There are 128 FCS fan bases that surely are energized by their favorite team’s schedule this fall.
With all teams back on the playing fields for the first time in nearly two years and experienced lineups abounding, the upcoming season is particularly anticipated.
Still, when you look up and down all the schedules, a small handful draw a double-take.
Here are five:
DIXIE STATE
Sept. 4, Sacramento State
Sept. 11, Weber State
Sept. 18, at UC Davis
Oct. 2, at South Dakota State
Oct. 9, at Montana
Oct. 16, Tarleton
Oct. 23, Stephen F. Austin
Oct. 30, at Delaware
Nov. 6, at Sam Houston
Nov. 13, Fort Lewis
Nov. 20, Missouri State
This is the schedule that makes you gulp. In their second Division I campaign, the Trailblazers face opponents who in their most recent season had a combined .714 winning percentage (60-24) – the highest of any FCS schedule. Seven of the opponents qualified for the playoffs in their most recent full season, including FCS spring national champion Sam Houston, runner-up South Dakota State and semifinalist Delaware. The first five weeks are Big Sky-heavy with 2019 co-champs Weber State and Sacramento State visiting St. George, Utah, and trips to UC Davis and Montana’s mecca Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
NORTHERN IOWA
Sept. 4, at Iowa State
Sept. 11, at Sacramento State
Sept. 18, St. Thomas
Oct. 2, Youngstown State
Oct. 9, at North Dakota State
Oct. 16, South Dakota
Oct. 23, at South Dakota State
Oct. 30, Southern Illinois
Nov. 6, at Illinois State
Nov. 13, at Missouri State
Nov. 20, Western Illinois
What’s next, a trip into Death Valley at Clemson or LSU? Maybe Alabama? The Panthers surely have the toughest road schedule in the FCS, starting at Iowa State and followed by Sacramento State in the premier matchup of the Big Sky-MVFC Showdown. In conference play, oh it’s as easy as eight-time FCS champ North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Illinois State and surprising spring co-champ and playoff qualifier Missouri State.
SACRAMENTO STATE
Sept. 4, at Dixie State
Sept. 11, Northern Iowa
Sept. 18, at California
Sept. 25, at Idaho State
Oct. 9, Southern Utah
Oct. 16, at Montana
Oct. 23, Northern Arizona
Oct. 30, at Northern Colorado
Nov. 6, Cal Poly
Nov. 13, Portland State
Nov. 20, at UC Davis
Having Sac State follow Northern Iowa on this list may appear puzzling, but it’s the Hornets’ Big Sky schedule, not nonconference, that creates the double-take. Having not played since 2019 due to the pandemic, they catch a break in the unbalanced schedule of the FCS’ largest conference, missing Big Sky powers Eastern Washington, Montana State and Weber State. If you go back to the Hornets’ co-championship season two years ago, seven of their eight conference opponents finished below .500 both overall and in conference (Montana is the exception). Their opponents’ combined .339 winning percentage (19-37) in their most recent season is the lowest in the FCS.
LONG ISLAND U.
Sept. 2, at FIU
Sept. 11, at West Virginia
Sept. 18, at Miami (Ohio)
Sept. 25 or Oct. 2 – TBA
Oct. 9, at Saint Francis
Oct. 16, Merrimack
Oct. 23, at Central Connecticut State
Oct. 30, Wagner
Nov. 6, Duquesne
Nov. 13, at Bryant
Nov. 20, Sacred Heart
LIU isn’t necessarily acting like a program that’s only 14 games into its Division I era. Before the Sharks settle into the more comfortable Northeast Conference schedule, they’ll take a bite out of three straight FBS games – the most in the FCS. Their opener at FIU marks the program’s first matchup against the upper tier. Add in West Virginia and Miami of Ohio, and the three games combine for just over $1 million in guarantees.
SAM HOUSTON
Sept. 2, at Northern Arizona
Sept. 11, Southeast Missouri
Sept. 25, at Central Arkansas
Oct. 2, Stephen F. Austin (in Houston)
Oct. 9, Lamar
Oct. 23, Jacksonville State
Oct. 30, at Tarleton
Nov. 6, Dixie State
Nov. 13, Eastern Kentucky
Nov. 20, at Abilene Christian
The difficulty of the FCS spring national champion’s schedule is middle-of-the-road. What stands it out is the Bearkats being the lone national power (with a few other programs and, of course, the Ivy League) that intended to schedule only 10 regular-season games – one below the fall maximum – due to having two seasons in the same calendar year. Also, like the spring season, a perfect 10-0 is possible, with coach K.C. Keeler’s team having two weeks of preparation for its two most dangerous games – both in the one-year WAC-ASUN Challenge at Central Arkansas and versus Jacksonville State.
2021 schedules research by Jacob Jaffe.