HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference Council of Presidents has officially welcomed Simpson University as an associate member in football, marking a significant milestone for the university. This acceptance paves the way for Simpson to become the 14th football-playing program in the conference, commencing from the 2025-26 academic year.
The 2024 football season is set to be a historic one for the Simpson program. As they gear up for their inaugural season, the Red Hawks will compete independently. However, they will be ineligible for postseason play in their first year.
"We're excited to have Simpson join the Frontier Conference as a football university. We've been in conversation with them for some time now, and it's exciting to have them join us," said Dr. Les P. Cook, Chancellor of Montana Tech and Frontier Council of Presidents representative.
Simpson will play six games against Frontier programs during the inaugural campaign, including the program's first game at College of Idaho on August 31. They will also host Southern Oregon and travel to Carroll, Montana Tech, Eastern Oregon, and Arizona Christian.
"This is a momentous event for Simpson University, inaugurating our 104th year, having grown almost 20 percent in the last five years. It is our great privilege to serve Redding and Shasta as their Hometown University and now through football," Simpson University President Dr. Norman Hall says. "This announcement creates avenues for us to serve California and is a tremendous step for NAIA Football to catalyze the resurgence of highly competitive collegiate football. It's a thrill to join the most competitive NAIA Conference for football in the nation. Great things are happening at Simpson University."
"Today marks yet another very exciting day for the NAIA and the Frontier Conference as we welcome our friends at Simpson University to the Conference as Associate Football members. With its recent growth of the North Star members, the Frontier Conference has become one of the most diverse and competitive conferences in the NAIA," said Dr. John E. Cech, President of Carroll College and Chairman of the Frontier Conference Council of Presidents.
The addition of Simpson comes on the heels of the conference adding football programs from Dakota State, Dickinson State, Mayville State, and Valley City State. That will give the conference 14 football members for the 2025 season and the ability for two automatic selections to the NAIA Football Championship Series.
"I can hardly wait to see Simpson University Football compete as one of our 14 football teams. I look forward to seeing the Red Hawks develop in the coming year to prepare for entry into the Frontier Conference for Fall 2025," stated Dr. Scott Crawford, Frontier Conference Commissioner. "On behalf of the entire conference, we welcome Dr. Norman Hall, Rob Harley, Shawn Daniel, and the football student-athletes of Simpson University into the fold."