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122-570: For the 2023–24 season, it had 241 member institutions , of which two are in British Columbia , one in the U.S. Virgin Islands , and the rest in the continental United States , with over 83,000 student-athletes participating. The NAIA, whose headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri , sponsors 28 national championships. CBS Sports Network , formerly called CSTV, serves as the national media outlet for

244-684: A conspiracy to violate antitrust law , by granting DirecTV exclusive rights to sell the Sunday Ticket product, thereby restricting competition and forcing viewers to pay super competitive prices to view out-of-market games. On June 27, 2024, a jury in Los Angeles found that the NFL had violated antitrust law in setting the price of the Sunday ticket package and ordered a penalty totaling more than $ 4.7 billion. With triple damages allowed under federal antitrust laws,

366-615: A merger on June 8, 1966, to take full effect in 1970. In the meantime, the leagues would hold a common draft and championship game. The game, the Super Bowl , was held four times before the merger, with the NFL winning Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II , and the AFL winning Super Bowl III and Super Bowl IV . After the league merged, it was reorganized into two conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC), consisting of most of

488-608: A blizzard; in 2012, when the Kickoff game was moved from Thursday to Wednesday to avoid conflict with the Democratic National Convention ; and in 2020, when a game was postponed from Sunday to Tuesday due to players testing positive for COVID-19 . NFL regular season match-ups are determined according to a scheduling formula. Within a division, all four teams play 14 out of their 17 games against common opponents or each other– two games (home and away) are played against

610-478: A club's franchise or any other action, he deems necessary. The commissioner can also issue sanctions up to and including a lifetime ban from the league if an individual connected to the NFL has bet on games or failed to notify the league of conspiracies or plans to bet on or fix games. The current Commissioner of the National Football League is Roger Goodell, who was elected in 2006 after Paul Tagliabue ,

732-407: A club's season being canceled, a restocking draft would be held. Neither of these protocols has ever had to be implemented. Free agents in the National Football League are divided into restricted free agents , who have three accrued seasons and whose current contract has expired, and unrestricted free agents , who have four or more accrued seasons and whose contract has expired. An accrued season

854-594: A different football code than the American game, the CFL established a niche market in Canada and still survives as an independent league. A new professional league, the fourth American Football League (AFL), began to play in 1960. The upstart AFL began to challenge the established NFL in popularity, gaining lucrative television contracts and engaging in a bidding war with the NFL for free agents and draft picks. The two leagues announced

976-452: A lower pick than any team that did not make the divisional round. The Super Bowl champion always drafts last, and the losing team from the Super Bowl always drafts next-to-last. All potential draftees must be at least three years removed from high school in order to be eligible for the draft. Underclassmen that have met that criterion to be eligible for the draft must write an application to

1098-419: A minority of preseason games are distributed among the league's national television partners. Through the 2014 season, the NFL had a blackout policy in which games were 'blacked out' on local television in the home team's area if the home stadium was not sold out. Clubs could elect to set this requirement at only 85%, but they would have to give more ticket revenue to the visiting team; teams could also request

1220-702: A number of awards for its players and coaches at its annual NFL Honors presentation. The most prestigious award is the AP Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Other major awards include the AP Offensive Player of the Year , AP Defensive Player of the Year , AP Comeback Player of the Year , and the AP Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards. Another prestigious award is the Walter Payton Man of

1342-575: A part of any of these conferences play in the Continental Athletic Conference , formerly the Association of Independent Institutions. *- Denotes that the conference sponsors football. †- Denotes a football-only conference. List of NAIA institutions The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has 237 member colleges and universities for athletic competition in

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1464-524: A playoff bid, the number of wild card teams from each conference dropped from three to two. The playoffs expanded again in 2020, adding two more wild card teams to bring the total to 14 playoff teams. The NFL consists of 32 clubs divided into two conferences of 16 teams each. Each conference is divided into four divisions of four clubs each. During the regular season, each team is allowed a maximum of 55 players on its roster; only 48 of these may be active (eligible to play) on game days. Each team can also have

1586-695: A record 167 million people that watched Super Bowl XLVIII , the conclusion to the 2013 season. In addition to radio networks run by each NFL team, select NFL games are broadcast nationally by Westwood One (known as Dial Global for the 2012 season). These games are broadcast on over 500 networks, giving all NFL markets access to each primetime game. The NFL's deal with Westwood One was extended in 2012 and continued through 2017. Other NFL games are nationally distributed by Compass Media Networks and Sports USA Radio Network under contracts with individual teams. Some broadcasting innovations have either been introduced or popularized during NFL telecasts. Among them,

1708-542: A simulcast with ESPN. Amazon , through their Prime Video streaming service, is the exclusive carrier of the Thursday Night Football package. NFL Network, a U.S. pay cable channel owned by the league itself, broadcasts select games under the NFL Network Exclusive Game Series banner. Games under this banner usually consist of NFL International Series games and select Saturday games. In 2023,

1830-405: A sixteen-player practice squad separate from its main roster. Each NFL club is granted a franchise, the league's authorization for the team to operate in its home city. This franchise covers 'Home Territory' (the 75 miles surrounding the city limits, or, if the team is within 100 miles of another league city, half the distance between the two cities) and 'Home Marketing Area' (Home Territory plus

1952-546: A specific exemption from the NFL for the game. The vast majority of NFL games were not blacked out; only 6% of games were blacked out during the 2011 season , and only two games were blacked out in 2013 and none in 2014 . The NFL announced in March 2015 that it would suspend its blackout policy for at least the 2015 season . According to Nielsen , the NFL regular season since 2012 was watched by at least 200 million individuals, accounting for 80% of all television households in

2074-471: A team that finishes last would play two other last-place teams in the conference. The final game is an inter-conference based on a rotating cycle and determined by previous season's standings. In total, each team plays 17 games and has one bye week, where it does not play a game. Although a team's home and away opponents are known by the end of the previous year's regular season, the exact dates and times for NFL games are not determined until much later because

2196-547: A total of 32 are given. Clubs are required to make their selection within a certain period of time, the exact time depending on which round the pick is made in. If they fail to do so on time, the clubs behind them can begin to select their players in order, but they do not lose the pick outright. This happened in the 2003 draft , when the Minnesota Vikings failed to make their selection on time. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers were able to make their picks before

2318-494: A two-conference system from 1933 to 1966 , where the champions of each conference would meet in the NFL Championship Game . If two teams tied for the conference lead, they would meet in a one-game playoff to determine the conference champion. In 1967 , the NFL expanded from 15 teams to 16 teams. Instead of just evening out the conferences by adding the expansion New Orleans Saints to the seven-member Western Conference,

2440-695: A women's division in the spring of 1975 and held the first women's national championship volleyball tournament that fall. In 1997, Liz Heaston became the first female college athlete to play and score in a college football game when she kicked two extra points during the 1997 Linfield vs. Willamette football game . Launched in 2000 by the NAIA, the Champions of Character program promotes character and sportsmanship through athletics. The Champions of Character conducts clinics and has developed an online training course to educate athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators with

