For the first time, I was invited to vote in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 for the 2025 season. I was beyond thrilled to accept the invitation, and like many others, I take the opportunity seriously. As part of the weekly process, I will provide some thoughts and reasoning for my top 25. Below…
For the second straight season, there will be a record number of FCS versus FBS games with 126 matchups scheduled for the 2025 season. That means the FCS will have plenty of chances at defeating the FBS, but it also allows for more FCS teams to get exposure against their FBS counterparts. This will be…
The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles will move from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Southern Conference beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Tennessee Tech plays football in the OVC-Big South Football Association. The Golden Eagles joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 1949. Tennessee Tech won or shared 9 OVC football titles between 1952 and 1975….
The North Alabama Lions (UAC) and Western Illinois Leathernecks (OVC-Big South) have added future games against FBS opponents, while the McNeese Cowboys (Southland) will face an NAIA opponent in 2026. North Alabama has added a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks (SEC) for Saturday, September 5, 2026, according to Whole Hog Sports. It will be the…
The Sacred Heart Pioneers will join the Coastal Athletic Association as a football-only member beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Sacred Heart spent the 2024 season as an FCS independent and will do so again for the 2025 campaign. The addition of Sacred Heart will put the CAA at 13 football teams and underscores a…
The Tennessee State Tigers (OVC-Big South) have added four future FBS teams for the 2026 through 2029 seasons, according to The Tennessean. Three of those teams will be SEC opponents, while three will be in-state foes. TSU athletic director Mikki Allen confirmed that the Tigers will face the Georgia Bulldogs (SEC) in 2026, the Tennessee…
The Idaho State Bengals (Big Sky) are looking to keep head coach Cody Hawkins in Pocatello through the end of the decade. The school announced a five-year extension through the 2030 season with a base salary of $230,000 annually. Hawkins was hired in late 2022 to replace Charlie Ragle. Ragle spent one season with Idaho…
Three FCS teams have added future games against the FBS, starting with Southeast Missouri State (OVC-Big South). The Redhawks will play at the Kansas Jayhawks (Big 12) in week one of the 2027 season, although a date hasn’t been set according to FBSchedules. Kansas previously defeated SEMO in 2014 and 2017 in the only previous…
Five FCS schools from three different FCS conferences have added an FBS opponent for the 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons. Over 430 future FCS-FBS games are scheduled for the 2025 through 2034 season. A full list of those matchups can be found here. The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (NEC) have added the Toledo…
A pair of FCS teams added an FBS opponent at the end of the decade, starting with the Eastern Illinois Panthers (OVC-Big South). EIU will play at the Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten) on Saturday, September 8, 2029, according to FBSchedules. The Panthers will receive $550,000 for the matchup. EIU and Indiana have met once before…
