The 2026 FCS Football Week 1 Schedule delivers a full slate of games across four days after a chaotic Week 0.
This weekend features potential FCS over FBS upsets, key non-conference battles and several ranked teams in action. No pure Top 25 matchups are on the board, but several ranked FCS programs face challenging road tests. The FCS Week 1 schedule 2026 includes everything from Thursday night openers to a Sunday afternoon HBCU showcase.
Here is the complete FCS football schedule today with every kickoff time and broadcast detail.
2026 FCS Football Week 1 Schedule – Thursday, Sept. 3
Thursday, Sept. 3 – FCS Week 1
Thursday, Sept. 3 – FCS Week 1
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Time (ET)
Matchup
TV / Stream
7:00 p.m.
Lindenwood at Stony Brook
FloSports
7:00 p.m.
Bethune-Cookman at UCF
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
UAlbany at Buffalo
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
West Georgia at Kennesaw State
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Southern Illinois at Samford
ESPN+
8:00 p.m.
UAPB at Missouri
SEC Network
8:00 p.m.
Eastern Illinois at Minnesota
Peacock
9:00 p.m.
Idaho at Utah
ESPNU
Last updated
Friday, Sept. 4 – 2026 FCS Football Week 1 Schedule
Friday, Sept. 4 – FCS Week 1
Friday, Sept. 4 – FCS Week 1
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Time (ET)
Matchup
TV / Stream
7:00 p.m.
North Carolina A&T at Georgia State
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Indiana State at Purdue
Big Ten Network
8:00 p.m.
Long Island at Kansas
ESPNU
Last updated
Saturday, Sept. 5 – Full FCS Week 1 Kickoff Times
Saturday, Sept. 5 – FCS Week 1
Saturday, Sept. 5 – FCS Week 1
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Time (ET)
Matchup
TV / Stream
Noon
Bryant at Army
CBSSN
Noon
Lafayette at UConn
WFSB
Noon
No. 5 Tarleton State at Bowling Green
ESPN+
Noon
Stonehill at New Haven
NEC Front Row
12:30 p.m.
No. 10 Lehigh at Georgetown
ESPN+
1:00 p.m.
SEMO at Iowa State
ESPN+
1:00 p.m.
No. 9 Youngstown State at Kentucky
SEC Network+
1:00 p.m.
Holy Cross at Colgate
ESPN+
1:30 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Wofford
ESPN+
2:00 p.m.
No. 6 Rhode Island at Temple
ESPN+
2:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart at Monmouth
FloSports
3:00 p.m.
Tennessee State at Georgia
SEC Network+
3:00 p.m.
Drake at No. 3 Montana
ESPN+
3:30 p.m.
Furman at Tennessee
SEC Network+
3:30 p.m.
Maine at Appalachian State
ESPN+
3:30 p.m.
The Citadel at Charlotte
ESPN+
3:30 p.m.
Towson at Navy
CBSSN
3:30 p.m.
UTRGV at UTSA
ESPN+
3:30 p.m.
No. 24 Western Carolina at Campbell
FloSports
3:30 p.m.
Fordham at North Dakota State
MW+
4:00 p.m.
St. Thomas at No. 8 North Dakota
ESPN+
4:15 p.m.
North Alabama at Arkansas
SEC Network
5:00 p.m.
Alcorn State at Southern Miss
ESPN+
6:00 p.m.
Delaware State at No. 17 William & Mary
ESPN+
6:00 p.m.
Elon at Davidson
ESPN+
6:00 p.m.
Lane College at Alabama State
SWAC TV
6:00 p.m.
Norfolk State at Old Dominion
ESPN+
6:00 p.m.
Presbyterian at No. 19 Mercer
ESPN+
6:00 p.m.
Richmond at Howard
MEAC Network
6:00 p.m.
No. 12 Tennessee Tech at Chattanooga
ESPN+
6:00 p.m.