2562-1740: Is Now Mission University" . Baptist Bible Tribune . January 26, 2024 . Retrieved February 6, 2024 . ^ "Members" . Gulf Coast Athletic Conference . Retrieved September 7, 2019 . ^ "NAIA Announces Membership Additions" . NAIA. April 8, 2024 . Retrieved April 9, 2024 . ^ "NAIA Announces Two New Member Institutions" . NAIA. October 7, 2024 . Retrieved October 7, 2024 . v t e National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics NAIA Conferences Institutions Regions [REDACTED] Sports and championships Active championships Baseball World Series Basketball men women Bowling men women Competitive cheer championship Competitive dance championship Cross country men women Football championship Golf men women Lacrosse women Soccer men women Softball championship Swimming & diving men women Tennis men women Track & field men's indoor and outdoor women's indoor and outdoor Volleyball men women Wrestling men women Invitation/ emerging Beach Volleyball women Lacrosse men Discontinued Basketball (Division II) men women Football Division I Division II Gymnastics women Ice hockey men Related topics College athletics in

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2684-607: Is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and the highest professional level of American football in the world. Each NFL season begins annually with a three-week preseason in August, followed by

2806-427: Is defined as "six or more regular-season games on a club's active/inactive, reserved/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists". Restricted free agents are allowed to negotiate with other clubs besides their former club, but the former club has the right to match any offer. If they choose not to, they are compensated with draft picks. Unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any club, and no compensation

2928-448: Is earned by the 32 clubs and is taxable there. This will remain the case even when the league office and Management Council file returns as taxable entities, and the change in filing status will make no material difference to our business." As a result, the league office might owe around US$ 10 million in income taxes, but it is no longer required to disclose the salaries of its executive officers. The league has three defined officers:

3050-543: Is elected by an affirmative vote of three-fourths or 10 of the conference members. The commissioner appoints the secretary and treasurer and has broad authority in disputes between clubs, players, coaches, and employees. He is the "principal executive officer " of the NFL and also has authority in hiring league employees, negotiating television contracts, disciplining individuals that own part or all of an NFL team, clubs, or employed individuals of an NFL club if they have violated league by-laws or committed "conduct detrimental to

3172-602: Is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan . The Green Bay Packers hold the most combined NFL championships with thirteen, winning nine titles before the Super Bowl era and four Super Bowls afterwards. Since the creation of the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl victories at six each. The reigning league champions are the Kansas City Chiefs , who defeated

3294-463: Is owed if they sign with a different club. Clubs are given one franchise tag to offer to any unrestricted free agent. The franchise tag is a one-year deal that pays the player 120% of his previous contract or no less than the average of the five highest-paid players at his position, whichever is greater. There are two types of franchise tags: exclusive tags, which do not allow the player to negotiate with other clubs, and non-exclusive tags, which allow

3416-474: Is required to schedule three preseason games. NFC teams must play at least two of these at home in odd numbered years and AFC teams must play at least two at home in even numbered years. However, the teams involved in the Hall of Fame game, as well as any team that played in an American Bowl game, play four preseason games. Preseason games are exhibition matches and do not count towards regular-season totals. Because

3538-414: The 18-week regular season , which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 17 games and having one bye week . Following the conclusion of the regular season, seven teams from each conference, including four division winners and three wild card teams, advance to the playoffs , a single-elimination tournament , which culminates in the Super Bowl , played in early February between

3660-625: The Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup , was donated to the NFL (then APFA) in 1920 by the Brunswick-Balke Collender Corporation . The trophy, the appearance of which is only known by its description as a "silver loving cup", was intended to be a traveling trophy and not to become permanent until a team had won at least three titles. The league awarded it to the Akron Pros, champions of the inaugural 1920 season; however,

3782-549: The Canton Evening Repository , intended to "raise the standard of professional football in every way possible, to eliminate bidding for players between rival clubs and to secure cooperation in the formation of schedules". A second meeting was held on September 17, 1920, with representatives from teams within four states: Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Dayton from Ohio; the Hammond Pros and Muncie Flyers from Indiana;

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3904-725: The Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player award since 1939, as well as the Charles Stevenson Hustle Award ("Charlie Hustle"), which was the basis for Pete Rose 's nickname, given to him by Whitey Ford . From 1992 to 2020, basketball was the only NAIA sport in which the organization's member institutions were aligned into divisions. Effective with the 2020–21 academic year, the NAIA returned to a single division for both men's and women's basketball. The NAIA has 21 member conferences, including 9 that sponsor football. Member institutions that are not

4026-463: The Houston Texans began play as an expansion team . Other drafts held by the league include an allocation draft in 1950 to allocate players from several teams that played in the dissolved All-America Football Conference and a supplemental draft in 1984 to give NFL teams the rights to players who had been eligible for the main draft but had not been drafted because they had signed contracts with

4148-496: The Internal Revenue Code provides an exemption from federal income taxation for "Business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, boards of trade, or professional football leagues (whether or not administering a pension fund for football players), not organized for profit and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual." In contrast, each individual team, with

4270-792: The Los Angeles Rams who came from a 1936 iteration of the American Football League, and the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers , both from the AAFC. By the 1950s, the NFL had an effective monopoly on professional football in the United States; its only competition in North America was the professional Canadian football circuit, which formally became the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1958. With Canadian football being

4392-686: The Rochester Jeffersons from New York; and the Rock Island Independents , Decatur Staleys , and Racine (Chicago) Cardinals from Illinois. The league was renamed to the American Professional Football Association (APFA) . The league elected Jim Thorpe as its first president, and consisted of 14 teams (the Buffalo All-Americans , Chicago Tigers , Columbus Panhandles and Detroit Heralds joined

4514-745: The San Francisco 49ers by a score of 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII . On August 20, 1920, a meeting was held by representatives of the Akron Pros , Canton Bulldogs , Cleveland Indians , and Dayton Triangles at the Jordan and Hupmobile auto showroom in Canton, Ohio . This meeting resulted in the formation of the American Professional Football Conference (APFC), a group who, according to

4636-665: The Skycam camera system was used for the first time in a live telecast, at a 1984 preseason NFL game in San Diego between the Chargers and 49ers , and televised by CBS. Commentator John Madden famously used a telestrator during games between the early 1980s to the mid-2000s, boosting the device's popularity. Each April (excluding 2014 when it took place in May), the NFL holds a draft of college players. The draft consists of seven rounds, with each of

4758-523: The United States Football League or Canadian Football League . Like the other major sports leagues in the United States , the NFL maintains protocol for a disaster draft . In the event of a 'near disaster' (less than 15 players killed or disabled) that caused the club to lose a quarterback, they could draft one from a team with at least three quarterbacks. In the event of a 'disaster' (15 or more players killed or disabled) that results in

4880-446: The highest average attendance (67,591) of any professional sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States. The Super Bowl is also among the most-watched sporting events in the world, with the individual games accounting for many of the most watched television programs in American history and all occupying the top five of Nielsen 's all-time most-watched U.S. television broadcasts by 2015. The NFL

5002-603: The 2024–25 academic year. ^ UC Merced started a transition to NCAA Division II in July 2024, joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association . However, it remains an NAIA member in the 2024–25 school year before starting full NCAA competition in 2025. ^ Concordia–Michigan announced that they will discontinue their athletic program after the 2024–25 academic year. ^ Georgia Gwinnett will add men's and women's basketball in

