North Alabama, Western Illinois Add Future FBS Opponents; McNeese Adds NAIA Foe in 2026

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 first matchup between the schools in football. UNA is also slated to face the Georgia Southern Eagles (Sun Belt) the same day, but it’s not known if that game has been canceled or moved to a different date. Georgia Southern’s website still shows the September 5 game versus North Alabama.

UNA will take on numerous FBS opponents over the next five seasons. The Lions will face Western Kentucky (C-USA) in 2025, Arkansas (SEC) in 2026, Middle Tennessee (C-USA) and North Carolina (ACC) in 2027, Auburn (SEC) and Mississippi State (SEC) in 2028, and North Texas (American) in 2029. Arkansas only has two future FCS opponents scheduled, with Alabama A&M (SWAC) in 2025 and now North Alabama (UAC) in 2026.

WIU to Face Northwestern in 2031

Western Illinois will face an in-state FBS foe in 2031, per FBSchedules. The Leathernecks will play at Northwestern (Big Ten) on Saturday, August 30, 2031, and will receive $525,000 for the contest. It will be only the third matchup between the schools following Northwestern’s 24-7 victory in 2014 and this season’s matchup on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

WIU will take on future FBS opponents in Illinois (Big Ten) and Northwestern in 2025, Wisconsin (Big Ten) in 2026, Oklahoma State (Big 12) in 2027, Purdue (Big Ten) in 2028, Wyoming (Mountain West) in 2029, and Northwestern again in 2031. Northwestern has South Dakota State (MVFC) in 2026 and Illinois State (MVFC) in 2030 scheduled, in addition to the two games against WIU in 2025 and 2031. A full list of future FCS versus FBS games can be found here.

McNeese Adds Texas Wesleyan

The McNeese Cowboys will welcome the Texas Wesleyan Rams to Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Saturday, September 5, 2026, per the school’s athletic website and first reported by FBSchedules. It will be the first matchup between the schools in football. Texas Wesleyan is a member of the NAIA’s Sooner Athletic Conference. The addition of Texas Wesleyan will give McNeese an NAIA opponent for at least three straight seasons. The Cowboys will face another Sooner Athletic Conference opponent in Louisiana Christian in 2025 and 2027.

Photo Credit to Western Illinois University Athletics