Best Football Colleges in Florida

Florida is crazy about its college football. Many great D1 teams in the state, and a D2 school is always near the top of the rankings. But with so many programs in the state, it can be challenging to keep track of all of the best college football colleges in Florida.

We’ve got you covered. Please keep reading to find our list of the top D1 colleges in Florida and D2 colleges in Florida and learn how to start a career at one of these schools.

How Many are College Football Teams in Florida?

There are a total of 17 college football teams in Florida. That number includes junior colleges in Florida with football, D2 programs, and of course, D1 schools that compete in the FBS and FCS.

Top D1 Football Colleges in Florida

Division 1, or D1, football programs compete in the highest division in college sports. Some play for the FBS title, which has a 4-team playoff series to determine a winner, while others play for the FCS, which has a 24-team playoff.

Florida has football schools in both of these leagues, as shown in our list below.

Bethune-Cookman (FCS) – Daytona Beach, FL

Team: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Conference: SWAC

University of Florida (FBS) – Gainesville, FL

Team: Gators
Conference: SEC

Florida International University (FBS) – Miami, FL

Team: Panthers
Conference: C-USA

University of Miami (FBS) – Coral Gables, FL

Team: Hurricanes
Conference: ACC

University of Central Florida (FBS) – Gainesville, FL

Team: Knights
Conference: The American

Florida Atlantic University (FBS) – Boca Raton, FL

Team: Owls
Conference: C-USA

University of South Florida (FBS) – Tampa, FL

Team: Bulls
Conference: The American

Types of D1 Football Jobs in Florida

Assistant Coach

Salary: $32,000 – $75,000

Responsibilities: 

• Lead practice sessions with individual players and position groups
• Help create gameplans
• Help with recruiting
• Assist with maintaining academic eligibility for players

Athletic Trainer

Salary: $43,000 – $62,000

Responsibilities: 

• Look after players’ health
• Ensure that players are ready to play on game day
• Help players recover from injuries

Director of Football Recruitment

Salary: $32,000 – $75,000

Responsibilities: 

• Help the team recruit college football players
• Work with the head coach to scout positions of need
• Travel throughout the state and country to find new players

Graduate Assistant

Salary: $32,000 – $75,000

Responsibilities: 

• Assist with practices
• Support assistant coaches during games
• Help players with various tasks

Sports Marketer

Salary: $32,000 – $75,000

Responsibilities: 

• Create content that increases engagement with the team
• Seek out sponsorship deals
• Expand the team’s following on social media

Are There Internships Available in D1 Football?

You can get an internship at football colleges in Florida. But it would help if you typically were a student or a recent graduate from that school to do so. The competition for these positions can also be high.

A D1 football intern will support the coaching staff in whatever ways they ask. They may watch game tape, prepare practice equipment, support assistant coaches during drills, and help the equipment manager during games, among other tasks.

How to Find a D1 Football Job in Florida

If you want to find a job at a D1 college in Florida, then you’re going to need the following:

• A strong resume
• A good professional network
• Potentially a college degree in a related field

Many more people want to work in D1 football than in available positions. That means you will need to stand out from the competition if you’re going to give yourself the best chance of getting hired.

You can do this by excelling in any of the areas listed above. For example, you should have an increased chance of getting hired with a better resume or a more substantial network than most.

It also pays to apply to these positions as soon as possible so that your resume gets to the top of the pile, which is something JobsInSports.com can help with.

Top D2 Football Colleges in Florida

Division 2 football colleges in Florida play at a lower level. They also have fewer full-ride scholarships available to give to players. 

However, the competition among these schools is still very high. And if you want to work in D1 college football eventually, getting started at a D2 school may be the best way to gain the necessary experience.

Edward Waters University – Jacksonville, FL

Team: Tigers
Conference: SIAC

University of West Florida – Pensacola, FL

Team: Argonauts
Conference: Gulf South

Types of D2 Football Jobs in Florida

As you saw above, there are a surprisingly small number of D2 football colleges in Florida. That means getting a D2 position in this state may be even more challenging. But you can always look for a D2 job in a neighboring state if you’re geographically flexible.

D2 college football jobs are, for the most part, the same as D1 positions. These schools also need assistant coaches, marketing specialists, athletic trainers, and scouts. However, the positions tend to pay a bit less since these schools don’t have the budgets of their D1 counterparts.

Are There Internships Available in D2 Football?

There are absolutely internships available at the D2 level, and the process is the same as in division 1. It would help qualify if you were a student or a recent graduate.

How to find a D2 Football Job in Florida

Finding a D2 football job in Florida is tricky since there are only two schools you can apply to. That makes networking with these schools vital, as you’re much likelier to get hired if the coaching staff and athletic department already know your name.

Suppose you have trouble finding a D2 position in Florida. In that case, your best option may be to begin looking in neighboring states or applying to D1 schools, which may be less competitive since there are so few D2 job opportunities in Florida.

Start Your Florida Football Career with JobsInSports.com

Finding your dream job in Florida college football is easier with JobsInSports.com. We maintain an up-to-date list of the latest job openings across the state and country, and we’ll notify you the second we post a new position that fits your criteria.

With our help, you can always be one of the first to apply for a job so that your resume consistently reaches the top of the pile. So why wait? Create an account with us today to get started.