Patriot League

U.S. college athletic conference

For the professional football league, see American Patriot League.

Patriot League

Formerly| Colonial League
Association| NCAA
Founded| 1986; 39 years ago (1986)
Commissioner| Jennifer Heppel (since 2015)
Sports fielded|

* 24
* men's: 11
* women's: 13

Division| Division I
Subdivision| FCS
No. of teams| 10 full, 4 associate
Headquarters| Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Region| Northeast, Mid-Atlantic
Official website| patriotleague.org
Locations
Patriot League football officials and referee

The Patriot League is a collegiate athletic conference comprising primarily leading private institutions of higher education and two United States service academies based in the Northeastern United States. Except for the Ivy League, it is the most selective group of higher education institutions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and has a very high student-athlete graduation rate for both the NCAA graduation success rate and the federal graduation rate.[1]

The Patriot League has 10 core members:[2] American University, the United States Military Academy (Army), Boston University, Bucknell University, Colgate University, College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Loyola University Maryland, and the United States Naval Academy (Navy). All 10 core members participate in the NCAA Division I for all Patriot League sports that they offer. Since not all schools sponsor every available NCAA sport, most schools are affiliated with other collegiate conferences for sports such as ice hockey and wrestling.

Only half of the conference's core members compete in the Patriot League for football, as part of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS): Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, and Lehigh. Of the five other conference members, American, Boston University, and Loyola Maryland do not sponsor football, while Army and Navy play in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as football-only members of the American Athletic Conference (The American).

Five other institutions are Patriot League members only for specific sports, and are referred to as associate members. Fordham University and Georgetown University are associate members in football, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is an associate member in women's rowing. Three schools will join as associate members for football in the near future—the University of Richmond in 2025, and Villanova University and the College of William & Mary in 2026.

## About

[edit]

Patriot League members are schools with very strong academic reputations that adhere strongly to the ideal of the "scholar-athlete", with the emphasis on "scholar". An academic index ensures that athletes are truly representative of and integrated with the rest of the student body. Out-of-league play for Patriot League schools is often with members of the Ivy League, which follow similar philosophies regarding academics and athletics.

Patriot League members have some of the oldest collegiate athletic programs in the country. In particular, "The Rivalry" between Lehigh University and Lafayette College is both the nation's most-played and longest-uninterrupted college football series.[3]

The winner of the Patriot League basketball tournament receives an automatic invitation to the NCAA Division I basketball tournament every March. In recent years, Bucknell (twice) and Lehigh have both won NCAA tournament games. The Patriot League champions in a number of other sports also receive an automatic invitation to their respective NCAA tournaments.

## History

[edit]

Locations of current Patriot League full member institutions.

The origins of the Patriot League began after the eight Ivy League schools expanded their football schedules to ten games starting in 1980. Needing opponents with a similar competitive level on a regular basis for each team's three nonconference games, the league contacted two university presidents, the Reverend John E. Brooks, S.J., of Holy Cross, and Peter Likins of Lehigh, about forming a new conference that also prohibited athletic scholarships.[4] The result was the Colonial League, a football-only circuit that began competition in 1986.[2][5] Its six charter members were Holy Cross, Lehigh, Bucknell, Colgate, Lafayette, and Davidson. Davidson dropped out after the 1988 season for reasons related to geography, lack of competitiveness, and a reluctance to relinquish its basketball scholarships in case the conference expanded into other sports.[4][6]

Carl F. Ullrich

In 1990, the league changed its name to the Patriot League at the suggestion of Carl F. Ullrich,[4] who would go on to become the conference's first full-time administrator. At the start of the 1990-91 academic year, the league became an all-sport conference, with 22 sports (11 for men and 11 for women), and now had seven full members, including Fordham and the United States Military Academy (Army) as new members. In 1991, the league gained an eighth full member, the United States Naval Academy (Navy).[5]

In 1993, the league hired Constance (Connie) H. Hurlbut as executive director. She was the first woman and youngest person to be the leader of an NCAA Division I conference.[5]

