NEW YORK — Fordham will award football scholarships next year for the first time since 1954, hoping to compete with the top schools in its division.

The Football Championship Subdivision school announced the change Friday.
Fordham is a member of the Patriot League, which does not offer football scholarships. From 2010 through at least 2012, the Rams will play the conference’s schedule but will not be eligible for its automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Fordham will still be able to earn an at-large bid.
The school hopes to upgrade its nonconference schedule once it begins offering 60 scholarships. Fordham has already scheduled games with Connecticut in 2011, Navy and Villanova in 2012 and Army in 2014 and 2015.