The Big Ten Conference released its schedule for the 2025 season and two new FCS versus FBS matchups were revealed.
The Norfolk State Spartans (MEAC) will play at the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Rutgers is 4-0 all-time in the series with all four previous matchups occurring between 2007 and 2015. Rutgers has won by an average score of 48-3. The Spartans have future FBS games against Old Dominion (2026 and 2027), Virginia (2026), Wake Forest (2029), Miami (OH) (2029), East Carolina (2030), and James Madison (2030).
The Western Illinois Leathernecks (Big South-OVC) will stay in the Land of Lincoln to play at the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, September 6, 2025. It will be the second matchup between the schools following the 2014 season when the Wildcats won 24-7. WIU also faces Illinois in 2025 in the season opener on Saturday, August 30. It is the second straight year WIU has two FBS teams on its schedule. Other future FBS opponents for the Leathernecks include Wisconsin (2026), Oklahoma State (2027), and Purdue (2028).
There are now 114 FCS-FBS matchups scheduled for the 2025 season, which is 7 away from tying the record set in 2024. A full listing of all future FCS-FBS games can be found here.
Photo Credit to Western Illinois University Athletics
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