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5124-6821: The 2024–25 season. NAIA institutions [ edit ] Note: Non-basketball playing institutions are denoted by *. Members leaving are highlighted in red. List of NAIA institutions School Nickname City State/ province/ territory Conference Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Golden Stallions Tifton Georgia Southern States Athletic Conference Alice Lloyd College Eagles Pippa Passes Kentucky River States Conference Aquinas College Saints Grand Rapids Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Arizona Christian University Firestorm Phoenix Arizona Great Southwest Athletic Conference Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes Little Rock Arkansas Continental Athletic Conference Ave Maria University Gyrenes Ave Maria Florida Sun Conference Avila University Eagles Kansas City Missouri Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Baker University Wildcats Baldwin City Kansas Heart of America Athletic Conference Bellevue University Bruins Bellevue Nebraska North Star Athletic Association ( Frontier Conference in 2025) Benedictine College Ravens Atchison Kansas Heart of America Athletic Conference Benedictine University at Mesa Redhawks Mesa Arizona Great Southwest Athletic Conference Bethany College Swedes Lindsborg Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Bethel College (KS) Threshers North Newton Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Bethel University (IN) Pilots Mishawaka Indiana Crossroads League Bethel University (TN) Wildcats McKenzie Tennessee Mid-South Conference Blue Mountain Christian University Toppers Blue Mountain Mississippi Southern States Athletic Conference Bluefield University Rams Bluefield Virginia Appalachian Athletic Conference Brenau University Golden Tigers Gainesville Georgia Appalachian Athletic Conference Brescia University Bearcats Owensboro Kentucky River States Conference Brewton–Parker College Barons Mount Vernon Georgia Southern States Athletic Conference Briar Cliff University Chargers Sioux City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference University of British Columbia * Thunderbirds Vancouver British Columbia Cascade Collegiate Conference Bryan College Lions Dayton Tennessee Appalachian Athletic Conference Bushnell University Beacons Eugene Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) Keelhaulers Vallejo California California Pacific Conference University of California, Merced (UC Merced) Golden Bobcats Merced California California Pacific Conference Calumet College of St. Joseph Crimson Wave Whiting Indiana Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Campbellsville University Tigers Campbellsville Kentucky Mid-South Conference Carolina University Bruins Winston-Salem North Carolina Continental Athletic Conference Carroll College Fighting Saints Helena Montana Frontier Conference Central Baptist College Mustangs Conway Arkansas American Midwest Conference Central Christian College of Kansas Tigers McPherson Kansas Sooner Athletic Conference Central Methodist University Eagles Fayette Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference Clarke University Crusaders Dubuque Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference Cleary University Cougars Howell Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference College of Coastal Georgia Mariners Brunswick Georgia Sun Conference Columbia College (MO) Cougars Columbia Missouri American Midwest Conference Columbia College (SC) Koalas Columbia South Carolina Appalachian Athletic Conference Columbia International University Rams Columbia South Carolina Appalachian Athletic Conference Concordia University–Michigan Cardinals Ann Arbor Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Concordia University–Nebraska Bulldogs Seward Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference Corban University Warriors Salem Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference Cornerstone University Golden Eagles Grand Rapids Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Cottey College Comets Nevada Missouri American Midwest Conference Crowley's Ridge College Pioneers Paragould Arkansas American Midwest Conference Culver–Stockton College Wildcats Canton Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference Cumberland University Phoenix Lebanon Tennessee Mid-South Conference University of

5246-665: The 2025–26 school year. ^ Jamestown started a transition to NCAA Division II in July 2024, joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference . However, it remains an NAIA member in the 2024–25 school year before starting full NCAA competition in 2025. ^ Middle Georgia will start a transition to NCAA Division II no later than July 2025, joining the Peach Belt Conference , before starting full NCAA competition by that time, pending NCAA approval. ^ The women's basketball team uses

5368-424: The 32 clubs getting one pick in each round. The draft order for non-playoff teams is determined by regular-season record; among playoff teams, teams are first ranked by the furthest round of the playoffs they reached, and then are ranked by regular-season record. For example, any team that reached the divisional round will be given a higher pick than any team that reached the conference championships, but will be given

5490-494: The AFC package, and Fox carries afternoon games from the NFC package. These afternoon games are not carried on all affiliates, as multiple games are being played at once; each network affiliate is assigned one game per time slot, according to a complicated set of rules. Since 2011, the league has reserved the right to give Sunday games that, under the contract, would normally air on one network to

5612-612: The APFA awarded the Akron Pros the championship by virtue of their 8–0–3 record. The first event occurred on September 26, 1920, when the Rock Island Independents defeated the non-league St. Paul Ideals 48–0 at Douglas Park . On October 3, 1920, the first full week of league play occurred. The following season resulted in the Chicago Staleys controversially winning the title over the Buffalo All-Americans. On June 24, 1922,

5734-523: The APFA changed its name to the National Football League (NFL). In 1932 , the season ended with the Chicago Bears ( 6–1–6 ) and the Portsmouth Spartans ( 6–1–4 ) tied for first in the league standings. At the time, teams were ranked on a single table and the team with the highest winning percentage (not including ties, which were not counted towards the standings) at the end of the season

