After years of research, studying the differences between the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III, plus analyzing countless games each week, it’s clear that each level offers a different kind of experience for players and fans.
Regardless of where loyalties land, those connections usually are fierce and unwavering, and the countdown is on until we clear our Saturdays and rock our team colors while bubbling with positivity - to start, at least.
Some are looking at the calendar and realizing that it has only been 70 days since the end of the 2025 college football season. Others are agonizingly flipping the same pages and seeing that we’re still 150 days away from the start of the new campaign.
Either way, there’s agreement that Week 0 of the 2026 season can’t get here soon enough, but even though it’s months away, that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start talking about what’s ahead and which teams will be the ones to watch.
While we’re all here, let’s take a look at the FCS and compile some “way-to-early” rankings. Just because.
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Which teams finished 2025 at the top of the rankings? Who made noteworthy moves? Were there any significant coaching changes?
Of the 13 FCS conferences, eight will see some movement and realignment, and when the season gets underway, there will be 127 FCS programs overall.
But before getting into the teams and rankings and predicting which will dominant or surprise in 2026, let’s look at the basic difference between each level of college football:
What Makes FCS Teams Different Than FBS Teams?
The FBS is the highest level of collegiate football and features the biggest, most sports-forward schools in the nation, most of which come from the most prolific conferences, have the biggest budgets, media contracts and stadiums, meet minimum requirements for attendance and offer 85 full scholarships.
The FBS gets the most exposure, generally attracts the top talent and sends the most players to the NFL.
The FBS includes 129 schools, 10 conferences and a 1% chance of getting recruited.
In 2025, the FCS also featured 129 teams, but they were spread across 13 conferences.
FCS schools generally are smaller academically and athletically, they emphasize regional competition and conference-based scheduling, they play in smaller stadiums, generate less media revenue and they can only offer 63 scholarships, though they can be divided amongst more than 63 players.
The FCS postseason also is different, as it features a 24-team playoff bracket – 11 automatic qualifiers from conferences and 13 at-large bids selected by the FCS Championship Committee. Wait, that doesn’t add up. It’s because two of the conferences choose not to participate in the playoffs and have their own postseason events.
The FBS uses the College Football Playoff, which as of 2024, includes 12 teams selected by a committee.
At the FBS level, football is life, and for many, the ultimate goal is the NFL. The stadiums are bigger and the expectations are higher, but the rewards also can be greater.
The FCS stage is a little smaller, there are less scholarships and very few players see their NFL dreams come true. That also means that for the majority of the players, it’s going to be the end of the line. Their last chance to play competitively, be part of a team and lay it all on the line for someone else.
At the same time, so much of the FBS chatter is about who’s going to win the Heisman Trophy, who is an NFL prospect and which teams are destined for the limited College Football Playoff.
In the FCS, it feels like there’s more attention given to the experience. The camaraderie. The team goals. Playing for the memories, rather than to be unforgettable.
Shrink everything a little further, and you’re in Division II, where the college experience is a little more balanced, and the competition is closer to home.
In Division III, where there are no athletic scholarships, scholastics and sports weigh evenly and in a much more intimate environment.
Looking Ahead To The 2026 College Football Season, North Dakota State Is Leaving FCS
For the last 15 years, FCS football, at least when it comes to national titles, has been dominated by a handful of teams, so there’s no reason to expect any of them will be letting up in 2026 – except for one. The biggest and baddest one of all.
That’s right, North Dakota State, which has won 10 FCS national titles in the last 15 seasons, is one of a handful of teams leaving the FCS.
The Bison will take their talents to the FBS level and the Mountain West Conference, opening the door for a new era in FCS football.
Will there be a new bully in town, or will things be more balanced moving forward?
FCS Titles And Runner-Up Finishes Since 2011
- North Dakota State (10 titles, one runner-up finish)
- South Dakota State (two titles, one runner-up finish)
- James Madison (one title, two runner-up finishes)
- Montana State (one title, two runner-up finishes)
- Sam Houston (one title, two runner-up finishes)
Villanova And William & Mary Leave CAA
Among the FCS changes that stand out, will be the departure of Villanova and William & Mary from the ultra-competitive CAA.
They’ve been members of the conference since 1988 and 1993, respectively, and the move follows the departure of Richmond after the 2024 season. They’re actually joining Richmond in the Patriot League, which now will include 10 teams.
The impact to the CAA will be minimized by the addition of Sacred Heart and will leave CAA Football with 13 teams.
It’s An Exciting Time For Chicago State
Chicago long has been a sports city with passionate fans, seemingly endless history and tradition and a roller-coaster ride of success and failure across the many professional teams.
But now, the city is getting something is doesn’t already have – a Division I football program – and the Chicago State Cougars will take the field for the first time in 2026.
The Cougars will officially become part of the NEC slate for the 2027 campaign.
IT’S TIME, COUGARS!