In 1995, Fordham resigned its full membership (leaving the league with seven full members) but continued as an associate member in football. In 1996, Fairfield and Ursinus joined as associate members in field hockey.[5] (Fairfield left after the 2003 fall season and is now an associate member of the Northeast Conference. Ursinus left after the 2001 fall season and is now a full member of the Division III Centennial Conference.[7]) In 1997, Towson joined as an associate member in football. (Towson left after the 2003 fall season to join the Atlantic 10 Conference, whose football conference would be absorbed by the Colonial Athletic Association, now the Coastal Athletic Association, in 2007.) In 1999, Hobart joined as an associate member in men's lacrosse and Villanova joined as an associate member in women's lacrosse. (Hobart left after the 2004 spring season, to join the ECAC Lacrosse League, while Villanova left after the 2006 spring season.) In 2001, American University joined as the eighth full member and Georgetown University joined as an associate member in football.[5] Two schools announced in summer 2012 that they would join the league for the 2013–14 academic year, with Boston University making its announcement on June 15,[8] and Loyola University Maryland doing so on August 29.[9]

In May 2024, the University of Richmond, who at the time was already an associate member of the league for women's golf, announced that they would also move their football program to the Patriot League for the 2025 season, becoming the Patriot League's first new football-playing member in over 20 years.[10]

On April 25, 2025, the College of William & Mary announced that it would be joining the Patriot League as a football-only associate member, starting in the 2026 season.[11] The move similarly follows that of fellow in-state football rival University of Richmond, and brings the historic "Capital Cup" rivalry series between both schools into the Patriot league conference schedule. About six weeks later on June 5, Big East Conference member Villanova University announced it would also join Patriot League football in 2026.[12]

### Athletic scholarships

[edit]

While Patriot League colleges have always offered need-based financial aid, league members have only been allowed to give athletic scholarships in recent years. Basketball scholarships were first allowed beginning with freshmen entering the league in the fall of 1998.

In 2001, when the league admitted American, which gave scholarships in all its sports (AU does not play football), the league began allowing all schools to do so in sports other than football. Lafayette, the last holdout with no athletic scholarships, began granting full rides in basketball and other sports with freshmen entering the school in the fall of 2006. Most Patriot League schools do not give athletic scholarships in a number of sports, and Bucknell only granted them in basketball prior to the addition of football scholarships in 2013.

In the spring of 2009, Fordham University announced that it would start offering football scholarships in the fall of 2010. This action made Fordham ineligible for the league championship in that sport, but it also prompted a league-wide discussion on football scholarships. On February 13, 2012, the Patriot League announced its members could begin offering football scholarships starting with the 2013–14 academic year. Since then, each school has been allowed no more than the equivalent of 15 scholarships to incoming football players. Presidents from six of the seven football schools indicated they would award scholarships in the fall of 2012. Georgetown University did not commit to offering scholarships.[13] Since the transition to scholarship football was completed for the 2016–17 academic year, each football member has been allowed up to 60 scholarship equivalents per season,[14] a total only slightly lower than the NCAA limit of 63 scholarship equivalents for FCS programs. Currently, Patriot League schools are permitted to offer up to the NCAA maximum of 63 scholarships for its football programs.

## Executive directors

[edit]

Name  | Years  | Current

|
|

Alan Childs  | 1986–1989 | Lafayette College Professor of Psychology[15]
Carl F. Ullrich | 1989–1993 | League's first full-time Executive Director; retired
Connie Hurlbut  | 1993–1999 | Western Athletic Conference Deputy Commissioner and SWA[16]
Carolyn Schlie Femovich  | 1999–2015 | The PICTOR Group Senior Partner[17]
Jennifer Heppel  | 2015–present | Previously Big Ten Conference Associate Commissioner for Governance[18]

## Member schools

[edit]

### Full members

[edit]

There are ten "full" member schools:[19]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Type  | Undergraduate
enrollment  | Endowment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Colors

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

American University[a] | Washington, D.C. | 1893  | United Methodist | 8,463  | $947,800,000[20] | Eagles | 2001  |
United States Military Academy[a]
(Army) | West Point, New York | 1802  | Federal
(Military) | 4,594  | N/A  | Black Knights | 1990  |
Boston University[a] | Boston, Massachusetts | 1839  | Nonsectarian  | 18,229  | $3,350,000,000  | Terriers | 2013  |
Bucknell University | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | 1846  | Nonsectarian  | 3,724  | $801,000,000  | Bison | 1986  |
Colgate University | Hamilton, New York | 1819  | Nonsectarian  | 3,164  | $1,202,000,000  | Raiders | 1986  |
College of the Holy Cross | Worcester, Massachusetts | 1843  | Catholic
(Jesuit) | 3,138  | $1,230,000,000  | Crusaders | 1986  |
Lafayette College | Easton, Pennsylvania | 1826  | Nonsectarian  | 2,725  | $693,700,000  | Leopards | 1986  |
Lehigh University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | 1865  | Nonsectarian  | 5,451  | $1,400,000,000  | Mountain Hawks | 1986  |
Loyola University Maryland[a] | Baltimore, Maryland | 1852  | Catholic
(Jesuit) | 3,787  | $308,000,000  | Greyhounds | 2013  |
United States Naval Academy[a]
(Navy) | Annapolis, Maryland | 1845  | Federal
(Military) | 4,528  | N/A  | Midshipmen | 1991  |

