Saint Francis Athletics Announces Drop to Division III

Saint Francis University announced on Tuesday that it will drop its athletic programs from Division I to Division III after the 2025-2026 season.

The decision in Loretto, Pa. came via the Board of Trustees as the university will move its programs into the Presidents’ Athletic Conference starting with the 2026-2027 academic year and fall 2026 athletic competition.

“This was not an easy nor a quick decision for the Board of Trustees,” stated Chairman and the Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, T.O.R., Ph.D. in a press release. “The governance associated with intercollegiate athletics has always been complicated and is only growing in complexity based on realities like the transfer portal, pay-for-play, and other shifts that move athletics away from love of the game. For that reason, as a Board, we aim to best provide resources and support to our student-athletes in this changing environment that aligns with our mission, Catholic institution, and our community’s expectations.”

President and the Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D., added, “The Board and I have been concerned about the student-athlete experience for many years. The geography of our conference is huge. Our students travel either to Chicago or to Boston or to points in between. That’s a lot of time not spent on campus, developing friendships or in the classroom. This change allows our students to be present on campus and lets their friends attend more of their home and away games. This decision is about creating and maintaining community and allowing our student-athletes to thrive in the classroom and their chosen sport.”

SFU is currently apart of the Northeast Conference in all all sports, including men’s basketball, who recently won the conference this year and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament before falling to Alabama State in the First Four round.

In football, Saint Francis competed at the FCS level and will lose geographical rivalries with Robert Morris, Duquesne and Mercyhurst. Countless WPIAL players call SFU home at the Division I level and will now look to play elsewhere with D-I aspirations.

The PAC will now house 13 full-time members: Allegheny College, Bethany College, Chatham University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Geneva College, Grove City College, Hiram College, Saint Francis University Saint Vincent College, Thiel College, Washington & Jefferson College, Waynesburg University and Westminster College.

According to a release by the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, “As Saint Francis transitions to Division III, a process which will take three years to complete, the Red Flash will have full schedules in all applicable PAC sports. Saint Francis will not be eligible for PAC Championships or compete in Conference Championship Tournaments in basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, baseball & softball until they are approved for active Division III membership by the NCAA. Red Flash programs in sports such as cross country, golf, swimming and diving and indoor and outdoor track and field will be able to compete at PAC Championships starting in 2026-27 but will not be eligible for all-conference recognition.”