HADLEY, Mass. — The presidents of colleges belonging to the New England Small College Athletic Conference, including Middlebury, have approved a proposal from the conference athletic directors to allow NESCAC football teams to participate in the NCAA Division III championship tournament.

NESCAC teams will be eligible to compete in the national tournament for the first time in the fall of 2026. Football had been the only league sport that did not compete in season-ending NCAA D-III tournaments or meets.

“I am pleased to share this information with our football student-athletes, coaches, and administrators,” said NESCAC Executive Director Andrea Savage. “The conference has had positive experiences participating in postseason play, and we are pleased that football teams will have the opportunity to participate in the NCAA championships and share in this experience as well.”

NESCAC football will retain a nine-game schedule solely against fellow conference schools. The team that finishes at the top of the standings (after any tiebreakers are applied, if necessary) will earn the NESCAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA D-III football championship.

The D-III football tournament consists of 40 teams. All rounds, except the championship game, are played at campus sites.