Notes

1. ^ a b c d e American, Boston University, and Loyola do not play football. As of the 2024 season, Army and Navy participate in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) as football-only members of the American Athletic Conference. Fordham and Georgetown replace them in the Patriot League for football only.

### Associate members

[edit]

There are three associate-member schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Type  | Undergraduate
enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Colors  | Patriot
sport  | Primary
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Fordham University[a] | The Bronx, New York | 1841  | Catholic
(Jesuit) | 9,904  | Rams | 1995  |     | Football  | Atlantic 10 (A-10)
Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. | 1789  | Catholic
(Jesuit) | 7,598  | Hoyas | 2001  |     | Football,
women's rowing  | Big East
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT)  | Cambridge, Massachusetts | 1861  | Nonsectarian  | 4,638  | Engineers | 2009  |     | Women's rowing  | New England (NEWMAC)[b]
University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | 1830  | Nonsectarian  | 3,164  | Spiders | 2025  |     | Football  | Atlantic 10 (A-10)

Notes

1. ^ Fordham was also a full member of the Patriot League from 1990–91 until 1994–95, when it moved all sports except football to the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10).
2. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

### Future associate members

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Type  | Undergraduate
enrollment  | Nickname  | Joining  | Colors  | Patriot
sport  | Primary
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Villanova University | Villanova, Pennsylvania | 1842  | Catholic
(Augustinian) | 11,023  | Wildcats | 2026[21] |     | Football  | Big East
College of William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia | 1693  | Public  | 7,063  | Tribe | 2026[11] |       | Coastal (CAA)

### Former full members

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Type  | Undergraduate
enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Left  | Current
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Fordham University[a] | Bronx, New York | 1841  | Catholic
(Jesuit) | 8,220  | Rams | 1990  | 1995  | Atlantic 10 (A-10)

Notes

1. ^ Fordham remains as an associate member of the Patriot League for football.

### Former associate members

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Type  | Nickname  | Joined  | Left  | Colors  | Patriot
sport  | Primary
conference  | Current
conference
in former
PL sport

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Davidson College | Davidson, North Carolina | 1837  | Presbyterian
(PCUSA) | Wildcats | 1986  | 1989  |     | football  | Atlantic 10 (A-10) | Pioneer (PFL)
Fairfield University | Fairfield, Connecticut | 1942  | Catholic
(Jesuit) | Stags | 1996  | 2004  |   | field hockey  | Metro Atlantic (MAAC) | Northeast (NEC)
Hobart College | Geneva, New York | 1822  | Nonsectarian  | Statesmen | 1999  | 2004  |     | men's lacrosse  | Liberty[a] | Atlantic 10 (A-10)
University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | 1830  | Nonsectarian  | Spiders | 2014  | 2024  |     | women's golf  | Atlantic 10 (A-10)
Towson University | Towson, Maryland | 1866  | Public  | Tigers | 1997  | 2004  |     | football  | Coastal (CAA) | CAA Football[b]
Ursinus College | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | 1869  | Nonsectarian  | Bears | 1996  | 2002  |      [22] | field hockey  | Centennial[a]
Villanova University | Villanova, Pennsylvania | 1842  | Catholic
(Augustinian) | Wildcats | 1998  | 2006  |     | women's lacrosse  | Big East

Notes

1. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
2. ^ CAA Football is technically a separate entity from the multi-sports CAA.

### Membership timeline

[edit]

Full members  Full members (non-football)  Assoc. members (football only)  Associate member(some sports)  Other Conference  Other Conference

## Sports

[edit]

The Patriot League sponsors championship competition in 12 men's and 13 women's NCAA-sanctioned sports.[23] Fordham, Georgetown, and Richmond are associate members for football, and Georgetown and MIT are associate members for rowing.

