Another season, another record number of FCS versus FBS matchups. 125 FCS versus FBS games are scheduled for 2025, currently four more than the previous record of 121 set in 2024. The last five seasons from 2021 through 2025 have featured the five highest number of FCS-FBS matchups since the NCAA Division I split into I-A (FBS) and I-AA (FCS) subdivisions in 1978. Only two seasons in the last decade have featured fewer than 100 matchups: 2017 when 98 matchups were played and 2020 when only 36 games took place over the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021 (over 110 FCS-FBS matchups were scheduled before cancellations).
Of the 128 FCS programs for the 2025 season, 94 schools will play at least one FBS team in 2025. 64 will play one FBS opponent, 29 will play two FBS foes, and one team (UT Martin courtesy of Missouri State moving to Conference USA) will play three FBS teams. A full breakdown of matchups by FCS and FBS conferences can be found at the bottom of the page. There are currently no week zero FCS-FBS matchups scheduled while week one has “only” 45 games, noticeably lower than the record of 59 opening week games in 2024.
The Ivy League and Pioneer Football League are not scheduled to play any FBS opponents in 2025. In addition to the 19 combined teams from the Ivy League and PFL without an FBS opponent, 15 other FCS programs do not have an FBS team lined up for 2025: Georgetown (Patriot) Hampton (MEAC), Lehigh (Patriot), Mercyhurst (NEC), Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), Montana (Big Sky), North Dakota State (MVFC), Sacred Heart (Independent), South Dakota State (MVFC), Southern Utah (UAC), Stonehill (NEC), Tennessee State (OVC-Big South), Utah Tech (UAC), UTRGV (Southland), and West Georgia (UAC). The list could change as schedules are finalized.
Every FBS conference is slated to face at least one FCS program and 11 FBS teams are not scheduled to play against an FCS opponent in 2025: Colorado (Big 12), Florida International (C-USA), Michigan (Big Ten), Notre Dame (Independent), Sam Houston State (C-USA), Stanford (ACC), Texas (SEC), Tulane (American), UCLA (Big Ten), USC (Big Ten), and Wisconsin (Big Ten). That number could change as schedules are finalized for the 2025 season.
The interactive chart below shows the number of games, FCS wins, yearly win percentage, and running win percentage for each season since 1978. The second table shows each conference’s (in alphabetical order) number of matchups and a list of all said matchups. The main table with all the 2025 FCS-FBS matchups can be found here. The table will be updated as the 2025 season unfolds to reflect any changes to kickoff dates, times, television broadcasts, and scores. Please note that all kickoff times will be listed in Eastern Time.
Photo Credit to UT Martin Athletics
