TROY, N.Y. – The Liberty League has reached an agreement with Buffalo State to join the league as an associate member in football beginning with the 2019 football season. Buffalo State will become the Liberty League's seventh football member, assuring that the league will retain its automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
 
"I am pleased to announce that Buffalo State has agreed to join the Liberty League as a football associate member," said Liberty League commissioner Tracy King. "This move is being made with the support and cooperation of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference and ensures that both conferences will continue to maintain access to the Division III football playoffs. I would like to thank Buffalo State athletics director Jerry Boyes and Empire 8 commissioner Chuck Mitrano for their support and foresight in making this partnership happen. This is a win for New York football student-athletes."
 
In addition to Buffalo State joining the league in 2019, the Liberty League and Empire 8 have reached a scheduling agreement that includes crossover games between the two conferences during a four-year period from 2019 to 2022. The conferences earlier announced a postseason bowl game in which the top team from each conference not selected for the NCAA playoffs will participate. The inaugural game will be held at the conclusion of the current season.
 
The move for Buffalo State ensures a 10-game schedule each season within New York State.  The Bengals' schedule will include six conference games annually against Liberty League opponents Hobart, Ithaca, Union, Rochester, St. Lawrence and  RPI.  The remaining four contests will be non-conference games against teams from the Empire 8, allowing Buffalo State to maintain its traditional rivalries with Brockport and Cortland.
 
"We are extremely excited to be joining the Liberty League," Boyes said.  "This move allows us to stabilize Division III football in New York State as well as guarantee our program a consistent and competitive 10-game schedule while preserving our long-standing rivalries."
 
The Liberty League will be Buffalo State's fourth conference affiliation in football.  The Bengals competed as an independent from the program's inception in 1981 until in joined the Atlantic Central Football Conference in 2004.  Buffalo State was an affiliate member in the New Jersey Athletic Conference from 2006 – 2011, and joined the Empire 8 in 2012.