The 30-League Structure
A connected national system in which 426 college football programs can rise or fall through performance.
Merit-Based Football organizes 426 college-football programs into 30 connected leagues based on performance. Most leagues contain 14 teams, while League 30 contains 20. Teams rise or fall through promotion and relegation, and the League 1 winner becomes the national champion.
The System in Four Numbers
The entire structure can be understood through four figures: the number of participating teams, the number of leagues, the standard league size, and the annual movement between leagues.
426
Total Programs
All 138 FBS, 127 remaining FCS, and 161 Division II teams form one connected national structure.
30
Performance-Based Leagues
Every program begins in one of 30 connected leagues and can rise or fall through performance.
14
Teams in Most Leagues
Leagues 1 through 29 contain 14 teams each. League 30 contains 20 teams.
3 Up / 3 Down
Annual Movement
In most leagues, the top three teams are promoted and the bottom three are relegated after each season.
How 426 Teams Form 30 Leagues
The initial structure combines 138 FBS programs, 127 remaining FCS programs, and 161 Division II programs. The first 29 leagues contain 14 teams each, while League 30 contains the final 20 teams.
138
FBS Programs
The 2026 FBS group includes 138 teams, including North Dakota State and Sacramento State as new FBS members.
127
Remaining FCS Programs
After North Dakota State and Sacramento State are included with the FBS group, 127 FCS programs remain in the national structure.
161
Division II Programs
All 161 Division II football programs complete the 426-team field.
138 FBS + 127 FCS + 161 Division II = 426 total teams
One Connected Structure
The 426 programs are arranged by competitive strength rather than separated into permanent classifications. Leagues 1 through 29 each contain 14 teams, while League 30 contains the final 20 teams.
Together, the leagues form one continuous national system. A team’s current league shows where it stands today, not how high it is allowed to rise tomorrow.
See League 1 in Action
See what a complete Merit-Based Football season could look like with the hypothetical 2026 League 1 schedule: 14 teams, a 13-game round robin, two bye weeks, and a simultaneous Final Round.
The 30-League Pyramid
Every program can move upward through results on the field.
Win, Rise, and Compete at a Higher Level
3 Promoted
The top three teams move to the league directly above.
3 Relegated
The bottom three teams move to the league directly below.
League 1 has no promotion above it, and League 30 has no relegation below it.
The National Championship
League 1 is college football’s championship league. The team that finishes first in League 1 is the national champion.
Why It Matters
College football should reward what teams accomplish on the field. Winning creates opportunity, losing has consequences, and every program has a reason to remain competitive throughout the season.
A rising program can earn promotion, compete against stronger opponents, and continue climbing toward League 1.
See Where Every Team Begins
View the complete 2026 starting structure, including all 426 teams and their assigned leagues. Opens as a PDF.