— Chicago State Athletics (@ChiStateCougars) December 18, 2025
The wait is over. Don't hear about history. Witness it. Stand with us at the first ever game on August 29.
Celebrate with us. Game One.#ChiStateFootball #FCS #College #Football #CFB #NCAA #Football #NEC pic.twitter.com/KzWKAEOAIb
Which FCS Teams Won Conference Titles In 2025?
With the Ivy League now participating in the FCS Playoffs, there are 11 automatic spots in the playoff bracket, which means there are more than 100 programs fighting for the 13 at-large bids.
Conference titles and automatic bids in 2025 went to: Montana State (Big Sky), Rhode Island (CAA), Yale (Ivy League), North Dakota State (Missouri Valley Football Conference), Central Connecticut (Northeast), Tennessee Tech (OVC-Big South), Lehigh (Patriot League), Drake (Pioneer), Mercer (Southern), Stephen F. Austin (Southland) and Abilene Christian (United Athletic Conference).
With such an important prize up for grabs, the conference battles were intense, and many kept us on the edges of our seats until the final week of play.
In 2025, the MVFC dominated the postseason scene with six teams in the bracket. The Big Sky, CAA and Southland all saw three teams advance. The Ivy League and UAC each secured one at-large bid to go along with their automatic advancers. The other five conferences only had one representative.
Breaking News: Division II Powerhouse West Florida Jumps To FCS For 2026
The University of West Florida football team was the Division II national runner-up in 2017 and reached the mountaintop in 2019, winning it all under head coach Pete Shinnick, only to see the momentum slowed by COVID-19 the following season.
The program played its first official games in 2016, going 5-6 overall, and a lightning-quick turnaround followed.
In 2025, the Argos started the year at 9-0, but a loss to Valdosta State in the final week of the regular season cost UFW a perfect regular season and the team’s first outright Gulf South Conference championship.
With the GSC down to just four football teams, it made sense for West Florida to pack up and move.
The news and potential details actually are swirling this week, with the expectation being that UWF will move to Division I for all sports, and the football team will become part of the UAC. The other sports will play in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
More information is expected as March comes to a close, but even with the changes being in place for the 2026-2027 school year, the teams won’t be eligible for championship play for the first three years.
The other big move for the West Florida football team will into a renovated stadium, a $50 million project that will come with a new name, much more seating and an opening slated for the fall of 2027.
Will the Argonauts find immediate success at the Division I level?
Noteworthy FCS Coaching Changes For 2026
These are just a few of dozens of significant head coaching changes leading into the 2026 season.
Changes are frequent. Losing can mean you’re immediately on the chopping block, and fans will call for your head. It doesn’t matter if it’s Week 5 or the end of the season. No job in college football is safe. It’s cutthroat.
At the same time, success can mean more eyes on you at all times, and winning is the easiest way to make the jump to the next level. For ambitious coaches, the FCS rarely is the ultimate goal. Just ask Curt Cignetti, who worked his way through the ranks and just led Indiana to a win over Miami in the College Football Playoff.
Read more: Curt Cignetti's Blueprint: Why Commitment & Culture Can Take You Anywhere
Here are three noteworthy changes in the FCS:
UAlbany, CAA
The Great Danes won their first CAA Football title in 2023 (shared with Richmond and Villanova) and reached the FCS semifinals, before losing to eventual national champion South Dakota State.
UAlbany went 4-8 in 2024 and 2-10 in 2025 and now will take the field in 2026 under new leadership.
At the helm, will be Tom Perkovich, who is coming off a decade at Division III powerhouse Susquehanna. He was 84-25 over 10 seasons, and since bringing the River Hawks into the new Landmark Conference in 2023, they’ve gone 10-1, 12-2 and 11-3, winning three consecutive conference titles (plus another in the Centennial Conference in 2022)
Lehigh, Patriot League
The Mountain Hawks were 12-1 in 2025, which included winning the Patriot League title and reaching the FCS Playoffs with a first-round bye. The effort included the team’s sixth undefeated regular season and school record-tying number of wins, but the season ended prematurely at the hands of Villanova in Lehigh's first playoff game.
Credited with leading a resurgence for Lehigh football, including back-to-back Patriot League titles and two playoff appearances in three seasons, Kevin Cahill was rewarded with the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award as the top coach in the FCS.
Cahill also earned a contract extension in December 2025 for his continued success, but two months later, he accepted an opportunity to become the head football coach at Yale.
Former defensive coordinator Richard Nagy (three years under Cahill) now will lead the Mountain Hawks. Can he continue the forward momentum?
And what does this mean for Yale in the Ivy League’s new playoff era?
Montana, Big Sky
The Big Sky Conference is a tough place to play, and the conference’s winningest coach, Bobby Hauck (151-43 in 15 seasons), has moved on. Well, he hasn’t moved on to another team, he has moved in in life. He chose to retire, telling the Associated Press in February that he didn’t enjoy his job anymore because of the ongoing changes in college football.
