The list of 2026 FCS non-conference opponents ranges from Utah, Washington, and Alabama, to Glenville State, Arkansas Baptist, and Franklin College.
FCS teams take on the FBS more than 125 times this fall. There are also 68 games against non-Division 1 opponents, up from 63 last year.
Many of these games include programs from one-bid playoff conferences or the SWAC, which does not send its division champions to the FCS playoffs, electing to play in the more lucrative SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl. The SWAC has the most games scheduled against non-D1 opponents in 2026. It was recently announced that the SWAC will no longer include teams below D2 on its future football schedules.
For teams looking to position themselves for a playoff seed or an at-large bid, non-D1 wins do count on playoff resumes. But they can still have a negative impact. The number of D1 wins on a team’s resume can be the difference between what seed a team gets or how they stack up against other bubble teams for at-large consideration. The FCS playoff committee recently decided to give more consideration to teams that have played all Division 1 opponents and/or a greater number of Division 1 games.
Here’s the list of FCS vs. non-D1 opponents in 2026:
FCS vs. Non-D1 Opponents In 2026
Week 0
Virginia-Lynchburg at Hampton
Concord at Davidson
Glenville State at Elon
Winona State at St. Thomas
South Dakota Mines at Drake
UVA Wise at Presbyterian
Northwestern (IA) at Western Illinois
Louisiana Christian at Northwestern State
Fairmont State at Dayton
Savannah State at SC State
Miles College at Alcorn State
Lawrence Tech at Valparaiso
Albany State at Florida A&M
UT Permian Basin at UTRGV
Georgetown (KY) at Butler
Anderson at Furman
Clark Atlanta at Grambling State
Roosevelt at Chicago State
Winston-Salem State at Norfolk State
Morehouse vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Week 1
Kentucky Christian at Morehead State
Franklin Pierce at Marist
Elizabeth City State at NC Central
Lane College at Alabama State
Central State at Grambling State
Southern Connecticut at Wagner
West Virginia State at Robert Morris
Tusculum at ETSU
Central Washington at Cal Poly
Kentucky State at Southern
Edward Waters at Jackson State
Miles College at Alabama A&M
Webber International at Stetson
Texas Wesleyan at McNeese
Week 2
Dickinson at Davidson
Thomas More at Dayton
Virginia State at SC State
Central Oklahoma at Central Arkansas
Lincoln (PA) vs Mississippi Valley State
Northern Michigan at St. Thomas
Arkansas Baptist at HCU
Kentucky Christian at Chicago State
Virginia-Lynchburg at Morgan State
Franklin College at Butler
Bowie State at Delaware State
Week 3
Point at Charleston Southern
Northeastern State at Northern Colorado
Louisiana Christian at Southern
Glenville State at Mercyhurst
Central State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Delta State at Mississippi Valley State
Virginia-Lynchburg at Bethune-Cookman
Tuskegee at Jackson State
Bowie State at Alabama A&M
Week 4
Rio Grande (Ohio) at Duquesne
Fort Valley State at West Georgia
Northeastern State at Stephen F. Austin
Week 6
Arkansas Baptist at Alcorn State
Virginia-Lynchburg at Norfolk State
AIC at CCSU
Franklin Pierce at Delaware State
Northeastern State at West Florida
Week 7
West Alabama at West Florida
Morehouse at Howard
Week 9
Delta State at West Florida
UFTL at Chicago State
Week 12
Virginia-Lynchburg at Chicago State
Week 13
Tuskegee at Alabama State
