With the 24-team FCS playoff bracket back this fall after a reduced 16-team field in the spring, along with non-conference games, the classic strength of schedule argument ramps back up as well.
Who you play matters. More importantly, who you beat matters. A 10-1 team doesn’t have a definitive argument to be seeded ahead of a 9-2 team. And an 8-3 team doesn’t have a definitive argument to get an at-large bid over a 7-4 team.
Strong schedules can be a blessing, as we’ve seen some 6-5 teams make the bracket. It can also be a curse, as we’ve seen preseason Top 10 teams start 0-2 after playing an FBS opponent and a highly-ranked FCS opponent.
The preseason Top 25 teams are all playoff hopefuls. How do their schedules stack up against each other? Let’s rank the schedules within the ranked teams.
NOTES:
- Only includes teams ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25
- Rankings are subjective with no set formula. It takes into account overall schedule while noting games against FBS opponents, Top 25 FCS opponents, recent playoff teams, road games vs. home games, and non-D1 opponents
- Rankings are from easiest to hardest
25. Austin Peay (Preseason Ranked No. 20)
Schedule: @ Chattanooga, @ Ole Miss, vs. Morehead State, @ EKU, vs. Tennessee State, vs. SEMO, @ Murray State, @ UT Martin, vs. Eastern Illinois, @ Tennessee State, vs. Tennessee Tech
FBS opponents: 1 (Ole Miss)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 1 (@ No. 18 Chattanooga)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 1 (vs. SEMO)
Non-counter games: 0
24. Southeastern Louisiana University (Preseason Ranked No. 15)
Schedule: vs. North Alabama, @ Louisiana Tech, @ CCSU, vs. NW State, @ McNeese, @ Nicholls, vs. HBU, @ NW State, vs. McNeese, @ UIW, vs. Nicholls
FBS opponents: 1 (Louisiana Tech)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (@ No. 22 Nicholls, vs. No. 22 Nicholls)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (@ CCSU, @ Nicholls, vs. Nicholls)
Non-counter games: 0
23. VMI (Preseason Ranked No. 17)
Schedule: vs. Davidson, @ Kent State, @ Cornell, vs. Wofford, @ The Citadel, vs. Chattanooga, @ Mercer, vs. Samford, @ ETSU, @ Furman, vs. WCU
FBS opponents: 1 (Kent State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 1 (vs. No. 18 Chattanooga)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (vs. Davidson, vs. Wofford, @ Furman)
Non-counter games: 0
22. Chattanooga (Preseason Ranked No. 18)
Schedule: vs. Austin Peay, @ North Alabama, @ Kentucky, vs. WCU, @ VMI, vs. ETSU, @ Samford, vs. Furman, @ Wofford, @ Mercer, vs. The Citadel
FBS opponents: 1 (Kentucky)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (vs. No. 20 Austin Peay, @ No. 17 VMI)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 4 (vs. Austin Peay, @ VMI, vs. Furman, @ Wofford)
Non-counter games: 0
21. Sam Houston (Preseason Ranked No. 1)
Schedule: @ NAU, vs. SEMO, @ UCA, vs. SFA, vs. Lamar, vs. Jacksonville State, @ Tarleton, vs. Dixie State, vs. EKU, @ ACU
FBS opponents: 0
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (@ No. 14 UCA, vs. No. 10 Jacksonville State)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (vs. SEMO, @ UCA, vs. Jacksonville State)
Non-counter games: 0
20. Monmouth (Preseason Ranked No. 13)
Schedule: @ Middle Tennessee, @ Fordham @ Charleston Southern, vs. Holy Cross, vs. Gardner-Webb, vs. Princeton, @ Campbell, @ NC A&T, vs. North Alabama, vs. Robert Morris, @ Kennesaw State
FBS opponents: 1 (Middle Tennessee)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (@ No. 15 NC A&T, @ No. 19 Kennesaw State)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 2 (vs. Holy Cross, @ Kennesaw State)
Non-counter games: 0
19. Nicholls (Preseason Ranked No. 22)
Schedule: @ Memphis, @ Louisiana, vs. North Alabama, vs. HBU, vs. SLU, @ UIW, @ HBU, vs. NW State, @ McNeese, vs. UIW, @ SLU
FBS opponents: 2 (Memphis, Louisiana)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (vs. No. 15 SLU, @ No. 15 SLU)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 2 (vs. SLU, @ SLU)
Non-counter games: 0
18. Kennesaw State (Preseason Ranked No. 19)
