Tennessee State Adds 4 Future FBS Opponents, Western Illinois to Face Wyoming in 2029

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 Volunteers (SEC) in 2027, the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (C-USA) in 2028, and the Vanderbilt Commodores (SEC) in 2029. The dates are being finalized. Tennessee State is hoping the game against the Volunteers will take place at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, instead of at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

Tennessee State does not have any other future FBS teams announced, and the Tigers are not playing an FBS opponent in 2025. Tennessee State had faced an FBS opponent annually since 2016, except for the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season.

The Western Illinois Leathernecks (MVFC) will play at the Wyoming Cowboys (Mountain West) on Saturday, September 1, 2029, per FBSchedules. WIU will receive $450,000 for the contest, which will be the first football meeting between the two programs. WIU now has six FBS opponents lined up through the 2029 season: Illinois (Big Ten) and Northwestern (Big Ten) in 2025, Wisconsin (Big Ten) in 2026, Oklahoma State (Big 12) in 2027, Purdue (Big Ten) in 2028, and Wyoming in 2029.

As for Wyoming, they now have an FCS opponent scheduled each season through 2032, except for the 2031 campaign. The Cowboys will face Northern Iowa (MVFC) in 2025, Northern Colorado (Big Sky) in 2026 and 2030, Southern Utah (Big Sky) in 2027, Idaho State (Big Sky) in 2028, Western Illinois in 2029, and Cal Poly (Big Sky) in 2032.

A full list of all future FCS versus FBS games through the 2034 season can be found here.

Photo Credit to Tennessee State University Athletics