Top 12 FCS Teams Primed for Upsets in 2026 College Football
The 2026 college football season is almost here. With it comes the real possibility of FCS teams knocking off FBS opponents again.
Last year, four FCS teams managed to stun FBS teams. This season, a bunch of matchups look ripe for another round of upsets.
From traditional FCS powerhouses to hungry up-and-comers, these games could keep fans glued to their screens. So, which matchups might deliver the wildest upsets this year?
Week 1: High Alert for Power Five Teams
Right out of the gate, two Power Five teams should probably be sweating. Vanderbilt will host Austin Peay. Northwestern draws South Dakota State.
Austin Peay at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt’s no longer got their star quarterback, Diego Pavia. That’s a big loss.
Austin Peay, meanwhile, still has Chris Parson at QB—he might be the most talented passer on either sideline in Week 1. Parson’s a real difference-maker, and considering Austin Peay already upset an FBS team last season, repeating the trick doesn’t sound far-fetched.
South Dakota State at Northwestern
Northwestern coach David Braun knows South Dakota State well from his days at Northern Iowa and North Dakota State. But he’s 2-5 against the Jackrabbits, which isn’t exactly reassuring.
South Dakota State is likely to be a preseason top-five FCS team. They bring a ton of talent and experience, and Northwestern’s coming off a 7-6 season that left fans wanting more.
Highly Regarded FCS Teams Eyeing Upsets
Keep an eye on Rhode Island and Tarleton State, too. Both face FBS teams that had a rough go last year.
Tarleton State at Bowling Green
Tarleton State shocked Army last season. Now they get Bowling Green, a team that struggled mightily.
Honestly, Tarleton could easily notch another FBS win here.
Rhode Island at Temple
Rhode Island last upset an FBS team in 2021. They’ll take on Temple, who hasn’t exactly been lighting it up lately.
If you’re looking for a sneaky upset, this one’s got some juice.
Week 2: Championship Contenders vs. Struggling FBS Teams
Week 2 brings two teams from last year’s FCS championship game into the mix. Both face FBS squads that limped through 2025.
Montana State at Nevada
Montana State’s projected to be a conference title contender. Nevada went 3-9 last year and doesn’t look much better on paper.
This could be trouble for the Wolf Pack.
Illinois State at Northern Illinois
Illinois State, another FCS heavyweight, draws Northern Illinois. NIU also finished 3-9 last season.
The Redbirds have a real shot at an upset here.
Potential MAC Upsets
Let’s not forget about FCS vs. MAC showdowns. A couple of these could get interesting.
Wofford at Kent State
Wofford closed last season hot, going 6-1 down the stretch. They’ll face Kent State, who improved to 5-7 but still has plenty of question marks.
If Wofford picks up where they left off, watch out.
Sacred Heart at UMass
UMass, winless at 0-12 last year, even lost to FCS Bryant. Now they get Sacred Heart, who won eight games and barely trailed Bryant in the CAA preseason poll.
Honestly, UMass could still be searching for a win after Week 2.
Other Notable Matchups
There are a handful of other games with upset potential. Some of these could get weird fast.
Montana at Oregon State
Montana hasn’t faced an FBS team since they stunned No. 20 Washington in 2021. They return preseason All-Americans like running back Eli Gilman, linebacker Peyton Wing, quarterback Keali’I Ah Yat, and wide receiver Brooks Davis.
The Grizzlies have the juice to make Oregon State sweat.
North Dakota at Nebraska
North Dakota’s offense looks solid with quarterback Jerry Kaminski back and four starters returning up front. They also bring in new offensive coordinator Danny Freund from Washington State.
Could Nebraska handle that? Not sure I’d bet on it.
Southeastern Louisiana at Louisiana-Monroe
Southeastern Louisiana made the FCS playoffs last year. They’ll play Louisiana-Monroe, who went 3-9 and hasn’t had a winning season in ages.
This one feels like a classic FCS-over-FBS setup.
Late-Season Upset Alert
Even late in the year, there’s always a chance for one of these upsets to sneak up on us.
Tennessee Tech at Mississippi State
By Week 12, Tennessee Tech might’ve already wrapped up the SoCon. They could be sitting comfortably as a top-10 FCS team.
Mississippi State, though, looks like they might be the SEC’s weakest link this year. That means an upset’s not out of the question—especially when a strong FCS squad takes on a struggling FBS team.
If you’re hungry for more analysis or just want to keep tabs on possible upsets, check out this article.
