Glossary

FBS and FCS

Terms

What it is

The FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) and FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) are the top two levels of NCAA Division I college football.

In a game

FBS teams play in bowl games and in a playoff for the national championship. FCS teams have their own playoff.

More detail

FBS schools are usually bigger and have more scholarships. The names date from a 2006 change in how the divisions were named.