The top Montana job now belongs to Bobby Kennedy, who coached the team’s wide receivers in 2025 and helped the Grizzlies to the FCS semifinals.
He brings more than three decades of FBS coaching experience to Montana, including the chance to coach in 17 bowl games, two BCS title games, two Rose Bowls and a Fiesta Bowl. He helped Texas to the 2005 national championship.
Way-Too-Early FCS Rankings Ahead Of The 2026 Season
Montana State was the FCS runner-up in 2024 and defeated Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to win the 2025 national title. The top spot should belong to the Bobcats. It’s theirs to lose.
Rank / Team / 2025 Record
- Montana State (14-2)
- Montana (13-2)
- Rhode Island (11-3)
- South Dakota St. (9-5)
- Villanova (12-3)
- Illinois State (12-5)
- Tennessee Tech (11-2)
- Yale (9-3)
- Stephen F. Austin (11-3)
- South Dakota (10-5)
- Abilene Christian (9-5)
- North Dakota (8-6)
- Youngstown St. (8-5)
- West Florida (*10-2 in Division II)
- Tarleton State (12-2)
- UC Davis (9-4)
- Monmouth (N.J.) (9-3)
- Harvard (9-2)
- Alabama State (10-2)
- Lehigh (12-1)
- Mercer (9-3)
- Lafayette (8-4)
- Southeastern Louisiana (9-4)
- West Georgia (8-3)
- South Carolina State (10-3)
Others to consider: Southern Illinois; New Hampshire; Lamar; Central Connecticut; Presbyterian; Richmond; St. Thomas; Western Carolina; Gardner-Webb; Jackson State; William & Mary; Sacred Heart; UAlbany
Did You Know: Only Eight FCS Players Were Drafted In 2025
That’s right, out of the more than 250 picks in the seven-round 2025 NFL Draft, only eight FCS players were selected. Here they are:
- Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State — Seattle Seahawks, Round 1
- Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary — Las Vegas Raiders, Round 3
- David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas — Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4
- Carson Vinson, OL, Alabama A&M — Baltimore Ravens, Round 5
- Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State — Tennessee Titans, Round 5
- Tommy Mellott, QB/WR, Montana State — Las Vegas Raiders, Round 6
- Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State — Las Vegas Raiders, Round 6
- Junior Bergen, WR, Montana — San Francisco 49ers, Round 7
- Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State University — New England Patriots, Round 7
Number Of FCS Players Drafted In Recent Years
From NCAA.com:
- 2025 — 8
- 2024 — 11
- 2023 — 10
- 2022 — 20
- 2021 — 5
- 2020 — 6
- 2019 — 13
- 2018 — 19
- 2017 — 15
- 2016 — 20
- 2015 — 1
- 2014 — 19
- 2013 — 19
- 2012 — 15
- 2011 — 21
- 2010 — 19
Final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll For 2025 Season
- Montana St. (14-2)
- Illinois St. (12-5)
- Montana (13-2)
- Villanova (12-3)
- North Dakota St. (12-1)
- Tarleton St. (12-2)
- Stephen F. Austin (11-3)
- UC Davis (9-4)
- Lehigh (12-1)
- Rhode Island (11-3)
- South Dakota (10-5)
- ACU (9-5)
- Yale (9-3)
- South Dakota St. (9-5)
- Tennessee Tech (11-2)
- North Dakota (8-6)
- Youngstown St. (8-5)
- Mercer (9-3)
- Southeastern Louisiana (9-4)
- Monmouth (N.J.) (9-3)
- Lamar (8-5)
- Jackson St. (9-3)
- Harvard (9-2)
- West Georgia (8-3)
- South Carolina St. (10-3)
Dropped Out: Southern Illinois (25)
Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire, 35; Lafayette, 30; Southern Illinois, 29; Drake, 20; UT Rio Grande Valley, 20; Prairie View A&M, 16; Central Connecticut St., 15; Richmond, 15; Alabama St., 10; Presbyterian, 10; Southern Utah, 5; Austin Peay, 2.
About The NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs
The FCS Playoffs feature a 24-team bracket. The top 16 teams are seeded, and the top eight seeds receive first-round byes.
The rest of the field (the remaining 16 teams) play in the first round, with the No. 9 through No. 16 expected to host, if possible. Their opponents are selected by regional proximity, if possible, to ensure the shortest trip possible for the teams.
However, the first round also tries to avoid any matchups featuring conference teams that have played each other.
Lists Of Non-FBS Players Who We Could See In The NFL Someday
- 10 Division II Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft
- Non-FBS Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft
- Division III Players Who Could Be Selected In 2026 NFL Draft
Light Reading About Division II And Division III
- How Many D2 Football Teams Are There? Here’s A List
- List of Division II And Division III Football Alumni To 2025 Make 53-Man Rosters
- Here's How The NCAA Division 3 Football Playoffs Work
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