2026-27 rosters, read September 29, 2026
NAIA Football Colleges: 2027 Roster Outlook
NextCommit's coach data lists 91 NAIA football programs for 2026. We read the 2026-27 rosters of 71 of them on September 29, 2026. The median program has 15 players in their final season, the spots its coaches will refill for the class of 2027. Wide receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs lead with a median of 2 per program each. Ottawa University Arizona has the most final-season players, 65.
NextCommit roster data, class of 2027/Last updated October 18, 2026
- Programs with roster data
- 71of 91
- Median final-season players
- 15
- Most final-season players
- WR (2)
- Roster data read
- September 29, 2026
What a typical program loses, by position
Median final-season players per program on this list, by position group.
QB
1
RB
1
WR
2
TE
1
OL
2
DL
2
LB
2
DB
2
K/P/LS
1
Most final-season players
The 10 programs on this list with the most players in their final season on the 2026-27 roster. The gold number is each program's largest position group.
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa University Arizona | Surprise, AZ | 65 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 1 |
| Grand View | Des Moines, IA | 38 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene | Olathe, KS | 28 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
| Madonna | Livonia, MI | 26 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Midland | Fremont, NE | 26 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Taylor (IN) | Upland, IN | 26 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Arizona Christian | Glendale, AZ | 25 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Saint Francis-IN | Fort Wayne, IN | 25 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | 24 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Cumberland-TN | Lebanon, TN | 24 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
Every program, by position group
Final-season players on each program's 2026-27 roster, by position group. The gold number is the program's largest group. Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
Alabama (1 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner | Montgomery, AL | 16 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Arizona (2 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Christian | Glendale, AZ | 25 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Ottawa University Arizona | Surprise, AZ | 65 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 1 |
Florida (4 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ave Maria | Ave Maria, FL | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida Memorial | Miami Gardens, FL | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Warner | Lake Wales, FL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Webber Int'l | Babson Park, FL | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Georgia (3 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point | West Point, GA | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Reinhardt (GA) | Waleska, GA | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Thomas | Thomasville, GA | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Idaho (1 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | 24 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Illinois (4 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judson | Elgin, IL | 16 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Olivet Nazarene | Bourbonnais, IL | 24 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| St. Francis IL | Joliet, IL | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| St. Xavier | Chicago, IL | 18 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Indiana (4 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Wesleyan | Marion, IN | 24 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Marian-IN | Indianapolis, IN | 15 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Saint Francis-IN | Fort Wayne, IN | 25 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Taylor (IN) | Upland, IN | 26 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Iowa (5 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briar Cliff | Sioux City, IA | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Clarke (IA) | Dubuque, IA | 20 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Dordt | Sioux Center, IA | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Grand View | Des Moines, IA | 38 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Waldorf | Forest City, IA | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Kansas (11 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker (KS) | Baldwin City, KS | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Bethel College | North Newton, KS | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Friends | Wichita, KS | 23 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Kansas Wesleyan | Salina, KS | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| McPherson | McPherson, KS | 14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene | Olathe, KS | 28 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
| Ottawa KS | Ottawa, KS | 18 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Saint Mary-KS | Leavenworth, KS | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Southwestern-KS | Winfield, KS | 17 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Sterling | Sterling, KS | 14 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tabor | Hillsboro, KS | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
Kentucky (4 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberlands-KY | Williamsburg, KY | 19 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Georgetown College (Ky.) | Georgetown, KY | 24 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Lindsey Wilson | Columbia, KY | 21 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Pikeville (KY) | Pikeville, KY | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Louisiana (1 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Christian | Pineville, LA | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Michigan (2 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Tech | Southfield, MI | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Madonna | Livonia, MI | 26 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Missouri (6 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Methodist (MO) | Fayette, MO | 23 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Culver-Stockton (MO) | Canton, MO | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Evangel | Springfield, MO | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Missouri Baptist | Saint Louis, MO | 18 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Missouri Valley | Marshall, MO | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| William Woods (MO) | Fulton, MO | 13 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Montana (5 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll College | Helena, MT | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Montana State-Northern | Havre, MT | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Montana Tech | Butte, MT | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Montana Western | Dillon, MT | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Rocky Mountain | Billings, MT | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Nebraska (3 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings | Hastings, NE | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Midland | Fremont, NE | 26 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Peru State | Peru, NE | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
North Dakota (3 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson State | Dickinson, ND | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Mayville State | Mayville, ND | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Valley City State | Valley City, ND | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Oklahoma (1 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langston | Langston, OK | 14 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Oregon (2 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Oregon | La Grande, OR | 20 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Southern Oregon | Ashland, OR | 15 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
South Dakota (3 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota State | Madison, SD | 18 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Dakota Wesleyan | Mitchell, SD | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Mount Marty | Yankton, SD | 23 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Tennessee (2 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel-TN | McKenzie, TN | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Cumberland-TN | Lebanon, TN | 24 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
Texas (3 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson | Waxahachie, TX | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Texas Wesleyan | Fort Worth, TX | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Wayland Baptist | Plainview, TX | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Virginia (1 programs)
| School | Location | Final-season players | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | K/P/LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefield (VA) | Bluefield, VA | 12 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Not in the table yet: 20 programs+
These programs are in our coach data, but their roster did not pass the completeness check on our September 29, 2026 read. They come back into the table when a later read passes.