Schedule: vs. Reinhardt, @ Georgia Tech, @ Wofford, vs. Jacksonville State, @ Hampton, vs. NC A&T, @ Campbell, vs. Gardner-Webb, @ Robert Morris, @ North Alabama, vs. Monmouth
FBS opponents: 1 (Georgia Tech)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 3 (vs. No. 10 Jacksonville State, vs. No. 25 NC A&T, vs. No. 13 Monmouth)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (@ Wofford, vs. Jacksonville State, vs. Monmouth)
Non-counter games: 1 (Reinhardt)
17. North Carolina A&T (Preseason Ranked No. 25)
Schedule: @ Furman, @ Duke, vs. North Carolina Central, vs. Robert Morris, vs. North Alabama, @ Kennesaw State, @ Hampton, vs. Monmouth, @ Charleston Southern, @ South Carolina State, vs. Gardner-Webb
FBS opponents: 1 (Duke)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (@ No. 19 Kennesaw State, vs. No. 13 Monmouth)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (@ Furman, @ Kennesaw State, vs. Monmouth)
Non-counter games: 0
16. Delaware (Preseason Ranked No. 5)
Schedule: @ Maine, vs. Saint Francis, @ Rutgers, vs. Albany, @ Rhode Island, @ Stony Brook, vs. JMU, vs. Dixie State, vs. William & Mary, @ Richmond, vs. Villanova
FBS opponents: 1 (Rutgers)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (vs. No. 2 JMU, vs. No. 16 Villanova)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (vs. Albany, vs. JMU, vs. Villanova)
Non-counter games: 0
15. UC Davis (Preseason Ranked No. 23)
Schedule: @ Tulsa, @ San Diego, vs. Dixie State, @ Weber State, vs. Idaho, @ Idaho State, vs. Northern Colorado, @ Cal Poly, @ NAU, vs. EWU, vs. Sac State
FBS opponents: 1 (Tulsa)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (@ No. 6 Weber State, vs. No. 11 EWU)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 4 (@ San Diego, @ Weber State, vs. EWU, vs. Sac State)
Non-counter games: 0
14. Central Arkansas (Preseason Ranked No. 14)
Schedule: @ Arkansas State, @ Missouri State, vs. UAPB, vs. SHSU, @ ACU, vs. EKU, @ Lamar, @ Jacksonville State, vs. Texas Wesleyan, vs. SFA, @ Tarleton State
FBS opponents: 1 (Arkansas State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 3 (@ No. 24 Missouri State, vs. No. 1 SHSU, @ No. 10 Jacksonville State)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (@ Missouri State, vs. SHSU, @ Jacksonville State)
Non-counter games: 1 (Texas Wesleyan)
13. Montana (Preseason Ranked No. 9)
Schedule: @ Washington, vs. WIU, vs. Cal Poly, @ EWU, vs. Dixie State, vs. Sac State, @ Idaho, vs. SUU, @ Northern Colorado, @ NAU, vs. Montana State
FBS opponents: 1 (Washington)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 2 (@ No. 11 EWU, vs. No. 12 Montana State)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (@ EWU, vs. Sac State, vs. Montana State)
Non-counter games: 0
12. Eastern Washington (Preseason Ranked No. 11)
Schedule: @ UNLV, vs. Central Washington, @ WIU, @ SUU, vs. Montana, @ Northern Colorado, vs. Idaho, vs. Weber State, vs. Montana State, @ UC Davis, @ Portland State
FBS opponents: 1 (UNLV)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 4 (vs. No. 9 Montana, vs. No. 6 Weber State, vs. No. 12 Montana State, @ No. 23 UC Davis
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (vs. Montana, vs. Weber State, vs. Montana State)
Non-counter games: 1 (Central Washington)
11. North Dakota State (Preseason Ranked No. 4)
Schedule: vs. Albany, vs. Valpo, @ Towson, @ UND, vs. UNI, @ Illinois State, vs. Missouri State, vs. Indiana State, @ SDSU, @ YSU, vs. USD
FBS opponents: 0
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 4 (@ No. 8 UND, vs. No. 21 UNI, vs. No. 24 Missouri State, @ No. 3 SDSU)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 6 (vs. Albany, @ UND, vs. UNI, @ Illinois State, vs. Missouri State, @ SDSU)
Non-counter games: 0
10. James Madison (Preseason Ranked No. 2)
Schedule: vs. Morehead State, vs. Maine, @ Weber State, @ UNH, vs. Villanova, @ Richmond, @ Delaware, vs. Elon, vs. Campbell, @ William & Mary, vs. Towson
FBS opponents: 0
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 3 (@ No. 6 Weber State, vs. No. 16 Villanova, @ No. 5 Delaware)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (@ Weber State, vs. Villanova, @ Delaware)
