The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference, a new football-only league, will debut this fall after the approval of active conference membership by the Division III Presidents Council.

The eight-member conference includes schools from various Division III multisport conferences, and will provide its members with an opportunity for conference play and eventually automatic qualification to the Division III Football Championship.

“Our college conference presidents voted unanimously to support the new ECFC because we believe that it will enhance the overall student-athlete educational experience at our institutions, expand Division III nonscholarship football opportunities, create an automatic qualifier for the NCAA national tournament, and focus on sportsmanship, fair play, moral integrity and competitive excellence,” said Castleston State President Dave Wolk, who chairs the new league’s presidents’ council.

Joining Castleton State as ECFC members are Anna Maria, Becker, Gallaudet, Husson, Maritime (New York), Mount Ida and Norwich.

The conference would become eligible after a two-year waiting period for automatic qualification.

“The establishment of the ECFC will offer our member institutions the opportunity to participate in an outstanding regional football conference and provide our student-athletes with a competitive and enriching football experience with the opportunity for postseason participation and athletics and academic recognition,” said Tony Mariano, director of athletics at Norwich and chair of the conference’s athletics directors council.

Two of the league’s members, Anna Maria and Castleton State, are starting programs in football this fall. Norwich previously played in the Empire 8, and five other ECFC members played as independents.