The NCAA Division I Council has voted to allow the FCS to have up to 12 regular season games each year, beginning with the 2026 season. FCS teams were previously permitted to play a maximum of 11 regular season contests unless there were 14 Saturdays between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. The 2024 and 2025 seasons fell under that bylaw and allowed FCS teams to schedule 12 regular season games.
The 12-game maximum will fall in line with the FBS but with one key distinction: FCS programs will start their season in Week 0 while most FBS teams will begin playing on Labor Day weekend. However, there have been discussions that the FBS may also move its Week 0 to align with the new FCS policy. The FCS playoffs begin on Thanksgiving weekend, necessitating an earlier start to accommodate a 12-game schedule. For the 2026 season, FCS teams can schedule games as early as Thursday, August 27.
Will more FCS teams schedule FBS opponents with the extra game and see a new record number of matchups? Will they opt to schedule more FCS opponents instead to bolster the playoff résumé? Maybe go for some regional opponents or develop new rivalries? Use the extra week as a bye? Will there be an increase in the number of non-Division I opponents?
The broader impact on the scheduling philosophy of FCS teams is uncertain, but some conferences have publicly stated how they will allocate the extra game.
The Southland Conference plans to use the extra game to add a conference matchup, giving them a full 9-game round robin starting in 2026. The 8-game conference schedule allowed schools to schedule three non-conference games, including a “buy game” against an FBS opponent. However, the scheduling quirks would lead to top teams not facing each other, such as Incarnate Word and McNeese in the upcoming 2025 season. The Patriot League will also utilize a 9-game round robin schedule starting in 2026 after adding three CAA members.
Photo Credit to NCAA / NCAA Photos
