Collectively, there are more than 350 Division I schools that field more than 6,000 athletics teams and provide opportunities for more than 170,000 student-athletes to compete in NCAA sports each year.
 
Division I schools provide unmatched academic and athletic opportunities and support. This support includes full scholarships, cost-of-attendance stipends, degree completion programs and academic revenue distribution from the NCAA for schools that meet certain criteria.
 
Division I is unique in that it’s subdivided based on football sponsorship. Schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision can compete in bowl games. This includes the College Football Playoff, which is managed by the 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame outside the NCAA governance structure. Those that participate in the NCAA-run football championship belong to the Football Championship Subdivision. A third Division I group doesn’t sponsor football at all. The subdivisions apply only to football; all other sports are considered simply Division I and compete in NCAA-run championships.