It was a busy week with several FCS conferences announcing their 2024 conference schedule. As a result, many schools released the entirety of their 2024 schedules including date changes and previously unknown FCS-FBS matchups. Below is a run-down of those changes with a table at the end of the article summarizing the changes.
Delaware and Delaware State have agreed to change the upcoming matchups for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The two schools will not meet in 2024 with Delaware State originally slated to host the game in Dover. Instead, the matchup will be moved to Thursday, August 28, 2025, and Delaware will host in Newark as the Blue Hens join the FBS. The press release stated both schools are committed to playing against one another even with Delaware’s move to Conference USA. The two schools have future matchups scheduled for 2026, 2027, and 2028 but specific dates have not been announced for those contests.
Eastern Kentucky has scheduled Appalachian State for a 2025 matchup on Saturday, September 13. It will be the first matchup between the teams since Appalachian State left the FCS and joined the Sun Belt in 2014. The Colonels now have two FBS opponents scheduled for 2025 as they will play Louisville to start the season. EKU also has future FBS opponents in Mississippi State (2024), Western Kentucky (2024), Ole Miss (2026), and Wake Forest (2027).
Eastern Illinois and Northwestern are scheduled to meet in 2024 according to EIU’s press release for the Big South-OVC schedule. The two teams have met twice since 1978 with Northwestern winning in 2011 (42-21) and 2015 (41-0). The Panthers will also face off against Illinois in 2024. EIU is 0-9 against Big Ten foes since the Division 1 split in 1978.
Monmouth and Florida International will play each other on Saturday, September 21, 2024. It will be the first meeting between the schools and will be Monmouth’s 7th game all-time against an FBS opponent (0-6). Monmouth has future FCS games against Charlotte (2025), Western Michigan (2026), and Central Michigan (2027).
Two previously scheduled 2024 contests have new dates. North Carolina A&T’s game at Wake Forest has been moved from Saturday, August 31 to Thursday, August 29. Meanwhile, Elon’s game versus Duke has been moved from Saturday, August 31 to Friday, August 30. Speaking of Wake Forest, they announced two new matchups against CAA opponents. The Demon Deacons are slated to play Campbell on Thursday, September 2, 2027, and Elon will on Thursday, August 31, 2028.
With these changes, there are now 113 FCS-FBS games scheduled for 2024 and 96 scheduled for 2025. A list of future FCS versus FBS games through the 2034 season can be found here.
| FCS Team | FBS Team | Year(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State | Delaware | 2024 and 2025 | 2024 game moved to 2025 Game moved from Dover to Newark |
| Eastern Illinois | Northwestern | 2024 | New matchup announced |
| Elon | Duke | 2024 | Date changed from 8/31 to 8/30 |
| Monmouth | Florida International | 2024 | New matchup announced |
| North Carolina A&T | Wake Forest | 2024 | Date changed from 8/31 to 8/29 |
| Eastern Kentucky | Appaalchian State | 2025 | New matchup announced |
| Campbell | Wake Forest | 2027 | New matchup announced |
| Elon | Wake Forest | 2028 | New matchup announced |
Photo Credit to University of Delaware Athletics
