The Southland Conference will move to a 9-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, a conference official told HERO Sports, increasing from the usual 8-game schedule.
In early May, the FCS Oversight Committee voted in favor of allowing FCS teams to play 12 regular-season games every year starting in 2026. The FCS season is usually 11 regular-season games unless the weekly calendar in a given year allows for 12 games before Thanksgiving, which is the start of the FCS playoffs.
For final approval, the Division I Council must adopt this recommended legislation during its June 24-25 meeting. If adopted, what has been Week 0 would be the new Week 1 for the FCS.
The Southland has 10 football members: Houston Christian, East Texas A&M, Incarnate Word, Lamar, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin, and UTRGV.