### Men's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross
Country | FCS
Football | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming
& Diving | Tennis | Track
& Field
(Indoor) | Track
& Field
(Outdoor) | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

American | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 6
Army | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Boston | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8
Bucknell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
Colgate | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Holy Cross | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
Lafayette | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
Lehigh | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
Loyola | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 7
Navy | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Totals | 6 | 10 | 10 | 5+3 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 95+3
Associate Members
Fordham |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Georgetown |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Richmond |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Future Associate Members
Villanova |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
William & Mary |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1

#### Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Patriot League which are played by Patriot League schools

[edit]

School | Fencing[b] | FBS Football | Sprint
Football[c] | Gymnastics | Ice
Hockey | Rifle[b] | Rowing[c] | Rugby[c] | Sailing[b][c] | Squash[c] | Water
Polo | Wrestling

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

American | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | EIWA
Army | – | American | CSFL | EIGL | AHA | GARC | – | Rugby East | – | – | – | EIWA
Boston | – | – | – | – | Hockey East | – | EARC | – | – | – | – | –
Bucknell | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | CWPA | EIWA
Colgate | – | – | – | – | ECAC Hockey | – | Independent | – | – | – | – | –
Holy Cross | – | – | – | – | AHA | – | EARC | – | – | – | – | –
Lafayette | MACFA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | –
Lehigh | – | – | – | – | – | – | MARC | – | – | – | – | EIWA
Loyola | – | – | – | – | – | – | Independent | – | – | – | – | –
Navy | – | American | – | EIGL | – | GARC | EARC | – | ISA | MASC | CWPA | EIWA

1. ^ a b As of the 2024 season, Army & Navy play FBS football in the American Athletic Conference.
2. ^ a b c This sport is coed.
3. ^ a b c d e This sport is not sponsored by the NCAA.

### Women's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Basketball | Cross
Country | Field
Hockey | Golf | Lacrosse | Rowing | Soccer | Softball | Swimming
& Diving | Tennis | Track
& Field
(Indoor) | Track
& Field
(Outdoor) | Volley­ball | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

American | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Army | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Boston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 12
Bucknell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13
Colgate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12
Holy Cross | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13
Lafayette | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
Lehigh | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13
Loyola | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Navy | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11
Totals | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 7+2 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 113+2
Associate Members
Georgetown |  |  |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
MIT |  |  |  |  |  | Yes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1

#### Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Patriot League which are played by Patriot League schools

[edit]

School | Fencing[a] | Ice
Hockey | Rifle[a] | Lightweight
Rowing[b] | Rugby[b] | Sailing[a][b] | Water
Polo

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Army | – | – | GARC | – | NIRA | – | –
Boston | – | Hockey East | – | EARC | – | – | –
Bucknell | – | – | – | – | – | – | CWPA
Colgate | – | ECAC Hockey | – | – | – | – | –
Holy Cross | – | Hockey East | – | – | – | – | –
Lafayette | MACFA | – | – | – | – | – | –
Navy | – | – | GARC | – | – | ISA | –

1. ^ a b c This sport is coed.
2. ^ a b c This sport is not sponsored by the NCAA.

### President's Cup

[edit]

The Patriot League Presidents' Cup is awarded to the member institution with the highest cumulative sports point total for their Patriot League standings in sponsored men's and women's sports. Points are awarded based upon a combination of an institution's regular-season and tournament finishes in each sport.

President's Cup Winners (combined men and women):

* 1991 - Bucknell
* 1992 - Bucknell
* 1993 - Bucknell
* 1994 - Army
* 1995 - Army
* 1996 - Bucknell
* 1997 - Army
* 1998 - Bucknell
* 1999 - Bucknell
* 2000 - Bucknell
* 2001 - Bucknell
* 2002 - Bucknell
* 2003 - Bucknell
* 2004 - Bucknell
* 2005 - Army
* 2006 - Bucknell
* 2007 - Bucknell
* 2008 - Bucknell
* 2009 - Bucknell
* 2010 - Bucknell
* 2011 - Bucknell
* 2012 - Navy
* 2013 - Bucknell
* 2014 - Navy
* 2015 - Navy
* 2016 - Navy
* 2017 - Navy
* 2018 - Navy
* 2019 - Navy
* 2020 - (COVID-19 pandemic)
* 2021 - Navy[24]
* 2022 - Navy
* 2023 - Navy[25]
* 2024 - Navy

Bryan Cohen

### Baseball

[edit]

Tournament champion and MVP
See: Patriot League baseball tournament

### Basketball

[edit]

Men's tournament champion, runner-up, and MVP
See: Patriot League men's basketball tournament

Women's tournament champion
See: Patriot League women's basketball tournament

NCAA

In NCAA basketball, Boston, Bucknell, Navy, Lehigh, and Holy Cross are the only teams in the conference ever to have recorded NCAA Tournament victories. Bucknell won tournament games in 2005 over Kansas and in 2006 over Arkansas. Lehigh won over Duke in the first round in the 2012 tournament.