- Arkansas Baptist (AR): no final-season players listed
- Avila (MO): roster page not readable on our last read
- Benedictine College KS (KS): positions missing for some final-season players
- Bethany-KS (KS): roster page not readable on our last read
- Campbellsville (KY): positions missing for some final-season players
- Concordia (NE) (NE): roster page not readable on our last read
- DCU (IL): roster page not readable on our last read
- Defiance College (OH): no final-season players listed
- Doane (NE): roster page not readable on our last read
- Graceland (IA): roster page not readable on our last read
- Keiser (FL): roster page not readable on our last read
- Kentucky Christian (KY): roster page not readable on our last read
- Morningside (IA): roster page not readable on our last read
- Panhandle State (OK): roster page not readable on our last read
- Rio Grande (OH): roster page not readable on our last read
- Siena Heights (MI): roster page still shows last season
- St. Ambrose (IA) (IA): roster page not readable on our last read
- Texas College (TX): roster page not readable on our last read
- Union Commonwealth (KY): roster page not readable on our last read
- William Penn (IA) (IA): roster page not readable on our last read
How to use this list
- 1Check which level fits your numbers first. The free Football Recruit Score rates your size, speed and stats against FBS, FCS, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO.
- 2Shortlist programs at that level with final-season players at your position. Those are spots the staff has to refill for 2027.
- 3Email the position coach or recruiting coordinator with your film, measurables and GPA. Start from the quarterback email template or the wide receiver email template, and change the reason you picked each school.
- 4Follow up when you have something new: updated film, a camp result or a new measurable. The football recruiting guide covers timelines, camps and contact rules.
See exact positions and email these coaches
NextCommit Pro shows roster needs by exact position (tackle vs guard, corner vs safety) and filters the coach list to programs that need your position. The free plan includes personalized coach emails every week.
Method and data date
Source. Each program's own public athletics roster page, read by NextCommit on September 29, 2026. Programs come from NextCommit's college football coach data. Divisions are for the 2026 season, including North Dakota State and Sacramento State moving to FBS and Saint Francis (PA) moving to Division III.
Final-season players. Players whose eligibility ends in 2026-27, from the class label on the roster: seniors, graduate students and fifth-year players at four-year schools, sophomores at junior colleges. Redshirt marks do not change the count. Each player counts once, at the first position listed (a "WR/DB" is a receiver).
Position groups. QB = QB; RB = RB, FB; WR = WR; TE = TE; OL = OL, OT, OG, C; DL = DL, DE, DT; LB = LB; DB = DB, CB, S; K/P/LS = K, P, LS. A few players have no listed position, so the groups can add up to slightly less than the total.
Completeness threshold. A program appears in the tables only when its roster was read from the college's own site in the September 29, 2026 run, the page is the 2026-27 roster, at least 50 players have a readable class year, at least 90% of final-season players have a position, and it has at least one final-season player. Programs that miss any of these are listed by name only.
Complete lists. We call a list complete when it has at least 10 programs that pass the threshold and they make up at least 75% of the programs it covers. This list: 71 of 91 (78%).
What it does not tell you. A final-season player is a spot to refill, not a scholarship offer. Staffs also fill spots from the transfer portal, some players get an extra year, and a roster page can lag behind the team. Use the numbers to decide where to look, then ask the coach.
More football college lists
- All divisions
- D1 FBS football colleges
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- D2 football colleges by state
- D3 football colleges by state
- JUCO football colleges
- Texas football colleges
- Florida football colleges
- Georgia football colleges
- Ohio football colleges
- Pennsylvania football colleges
- North Carolina football colleges
- Colleges with QB openings
- Colleges with WR openings
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NAIA football programs are there?+
NextCommit's coach data lists 91 NAIA football programs for 2026. This page shows roster data for the 71 whose 2026-27 rosters we could read in full on September 29, 2026; the rest are listed by name at the bottom of the page.
How many players does a NAIA program lose each year?+
The median NAIA program on this list has 15 players in their final season on its 2026-27 roster. Wide receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs lead with a median of 2 per program each.
What is a final-season player?+
A player whose eligibility ends in 2026-27, read from the class label on the college's own roster page: seniors, graduate students and fifth-year players at four-year schools, and sophomores at junior colleges. Redshirt marks do not change the count. These players leave after the 2026 season, so their spots open for recruits who enroll in 2027.
Does a final-season player mean an open scholarship?+
No. It means a roster spot the staff has to refill, with high school recruits, transfers or walk-ons. How many spots carry aid depends on the level: Division I schools in the House settlement have a 105-player roster limit and no scholarship cap, Division II has 36 football equivalencies shared across the team, Division III gives no athletic aid, the NAIA allows 24 and the NJCAA 85. Some final-season players also get an extra year through a waiver.
How should I use this list?+
Find programs at your level with final-season players at your position, check which level fits your numbers with the free Football Recruit Score, then email the position coach or recruiting coordinator with your film, measurables and GPA. Follow up when you have something new to share.
How often is this data updated?+
NextCommit reads college roster pages twice a year, after fall and spring rosters are posted. This page shows the September 29, 2026 read of 2026-27 rosters. Programs we could not read in full are listed by name until a later read passes our completeness check.