5856-13563: The Cumberlands Patriots Williamsburg Kentucky Mid-South Conference Dakota State University Trojans Madison South Dakota North Star Athletic Association ( Frontier Conference in 2025) Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers Mitchell South Dakota Great Plains Athletic Conference Dalton State College Roadrunners Dalton Georgia Southern States Athletic Conference Defiance College Yellow Jackets and Lady Jackets Defiance Ohio Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Dickinson State University Blue Hawks Dickinson North Dakota North Star Athletic Association ( Frontier Conference in 2025) Dillard University Bleu Devils & Lady Bleu Devils New Orleans Louisiana HBCU Athletic Conference Doane College Tigers Crete Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference Dordt University Defenders Sioux Center Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers La Grande Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Eagles Prescott Arizona Great Southwest Athletic Conference Evangel University Valor Springfield Missouri Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference The Evergreen State College Geoducks Olympia Washington Cascade Collegiate Conference Faulkner University Eagles Montgomery Alabama Southern States Athletic Conference Fisher College Falcons Boston Massachusetts Continental Athletic Conference Fisk University Bulldogs Nashville Tennessee HBCU Athletic Conference Florida College Falcons Temple Terrace Florida Continental Athletic Conference Florida Memorial University Lions Miami Gardens Florida Sun Conference Florida National University Conquistadors Miami Florida Continental Athletic Conference Freed–Hardeman University Lions Henderson Tennessee Mid-South Conference Friends University Falcons Wichita Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Georgetown College Tigers Georgetown Kentucky Mid-South Conference Georgia Gwinnett College * Grizzlies Lawrenceville Georgia Continental Athletic Conference Goshen College Maple Leafs Goshen Indiana Crossroads League Governors State University Jaguars University Park Illinois Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Grace College & Seminary Lancers Winona Lake Indiana Crossroads League Graceland University Yellowjackets Lamoni Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference Grand View University Vikings Des Moines Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference Hannibal–LaGrange University Trojans Hannibal Missouri American Midwest Conference Harris–Stowe State University Hornets St. Louis Missouri American Midwest Conference Haskell Indian Nations University Indians Lawrence Kansas Continental Athletic Conference Hastings College Broncos Hastings Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis Eutectics St. Louis Missouri American Midwest Conference Holy Cross College Saints Notre Dame Indiana Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Hope International University Royals Fullerton California Great Southwest Athletic Conference University of Houston–Victoria * Jaguars Victoria Texas Red River Athletic Conference Huntington University Foresters Huntington Indiana Crossroads League Huston–Tillotson University Rams Austin Texas Red River Athletic Conference College of Idaho Coyotes Caldwell Idaho Cascade Collegiate Conference Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) Warriors Fort Wayne Indiana Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Indiana University Columbus Crimson Pride Columbus Indiana River States Conference Indiana University East Red Wolves Richmond Indiana River States Conference Indiana University Kokomo Cougars Kokomo Indiana River States Conference Indiana University Northwest Redhawks Gary Indiana Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Indiana University South Bend Titans South Bend Indiana Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Indiana University Southeast Grenadiers New Albany Indiana River States Conference Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats Marion Indiana Crossroads League University of Jamestown Jimmies Jamestown North Dakota North Star Athletic Association Jarvis Christian University Bulldogs Hawkins Texas Red River Athletic Conference John Brown University Golden Eagles Siloam Springs Arkansas Sooner Athletic Conference Johnson University Royals Kimberlin Heights Tennessee Appalachian Athletic Conference Judson University Eagles Elgin Illinois Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes Salina Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Keiser University Seahawks West Palm Beach Florida Sun Conference Kentucky Christian University Knights Grayson Kentucky Appalachian Athletic Conference ( River States Conference in 2025) La Sierra University Golden Eagles Riverside California California Pacific Conference ( Great Southwest Athletic Conference in 2025) Langston University Lions Langston Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference Lawrence Technological University (Lawrence Tech) Blue Devils Southfield Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Lewis–Clark State College Warriors Lewiston Idaho Cascade Collegiate Conference Life University Eagles Marietta Georgia Southern States Athletic Conference Life Pacific University Warriors San Dimas California Great Southwest Athletic Conference Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders Columbia Kentucky Mid-South Conference Louisiana Christian University Wildcats Pineville Louisiana Red River Athletic Conference Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSU Alexandria) Generals Alexandria Louisiana Red River Athletic Conference Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSU Shreveport) Pilots & Lady Pilots Shreveport Louisiana Red River Athletic Conference Lourdes University Gray Wolves Sylvania Ohio Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Loyola University New Orleans Wolfpack New Orleans Louisiana Southern States Athletic Conference Madonna University Crusaders Livonia Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Marian University Knights Indianapolis Indiana Crossroads League The Master's University Mustangs Santa Clarita California Great Southwest Athletic Conference Mayville State University Comets Mayville North Dakota North Star Athletic Association ( Frontier Conference in 2025) McPherson College Bulldogs McPherson Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference University of Michigan–Dearborn Wolverines Dearborn Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Mid-America Christian University Evangels Oklahoma City Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers Olathe Kansas Heart of America Athletic Conference Middle Georgia State University Knights Cochran / Macon Georgia Southern States Athletic Conference Midland University Warriors Fremont Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference Midway University Eagles Midway Kentucky River States Conference Milligan University Buffaloes Elizabethton Tennessee Appalachian Athletic Conference Mission University Patriots Springfield Missouri American Midwest Conference Missouri Baptist University Spartans St. Louis Missouri American Midwest Conference ( Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2025) Missouri Valley College Vikings Marshall Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference University of Mobile Rams Prichard Alabama Southern States Athletic Conference Montana State University–Northern Lights Havre Montana Frontier Conference Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) Orediggers Butte Montana Frontier Conference University of Montana–Western Bulldogs Dillon Montana Frontier Conference Montreat College Cavaliers Montreat North Carolina Appalachian Athletic Conference Morningside University Mustangs Sioux City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference Morris College Hornets Sumter South Carolina Continental Athletic Conference Mount Marty University Lancers Yankton South Dakota Great Plains Athletic Conference Mount Mercy University Mustangs Cedar Rapids Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference Mount Vernon Nazarene University Cougars Mount Vernon Ohio Crossroads League Multnomah University Lions Portland Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference Nelson University Lions Waxahachie Texas Sooner Athletic Conference New College of Florida Mighty Banyans Sarasota Florida Sun Conference North American University Stallions Stafford Texas Red River Athletic Conference University of North Texas at Dallas Trailblazers Dallas Texas Sooner Athletic Conference Northern New Mexico College Eagles Española New Mexico Continental Athletic Conference Northwest University Eagles Kirkland Washington Cascade Collegiate Conference Northwestern College Red Raiders Orange City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) Racers Lima Ohio Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Oakland City University Mighty Oaks Oakland City Indiana River States Conference Oakwood University Ambassadors & Lady Ambassadors Huntsville Alabama HBCU Athletic Conference Oklahoma City University Stars Oklahoma City Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies Goodwell Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles Bartlesville Oklahoma Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Olivet Nazarene University Tigers Bourbonnais Illinois Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) Owls Klamath Falls Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference Ottawa University Braves Ottawa Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Ottawa University Arizona Spirit Surprise Arizona Great Southwest Athletic Conference Our Lady of

5978-549: The Green Bay Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls. Unlike the previous trophies, a new Vince Lombardi Trophy is issued to each year's champion, who maintains permanent control of it. Lombardi Trophies are made by Tiffany & Co. out of sterling silver and are worth anywhere from US$ 25,000 to US$ 300,000. Additionally, each player on the winning team as well as coaches and personnel are awarded Super Bowl rings to commemorate their victory. The winning team chooses

6100-4483: The Lake University Saints San Antonio Texas Red River Athletic Conference College of the Ozarks Bobcats Point Lookout Missouri Sooner Athletic Conference Pacific Union College Pioneers Angwin California California Pacific Conference Park University Pirates Parkville Missouri Heart of America Athletic Conference Park University Gilbert Buccaneers Gilbert Arizona Great Southwest Athletic Conference Paul Quinn College Tigers Dallas Texas Red River Athletic Conference Peru State College Bobcats Peru Nebraska Heart of America Athletic Conference Philander Smith University Panthers Little Rock Arkansas HBCU Athletic Conference University of Pikeville Bears Pikeville Kentucky Appalachian Athletic Conference Point University Skyhawks West Point Georgia Southern States Athletic Conference University of Providence Argonauts Great Falls Montana Frontier Conference Providence Christian College * Sea Beggars Pasadena California California Pacific Conference Reinhardt University Eagles Waleska Georgia Appalachian Athletic Conference University of Rio Grande RedStorm Rio Grande Ohio River States Conference Rochester Christian University Warriors Rochester Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears Billings Montana Frontier Conference Rust College Bearcats Holly Springs Mississippi HBCU Athletic Conference St. Ambrose University Fighting Bees & Queen Bees Davenport Iowa Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference St. Andrews University Knights Laurinburg North Carolina Appalachian Athletic Conference University of St. Francis Fighting Saints Joliet Illinois Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference University of Saint Francis Cougars Fort Wayne Indiana Crossroads League University of Saint Mary Spires Leavenworth Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference College of Saint Mary Flames Omaha Nebraska Great Plains Athletic Conference Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Pomeroys Saint Mary's Indiana River States Conference St. Thomas University Bobcats Miami Gardens Florida Sun Conference Saint Xavier University Cougars Chicago Illinois Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Savannah College of Art and Design * Bees Savannah Georgia Sun Conference Savannah College of Art and Design–Atlanta * Atlanta Appalachian Athletic Conference University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers Chickasha Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference Shawnee State University Bears Portsmouth Ohio River States Conference Siena Heights University Saints Adrian Michigan Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Simpson University Red Hawks Redding California California Pacific Conference Soka University of America * Lions Aliso Viejo California California Pacific Conference ( Great Southwest Athletic Conference in 2025) Southeastern University Fire Lakeland Florida Sun Conference Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) Knights and Lady Knights New Orleans Louisiana HBCU Athletic Conference Southern Oregon University Raiders Ashland Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference University of

