Overview: The Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils will try to advance to the FCS playoffs, as well as win three straight Northeast Conference (NEC) titles, all while starting the 2026 season with three straight road games at South Dakota, FBS Group of Six Conference foe Toledo, and defending FCS national champion Montana State, during the first three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) must adjust to a new look in its conference membership, as 10-time FCS national champion North Dakota State has moved on to the Mountain West Conference and the Group of Six ranks for 2026. NDSU's departure makes for a wide-open race for the MVFC title this fall, as squads such as South Dakota State, South Dakota, North Dakota, and national runner-up Illinois State hope to be in the championship conversation from start to finish.
Some notable early-season non-conference match-ups involving teams from both leagues include Long Island University (LIU) at North Dakota on August 27th, Central Connecticut State at South Dakota on August 29th, and Duquesne at Youngstown State on September 12th.
Finally, the NEC will have one less program among its membership in 2026, as St. Francis (Pa.) will downgrade to the NCAA Division III level after spending the past 35 seasons as an FCS program. Also, Stonehill becomes a fully-eligible FCS member after four seasons of being ineligible for postseason play, while Mercyhurst will enter the third season of its four-year transition period from the NCAA Division II ranks, and New Haven goes into season #2 of its transition period.
Northeast Conference (NEC)
88. Central Connecticut State (schedule courtesy of Hero Sports)
89. Duquesne
90. LIU
91. Mercyhurst
92. New Haven
93. Robert Morris
94. Stonehill
95. Wagner
Missouri Valley Football Conference
96. Illinois State
97. Indiana State
98. Murray State
99. North Dakota
100. Northern Iowa
101. South Dakota
102. South Dakota State (schedule courtesy of Hero Sports)
103. Southern Illinois
104. Youngstown State