The Bison, Mountain Hawks, and Crusaders are the only teams to win in the NCAA tournament while actually representing the Patriot League. A Navy team—then representing the Colonial Athletic Association—led by future Hall of Famer David Robinson won three tournament games while advancing to the regional finals in 1986, while BU won two games in the 1959 tournament before falling in the regional finals. Holy Cross was among the best teams in the country in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and won the 1947 national championship with a team that included future Hall of Famer Bob Cousy. Its combined record in the NCAA tournament is 8–12. After a 63-year drought, Holy Cross defeated Southern University in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Bryan Cohen of Bucknell was named Patriot League Defensive Player of Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012; he was the only player in league history to win the award three times.[26][27][28]

### Field hockey

[edit]

Tournament champion[29]

* 1994 – Lehigh[30]
* 1995 – Lafayette
* 1996 – Colgate
* 1997 – Holy Cross
* 1998 – Holy Cross
* 1999 – Lafayette
* 2000 – Holy Cross
* 2001 – Fairfield
* 2002 – Lafayette
* 2003 – American
* 2004 – American
* 2005 – American
* 2006 – American
* 2007 – American
* 2008 – American
* 2009 – American
* 2010 – American
* 2011 – Lafayette
* 2012 – Lafayette
* 2013 – American
* 2014 – Boston
* 2015 – Boston
* 2016 – American
* 2017 – Boston
* 2018 – Boston
* 2019 – American
* 2020–21 – Bucknell[31]
* 2021 – American[32]
* 2022 – Lehigh[30]
* 2023 – American[33]
* 2024 – Lafayette[34]

### Football

[edit]

League champions

* 1986 – Holy Cross
* 1987 – Holy Cross
* 1988 – Lafayette
* 1989 – Holy Cross
* 1990 – Holy Cross
* 1991 – Holy Cross
* 1992 – Lafayette
* 1993 – Lehigh
* 1994 – Lafayette
* 1995 – Lehigh
* 1996 – Bucknell
* 1997 – Colgate
* 1998 – Lehigh
* 1999 – Colgate and Lehigh
* 2000 – Lehigh
* 2001 – Lehigh
* 2002 – Colgate and Fordham
* 2003 – Colgate
* 2004 – Lafayette and Lehigh
* 2005 – Colgate and Lafayette
* 2006 – Lafayette and Lehigh
* 2007 – Fordham
* 2008 – Colgate
* 2009 – Holy Cross
* 2010 – Lehigh
* 2011 – Lehigh
* 2012 – Colgate
* 2013 – Lafayette
* 2014 – Fordham
* 2015 – Colgate
* 2016 – Lehigh
* 2017 – Colgate and Lehigh
* 2018 – Colgate
* 2019 – Holy Cross
* 2020 – Holy Cross
* 2021 – Holy Cross
* 2022 – Holy Cross
* 2023 – Lafayette and Holy Cross
* 2024 – Lehigh and Holy Cross

Fordham vs. Navy at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 2016

The Patriot League prohibited athletic scholarships for football from its founding (as the Colonial League) until the league presidents voted to approve football scholarships starting with the 2013 recruiting class. Since then, each school has been allowed no more than the equivalent of 15 scholarships to incoming football players in any given season. With the transition to scholarship football having been completed in 2016, each school is now allowed a maximum of 60 scholarship equivalents per season, three short of the NCAA FCS maximum. However, Georgetown does not offer scholarships.

Until 1997, Patriot League teams did not participate in the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. This practice was in step with the Ivy League's policy of not participating in the playoffs, since the Patriot League was founded with the Ivy League's athletics philosophy. Since 1997, the league champion receives an automatic playoff berth. If there are co-champions, a tie-breaker determines the playoff participant, though the other co-champion is eligible to be selected with an at-large invitation.

Colgate was the first team to receive the league's automatic berth, in 1997. The following year, Lehigh won the league's first playoff game. This was also the first year in which a Patriot League team, Colgate, received a playoff invitation without being a league co-champion. Fordham has since repeated that feat in 2013, 2015 and 2022.

