The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker: United Athletic Conference (UAC)-(FCS)

United Athletic Conference (UAC)-(FCS)

Overview:  Despite only being in existence since 2023, the United Athletic Conference (UAC) has quickly established itself as one of the strongest conferences at the FCS level.

One case in point came in 2025, with five of the UAC's nine teams posting winning overall records last fall. Two of those teams, Tarleton State (12-2 overall in 2025) and Abilene Christian (9-5), both advanced to the FCS playoffs last season, with the Texans defeating North Dakota, 31-13, in the second round before succumbing to Villanova, 26-21, in the quarterfinals.

 

On the other hand, the Wildcats from Abilene, Texas, outlasted Lamar, 38-20 in the first round, only to see their season come to a heartbreaking end in a 41-34 loss to Stephen F. Austin in the second round. ACU handed Tarleton State its lone regular-season loss in a 31-28 upset win over the Texans on November 1. That win helped ACU win the UAC's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

The upcoming 2026 season will bring significant changes to the UAC line-up, with Southern Utah and Utah leaving to rejoin the Big Sky Conference, while the University of West Florida moves up from NCAA Division II to the FCS ranks. The addition of UWF will bring instant credibility to this up-and-coming conference, as the Argonauts from Pensacola, Florida, won the Division II national championship in 2019.

Abilene Christian

Austin Peay

Central Arkansas

Eastern Kentucky

North Alabama

Tarleton State

West Florida**

West Georgia*

*-West Georgia is starting the transition process from the NCAA Division II to the NCAA Division I (FCS) level and is ineligible for postseason play during the next two seasons. UWG's first full season of FCS postseason eligibility is 2027.

**-West Florida is also beginning the transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I (FCS) and is ineligible for postseason play until at least the 2030 season.

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker 2026: Pioneer Football League (PFL)-(FCS)

Overview: The Pioneer Football League (PFL) will enter the 2026 season with the same 11 teams that played the 2025 season from start to finish. The Drake University Bulldogs from Des Moines, Iowa, will look to win another PFL title after finishing 7-1 in conference play and 8-4 overall last fall. The Bulldogs lost to eventual national quarterfinalist South Dakota, 38-17, in the first round of the FCS playoffs last season.

Teams that hope to dethrone Drake in PFL play this season include Presbyterian (10-2 overall, 6-2 in the PFL in 2025), San Diego (8-4, 6-2), Dayton (7-4, 5-3), and St. Thomas (Minn.) (7-5, 5-3).

Pioneer Football League (PFL)

105. Butler 

106. Davidson

107. Dayton

108. Drake

109. Marist

110. Morehead State

111. Presbyterian

112. San Diego

113. Stetson

114. St. Thomas (Minn.)

115. Valparaiso

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker 2026: Northeast and Missouri Valley Football Conferences (FCS)

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

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker 2026: Mid-American Conference

Overview: The Mid-American Conference will have a new look in 2026, with longtime member Northern Illinois leaving for the Mountain West Conference, and Sacramento State University from Sacramento, California, moving up from the FCS level to the FBS level. The Hornets will play their first-ever FBS/MAC game in Week Zero, traveling to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to face the Eastern Michigan University Eagles on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

75. Akron

76. Ball State

77. Bowling Green

78. Buffalo

79. Central Michigan

80. Eastern Michigan

81. Kent State

82. Miami (Ohio)

83. Ohio

84. Sacramento State*

85. Toledo

86. UMass

87. Western Michigan

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker 2026-Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference

Editor's Note: Welcome to the RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker" here on the Real Football Central blog. The purpose of this blog is to track the schedules of every (or at least as many as possible) current "alternative" or "non-power conference" college football programs between now and the start of the 2026-2027 regular season in late August/early September. This includes teams at the FBS Group of 6, FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA levels/divisions.

P.S.: Each post will be constantly updated, as schedules are subject to change. Only full-season schedules will be posted as they are received, unless otherwise indicated.

Sun Belt Conference

Overview: As this article is being posted, there's uncertainty as to whether Louisiana Tech will play a full season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference or Conference USA, with the Bulldogs listed in the composite schedules for both conferences. As for the on-the-field side of things, James Madison will not only look to win back-to-back SBC titles but also advance to the College Football Playoff for the second straight season in hopes of making a deeper postseason run.

East Division

49. Appalachian State

50. Coastal Carolina

51. Georgia Southern 

52. Georgia State

53. James Madison

54. Marshall

55. Old Dominion

West Division

57. Arkansas State

58. Louisiana

59. South Alabama

60. Southern Mississippi

61. Texas State

62. Troy

63. ULM 

Conference USA

64. Delaware

65. FIU

66. Jacksonville State

67. Kennesaw State

68. Liberty

69. Louisiana Tech

70. Middle Tennessee State

71. Missouri State

72. New Mexico State

73. Sam Houston State

74. Western Kentucky

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker 2026-UConn and the SoCon

Editor's Note: Welcome to the RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker" here on the Real Football Central blog. The purpose of this blog is to track the schedules of every (or at least as many as possible) current "alternative" or "non-power conference" college football programs between now and the start of the 2026-2027 regular season in late August/early September. This includes teams at the FBS Group of 6, FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA levels/divisions.

P.S.: Each post will be constantly updated, as schedules are subject to change. Only full-season schedules will be posted as they are received.

