Editor's Note: This is the first installment of the "RFC Weekly Predictions" on Real Football Central. Each week during the 2026 season, we'll look at the top games in FBS (Group of 6), FCS, and small-college football (NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA) with predictions!
Suppose you're wondering what the "Group of Six" is. In that case, it consists of the American Athletic Conference and Conference USA, as well as the Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-12, and Sun Belt Conferences. As always, there are no games involving any teams from the "Power Conferences" or Notre Dame, for that matter (although with the current conference realignment at the FBS level, there may be some "wiggle room" for flexibility as the season progresses). So, without further ado, it's time to get started.
KEY: Projected winners are marked in RED.
Featured games in BOLD type.
FBS Group Of Six
Saturday, August 29
Jacksonville State at North Dakota State
(The Bison battle the Gamecocks in their FBS debut!)
Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan
(The Eagles play host to the Hornets in the first-ever FBS contest for the former FCS Big Sky Conference program!)
Memphis at UNLV
(Finally, in the "Game of the Week" for the "Group of Six Conferences", the Rebels from the Mountain West Conference face the Tigers from the American Conference in a clash that could impact the "College Football Playoff" race as the season progresses!)
FCS
Thursday, August 27
Maine at Towson
Mercyhurst at Youngstown State
Long Island at North Dakota
Saturday, August 29
Central Connecticut State at South Dakota
(The Coyotes from the Missouri Valley Football Conference clash with the Blue Devils from the NEC in the first-ever meeting between the two teams!)
Monmouth (N.J.) at Tennessee Tech
(In another match-up with potential playoff implications later in the season, the Southern Conference Golden Eagles host the CAA Blue Hawks!)
Southern Utah at Montana
Prairie View A&M at Tarleton State
NCAA Division II
Thursday, August 27
Ferris State at Pittsburg State (Kan.)
(The defending national champion Bulldogs from Michigan travel to Kansas to face the Gorillas to begin the defense of their latest national championship!)
Minnesota-Duluth at Slippery Rock
Central Missouri at Colorado State-Pueblo
Western Colorado at West Texas A&M
Friday, August 28
Delta State at Northeastern State (Okla.)
NAIA
Thursday, August 27
Reinhardt at Lindsey Wilson
Ottawa (Ariz.) at Montana Tech
Friday, August 28
Dordt at Indiana Wesleyan
Saturday, August 29
Benedictine (Kan.) at Morningside
St. Francis (Ind.) at Campbellsville
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