April 2nd, 2026 8:00am
By Chuck Bitner, D2Football.com
The University of West Florida has announced that its athletics programs will reclassify from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. The transition is set to begin this coming fall, meaning West Florida will withdraw from the Gulf South Conference at the conclusion of the current academic year.
The primary destination for Argo Athletics will be the Atlantic Sun Conference, with football competing as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The UAC was formed as a single-sport league for football-playing members of the Western Athletic Conference and the Atlantic Sun Conference, but it will expand into a multi-sport league beginning in fall 2026. The Argo football program will face conference opponents including Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Tarleton State, UT Arlington, and West Georgia. Notably, five of those programs competed at the Division II level earlier this century. North Alabama and West Georgia are particularly familiar foes, as both were longtime members of the Gulf South Conference before reclassifying to Division I within the past decade.
West Florida’s tenure as a Division II football program was brief but memorable. The program began competition just 10 years ago, yet in that time it established itself as a national power. The Argos reached the Division II playoffs six times in their first decade. In only their second season, in 2017, West Florida earned its first postseason berth and advanced all the way to the national championship game before falling to Texas A&M–Commerce. Two years later, the program captured its first national title with a thrilling 48–40 victory over Minnesota State.
The move to Division I comes at an exciting moment for the university, as construction has recently begun on what will become a state-of-the-art on-campus football stadium. "This transition represents the next chapter in the evolution of our athletics program and a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters," said Dave Scott, UWF Athletic Director. "As we prepare for Division I competition, we remain focused on building champions for life. We look forward to growing our tradition of success and welcoming our fans and partners to be part of this exciting journey."
West Florida’s departure further strains a Gulf South Conference that is struggling to survive as a football league. Once regarded as one of the nation’s deepest and most competitive Division II leagues, the GSC has struggled to replace members that have departed for other conferences or made the jump to Division I. With West Florida’s exit, the conference is left with just three remaining football programs: Delta State, Valdosta State, and West Alabama.