NCAA Division I-A independent schools are four-year institutions whose football programs are not part of an NCAA-affiliated conference. This does not mean that I-A independents schedule each other for competition like conference schools do. There are considerably fewer independent schools than in years past; many independent schools later join (or attempt to join) established conferences.
NCAA Division I-A independent schools for 2004
Two former independents in football joined a conference starting with the 2004 season. The University of Connecticut, which was already a Big East member in other sports, became a full member in football. Troy University joined the Sun Belt Conference for football.
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