Because the Georgetown Hoyas opted out of the 2020-21 NCAA Division I FCS football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Patriot League split into a north and south division for the first time. This led to the first ever Patriot League Football Championship Game

### Lacrosse

[edit]

Men's league champions

* 1991 – Army
* 1992 – Army
* 1993 – Army
* 1994 – Army
* 1995 – Army
* 1996 – Bucknell
* 1997 – Army
* 1998 – Army
* 1999 – Army and Lehigh
* 2000 – Hobart and Lehigh
* 2001 – Bucknell
* 2002 – Army, Bucknell and Hobart
* 2003 – Army and Bucknell
* 2004 – Navy
* 2005 – Navy
* 2006 – Navy
* 2007 – Navy
* 2008 – Colgate
* 2009 – Navy
* 2010 – Army
* 2011 – Bucknell
* 2012 – Lehigh
* 2013 – Lehigh
* 2014 – Loyola
* 2015 – Colgate
* 2016 – Loyola
* 2017 – Loyola
* 2018 – Loyola
* 2019 – Army[35]
* 2020 - (COVID-19 pandemic)[36]
* 2021 - Lehigh[37]
* 2022 - Boston
* 2023 - Army[38]
* 2024 - Lehigh[39]
* 2025 – Colgate[40]

As of 2023[update], the Army Black Knights men's lacrosse team has thirteen conference championships, the most of any school in the conference. Prior to the 2004 season, no conference tournament was held to determine a single winner.[41]

Women's league champions

* 1991 – Lafayette
* 1992 – Lafayette
* 1993 – Lafayette
* 1994 – Lehigh
* 1995 – Lafayette
* 1996 – Lafayette
* 1997 – Lafayette
* 1998 – Lafayette
* 1999 – Colgate
* 2000 – Lafayette
* 2001 – Lafayette
* 2002 – Lafayette
* 2003 – American
* 2004 – Colgate
* 2005 – Colgate
* 2006 – Holy Cross
* 2007 – Holy Cross
* 2008 – Colgate
* 2009 – Colgate
* 2010 – Navy
* 2011 – Navy
* 2012 – Navy
* 2013 – Navy
* 2014 – Loyola
* 2015 – Loyola
* 2016 – Loyola
* 2017 – Navy
* 2018 – Navy
* 2019 – Loyola[42]
* 2020 – (COVID-19 pandemic)
* 2021 – Loyola[43]
* 2022 – Loyola[44]
* 2023 – Loyola[45]
* 2024 – Loyola[46]
* 2025 – Navy[47]

### Soccer

[edit]

Men's tournament champion, runner-up, and MVP
See: Patriot League Men's Soccer Tournament

Women's league champions

* 1990 - Colgate
* 1991 – Colgate
* 1992 – Colgate
* 1993 – Army
* 1994 – Colgate
* 1995 – Colgate
* 1996 – Colgate
* 1997 – Colgate
* 1998 – Colgate
* 1999 – Colgate
* 2000 – Holy Cross
* 2001 – Bucknell
* 2002 – American
* 2003 – Navy
* 2004 – Colgate
* 2005 – Bucknell
* 2006 – Navy
* 2007 – Navy
* 2008 – Army
* 2009 – Colgate
* 2010 – Lehigh
* 2011 – Army
* 2012 – Colgate
* 2013 – Boston
* 2014 – Boston
* 2015 – Boston
* 2016 – Bucknell
* 2017 – Bucknell
* 2018 – Boston
* 2019 – Navy
* 2020–21 – Navy
* 2021 – Bucknell[48]
* 2022 – Bucknell
* 2023 – Bucknell[49]
* 2024 – Boston[50]

## Facilities

[edit]

Future members in green.

School  | Football stadium  | Capacity  | Basketball arena  | Capacity  | Baseball stadium  | Capacity  | Soccer venue  | Capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