6222-567: The NAIA was split into two divisions in 1970, based on enrollment (Divisions I and II); it was consolidated back into a single division in 1997. The 1948 NAIB national tournament was the first intercollegiate postseason to feature a Black student-athlete, Clarence Walker of Indiana State under coach John Wooden . Wooden had withdrawn from the 1947 tournament because the NAIB would not allow Walker to play. The association furthered its commitment to African-American athletes when, in 1953, it became

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6344-565: The NAIA, in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), announced the addition of flag football as a varsity sport for female student-athletes. The NAIA became the first collegiate governing body to sanction the sport at the varsity level. Women's flag began during the 2021 season as an emerging sport with about 15 teams. Name, image, and likeness reform — In October 2020, the NAIA passed legislation that allows student-athletes at its member institutions to be compensated for

6466-512: The NAIA. In 2014, ESPNU began carrying the NAIA Football National Championship . In 1937, James Naismith and local leaders, including George Goldman and Emil Liston, staged the first National College Basketball Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri , of which Goldman was director, one year before the first National Invitation Tournament and two years before the first NCAA tournament . The goal of

6588-603: The NFC receive the George Halas Trophy , named after Chicago Bears founder George Halas , who is also considered one of the co-founders of the NFL. The AFC champions receive the Lamar Hunt Trophy , named after Lamar Hunt , the founder of the Kansas City Chiefs and the principal founder of the American Football League. Players on the winning team also receive a conference championship ring. The NFL recognizes

6710-554: The NFL announced the NFL Source initiative, aimed at increasing the number of minority- and women-owned businesses that work with the league throughout the year. NFL Source will be mandatory for teams that host major events, such as the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft, and their organizing committees, but will be optional for other contracts at the team level. The NFL will partner with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc to help local businesses across

6832-402: The NFL by January 15 renouncing their remaining college eligibility. Clubs can trade away picks for future draft picks, but cannot trade the rights to players they have selected in previous drafts. Aside from the seven picks each club gets, compensatory draft picks are given to teams that have lost more compensatory free agents than they have gained. These are spread out from rounds 3 to 7, and

6954-516: The NFL cannot hold games on those days until the Friday before the third Saturday in December. While Saturday games late in the season are common, the league rarely holds Friday games, the most recent one being on Christmas Day in 2020. NFL games are rarely scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday, and those days have only been used three times since 1948: in 2010, when a Sunday game was rescheduled to Tuesday due to

7076-455: The NFL could ultimately be liable for $ 14.39 billion. The league said it would ask the judge to set the verdict aside then appeal the verdict if needed. From 1920 to 1934, the NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play, instead setting a minimum. The league mandated a twelve-game regular season for each team beginning in 1935 , later shortening this to eleven games in 1937 and ten games in 1943 , mainly due to World War II. After

7198-438: The NFL occupied the top three rates for a 30-second advertisement: $ 882,079 for Sunday Night Football , $ 562,524 for Monday Night Football , and $ 440,523 for Thursday Night Football . The league, in recent years, has expanded their televised broadcasts to over-the-top streaming services. Since 2022, Amazon holds the exclusive rights to broadcast the Thursday Night Football package. Prior to then, Amazon streamed games from

7320-468: The NFL realigned the conferences and split each into two four-team divisions. The four division champions would meet in the NFL playoffs , a two-round playoff. The NFL also operated the Playoff Bowl (officially the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl) from 1960 to 1969. Effectively, a third-place game , pitting the two conference runners-up against each other, the league considers Playoff Bowls to have been exhibitions rather than playoff games. The league discontinued

7442-407: The NFL with the rival American Football League (AFL), the Super Bowl was first held in 1967 to determine a champion between the best teams from the two leagues and has remained as the final game of each NFL season since the merger was completed in 1970. The NFL is the wealthiest professional sports league in the world by revenue and the sports league with the most valuable teams. The NFL also has

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7564-427: The National Administrative Council), and "championship" (40 or more institutions sponsoring as varsity, Minimum of two Invitationals held, Approval of the National Administrative Council). The association conducts, or has conducted in the past, championship tournaments in the following sports (year established). The NAIA men's basketball championship is the longest-running collegiate national championship of any sport in

7686-605: The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac)" (Press release). Cal Maritime Athletics. September 20, 2024 . Retrieved September 20, 2024 . ^ UC Merced set to join CCAA, Transition to NCAA D-II ^ Cunningham, Darren (14 June 2024). "Concordia University Ann Arbor discontinuing athletics after 2024-25 academic year" . WXYZ . Retrieved 17 June 2024 . ^ "[Member institutions]" . Continental Athletic Conference . Retrieved September 7, 2019 . ^ "Baptist Bible College

7808-424: The Playoff Bowl in 1970 due to its perception as a game for losers. Following the addition of the former AFL teams into the NFL in 1970 , the NFL split into two conferences with three divisions each. The expanded league, now with twenty-six teams, would also feature an expanded eight-team playoff, the participants being the three division champions from each conference as well as one 'wild card' team (the team with

7930-2753: The Southwest Mustangs Hobbs New Mexico Red River Athletic Conference Southwestern College Moundbuilders Winfield Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Southwestern Christian University Eagles Bethany Oklahoma Sooner Athletic Conference Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers Saxon South Carolina Continental Athletic Conference ( Appalachian Athletic Conference in 2025) Spring Arbor University Cougars Spring Arbor Michigan Crossroads League Stephens College Stars Columbia Missouri American Midwest Conference Sterling College Warriors Sterling Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Stillman College Tigers Tuscaloosa Alabama HBCU Athletic Conference Tabor College Bluejays Hillsboro Kansas Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Talladega College Tornadoes Talladega Alabama HBCU Athletic Conference Taylor University Trojans Upland Indiana Crossroads League University of Tennessee Southern (UT Southern) FireHawks Pulaski Tennessee Southern States Athletic Conference Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs Athens Tennessee Appalachian Athletic Conference Texas A&M University–San Antonio Jaguars San Antonio Texas Red River Athletic Conference Texas A&M University–Texarkana Eagles Texarkana Texas Red River Athletic Conference Texas College Steers Tyler Texas Red River Athletic Conference Texas Wesleyan University Rams Fort Worth Texas Sooner Athletic Conference Thomas University Night Hawks Thomasville Georgia Southern States Athletic Conference Tougaloo College Bulldogs Tougaloo Mississippi HBCU Athletic Conference Trinity Christian College Trolls Palos Heights Illinois Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Truett McConnell University Bears Cleveland Georgia Appalachian Athletic Conference Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs Barbourville Kentucky Appalachian Athletic Conference Valley City State University Vikings Valley City North Dakota North Star Athletic Association ( Frontier Conference in 2025) University of Victoria * Vikes Victoria British Columbia Continental Athletic Conference University of

