NCAA Division I FBS independent schools
NCAA Division I-A independent schools are four-year institutions whose football programs are not part of an NCAA-affiliated conference. This does not mean that I-A independents schedule each other for competition like conference schools do. There are considerably fewer independent schools than in years past; many independent schools later join (or attempt to join) established conferences.
NCAA Division I-A independent schools for 2004
- United States Military Academy (Army)
- United States Naval Academy (Navy)
- University of Notre Dame (member of Big East Conference for all other sports sponsored by that league)
- Temple University (expelled from football-only membership in Big East)
Two schools will leave the independent ranks after the 2003 season. The University of Connecticut, which is already a Big East member in other sports, will join the conference for football in 2004. Troy State University is joining the Sun Belt Conference.