Non-counter games: 0
9. South Dakota State (Preseason Ranked No. 3)
Schedule: @ Colorado State, vs. Lindenwood, @ Indiana State, vs. Dixie State, vs. SIU, @ WIU, vs. UNI, @ YSU, vs. NDSU, @ USD, vs. UND
FBS opponents: 1 (Colorado State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 4 (vs. No. 7 SIU, vs. No. 21 UNI, vs. No. 4 NDSU, vs. No 8 UND)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 4 (vs. SIU, vs. UNI, vs. NDSU, vs. UND)
Non-counter games: 1 (Lindenwood)
8. Montana State (Preseason Ranked No. 12)
Schedule: @ Wyoming, vs. Drake, vs. San Diego, @ Portland State, vs. Northern Colorado, vs. Cal Poly, @ Weber State, vs. Idaho State, @ EWU, vs. Idaho, @ Montana
FBS opponents: 1 (Wyoming)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 3 (@ No. 6 Weber State, @ No. 11 EWU, @ No. 9 Montana)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 4 (vs. San Diego, @ Weber State, @ EWU, @ Montana)
Non-counter games: 0
7. Villanova (Preseason Ranked No. 16)
Schedule: @ Lehigh, vs. Bucknell, vs. Richmond, @ Penn State, @ JMU, @ Albany, vs. Rhode Island, vs. W&M, @ Elon, vs. Stony Brook, @ Delaware
FBS opponents: 1 (Penn State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: (@ No. 2 JMU, @ No. 5 Delaware)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (@ JMU, @ Albany, @ Delaware)
Non-counter games: 0
6. Weber State (Preseason Ranked No. 6)
Schedule: @ Utah, @ Dixie State, vs. JMU, vs. UC Davis, @ Cal Poly, vs. Montana State, @ EWU, @ Idaho State, vs. Portland State, @ SUU, vs. Northern Colorado
FBS opponents: 1 (Utah)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 4 (vs. No. 2 JMU, vs. No. 23 UC Davis, vs. No. 12 Montana State, @ No. 11 EWU)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 (vs. JMU, vs. Montana State, @ EWU)
Non-counter games: 0
5. Jacksonville State (Preseason Ranked No. 10)
Schedule: vs. UAB, @ Florida State, vs. North Alabama, vs. UT Martin, @ Kennesaw State, vs. SFA, @ SHSU, vs. UCA, vs. ACU, @ Lamar, @ EKU
FBS opponents: 2 (UAB, Florida State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 3 (@ No. 19 Kennesaw State, @ No. 1 SHSU, vs. No. 14 UCA)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 3 ( @ Kennesaw State, @ SHSU, vs. UCA)
Non-counter games: 0
4. Southern Illinois (Preseason Ranked No. 7)
Schedule: @ SEMO, @ Kansas State, vs. Dayton, vs. Illinois State, @ WIU, @ SDSU, vs. UND, @ UNI, vs. Missouri State, @ Indiana State, vs. YSU
FBS opponents: 1 (Kansas State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 4 (@ No. 3 SDSU, vs. No. 8 UND, @ No. 21 UNI, vs. No. 24 Missouri State)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 6 (@ SEMO, vs. Illinois State, @ SDSU, vs. UND, @ UNI, vs. Missouri State)
Non-counter games: 0
3. North Dakota (Preseason Ranked No. 8)
Schedule: @ Idaho State, @ Utah State, vs. Drake, vs. NDSU, @ USD, @ SIU, vs. WIU, @ Missouri State, vs. YSU, vs. Illinois State, @ SDSU
FBS opponents: 1 (Utah State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 4 (vs. No. 4 NDSU, @ No. 7 SIU, @ No. 24 Missouri State, @ No. 3 SDSU
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 5 (vs. NDSU, @ SIU, @ Missouri State, vs. Illinois State, @ SDSU)
Non-counter games: 0
2. Northern Iowa (Preseason Ranked No. 21)
Schedule: @ Iowa State, @ Sac State, vs. St. Thomas, vs. YSU, @ NDSU, vs. USD, @ SDSU, vs. SIU, @ Illinois State, @ Missouri State, vs. WIU
FBS opponents: 1 (Iowa State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 4 (@ No. 4 NDSU, @ No. 3 SDSU, vs. No. 7 SIU, @ No. 24 Missouri State)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 6 (@ Sac State, @ NDSU, @ SDSU, vs. SIU, @ Illinois State, @ Missouri State)
Non-counter games: 0
1. Missouri State (Preseason Ranked No. 24)
Schedule: @ Oklahoma State, vs. UCA, vs. USD, @ Illinois State, @ YSU, vs. Indiana State, @ NDSU, vs. UND, @ SIU, vs. UNI, @ Dixie State
FBS opponents: 1 (Oklahoma State)
Games vs. preseason Top 25 teams: 5 (vs. No. 14 UCA, @ No. 4 NDSU, vs. No. 8 UND, @ No. 7 SIU, vs. No. 21 UNI)
Games vs. 2019 and spring 2021 playoff teams: 6 (vs. UCA, @ Illinois State, @ NDSU, vs. UND, @ SIU, vs. UNI)
Non-counter games: 0