8052-407: The Top 50 most valuable sports teams in the world; and 16 of the NFL's owners are listed on the Forbes 400 , the most of any sports league or organization. At the corporate level, the National Football League considers itself a trade association made up of and financed by its 32 member teams. Up until 2015, the league was an unincorporated nonprofit 501(c)(6) association. Section 501(c)(6) of

8174-427: The United States Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_NAIA_institutions&oldid=1254873666 " Categories : Lists of universities and colleges in the United States NAIA lists Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata National Football League The National Football League ( NFL )

8296-468: The United States and 69% of all potential viewers in the United States. NFL regular season games accounted for 31 out of the top 32 most-watched programs in the fall season and an NFL game ranked as the most-watched television show in all 17 weeks of the regular season. At the local level, NFL games were the highest-ranked shows in NFL markets 92% of the time. Super Bowls account for the 22 most-watched programs (based on total audience) in US history, including

8418-474: The United States. The tournament was the brainchild of Dr. James Naismith , creator of the game of basketball; Emil Liston , athletic director at Baker University ; and Frank Cramer, founder of Cramer Athletic Products. The event began in 1937 with the inaugural tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2017 men's championship marked the 80th edition of what has been tabbed College Basketball's Toughest Tournament. The tournament has awarded

8540-421: The Vikings were able to use theirs. Selected players are only allowed to negotiate contracts with the team that picked them, but if they choose not to sign they become eligible for the next year's draft. Under the current collective bargaining contract, all contracts to drafted players must be four-year deals with a club option for a fifth. Contracts themselves are limited to a certain amount of money, depending on

8662-2654: The Virgin Islands Buccaneers Saint Thomas US Virgin Islands HBCU Athletic Conference Viterbo University V-Hawks La Crosse Wisconsin Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Voorhees University Tigers Denmark South Carolina HBCU Athletic Conference Waldorf University Warriors Forest City Iowa Great Plains Athletic Conference Walla Walla University Wolves College Place Washington Cascade Collegiate Conference Warner University Royals Lake Wales Florida Sun Conference Warner Pacific University Knights Portland Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference Washington Adventist University Shock Takoma Park Maryland Continental Athletic Conference Wayland Baptist University Pioneers & Flying Queens Plainview Texas Sooner Athletic Conference Webber International University Warriors Babson Park Florida Sun Conference West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Golden Bears Beckley West Virginia River States Conference Westcliff University Warriors Irvine California California Pacific Conference Wilberforce University Bulldogs Wilberforce Ohio HBCU Athletic Conference Wiley University Wildcats Marshall Texas HBCU Athletic Conference William Carey University Crusaders Hattiesburg Mississippi Southern States Athletic Conference William Penn University Statesmen Oskaloosa Iowa Heart of America Athletic Conference William Woods University Owls Fulton Missouri American Midwest Conference ( Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2025) Williams Baptist University Eagles Walnut Ridge Arkansas American Midwest Conference Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets New Orleans Louisiana Red River Athletic Conference York University Panthers York Nebraska Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference ^ Women's only institution in undergraduate programs, therefore it does not compete in men's sports. ^ UBC and Victoria hold concurrent membership in Canada's governing body for university athletics, U Sports , where their basketball teams compete. ^ Cal Maritime will withdraw from NAIA membership after

8784-923: The Year Award , which recognizes a player's off-field work in addition to his on-field performance. The NFL Coach of the Year award is the highest coaching award. The NFL also gives out weekly awards such as the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week and the Pepsi MAX NFL Rookie of the Week awards. In the United States, the National Football League is televised on eight networks across seven media partners: ESPN / ABC , CBS , Fox , NBC , Prime Video , Netflix , and NFL Network . The league offers its media rights in packages of games to prospective media partners. The packages can vary depending on conference, broadcast time slot, or both. CBS televises afternoon games from

8906-406: The beginning of his tenure to 17 million by the end of his tenure, and 400 million global viewers watched 1989's Super Bowl XXIII . The NFL established NFL Properties in 1963. The league's licensing wing, NFL Properties, earns the league billions of dollars annually; Rozelle's tenure also marked the creation of NFL Charities and a national partnership with United Way . Paul Tagliabue

9028-410: The best overall record, with tiebreakers in the event of two or more teams having the same record). These teams are seeded according to overall record and tiebreakers, with the division champions always ranking higher than the wild card teams. The top team (seeded one) from each conference are awarded a bye week, while the remaining six teams (seeded 2–7) from each conference compete in the first round of

9150-492: The best win percentage that did not win its division) from each conference. In 1978, the league added a second wild card team from each conference, bringing the total number of playoff teams to ten, and a further two wild card teams were added in 1990 to bring the total to twelve. When the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002 , the league realigned, changing the division structure from three divisions in each conference to four divisions in each conference. As each division champion gets

9272-417: The broadcasts on ESPN or ABC. ESPN also holds exclusive rights to stream one Sunday morning international game on ESPN+. Beginning in 2024, Netflix holds the global streaming rights for at least one Christmas Day game every season as part of a three-year deal. The Super Bowl television rights are rotated on a four-year basis between CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN/ABC. The NFL's most recent contract negotiation for

9394-414: The commissioner, secretary, and treasurer. Each conference has one defined officer, the president, which is essentially an honorary position with few powers and mostly ceremonial duties, including awarding the conference championship trophy. The commissioner is elected by the affirmative vote of two-thirds or eighteen (whichever is greater) of the members of the league, while the president of each conference

9516-462: The company that makes the rings; each ring design varies, with the NFL mandating certain ring specifications (which have a degree of room for deviation), in addition to requiring the Super Bowl logo be on at least one side of the ring. The losing team are also awarded rings, which must be no more than half as valuable as the winners' rings, but those are almost never worn. The conference champions receive trophies for their achievement. The champions of

9638-463: The country obtain the certifications necessary to do business with the league in furtherance of its efforts to increase partnerships with certified and underrepresented businesses that are 51% owned and operated or led by a veteran, woman, minority, person with disabilities or LGBTQ+. In 2015, a class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers, alleging that the NFL, its member teams, its broadcast partners, and DirecTV engaged in

9760-642: The current league champion, the league issued a smaller replica trophy to each champion, who would maintain permanent control over it. The current location of the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, long thought to be lost, is believed to be possessed by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame . The current trophy of the NFL is the Vince Lombardi Trophy . The Super Bowl trophy was officially renamed in 1970 after Vince Lombardi , who as head coach led

9882-407: The exact draft pick the player was selected with. Players who were draft eligible but not picked in the draft are free to sign with any club. The NFL operates several other drafts in addition to the NFL draft. The league holds a supplemental draft annually. Clubs submit emails to the league stating the player they wish to select and the round they will do so, and the team with the highest bid wins

10004-428: The exception of cheerleading and dance. The NAIA began sponsoring intercollegiate championships for women in 1980 , the second coed national athletics association to do so, offering collegiate athletics championships to women in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball. The National Junior College Athletic Association had established

