The number of FCS vs. FBS matchups has increased in recent years — 118 games in 2023, 117 in both 2022 and 2021, 114 games were scheduled for 2020 until COVID disrupted the season, 114 in 2019, 111 in 2018, and 98 in 2017.
The average number of FCS over FBS wins in a year has also increased each decade. In the 1990s, there were 7.1 wins per year, 7.2 in the 2000s, 8.5 in the 2010s, and 10 in the 2020s (using 2021 and 2022 numbers so far).
But one thing that remains rare is an FCS team getting two FBS wins in one year. Because 1) getting one FBS win is challenging enough. And 2) only a small chunk of FCS teams schedule multiple FBS opponents in a season.
FCS Teams With 2 FBS Wins In 1 Year
It’s happened only twice in the 2000s.
In 2015, Portland State beat Washington State 24-17 and North Texas 66-7. North Texas fired head coach Dan McCarney just hours after the loss.
In 2007, North Dakota State beat Central Michigan 44-14 and Minnesota 27-21.
Before that, you have to go back to 1992 when The Citadel beat Arkansas 10-3 and Army 15-14.
In 2004, FAU was transitioning from Division I-AA to I-A, and it beat Hawaii, North Texas, and Middle Tennessee.
