FCS Teams Set Numerous Matchups for 2025, 2026, and 2027 Seasons

Abilene Christian has added two games to its 2025 schedule as reported by FBSchedules. The Wildcats (United Athletic) will face off against Tulsa (American Athletic) on Saturday, August 30, and Incarnate Word (Southland) four weeks later on Saturday, September 27. ACU has never faced Tulsa in football and they own a 7-5 lead over UIW in the all-time series dating back to 2010.

Also adding an FBS opponent for the 2025 season is Central Arkansas (United Athletic). They will open the season against Missouri from the SEC on Saturday, August 30, 2025. UCA will receive $500,000 for the game which is ostensibly a rescheduled contest from the 2020 season when the two programs were set to play but the game was canceled. The two teams have not previously met in football.

VMI (SoCon) will play host against Ferrum College on Saturday, September 6, 2025, per FBSchedules. Ferrum is currently a member of the NCAA Division III Old Dominion Athletic Conference but is moving up to NCAA Division II to join Conference Carolinas starting with the 2025-26 academic year. VMI’s records do not show the two schools as having played football previously while Ferrum’s records have the all-time series at 2-1-2 in favor of VMI.

VMI’s previously scheduled game against Virginia Wise for September 6, 2025, has now been moved to Saturday, September 7, 2030. UVA Wise is a member of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference and both schools’ records indicate they’ve never met in football. With the two changes made by VMI, there are now 8 known games between FCS schools and non-Division I opponents for the 2025 season. In addition, the 2030 matchup is currently the latest known date for a matchup between the FCS and non-Division I opponents.

Rounding out the FBS opponent additions for 2025 is Stephen F. Austin (Southland), which will play Houston (Big 12). The Lumberjacks were previously set to face Kansas (Big 12) on Saturday, August 30, but that game appears to have been canceled or moved to a new undisclosed date. SFA and Houston will now square off on August 30 and the Lumberjacks will receive $400,000 for the game. The two teams have not met in football.

Howard (MEAC) has also set a future FBS opponent. Howard will play against Rutgers (Big Ten) on Saturday, September 19, 2026, according to FBSchedules. Howard will receive $475,000 for the contest. The two schools will face off to start the 2024 season on Thursday, August 29 for the sixth matchup of all time. Rutgers has won all five games played so far.

Prairie View A&M (SWAC) and Houston also set a matchup for Saturday, September 11, 2027. The Panthers will receive $425,000 for the game in what is set to be the second meeting between the schools. Houston won the first matchup 37-17 in 2019. A full list of all future FCS versus FBS matchups, including the 102 for 2025, 84 for 2026, and 61 for 2027 can be found here.

Photo Credit to Howard University Athletics