American | Non-football school | Bender Arena | 3,044  | Non-baseball school | Reeves Field  | 700
Army | Non-football member[a] | Christl Arena | 5,043  | Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field | 880  | Clinton Field  | 2,000
Boston University | Non-football school | Agganis Arena
Case Gym | 7,200
1,800  | Non-baseball school | Nickerson Field | 10,412
Bucknell | Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium | 13,100  | Sojka Pavilion | 4,000  | Eugene B. Depew Field | 500  | Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium | 1,250
Colgate | Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium | 10,221  | Cotterell Court | 3,000  | Non-baseball school | Beyer-Small '76 Field | 2,000
Holy Cross | Fitton Field | 23,500  | Hart Center | 3,600  | Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field | 3,000  | Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium | 1,320
Lafayette | Fisher Stadium | 13,132  | Kirby Sports Center | 2,644  | Kamine Stadium | 500  | Oaks Stadium  | 1,000
Lehigh | Goodman Stadium | 16,000  | Stabler Arena | 5,600  | J. David Walker Field at Legacy Park | 370  | Ulrich Sports Complex  | 2,400
Loyola | Non-football school | Reitz Arena | 2,100  | Non-baseball school | Ridley Athletic Complex | 6,000
Navy | Non-football member[b] | Alumni Hall | 5,710  | Max Bishop Stadium | 1,500  | Glenn Warner Soccer Facility | 2,500
Football affiliates

School  | Stadium  | Capacity
Fordham | Coffey Field | 7,000
Georgetown[c] | Cooper Field | 4,418
Richmond | E. Claiborne Robins Stadium | 8,217
Villanova | Villanova Stadium | 12,500
William & Mary | Walter J. Zable Stadium | 12,672

Notes

1. ^ Army plays football in the American Athletic Conference (FBS). Their home football games are played at Michie Stadium, which seats 38,000.
2. ^ Navy plays football in the American Athletic Conference (FBS). Their home football games are played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which seats 34,000.
3. ^ Georgetown is also an affiliate in women's rowing.

## Literature

[edit]

The Patriot League was profiled in the John Feinstein book The Last Amateurs (2000). The title is derived from the belief that the Patriot League was the last Division I basketball league that plays a conference tournament (the Ivy League, which operates under the same model, albeit with no scholarships, did not hold a conference tournament until the 2016–17 season) and functions as a place for student-athletes rather than a de facto minor professional circuit with players not representative of their student bodies. The book is Feinstein's chronicle of all seven of the league's men's basketball teams at the time during the 1999–2000 season.[4]

