Illinois State, Southern Add Future FBS Opponents

The Illinois State Redbirds (MVFC) and Southern Jaguars (SWAC) have added future games against FBS opponents.

Southern will face Houston (Big 12) on Saturday, September 12, 2026, according to Houston’s press release. The two teams met in 2008 and 2013 with Houston winning both matchups. Southern only has one known FBS opponent on its future schedule: Fresno State (Mountain West) on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Houston is slated to take on Stephen F. Austin (Southland) this season and faces another SWAC opponent in Prairie View A&M during the 2027 season.

The other newly announced game is Illinois State at Northwestern (Big Ten) on Saturday, August 31, 2030. The two teams have met twice before with each team coming away victorious. Northwestern won the first matchup 37-3 in 2010 but Illinois State pulled the shocker in 2016 after doinking in a game-winning field goal as time expired to win 9-7.

Illinois State has an FBS opponent scheduled through the end of decade, along with the Northwestern game in 2030. The Redbirds will play at Oklahoma (SEC) in 2025, Northern Illinois (Mountain West) in 2026, Missouri (SEC) in 2027, Illinois (Big Ten) in 2028, and Wisconsin (Big Ten) in 2029. Northwestern will take on Western Illinois (OVC-Big South) in 2025 and South Dakota State (MVFC) in 2026.

In case you forgot what happened the last time we played the Wildcats😉 https://t.co/UYaLd5cJ1U pic.twitter.com/tJFSVocCiA

— Illinois State Football (@RedbirdFB) April 25, 2025

Photo Credit to Illinois State University Athletics