North Carolina A&T football moves to Colonial Athletic Association

The move for North Carolina A&T was two years in the making

There are layers to the move for the Aggies, which involve both academics and athletics. Athletic Director Earl Hinton made a presentation that moved the vote to the CAA. In the presentation, Hinton argued the Colonial Athletic Association represents where North Carolina A&T stands athletically and academically as a doctoral research university.

“The Colonial Athletic Association is consistent with our academic and athletic aspirations,” Hilton told The Undefeated after the meeting. “The Colonial already has four institutions of R1 [Research 1] status, and we’re moving in that direction, in that community of R1 universities.”

The R1 designation is for only the most elite of research universities. These schools are said to have “doctoral/very high research activity.” Fewer than four percent of public and private universities have this distinction. NC A&T, currently an R2 university, seeks to be the first HBCU with R1 status.

NC A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin said that the CAA was their conference of choice two years ago when they moved from the MEAC. The distance between A&T and schools did not make the transition feasible at the time.

However, the Colonial’s expansion plan and the creation of a Southern Division make this move perfect for A&T.

The Aggies will compete in the CAA South Division, joining the College of Charleston, Elon, William and Mary, Towson University, UNC Willmington, and associate member Richmond fellow HBCU (and former fellow) MEAC and Big South member) Hampton.

The North Division consists of Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra, Northeastern, and new members Stony Brook, Monmouth, and new members Stony Brook and Monmouth. The CAA is also looking to add Rhode Island and Bryant University for football. The move puts NC A&T in major media markets in Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.