38. UConn: After back-to-back 9-4 seasons, which ended with consecutive trips to the Fenway Bowl, the Huskies hope to continue their winning ways under new coach Jason Candle. Candle replaces Jim Mora, who left UConn after spending the past four seasons coaching the Huskies

Southern Conference

Overview: The Southern Conference will get a slightly new look in 2026 with the addition of Tennessee Tech from the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference. The Golden Eagles, who won the Big South-OVC championship in 2025, will join nine other schools in the SoCon in 2026, with Mercer looking to win its third-straight conference title while also hoping to advance to the FCS playoffs for the fourth straight season.

39. Chattanooga

40. East Tennessee State

41. Furman

42. Mercer

43. Samford

44. Tennessee Tech

45. The Citadel

46. VMI

47. Western Carolina

48. Wofford

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker 2026-American Conference (FBS Group Of Six Conferences)

Editor's Note: Welcome to the RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker" here on the Real Football Central blog. The purpose of this blog is to track the schedules of every (or at least as many as possible) current "alternative" or "non-power conference" college football programs between now and the start of the 2026-2027 regular season in late August/early September. This includes teams at the FBS Group of 6, FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA levels/divisions.

P.S.: Each post will be constantly updated, as schedules are subject to change. Only full-season schedules will be posted as they are received.

American Conference

Overview: Tulane will look to not only defend its American Conference title from 2025 but also hope to return to the College Football Playoff, as the Green Wave face two key early-season road tests at defending ACC champion Duke and Kansas State. Meanwhile, North Texas will face its own

early-season challenge, with the Mean Green traveling to Indiana to face the defending FBS/CFP national champion Hoosiers, followed by hosting UNLV the following week. That's not to mention that Memphis will head to Las Vegas to face the Rebels in the Week Zero opener on August 29.

2026 Schedule Announcement Press Release (courtesy of the American Conference)

24. Army

25. Charlotte

26. East Carolina

27. Florida Atlantic

28. Memphis

29. Navy 

30. North Texas

31. Rice

32. Temple

33. Tulane

34. Tulsa

35. UAB

36. USF

37. UTSA

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker 2026-Patriot League (FCS)

Editor's Note: Welcome to the RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker" here on the Real Football Central blog. The purpose of this series is to track the schedules of every (or at least as many as possible) current "alternative" or "non-power conference" college football programs between now and the start of the 2026-2027 regular season in late August/early September. This includes teams at the FBS Group of 6, FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA levels/divisions.

P.S.: Each post will be constantly updated, as schedules are subject to change. Only full-season schedules will be posted as they are received.

Patriot League

Overview: The Patriot League will enter its 41st season of play with a new look, with William & Mary and Villanova joining fellow rival Richmond from the CAA. The addition of both schools gives the Patriot League 10 teams for 2026.

14. Bucknell

15. Colgate

16. Fordham

17. Georgetown (D.C.)

18. Holy Cross

19. Lafayette

20. Lehigh

21. Richmond

22. Villanova

23. William & Mary

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The RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker Debut 2026-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)-(FCS)

Editor's Note: Welcome to the debut of the "RFC Offseason Schedule Tracker" here on the Real Football Central blog. The purpose of this blog is to track the schedules of every (or at least as many as possible) current "alternative" or "non-power conference" college football programs between now and the start of the 2026-2027 regular season in late August/early September. This includes teams at the FBS Group of 6, FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA levels/divisions.

So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!

P.S.: Each post will be constantly updated, as schedules are subject to change. Only full-season schedules will be posted as they are received.

1. Maine (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

2. New Hampshire (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

3. Rhode Island (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

4. UAlbany (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

5. Sacred Heart (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

6. Bryant (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

7. Hampton (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

8. Campbell (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

9. Monmouth (N.J.)-(FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

10. Towson (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

11. Elon (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

12. North Carolina A&T (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

13. Stony Brook (FCS-Coastal Athletic Association)

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College Football 2025-2026: The Final Wrap-Up

Starting with the FCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 5, 2026, the #2 Montana State University Bobcats won their first national championship after edging the Illinois State University Redbirds. It was the Bobcats' second-ever title at the NCAA Division I level after winning the then-NCAA Division I-AA title in 1984.

Montana State finished the 2025-2026 season at 14-2 overall with the win, while Illinois State's season ended at 12-5. 

Read the recap of the game, from the Montana State perspective, by clicking here. 

For the Illinois State point of view, please click here.

Also, here's a quick moment to recognize the other "national champions" below the FBS level:

Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State

NCAA Division II: Ferris State

NCAA Division III: Wisconsin-River Falls

NAIA: Grand View

And now, the final overall prediction totals for the 2025-2026 college football season:

FBS Group Of Five Bowl Predictions Special: 10-5 (.667)

FCS Semifinal and Small College National Championship Games: 4-2 (.667)

FCS and NCAA Division III National Championship Games: 1-1 (.500)

Final Overall Record: 724-323 (.691)

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RFC Throwback Thursday: Morgan State Football-1966

(Video courtesy of HBCU Gameday/Florida Citrus Sports)

The final post of "RFC Throwback Thursday" for the 2025-2026 season takes a brief look back at the 1966 season for the Morgan State University Bears football team. 

After finishing the regular season undefeated at 8-0, the Bears from Baltimore beat the West Chester University Golden Rams 14-6 to win the Tangerine Bowl (now the Citrus Bowl) on December 10, 1966. Morgan State finished the 1966 season with an undefeated record of 9-0. To this day, Morgan State remains the lone HBCU program to win a major bowl game.

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