University of Richmond Spiders football team joins Patriot League | Richmond Free Press

The University of Richmond has accepted an invitation for its football team to join the Patriot League, the institution announced Tuesday. The move comes after the Spiders' successful stint in the Colonial Athletic Association, with the move expected to take place before the 2025 season.

The decision follows a thorough review that Richmond initiated after the 2023 football season and was prompted by ongoing changes in the national landscape of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conferences.

Richmond becomes the eighth football member of the Patriot League, joining Bucknell, Colgate, Fordham, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Lehigh. The Spiders are the first school to join or leave the Patriot League football conference since 2004.

“This is a big change for Spider Football, but our goals remain the same: win conference championships, advance to the FCS playoffs and compete for national championships,” said Spider Football head coach Russ Huesman. “The Patriot League is full of great football programs and great schools, and I think it will be a great fit for Richmond.”

Richmond's move to the Patriot League is the team's first conference change since 2007. Previously, the team competed in the Atlantic 10, Southern Conference and Yankee Conference.

Richmond's football team has an impressive record, including 13 conference championships, 13 NCAA playoff appearances and the 2008 national championship, the university's first NCAA title.