10126-518: The exception of the non-profit Green Bay Packers , is subject to tax because they make a profit. In 2015, the NFL gave up its tax-exempt status following public criticism; in a letter to the club owners, Commissioner Roger Goodell labeled it a "distraction", saying "the effects of the tax-exempt status of the league office have been mischaracterized repeatedly in recent years… Every dollar of income generated through television rights fees, licensing agreements, sponsorships, ticket sales, and other means

10248-472: The first association to admit colleges and universities from outside the United States. The NAIA began admitting Canadian members in 1967. Football – The NAIA was the first association to send a football team to Europe to play. In the summer of 1976, the NAIA sent Henderson State and Texas A&I to play 5 exhibition games in West Berlin, Vienna, Nuremberg, Mannheim and Paris. Flag football – In May 2020,

10370-439: The first college student-athlete known to have profited from an endorsement under the current rules. The NAIA sponsors 16 sports in which it conducts 28 annual championships (13 for men, 13 for women, 2 co-ed). The NAIA recognizes three levels of competitions: "emerging" (15 or more institutions sponsoring as varsity and declared), "invitational" (25 or more institutions sponsoring as varsity and declared for postseason, Approval of

10492-577: The first collegiate association to invite historically black colleges and universities into its membership. In 1957, Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) became the first historically Black institution to win a collegiate basketball national championship. In 1959, Southern University became the first HBCU to win the NAIA Baseball championship. In 2024, NAIA instituted a ban on those transgender men who have begun transgender hormone therapy and all transgender women from competing in women’s sports, with

10614-425: The game was moved to the week before. Because of this, players from the teams participating in the Super Bowl are exempt from participating in the game. The Pro Bowl is not considered as competitive as a regular-season game because the biggest concern of teams is to avoid injuries to the players. The National Football League has used three different trophies to honor its champion over its existence. The first trophy,

10736-467: The group, nearly 50 more potential schedules were developed to try to ensure that the chosen schedule would be the best possible one. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the NFL Playoffs, a 14-team single-elimination tournament, is then held. Seven teams are selected from each conference: the winners of each of the four divisions as well as three wild card teams (the three remaining teams with

10858-532: The higher remaining seed hosting the lower remaining seed. The AFC and NFC champions then compete in the Super Bowl to determine the league champion. The only other postseason event hosted by the NFL is the Pro Bowl , the league's all-star game . Since 2009, the Pro Bowl has been held the week before the Super Bowl ; in previous years, the game was held the week following the Super Bowl, but in an effort to boost ratings,

10980-730: The league during the year). The Massillon Tigers from Massillon, Ohio was also at the September 17 meeting, but did not field a team in 1920. Only two of these teams, the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears) and the Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals), remain in the NFL. Although the league did not maintain official standings for its 1920 inaugural season and teams played schedules that included non-league opponents,

11102-469: The league has to account for, among other things, the Major League Baseball postseason and local events that could pose a scheduling conflict with NFL games. During the 2010 season, over 500,000 potential schedules were created by computers, 5,000 of which were considered "playable schedules" and were reviewed by the NFL's scheduling team. After arriving at what they felt was the best schedule out of

11224-577: The media rights deal was announced on March 18, 2021, to take effect beginning in the 2023 season. The deal renewed previous rights agreements made by the NFL and each of its network partners to air their respective game packages, while awarding Amazon the Thursday Night Football package. ESPN/ABC is set to return to the Super Bowl broadcast rotation and will broadcast the Super Bowl on U.S. television in 2027, 21 years after airing its last Super Bowl, Super Bowl XL . Digital and streaming distribution

11346-1570: The nickname Flying Queens. Future institutions [ edit ] School Nickname City State/ province Current affiliation Conference Joins Bismarck State College Mystics Bismarck North Dakota Mon-Dak Conference (NJCAA) Frontier Conference July 2025 Mount Mary University Blue Angels Milwaukee Wisconsin Coast to Coast Athletic Conference (NCAA D-III) Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference July 2025 Trinity Western University * Spartans Langley British Columbia Canada West ( U Sports ) Cascade Collegiate Conference July 2025 ^ Women's only institution in undergraduate programs, therefore it does not compete in men's sports. ^ Trinity Western will hold concurrent membership in Canada's governing body for university athletics, U Sports , where its basketball teams will compete. See also [ edit ] List of NCAA Division I institutions List of NCAA Division II institutions List of NCAA Division III institutions List of USCAA institutions List of NCCAA institutions List of NJCAA Division I schools List of NJCAA Division II schools List of NJCAA Division III schools List of NAIA football programs NAIA lacrosse References [ edit ] ^ "2024-25 NAIA Member Institutions" (PDF) . naia.org . NAIA. ^ "Withdrawal from

11468-462: The other network (known as "flexible scheduling"). The only way to legally watch a regionally televised game not being carried on the local network affiliates is to purchase NFL Sunday Ticket, the league's out-of-market sports package , which is available through YouTube TV starting with the 2023 season. The league also provides NFL RedZone , an omnibus telecast that cuts to the most relevant plays in each game, live as they happen. In addition to

11590-495: The other three teams in the division, while one game is held against all the members of a division from the NFC and a division from the AFC as determined by a rotating cycle (three years for the conference the team is in, and four years in the conference they are not in). Two of the other games are intraconference games, determined by the standings of the previous year – for example, if a team finishes first in its division, it will play two other first-place teams in its conference, while

11712-592: The playoffs, the Wild Card round, with the 2-seed competing against the 7-seed, the 3-seed competing against the 6-seed and the 4-seed competing against the 5-seed. The winners of the Wild Card round advance to the Divisional Round, which matches the lower seeded team against the 1-seed and the two remaining teams against each other. The winners of those games then compete in the Conference Championships, with

11834-414: The pre-merger NFL teams, and the American Football Conference (AFC), consisting of all of the AFL teams as well as three pre-merger NFL teams. Today, the NFL is the most popular sports league in North America – with much of the league's growth and popularity attributable to former Commissioner Pete Rozelle , who led the league from 1960 to 1989. Overall annual attendance increased from 3 million at

11956-435: The preseason does not count towards standings, teams generally do not focus on winning games; instead, they are used by coaches to evaluate their teams and by players to show their performance, both to their current team and to other teams if they get cut. The quality of preseason games has been criticized by some fans, who dislike having to pay full price for exhibition games, as well as by some players and coaches, who dislike

12078-461: The previous commissioner, retired. The NFL season format consists of a three-week preseason , an 18-week regular season (each team plays 17 games), and a 14-team single-elimination playoff culminating in the Super Bowl, the league's championship game. The NFL preseason begins with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game , played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton . Each NFL team

12200-545: The regional games, the league also has packages of telecasts, mostly in prime time, that are carried nationwide. NBC broadcasts the primetime Sunday Night Football package, which includes the Thursday NFL Kickoff game that starts the regular season and a primetime Thanksgiving Day game . ESPN is the main broadcaster of the Monday Night Football package with ABC airing select games either exclusively or as

12322-456: The rest of the state the club operates in, as well as the area the team operates its training camp in for the duration of the camp). Each NFL member has the exclusive right to host professional football games inside its Home Territory and the exclusive right to advertise, promote, and host events in its Home Marketing Area. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule, mostly relating to teams with close proximity to each other: teams that operate in