No. 18 Villanova at Bucknell
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
No. 20 Abilene Christian at Texas Tech
FS1
7:00 p.m.
Charleston Southern at Georgia Southern
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Chicago State at UT Martin
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
No. 15 Austin Peay at Vanderbilt
SEC Network+
7:00 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Edward Waters at Jackson State
HBCU GO
7:00 p.m.
Houston Christian at Rice
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
No. 23 Idaho State at Utah State
CBSSN
7:00 p.m.
Mercyhurst at New Mexico State
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Murray State at Middle Tennessee State
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Nicholls at Kansas State
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Southeastern Louisiana at South Alabama
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
No. 25 West Florida at Central Arkansas
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Central State at Grambling State
SWAC TV
7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Illinois State at Western Illinois
ESPN+
7:00 p.m.
Kentucky State at Southern
SWAC TV
7:00 p.m.
Miles College at Alabama A&M
SWAC TV
7:00 p.m.
Northern Iowa at Eastern Washington
ESPN+
7:30 p.m.
Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech
ESPN+
7:30 p.m.
VMI at Virginia Tech
ACC Network
8:00 p.m.
East Texas A&M at No. 13 Stephen F. Austin
ESPN+
8:00 p.m.
Hampton at Maryland
Big Ten Network
8:00 p.m.
No. 14 Lamar at Louisiana
ESPN+
8:00 p.m.
No. 2 South Dakota State at Northwestern
Big Ten Network
8:00 p.m.
Utah Tech at BYU
ESPN+
8:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Cal Poly
ESPN+
8:00 p.m.
No. 11 South Dakota at Northern Colorado
ESPN+
8:00 p.m.
Weber State at Southern Utah
ESPN+
8:30 p.m.
Butler at No. 1 Montana State
ESPN+
9:30 p.m.
No. 22 Northern Arizona at Arizona
ESPN+
9:30 p.m.
Portland State at San Diego State
USA
10:00 p.m.
Mississippi Valley State at Sacramento State
ESPN+
10:00 p.m.
Morgan State at Arizona
ESPN+
10:00 p.m.
No. 7 UC Davis at San Diego
ESPN+
Last updated
Sunday, Sept. 6
Sunday, Sept. 6 – FCS Week 1
Sunday, Sept. 6 – FCS Week 1
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Time (ET)
Matchup
TV / Stream
Noon
Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M
ESPN2
3:00 p.m.
No. 21 South Carolina State at Florida A&M
ESPN
Last updated
How to Watch FCS Football Week 1
Most games stream on ESPN+ or conference-specific platforms. Linear options include SEC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, FS1, CBSSN and ACC Network for select matchups. The Sunday Orange Blossom Classic between South Carolina State and Florida A&M airs on ESPN.
The 2026 FCS Football Week 1 Schedule offers a wide range of competitive and high-profile games. Ranked teams face tough road environments, several FCS programs travel to FBS venues, and HBCU matchups highlight the weekend. With kickoff times spread across four days, fans have plenty of options to follow the action from Thursday night through Sunday afternoon.
FAQ
When does the 2026 FCS Football Week 1 Schedule begin? Games start Thursday, September 3, and run through Sunday, September 6.
What are the key FCS Week 1 kickoff times? Most marquee games fall between noon and 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, with ranked teams spread throughout the afternoon and evening windows.
How to watch FCS football Week 1? The majority of games stream on ESPN+. Select matchups air on SEC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, FS1 and other linear channels.
Are there ranked teams on the FCS Week 1 schedule 2026? Yes. Multiple Top 25 FCS programs are in action, including Montana State, South Dakota State, Montana, Illinois State and others.
What is the biggest game on the FCS football schedule today? No. 21 South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M on Sunday (Orange Blossom Classic) and several ranked FCS vs. FBS matchups stand out.
The Texas vs Texas State matchup opens the Longhorns’ highly anticipated 2026 season in Austin. Ranked No. 5 in the preseason polls, Texas hosts the […]
