JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Imagine Division I college football returning to the 904. It’s not happening yet - but it’s no longer out of the question for the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University.
Their home conference, the Atlantic Sun (ASUN), is set to launch a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance with the United Athletic Conference (UAC) - formerly known as the Western Athletic Conference - beginning in July.
“Really the common fan or the participants even in those leagues, our student athletes shouldn’t really see anything different,” Atlantic Sun Conference Commissioner Jeff Bacon said. “The Atlantic Sun Conference, the United Athletic Conference. What we’re changing is really the behind the scenes way that we manage and support those two leagues.”
With the addition of the University of West Florida this fall, the alliance will include 17 total member schools: nine in the ASUN and eight in the UAC. West Florida will compete in the ASUN for most sports while continuing its football program in the UAC. The Argonauts are one of only four programs in Florida competing at the FCS level.
“What is unique about our situation though is the fact that we’ve got both conferences together,” Bacon said. “We have that automatic ability to say to West Florida, which is what we were able to do, hey come to us. You’ll participate as a multi-sport member in the ASUN and football in the UAC. Versus them finding a multi-sport home and then having to go out on their own and find a place to land their football team.”
The new partnership creates a potential pathway for schools like UNF and JU to consider adding football. Jacksonville University has done it before. The Dolphins discontinued their program in 2019 after 22 seasons, competing in the Division I non-scholarship Pioneer Football League. Athletic director Alex Ricker-Gilbert says there are currently no plans to bring football back.
“I think in this environment where costs are going up, the NIL, the revenue share conversation, there’s only so much money to go around and football is the most expensive sport to offer,” JU Senior Vice President / Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert said. “Football requires a lot of resources. What we want to do is create resources for our current student athletes. Really focus on what we currently offer and build a championship experience for our current sports.”
Across town, the University of North Florida has never fielded a football team. The school explored the idea in 2013 under then-president John Delaney, but a feasibility study determined it was not realistic without at least 25,000 students. Now, athletic director Nick Morrow says the university’s priority is growing enrollment, with a goal of reaching 25,000 students by 2028.
“Where does the state want University of North Florida to be,” UNF Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Nick Morrow said. “Where does the city want University of North Florida to be? Because right now we need to be bigger to support the workforce needs of Jacksonville. Now does the institution need to be 35, 40, 45,000 students? You’re going to need football to get that big.”
What it would realistically take for UNF to have a football program:
- At least 25,000 students (UNF is currently just under 18,000)
- Millions of dollars for football-specific facilities
- A larger athletics budget (FCS programs can offer up to 63 scholarships)
- An equivalent women’s sport to satisfy Title IX requirements
“Not only do you need to hit that mark, but then you need to have another $8-10 million as part of your budget recurring, not even mentioning the capital money that you’re going to need to build something out with football, but just $8-10 million to support football plus the women’s sports that you would add along with football,” Morrow said.
If UNF ever moves forward, Morrow says it would be done at the highest level possible.
“Come out of the gate with scholarship football,” Morrow said. ”Again if you’re going to do it, do it right and invest in it because that’s one thing I think we could do is immediately come in to an FCS league and be competitive. That’s a selling point that if you’re getting yourself into the FCS playoffs every year, that’s a selling point from a recruiting standpoint that would generate a lot of excitement on campus and in the city.”
For now, there are no immediate plans for UNF to add football—but the door isn’t closed.
“Not right now, but in the future I’m not saying no,” Morrow said. ”It’s not a forever no.”