Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) was a single-sport athletic conference that competed in football in the NCAA's Division III. It began play as CCC Football in 2017 after the New England Football Conference (NEFC) was renamed following the 2016 season. CCC Football was administered by the Commonwealth Coast Conference.
The conference competed under the NEFC banner from 1965 through the 2016 season. Member teams are located in New England.
Before an NEFC conference split that took effect with the 2013 season, the NEFC was divided into the Boyd Division and the Bogan Division, with the division champions competing in Division III football's only season-ending conference championship game.
After the 2012 season, the NEFC split, with the seven Massachusetts state institutions and Plymouth State playing in the MASCAC for football. The conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs continued to be held by the eight remaining members: Curry, Endicott, Maine Maritime, MIT, Nichols, Salve Regina, Coast Guard, and Western New England. In the 12 seasons the NEFC hosted a championship game between its two division winners, these remaining eight members accounted for 16 of the 24 championship game participants and 8 of 12 conference champions.
The decision to rename the NEFC was made in October 2015, as the Commonwealth Coast Conference announced that it would add football by effectively absorbing the NEFC as a single-sport conference known as Commonwealth Coast Football, starting with the 2017–18 school year. Accordingly, the 2016 season was the last for the NEFC under its long-standing name and acronym.
The CCC and Commonwealth Coast Football unveiled a new family of logos during a June 2019 visual rebrand.
Due to changes in NCAA Division III legislation regarding the number of members required for a conference to receive an automatic qualifier (AQ), football was incorporated into the multi-sport Commonwealth Coast Conference in 2022, eliminating the need for the football-only league.
NEFC and CCC Football Membership evolution
1965 – The New England Football Conference is founded by charter members Curry, Bridgewater State and Maine Maritime.
1971 – Plymouth State and New England College become conference members.
1972 – Nichols College and Boston State become conference members.
1972 – New England College suspends football program following '72 season; Mass. Maritime Academy becomes conference member.
1973 – Framingham State and New Haven become conference members.
1979 – Western Connecticut State becomes conference member.
1981 – Western New England College becomes conference member.
1981 – New Haven leaves conference, moves to Division II.
1981 – Boston State suspends football program following '81 season.
1982 – Westfield State becomes conference member.
1985 – Fitchburg State and Worcester State become conference members.
1985 – Western Connecticut leaves conference to pursue independent schedule.
1987 – UMass Lowell becomes conference member in 1987, initiating a split into two six-team divisions with divisional winners meeting in championship playoff game.
1988 – UMass Boston and UMass Dartmouth become conference members.
1988 – Western New England leaves conference following '88 season.
1992 – Plymouth State and UMass Lowell join the Freedom Football Conference; Curry and Nichols join the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference.
1992 – The conference now numbers nine colleges that play a round robin schedule.
1997 – Five new members begin conference play in 1998: Curry, Nichols, MIT, Salve Regina and WNEC. The 14-team conference had two 7-team divisions.
1999 – Bridgewater State (10–0) receives first automatic qualification to NCAA playoffs.
2000 – The first Championship game in the 14-team Conference is scheduled. Wal*Mart agrees to sponsor the game. The Divisions are renamed with the Red being the Bogan Division and the Blue becoming the Boyd Division named after the NEFC's first two commissioners. Bridgewater State defeats Salve Regina 27–24 for the championship. UMass Boston drops football.
2001 – The Bogan Division plays with only six teams while the Boyd continues with seven. Endicott College begins a football program and is admitted into the Boyd Division beginning with the 2003 season.
2004 – A Most Valuable Player Award is established for the NEFC Championship Game and is named the William Mottola Award in honor of the long-time conference commissioner.