## Notes

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Who We Are". patriotleague.org.
2. ^ a b ""Who We Are" About the Patriot League". Patriot League. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
3. ^ "All the Lehigh University News First". The Brown and White.
4. ^ a b c d Feinstein, John (2000). The Last Amateurs. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-27842-4.
5. ^ a b c d e "Patriot League History". Patriot League. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
6. ^ "Patriot League 2011 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
7. ^ "2009 Field Hockey". Centennial Conference. Archived from the original on October 7, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
8. ^ "Boston University accepts invitation to join Patriot League starting in 2013–14" (PDF) (Press release). Patriot League. June 15, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
9. ^ "Loyola University Maryland accepts invitation to join Patriot League starting with 2013–14 season" (Press release). Patriot League. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
10. ^ "Richmond Football to Move to Patriot League Following 2024 Season" (Press release). Richmond Spiders Athletics. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
11. ^ a b "William & Mary Football to Join Patriot League". William & Mary Athletics. 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
12. ^ "Patriot League Announces Villanova to Join League as Associate Member for Football in 2026" (Press release). Patriot League. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
13. ^ "Comments from Patriot League Presidents on Football Financial Aid Announcement" (PDF). Patriot League. February 13, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on Mar 4, 2016.
14. ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (February 13, 2012). "Patriot League to Offer Football Scholarships Starting in 2013". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on Oct 1, 2017.
15. ^ "Alan Childs". Lafayette College Athletics. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved Dec 10, 2023.
16. ^ "Western Athletic Conference". Western Athletic Conference.
17. ^ "Carolyn Schlie Femovich (biography) – The PICTOR Group".
18. ^ "Patriot League - Staff Directory". www.patriotleague.org.
19. ^ ""Who We Are" About the Patriot League". Patriot League. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
20. ^ "Change Can't Wait 2024 Impact Summary". American University. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
21. ^ "Villanova Football Accepts Invitation to Join Patriot League as Associate Member in 2026" (Press release). Villanova Wildcats Athletics. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
22. ^ "Just the Facts". Ursinus College. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
23. ^ "Patriot League". www.patriotleague.org.
24. ^ "Navy Captures Seventh-Consecutive Patriot League Presidents' Cup Title," Patriot League, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
25. ^ "Navy Claims Ninth-Consecutive Patriot League Presidents’ Cup," Patriot League, Thursday, May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
26. ^ "Recent Bucknell Grads Bryan Cohen, G.W. Boon Sign Pro Contracts Overseas". patriotleague.org. August 27, 2012.
27. ^ Bowman, William (February 8, 2011). "Bill Bowman's college basketball column: Cohen as good as it gets on defense". The Daily Item.
28. ^ Brady, Chris (February 13, 2012). "Cohen a model of consistency". Standard-Journal.
29. ^ "Patriot League Field Hockey Record Book" (PDF). Patriot League. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
30. ^ a b "Lehigh's Epic Overtime Victory Captures the Patriot League Title and Secures First NCAA Tournament Berth in Program History," Lehigh University Athletics, Saturday, November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
31. ^ 2021 Field Hockey Spring Championship – Patriot League. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
32. ^ 2021 Field Hockey Championship – Patriot League. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
33. ^ "2023 Field Hockey Championship". patriotleague.org. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
34. ^ "2024 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship". patriotleague.org. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
35. ^ 2019 Men's Lacrosse Championship – Patriot League. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
36. ^ 2020 Men's Lacrosse Championship – Patriot League. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
37. ^ 2021 Men's Lacrosse Championship – Patriot League. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
38. ^ "2023 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Championship". patriotleague.org. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
39. ^ "No. 2 Lehigh Downs No. 4 Boston University to Win 2024 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Championship (5.5.24)". patriotleague.org. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
40. ^ "No. 5 Colgate Upends No. 2 Boston University to Capture 2025 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Championship (5.4.25)". patriotleague.org. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
41. ^ "2021 Men's Lacrosse Record Book" (PDF). Patriot League. 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
42. ^ "No. 11 Women's Lacrosse Downs Navy To Win Patriot League Title In Record-Breaking Fashion," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Saturday, May 4, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
43. ^ 2021 Women's Lacrosse Championship – Patriot League. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
44. ^ "No. 7 Women's Lax Earns Sixth Patriot League Title WIth 15–8 Win Over Navy," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Saturday, May 7, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
45. ^ "Loyola Maryland Downs Army West Point to Claim Fourth Straight Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Title (5.6.23)". patriotleague.org. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
46. ^ "No. 1 Loyola Maryland Outlasts No. 2 Navy in Overtime to Capture 2024 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Championship (5.4.24)". patriotleague.org. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
47. ^ "No. 3 Navy Outlasts No. 1 Loyola Maryland in Overtime to Capture 2025 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Title". patriotleague.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
48. ^ 2021 Women's Soccer Championship – Patriot League. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
49. ^ "2023 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Soccer Championship". patriotleague.org. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
50. ^ "No. 2 Boston University Captures 2024 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Soccer Championship (11.10.24)". patriotleague.org. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patriot League.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Patriot League

Full members|

* Bucknell Bison
* Colgate Raiders
* Holy Cross Crusaders
* Lafayette Leopards
* Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Non-football members|

* American Eagles
* Army Black Knights
* Boston Terriers
* Loyola Greyhounds
* Navy Midshipmen

Associate members|

* Fordham Rams1
* Georgetown Hoyas1 2
* Richmond Spiders1
* Villanova Wildcats1 3
* William & Mary Tribe1 3
* MIT Engineers2

* 1football
* 2women's rowing
* 3joining in 2026

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I all-sports conferences

FBS|

* The American
* Atlantic Coast
* Big 12
* Big Ten
* CUSA
* Mid-American
* Mountain West
* Pac-12
* Southeastern
* Sun Belt

FCS - Full|

* Big Sky
* Ivy
* MEAC
* Northeast
* Patriot
* SoCon
* Southland
* SWAC

FCS - Alliance|

* CAA FB (CAA / America East)
* Missouri Valley FB (Missouri Valley / Summit)
* OVC–Big South (Ohio Valley / Big South)
* United (ASUN / WAC)

Non-Football|

* Atlantic 10
* Big East
* Big West
* Horizon
* MAAC
* West Coast

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision conferences

Current conferences|

* Big Sky
* CAA (AmEast/CAA)
* Ivy
* MEAC
* MVFC (MVC/Summit)
* NEC
* OVC–Big South (OVC/Big South)
* Patriot
* Pioneer
* SoCon
* Southland
* SWAC
* UAC (ASUN / WAC)

Previous conferences|

* American West (defunct 1996)
* Great West (non-football 2012; defunct 2013)
* Gulf Star (defunct 1987)
* MAAC (non-football 2008)
* Yankee (became A10 1997)

Independents
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template