The Atlantic Central Football Conference was formed in the fall of 1997 and began play officially in 1998. The ACFC is a football-only league, competing among the NCAA Division III ranks within the South Region.

The league's inaugural membership included six previous football-independents: Chowan College and Methodist College in North Carolina, Frostburg State University and Salisbury University in Maryland, Wesley College in Delaware and Ferrum College in Virginia. Greensboro (N.C.) College joined the ACFC in the spring of 1999.

Although no official champion was crowned in 1998 due to scheduling difficulties, Wesley finished undefeated in league play in the first year with a 7-3 overall record and 3-0 in the ACFC. In 1999, Frostburg State claimed the ACFC title with a 5-1 mark against league teams. The Bobcats finished 8-3 overall. Ferrum and Wesley shared second place with 6-4 overall records and 4-2 marks in league play.

The 2000 season saw Wesley claim its second conference title with a 6-0 mark. The Wolverines were 8-2 overall and advanced to the NCAA South Regionals. Ferrum and Methodist tied for second place with 4-2 conference marks and 7-3 overall records.

In 2001, Wesley claimed the conference title again with a 3-0 record. They qualified for the ECAC Southwest Bowl where they fell to Albright College. Frostburg State was second with a 2-1 league record and a 5-4 overall mark.

The 2002 season saw all four teams finish with .500 or better records. Frostburg State claimed its second ACFC title finishing with a 3-0 league mark and a 6-5 overall record. They qualified for the ECAC Southwest Bowl where they lost to Johns Hopkins 24-21. Salisbury was second with a 2-1 league mark and a 9-1 overall record. The Seagulls earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Playoffs where they lost to King's College 28-0.

Frostburg State repeated its undefeated run through the ACFC in 2003 where they finished 3-0 in the conference and 4-5 overall to claim its second straight crown and third in five years. Salisbury started the year with seven straight wins and finished second in the conference with a 2-1 mark and a 7-2 overall record.

Expansion hit the ACFC in 2004 as two New York schools joined the Atlantic Central Football Conference - Buffalo State College and SUNY Brockport. The ACFC crown stayed in the state of Maryland in 2004 where it shifted to the Eastern Shore as the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University opened the season with 10 straight wins to claim an undefeated regular season. Salisbury lost a heart-breaker to Christopher Newport in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Wesley College finished second with a 4-1 conference mark and an 8-2 overall record.

In 2005 and 2006, the Wesley Wolverines have carried the ACFC banner deep into the NCAA Division III Playoffs winning the South Region title in each season and advancing to the national semifinals.  Wesley went 12-2 in 2005 and 13-1 in 2006.

The Wolverines made it three straight ACFC titles by going 4-0 in the 2007 season.  Wesley advanced to the NCAA Division III South Region finals for the third straight year before falling to Mary Hardin-Baylor.

In 2008 the Wolverines' streak of conference championships hit four as they went 3-0 in the league and 9-2 overall.  Salisbury also went 9-2 overall and took second with a 2-1 record.  Both teams advanced to post-season action where Salisbury won an ECAC Bowl game and Wesley advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 2009 season saw Wesley College win the conference crown for the fifth year in a row and advance to the NCAA semifinals.  The Wolverines went 13-1 overall and were 3-0 in the conference.  Salisbury also advanced to an ECAC Bowl game and finished with a 5-6 record.

* = 3 wins later forfeited