Division I (or DI) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States. "D-1" schools are the major collegiate athletic powers, with larger budgets, more elaborate facilities, and higher numbers of athletic scholarships. This level was once called the "University" division of the NCAA in contrast to the "College" division; this terminology was replaced with the current numeric (I, II, III) divisions in 1973. In football only, Division I was further subdivided into Division I-A (the principal football schools) and Division I-AA in 1978. Subsequently the term "Division I-AAA" was added to delineate Division I schools which do not field a football program at all.

The most important differences between Division I-A and Division I-AA are:

• Championships

Division I-A football is the only NCAA-sponsored sport without an organized tournament to determine its champion. See Bowl Championship Series for more details on the current system.

Division I-AA determines its champion in a 16-team single-elimination tournament. (Year-By-Year I-AA Playoff Results)

• Scholarships:

Division I-A schools are currently limited to a total of 85 players receiving financial assistance. For competitive reasons, and due to the fact that a student on partial scholarship counts fully against the total of 85, virtually all I-A schools that are not on NCAA probation give 85 full scholarships. The service academies—in this context, Army, Navy, and Air Force—are exempt from this rule, as all of their students receive full scholarships from the federal government.

Division I-AA schools are currently restricted to giving financial assistance amounting to 63 full scholarships. Unlike I-A schools, I-AA schools may give partial scholarships, but are limited to 85 players receiving any sort of athletic financial aid for football. However, competitive forces mean that a substantial number of players in I-AA programs are on full scholarships. Notably, the Ivy League, a Division I-AA conference, does not offer athletic scholarships at all, and a football-only I-AA conference, the Pioneer Football League, also does not offer scholarships. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is another league that sponsors Division I-AA non-scholarship football. Until very recently, the Northeast Conference also sponsored Division I-AA non-scholarship football, but starting in 2006, the NEC will allow a maximum of 30 full scholarship equivalents. Still, the Pioneer Football League, MAAC, and NEC will continue to be classified, at least for now, as Division I-AA "mid-major football" conferences. A national championship team for this level of football is determined annually (since 2001) by a poll conducted by The Sports Network. The #1-ranked Division I-AA mid-major team is awarded The Sports Network Cup on the eve of the overall Division I-AA championship game. (The non-scholarship Ivy League is not part of Division I-AA mid-major football. In fact, the Ivy League operates independently from all other college football conferences. However, its teams are still considered Division I-AA.)

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@FoxyOxymoron I agree. I hope he and the rest of the Preds team are ready for tonight. CBJ is one of our top Central Division rivals.
AmyPredsfan (Amy D.) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:51:53 -0000
@FoxyOxymoron I agree. I hope he and the rest of the Preds team are ready for tonight. CBJ is one of our top Central Division rivals.
I hate when you are sick & it is gloomy outside. Makes me feel a little too "Joy Division" for my taste. :)
ericblanton (Eric Blanton) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:47:59 -0000
I hate when you are sick & it is gloomy outside. Makes me feel a little too "Joy Division" for my taste. :)
RT @lukasjudge: I know it silly but I really wish "Dead Souls" was playing at every goth club I walked in to. And yes, the Joy Division ...
inmemoryofthom (thom w) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:30:24 -0000
RT @lukasjudge: I know it silly but I really wish "Dead Souls" was playing at every goth club I walked in to. And yes, the Joy Division ...
Skrev i bloggen: My eyes could not division, All the colours of love and of life http://bit.ly/5mDAFg
lilmemyself_com (Lilmemyself) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:23:36 -0000
Skrev i bloggen: My eyes could not division, All the colours of love and of life http://bit.ly/5mDAFg
i woke up more rockNrolla than usually today so Chrome Division is blowing up on my headphones, rock on baby, rock on! XD
nunosancha (Nuno Sancha) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:12:19 -0000
i woke up more rockNrolla than usually today so Chrome Division is blowing up on my headphones, rock on baby, rock on! XD
Family cooking division..I'm officially in eating division http://tweetphoto.com/7669020
RudyPutra (Rudy Putra) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:12:16 -0000
Family cooking division..I'm officially in eating division http://tweetphoto.com/7669020

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