12444-420: The rights to that player. The exact order is determined by a lottery held before the draft, and a successful bid for a player will result in the team forfeiting the rights to its pick in the equivalent round of the next NFL draft. Players are only eligible for the supplemental draft after being granted a petition for special eligibility. The league holds expansion drafts , the most recent happening in 2002 when

12566-495: The risk of injury the games have, while others have felt the preseason is a necessary part of the NFL season. Currently, the 14 opponents each team faces over the 17-game regular season schedule are set using a predetermined formula: The league runs an 18-week, 272-game regular season. Since 2021, the season has begun the week after Labor Day (the first Monday in September) and concluded the week after New Year. The opening game of

12688-470: The same city (e.g. New York City and Los Angeles) or the same state (e.g. California , Florida , and Texas ) share the rights to the city's Home Territory and the state's Home Marketing Area, respectively. According to Forbes , the Dallas Cowboys , at approximately US$ 8 billion, are the most valuable NFL franchise and the most valuable sports team in the world. 26 of the 32 NFL teams rank among

12810-520: The same package as part of a tri-cast model that saw games aired on broadcast television (initially through CBS and NBC, then later with Fox), cable television (through NFL Network), and digital streaming (through Prime Video). Amazon has also streamed games for free on Twitch since 2018. CBS streams its AFC package games on Paramount+ as a simulcast with its CBS broadcasts. NBC streams Sunday Night Football and select exclusive games on Peacock . ESPN streams its games on ESPN+ in simulcast with

12932-441: The schedule will give half the teams nine games as the home team, while half the teams have only eight home games. To minimize the perceived benefit on competition of having more home games, the extra home game will be rotated between the two conferences each year. This is because playoff berths are allocated at the conference level, so all teams within the conference will have played the same number of home games. The NFL operated in

13054-549: The season is normally a home game on a Thursday for the league's defending champion. Most NFL games are played on Sundays, with a Monday night game typically held at least once a week and Thursday night games occurring on most weeks as well. NFL games are not normally played on Fridays or Saturdays until late in the regular season, as federal law prohibits professional football leagues from competing with college or high school football. Because high school and college teams typically play games on Friday and Saturday, respectively,

13176-467: The skills necessary to promote character development in the context of sport. In 2010, the association opened the NAIA Eligibility Center, where prospective student-athletes are evaluated for academic and athletic eligibility. It delivers on the NAIA's promise of integrity by leveling the playing field, guiding student-athlete success, and ensuring fair competition. Membership – The NAIA was

13298-451: The smaller playing field, the Bears won the game 9–0 and thus won the championship. Fan interest in the de facto championship game led the NFL, beginning in 1933 , to split into two divisions with a championship game to be played between the division champions. The 1934 season also marked the first of twelve seasons in which African Americans were absent from the league . The de facto ban

13420-424: The sport safer, mainly through fining or suspending players who break rules. These actions are among many the NFL is taking to reduce concussions and improve player safety. Prior to 2021, the NFL had utilized race-based adjustments of dementia claims in the $ 1 billion settlement of concussion claims, which had been criticized by critics before the NFL decided to end what was called "race-norming". On May 21, 2024,

13542-600: The tournament was to establish a forum for small colleges and universities to determine a national basketball champion. The original eight-team tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1938. On March 10, 1940, the National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1952 , the NAIB was transformed into the NAIA, and with that came the sponsorship of additional sports such as men's golf, tennis and outdoor track and field. Football in

13664-466: The trophy was discontinued and its current whereabouts are unknown. A second trophy, the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy , was issued by the NFL from 1934 to 1967. The trophy's namesake, Ed Thorp, was a referee in the league and a friend to many early league owners; upon his death in 1934, the league created the trophy to honor him. In addition to the main trophy, which would be in the possession of

13786-485: The use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). According to an NAIA press release, student-athletes can now "receive compensation for promoting any commercial product, enterprise, or for any public or media appearance", and can also "reference their intercollegiate athletic participation in such promotions or appearances." The NAIA had allowed student-athletes to receive NIL compensation since 2014, but had not previously allowed them to reference their status as such. The NAIA

13908-492: The war ended, the number of games returned to eleven games in 1946 , and later back to twelve in 1947. The NFL went to a 14-game schedule in 1961 , which it retained until switching to a 16-game schedule in 1978 . In March 2021, the NFL officially adopted a 17-game schedule after gaining the agreement of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Having an odd number of games in

14030-479: The welfare of the League or professional football". The commissioner can, in the event of misconduct by a party associated with the league, suspend individuals, hand down a fine of up to US$ 500,000, cancel contracts with the league, and award or strip teams of draft picks. In extreme cases, the commissioner can offer recommendations to the NFL's executive committee, up to and including the "cancellation or forfeiture" of

14152-470: The winners of the AFC and NFC championship games. The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association ( APFA ) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season . After initially determining champions through end-of-season standings, a playoff system was implemented in 1933 that culminated with the NFL Championship Game until 1966. Following an agreement to merge

14274-426: Was declared the champion; the only tiebreaker was that in the event of a tie if two teams played twice in a season, the result of the second game determined the title (the source of the 1921 controversy). This method had been used since the league's creation in 1920, but no situation had been encountered where two teams were tied for first. The league quickly determined that a playoff game between Chicago and Portsmouth

14396-424: Was elected as commissioner to succeed Rozelle; his 17-year tenure, which ended in 2006, was marked by large increases in television contracts and the addition of four expansion teams, as well as the introduction of league initiatives to increase the number of minorities in league and team management roles. The league's current Commissioner, Roger Goodell , has focused on reducing the number of illegal hits and making

14518-732: Was expanded to allow CBS, NBC, and ESPN/ABC to stream games on their respective over-the-top streaming services. For each of the packages the respective network partners currently hold, ESPN/ABC is paying US$ 2.7 billion a year; CBS, Fox, and NBC are each paying more than US$ 2 billion a year; and Amazon is paying US$ 1 billion a year. The current deal runs through the 2033 season. The league also has deals with Spanish-language broadcasters NBC Universo , Fox Deportes , and ESPN Deportes , which air Spanish language dubs of their respective English-language sister networks' games. The league's contracts do not cover preseason games, which individual teams are free to sell to local stations directly;

14640-476: Was needed to decide the league's champion. The teams were originally scheduled to play the playoff game, officially a regular-season game that would count towards the regular season standings, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, but a combination of heavy snow and extreme cold forced the game to be moved indoors to Chicago Stadium , which did not have a regulation-size football field. Playing with altered rules to accommodate

14762-616: Was rescinded in 1946 , following public pressure and coinciding with the removal of a similar ban in Major League Baseball . The NFL was always the largest professional football league in the United States; it nevertheless faced numerous rival professional leagues through the 1930s and 1940s. Rival leagues included at least three separate American Football Leagues and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), on top of various regional leagues of varying caliber. Three NFL teams trace their histories to these rival leagues;

14884-550: Was several years ahead of the NCAA in NIL reform; the NCAA did not adopt NIL reform until 2021, after its hand was forced by multiple states passing legislation to allow student-athletes to receive such compensation, most notably California . In December 2020, Chloe Mitchell, a volleyball player at NAIA member Aquinas College who at the time had more than 2 million followers on TikTok with a series of do-it-yourself home improvement videos, became

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