Football Postseason Model
In 2019, the NAIA implemented a new financial model for the Football Championship Series (FCS) to mitigate the cost of championship travel. This “insurance” model includes an annual insurance/dues payment that varies based on recent postseason participation. It was intended to increase the reimbursement pool for traveling teams, share the financial burden more equitably among all football schools, and establish a more manageable expense level for teams traveling by air. The annual insurance/dues structure is below:
FCS Participation History
| # of Teams 2022-23 | Insurance/Dues Amount | |
| Hasn’t qualified in past 10 years | 51 | $2,250 |
| Has qualified in past 6-10 years | 11 | $4,000 |
| Has qualified once in past 5 years | 18 | $5,750 |
| Has qualified twice in past 5 years | 8 | $12,000 |
| Has qualified 3 or more times in past 5 years | 11 | $15,000 |
The insurance pool, combined with the host rights fees described below, results in a travel reimbursement pool of approximately $800,000.
Football Championship Series
Format: Twenty teams qualify for the FCS, with four opening round games followed by the round of 16.
Bid Process: Schools bid to host each round of the FCS; highly ranked teams (i.e. teams 1-8 in the round of 16) that bid the $30,000 rights fee are guaranteed to host each round.
Pairings: The selection committee develops pairings each week throughout the FCS, with a goal of limiting travel expenses while adhering to the pairings criteria.
Finances: To share the financial burden, in each round all participating teams will incur expenses, either a host rights fee or travel expenses..
Host Teams
Host teams pay a $30,000 host rights fee each round and retain all revenue.
Traveling Teams
Traveling teams are responsible for travel and lodging expenses each round, up to a certain amount (the “flat fee”), and they are reimbursed the remainder. The flat fee varies based on actual travel expenses, with a target of $20,000-25,000.
Ground travel (less than 750 miles): Typically less than the flat fee, resulting in no reimbursement.
Air travel (4-6 flights/year): Receive most of the reimbursement, with charter flights costing between $120,000 and $200,000.FCS Reimbursement Examples
|
Total Expense
(Travel and Lodging)
|
Flat Fee | Reimbursement | |
| Short Drive | $14,000 | $20,000 | $0 |
| Long Drive | $26,500 | $20,000 | $6,500 |
| Charter Flight | 18 | $20,000 | $145,000 |