Alfred State athletics photo

Alfred State will be going to the Empire 8 effective in 2025, while Dean will join Anna Maria and 10 additional Division III football programs as members of the MASCAC that same season.

The Alfred State and Dean announcements came today, Oct. 10.

"Alfred State is a great addition to Empire 8 football,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “They have a competitive program with strong leadership at all levels and fit perfectly in our footprint. We are happy to welcome them to the Empire 8.”

Alfred State will become the ninth Empire 8 football program in 2025, joining full-time members Alfred, Brockport, Hartwick, St. John Fisher and Utica, in addition to fellow 2025 affiliate members Cortland, Hilbert and Morrisville State.

Dean will join Anna Maria, Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Massachusetts Maritime, Plymouth State, UMass Dartmouth, Vermont State-Castleton, Western Connecticut, Westfield State and Worcester State as football programs in the MASCAC. 

“The MASCAC and the Council of Presidents are delighted to welcome Dean College to the conference in football,” MASCAC Council of Presidents Chair and Salem State University president John Keenan said. “It strengthens our conference footprint and the conference brand. We look forward to enhancing student-athlete opportunities.”

The 12 members of the MASCAC in 2025 would be eligible to play in divisions and have the division winners play in a conference title game as an 11th regular season game. The conference's plans for 2025 conference play were not set at the time of publication.

Of the five teams still currently competing in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference, Alfred State (E8), Anna Maria (MASCAC), Castleton (MASCAC) and Dean (MASCAC) have all announced their departure. Gallaudet is the last remaining program in the ECFC, and is exploring its options at this time, which could include competing as an independent.

“Alfred State is excited and grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Empire 8 Conference as a football member,” said Alfred State president Steven Mauro, who is also a member of the NCAA Division III President’s Council. “We look forward to partnering with Empire 8 and the other colleges competing in this premier league to elevate our student-athletes’ experience. I’d like to personally thank the Empire 8 President’s Council, athletic directors and Commissioner Mitrano for this great opportunity.”

Alfred State currently sponsors 20 Division III sports, the majority competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The football program is in its sixth season as a full-fledged Division III program and is currently competing as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference through the 2024-25 season. In 2021, the Pioneers finished 6-4, including a 5-1 mark which was tied for first in the ECFC and competed in the New England Bowl.

“Alfred State has steadily improved our athletic programs since officially joining NCAA Division III in 2018,” said Alfred State athletic director Jason Doviak. “As part of our growth, we have continued to elevate our level of play each year and been part of different conferences along the way. The Empire 8 will bring us our biggest challenge yet with a strong conference schedule and competition amongst institutions with a longstanding history of success. We are thankful for this opportunity and look forward to working with Commissioner Mitrano and our conference members to promote Division III football.”

“I am very excited to join the Empire 8,” said Alfred State football coach Scott Linn. “This is a great opportunity for us to both compete with some of the best teams in the region and country, and also to continue to grow our program.”