NCAA Independents
By Matt Shetler

NCAA Independent Schools are four year schools whose football programs are not affiliated with any NCAA conference. NCAA schools have joined conferences for two reasons: to gain a share of television and bowl revenues or for scheduling purposes.
  
All Division I-FBS Independents are eligible for a BCS Bowl, by finishing in the top 14 of the final BCS Standings. Notre Dame on the other hand will receive a BCS bid if it finishes in the Top 8 of the BCS. Note Dame also has other bowl agreements, as part of it’s affiliation with the Big East Conference in other sports. Navy also has an agreement with the Poinsettia Bowl.
  
There are currently four Division I-FBS independents: Notre Dame, Army, Navy and Western Kentucky, all of which have their own circumstances for remaining independent.
  
Due to Notre Dame’s massive popularity of many years, Notre Dame is the only individual school to have its own television contract (with NBC). The Fighting Irish are also a part of the BCS coalition, giving the program a guaranteed payout from the BCS. All of this makes Notre Dame the most financially valuable football program in the country, therefore; not needing the revenue that would be gained by joining a conference.
  
The Fighting Irish also has longstanding rivalries with many major schools in the country, including: Purdue, USC, Michigan, Michigan St. and Navy. Scheduling has never been an issue for Notre Dame, because all of their games are on national television, all teams benefit financially by scheduling them. If Notre Dame joined a conference, the would have to eliminate many of their longstanding rivalries. The Fighting Irish are a member of the Big east Conference for all other sports.
  

Looking at Army and Navy, since they are service academies, they are fully funded by the federal government. Scheduling has never been a major concern for both programs. However they do play each other and Notre Dame and have a common opponent in Air Force. Army, in fact, was a member of Conference USA, but withdrew after the 2004 season and is a member of the Patriot League for all other sports. Navy also competes in the Patriot League in all other sports.
  
Western Kentucky is a member of the Sun Belt Conference in all other sports and will begin playing football in the SBC in 2009.
  
There are a few NCAA Division I-FCS teams as well, including: Bryant University (will join the NEC in 2012), Chicago State University, Longwood University, North Carolina Central University (future member of the MEAC), Savannah State University, Seattle University (future member of the Great West Conference) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (future member of the OVC), Iona College (in the MAAC for all other sports) and Marist College (also MAAC).