The New Hampshire Wildcats will play at the Syracuse Orange in 2026, FBSchedules.com has learned.
A copy of the football agreement was obtained from the University of New Hampshire via a state public records request.
New Hampshire will travel to take on Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., on September 5, 2026. The Wildcats will receive a $550,000 guarantee from the Orange for the contest, according to the copy of the contract.
Syracuse is the first scheduled non-conference opponent for the New Hampshire Wildcats in 2026. The game will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
New Hampshire, a member of the Colonial Athletic Association in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), also has two other future games scheduled against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). UNH will play at the Kansas Jayhawks in 2020 and at the Pitt Panthers in 2021.
New Hampshire is the third scheduled non-conference opponent for Syracuse’s 2026 football schedule. The Orange are also scheduled to play at Army on Sept. 26 and at Notre Dame on a date to be determined.
New Hampshire is 3-2 so far this season with wins over Rhode Island, Duquesne, and Elon and losses to Holy Cross and FIU. Syracuse is also 3-2 following wins over Liberty, Western Michigan, and Holy Cross and losses to Maryland and Clemson.
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I do not like these games of FCS vs FBS Power 5. When they are in state I do not complain so much, but Syracuse please find a home and home game with another Power 5 team, Heck I would rather you play UConn.
The good part about playing an FCS team is that it need not be a home and home. These FCS games are always home games that don’t need to be returned the next season. And they count towards the six games you need to be bowl-eligible. That’s why SU should play an FCS team every season.