Missouri Baptist University (MBU), located in St. Louis, Missouri, has a football program known as the Missouri Baptist Spartans. Many wonder if their program competes at the NCAA Division I level (often shortened to “D-1”). The short answer: no, Missouri Baptist competes in the NAIA, not in NCAA Division I.
Below is a detailed breakdown of where their program fits, what that means, and how it compares.
What Are the College Football Levels?
To understand where Missouri Baptist fits, it helps to know the structure of college football in the U.S.:
NCAA Division I (FBS & FCS): The highest level, with large schools, higher budgets, many scholarships, and significant media exposure.
NCAA Division II & III: Smaller schools, fewer athletic scholarships (or none in DIII), less media exposure.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics): A separate athletic association from the NCAA; includes smaller institutions, generally lower budgets, different eligibility rules, fewer scholarships, etc.
Each level has its own conferences, regulations, and level of competitiveness.
Missouri Baptist University Football — What Level Are They?
Based on public sources:
Missouri Baptist University competes in the NAIA. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
Their football team is an associate member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) starting in Fall 2023. MBU Athletics+2Central Missouri Information+2
Prior to that, they competed in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA). Wikipedia+2MBU Athletics+2
So, MBU is not NCAA Division I — they compete in the NAIA, which is a separate governing body.
What It Means to Be NAIA vs. NCAA Division I
Because people often equate “college football” with NCAA Division I, it’s helpful to lay out some differences and what NAIA membership means for a program like MBU.
| Feature | NCAA Division I (FBS or FCS) | NAIA |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarships | Many full or partial athletic scholarships | Fewer scholarships; smaller budgets |
| Exposure / Media Coverage | High — TV contracts, big games, major sponsorships | More regional; less national TV exposure |
| Size & Facilities | Usually larger stadiums, larger athletic departments | Smaller facilities, smaller scale programs |
| Recruiting | Usually able to recruit nationally, including top high school players | More regional, sometimes local recruiting, fewer “blue chip” athletes |
For MBU, being in the NAIA means they are in a competitive intercollegiate sports environment, but it is not on the same level of perks, exposure, or resources as NCAA Division I programs.
Missouri Baptist’s Football Program: Key Facts
Here are some relevant details about MBU’s program:
The football program began in 2014.
As of the most recent seasons, they have had modest records, with several tough seasons, reflecting the growing pains of a relatively young program.
Home games are played at Spartan Field in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Wikipedia+1
In 2023 they joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) as an associate member for football.
There are reasons some people might wonder if Missouri Baptist is Division I:
“University” in their name; sometimes people assume universities automatically compete at high NCAA levels.
The use of the term “college football” implies NCAA for many who aren’t close observers of the differences.
Some conferences or games might have carryover visibility, leading to assumptions.
But to be clear: being in NAIA means MBU is not part of the NCAA’s Division I structure, either in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) or Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
What Would It Take for MBU to Become Division I?
If Missouri Baptist University ever wanted to move to NCAA Division I football, there would be substantial requirements:
Athletic Department Resources: D-I programs need big budgets, staffing, facilities upgrades, and more support infrastructure.
Scholarship Funding: NCAA D-I programs offer many athletic scholarships; funding that level would be a challenge.
Meeting NCAA and Conference Requirements: Schools must be accepted into a Division I conference, adhere to NCAA rules on eligibility, academic standards, facilities, and more.
Sustainability: A school needs to show it can sustain financial and competitive demands over many years.
So far, there’s no public indication that MBU is pursuing that move.
Conclusion
Is Missouri Baptist University football D1? No, Missouri Baptist competes in the NAIA, not in NCAA Division I.
They are associate members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference for football, as of Fall 2023.
Their program is relatively new (started in 2014), still building and growing.
Missouri Baptist’s football program is legitimate and competitive within the NAIA landscape, but it is not part of NCAA Division I.