football national championships and 37 conference championships.

A major public college based in Boca Raton, FAU enrolls more than 29,000 students annually. The FAU Owls boast three conference championships and a 4-1 Bowl record. FAU maintains a rivalry with Florida International University, and the two schools compete in the Shula Bowl each year. The Owls posted a 5-7 record for the 2022 season.

Located in Miami, FIU is a large public college with a student population of more than 56,000. The FIU Panthers boast one Sun Belt Conference championship and several postseason bowl appearances. Known for their rivalry with FAU, the Panthers posted a 4-8 record during the 2022 season.

Based in Tallahassee, FSU enrolls more than 45,000 students annually. The Seminoles are a major force among Florida college football teams, boasting 15 conference championships and three national championships. FSU maintains notable rivalries with other top football colleges in Florida, including the Florida Gators and the Miami Hurricanes.

A major public college in Orlando, UCF is the largest of the D1 colleges in Florida, enrolling more than 68,000 students annually. The UCF Knights rank among the top Florida college football teams, boasting six conference championships and 14 bowl appearances. The Knights are known for their rivalries with both the University of South Florida Bulls and the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Based in Gainesville, UF is home to more than 55,000 students, and the Gators rank among the top Florida college football teams. Winners of three national championships and nine conference championships, the Gators are also well known for their rivalries with the Georgia Bulldogs, Tennessee Volunteers, and Florida State Seminoles.

A private college based in Coral Gables, UM is home to more than 19,000 students. The Miami Hurricanes rank among the winningest Florida college football teams, boasting nine conference championships and five national championships. UM’s notable rivals include FSU, UF, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech.

A public college in Tampa, USF serves over 49,000 students each year. The South Florida Bulls hold a lifetime 141-135 record, but the team struggled in the 2022 season, posting a 1-14 record for the year. USF maintains a rivalry with UCF, known to fans as “The War on I-4.”

There are two DII schools in Florida, both of which compete in different athletic conferences. Varied in size and background, these schools represent the diversity of Florida football colleges.

A private HBCU based in Jacksonville, EWU serves around 1,100 students. Since 2019, the EWU Tigers have competed mainly in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a Division II NCAA conference composed of historically Black colleges and universities. The team posted a 5-6 overall record for the 2022 season, alongside a 4-4 conference record.

A public college based in Pensacola, UWF is home to more than 13,000 students. The UWF Argonauts are a young team, playing their first game in 2016. However, the Argonauts quickly made a name for themselves, qualifying for the Division II playoffs in 2017 and winning their first national Division II championship in 2019.

Florida does not have any Division III teams, but several teams participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). These teams still compete regionally and nationally, though typically not at the same level as D1 and D2 schools in Florida.

A private Roman Catholic college based in Ave Maria, Ave serves a small student body of just 1,300. Established in 2011, the Ave Gyrenes compete in the Mid-South conference. The Gyrenes posted a 6-3 record for the 2022 season, their second-best record ever.

An HBCU based in Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial is home to around 1,100 students. After a 62-year hiatus, the school re-established its Lions football team in 2020. The team recently posted a 3-7 record for the 2022 season.

A private Christian college based in Lakeland, SEU enrolls more than 10,000 students annually. The SEU Fire has had great success in recent years, competing in the NAIA national championship in 2016. Most recently, the team posted a 6-4 record for the 2022 season.

Based in Miami Gardens, STU is a private Catholic college that serves more than 6,000 students. The STU Bobcats compete in the Mid-South Conference’s Sun Division. The team has had great success in recent years, posting a 9-2 record in 2022.

A private Christian college located in Lake Wales, WU serves a small student body of fewer than 900. A young team founded in 2013, the WU Royals primarily compete in the Sun Conference. The Royals struggled in 2022, posting a 1-9 record for the 2022 season.

Located in Babson Park, Webber is a private college that serves around 1,100 students annually. The Webber Warriors compete in the Sun Conference and the National Christian College Athletic Association. Most recently, the Warriors posted a 6-4 record during the 2022 season.