| Frequently Asked Questions |
| Q: What is the Pioneer Football League? A: The PFL is a college football league that began play in 1993. For sports other than football, the league's 10 members belong to other conferences. The PFL is one of three football leagues with Division I schools that prohibit players from receiving financial aid based on athletic ability. Q: Why is the PFL called a "non-scholarship" or "need-based aid" league? A: Players may not accept athletic-related financial aid (so-called athletic scholarships). They may receive need-based aid that is available to all students demonstrating financial need. Some schools outside the PFL consider themselves to be non-scholarship because they award less than full athletic grants-in-aid. The financial aid they reserve for athletes may be limited to players' demonstrated need (not to be confused with need-based aid). Nonetheless, the total of this aid is equivalent to 50 or more "football scholarships" at some schools. Click here to read discussion of this subject. From the Patriot League Policies and Procedures Manual: "In the sport of football, student-athletes may not be awarded financial aid based upon athletic ability in excess of demonstrated need ..." (emphasis added). See also: 2003 financial aid information from Lafayette College website. Q: Why is the league spread over such a wide geographic area? A: These are the only Division I schools outside the northeastern United States that do not give football players athletic aid. They have affiliated in order to compete against their football peers for a league championship. Q: Will the league continue to expand? A: Coaches and administrators are optimistic that the PFL will add more members. Possibilities include merging with another conference, and adding either new teams or teams that discontinue athletic aid. |
| Pronunciation Guide Toreros (Spanish for bullfighters): commonly Americanized as "ter-rare-ohs" Valparaiso: "Val-pah-ray-so" |
| Past Champions 1993 Dayton 1994 Butler & Dayton 1995 Drake 1996 Dayton 1997 Dayton 1998 Drake 1999 Dayton 2000 Dayton, Drake, & Valparaiso 2001 Dayton (def. Jacksonville in championship game) 2002 Dayton (def. Morehead State in championship game) 2003 Valparaiso (def. Morehead State in championship game) 2004 Drake (def. Morehead State in championship game) 2005 San Diego (def. Morehead State in championship game) 2006 San Diego 2007 Dayton & San Diego 2008 Jacksonville |
| Membership History 1993: The PFL played its first season with Butler, Dayton, Drake, Evansville, San Diego, and Valparaiso. 1997: Evansville dropped football following the '97 season. 2001: The league added Austin Peay, Davidson, Jacksonville, and Morehead State as a South Division. Other members formed a North Division. Division winners met in a championship game. 2005: Austin Peay left after the '05 season. The two division format and championship game were discontinued. 2008: Campbell University added. 2009: Marist College added. |
| Gridiron Classic (PFL v. Northeast Conference) 2006-- San Diego 27, Monmouth 7 2007--Dayton 42, Albany 21 2008--Albany 28, Jacksonville 0 |