NCAA Division I-A independent schools are four-year institutions whose football programs are not part of an NCAA-affiliated conference. This does not mean that I-A independents schedule each other for competition like conference schools do. There are considerably fewer independent schools than in years past; many independent schools later join (or attempt to join) established conferences.

NCAA Division I-A independent schools for 2004

• United States Naval Academy (Navy)
• University of Notre Dame (member of Big East Conference for all other sports sponsored by that league)
• United States Military Academy (Army)
• Temple University (Expelled from the Big East in 2005)

Two former independents in football joined a conference starting with the 2004 season. The University of Connecticut, which was already a Big East member in other sports, became a full member in football. Troy University joined the Sun Belt Conference for football.

Related topics

• NCAA Division I-AA Independent Schools
• NCAA Division I independents (women's hockey)
• NCAA Division II independent schools
• NCAA Division III independent schools
• NAIA independent schools