Tribe football headed to Patriot League

David Teel: W&M football’s move to Patriot League was inevitable, necessary

Three CAA Football rivals have long stirred William & Mary fans like no others: Richmond, James Madison and Delaware. Indeed, Zable Stadium’s 90-year history abounds with indelible clashes against the Spiders, Dukes and Blue Hens. League championship games. National playoff games. High drama. But in the last few years, JMU, Delaware and Richmond have taken their football elsewhere, JMU to the Sun Belt Conference, Delaware to Conference USA and R…

William & Mary football moving to Patriot League in 2026

WILLIAMSBURG, VA (WTKR)- William & Mary has been a member of the CAA since 1985 and among CAA football since 2007, but the Tribe will begin a new chapter on the gridiron in the near future.The school's athletic department announced Friday that the football program will begin play in the Patriot League starting in the fall of 2026. The college's other athletic programs will remain in their current conference homes. 20 of the other 22 teams compet…

William & Mary to join Patriot League as football-only member in 2026

The addition of the Tribe brings the total number of football members in the PL to nine.

Tribe football headed to Patriot League

The Patriot League’s football lineup includes schools like Georgetown, Holy Cross, Fordham, and now—starting this season—longtime W&M rival Richmond.

William & Mary To Join The Patriot League As An Associate Football Member In 2026

William & Mary will depart CAA Football to join the Patriot League as an associate football member beginning in the 2026 season. It’s a similar move that Richmond made entering the 2025 season. William & Mary and Richmond had recently announced they will continue their historic Capital Cup rivalry game. The two have played 135 times dating back to 1898. It’s traditionally called the “Oldest Rivalry in the South” but can be more accurately descri…