However, if a DI school wants to participate in the NCAA DII Basketball Tournament and even the NCAA DII Football Tournament, then it requires that DI school to drop to the DII division level. Remember the NCAA DI-FCS Football Playoff is not the same thing as DII football even though people make the common mistake. In fact the champion of the NCAA DI-FCS Football Playoff is the NCAA's DI champion for football. Not the FBS champion. Hence why the FCS Champion receives the standard NCAA trophy and the FBS Champion receives a customized trophy.

JMU, Richmond, W&M, Hampton, Norfolk State, George Mason are all DI schools and DI-FCS football schools (if they sponsor a football team). Virginia State and Virginia Union are examples of DII schools. DIII schools would include Bridgewater College, Roanoke College, Hampden-Sydney, Randolph-Macon College, Randolph-Macon Women's College, and Hollins University (female).