Of the 138 FBS programs competing in 2026, 20 — 14 percent — enter the season without a single power‑conference opponent on their non‑league slate.
That group includes nine Power Four members (five from the Big Ten and four from the Big 12), accounting for 13 percent of the power‑conference field, along with 11 Group of Six programs — three each from the American, CUSA, and Mountain West, plus one apiece from the MAC and Sun Belt — representing 16 percent of the G6 contingent.
Some college football teams ended up without a true power‑conference non‑conference opponent in 2026 because the scheduling landscape shifted underneath them. Conference realignment weakened traditional Power matchups — most notably the collapse of the Pac‑12, which left Oregon State and Washington State classified as non-power opponents moving forward.
Additionally, the Big Ten is the sole power conference without a mandate for its members to schedule a power non-conference game. That leaves teams to schedule as they see fit, while others may choose regional opponents or long-standing rivalries instead.
AIR FORCE
Non-conference schedule: Duquesne (Sept. 5), Navy (Oct. 3), UConn (Oct. 31), at Army (Nov. 7)
Air Force doesn’t have much flexibility when creating its non-conference schedule, as annual games against Army and Navy are baked in. The Falcons last played a power non-conference team in 2024 when they lost on the road at Baylor, 31-3. Looking ahead, Air Force is scheduled to host Baylor in 2027.
ARIZONA
Non-conference schedule: Northern Arizona (Sept. 5), Northern Illinois (Sept. 19), at Washington State (Sept. 26)
Arizona does play at Washington State, a Pac-12 member, in 2026. However, the Pac-12 lost its power status following the departure of most if its members in 2023. The Wildcats are slated to host Washington State next season before traveling to Nebraska in 2028.
ARMY
Non-conference schedule: Bryant (Sept. 5), at Louisiana Tech (Oct. 3), Air Force (Nov. 7), vs Navy (Dec. 12, East Rutherford, NJ)
Two of Army’s non-league opponents are played annually — Air Force and Navy. The Black Knights last played a power foe in 2025 when they defeated Kansas State in Manhattan, 24-21. Army’s next regular-season power tilt is in 2028 at Boston College.
FIU
Non-conference schedule: at USF (Sept. 5), Buffalo (Sept. 12), at Florida Atlantic (Sept. 19), LIU (Sept. 26)
FIU faces two in-state foes this season, USF and Florida Atlantic, but neither are in power leagues. The Panthers last played a power team in 2025 when they lost at Penn State, 34-0. Currently, FIU has one future game scheduled against a power opponent — at UCF in 2030.
HOUSTON
Non-conference schedule: Oregon State (Sept. 5), Southern (Sept. 12), at Georgia Southern (Sept. 26)
Oregon State, a former power-league team, is on the schedule for Houston in 2026 following a tilt in Corvallis the previous season. Technically speaking, the Cougars haven’t faced a power team outside of conference play since they fell to Oklahoma in 2024 in Norman, 16-12. Next season, Houston will take on LSU at NRG Stadium in Houston.
INDIANA
Non-conference schedule: North Texas (Sept. 5), Howard (Sept. 12), WKU (Sept. 19)
Indiana, which won the national championship last season, hasn’t faced a power team in non-conference action since a 21-14 loss to Louisville in Indianapolis in 2023. Following their recent decision to cancel a 2030-31 home-and-home series with Notre Dame, the Hoosiers now have zero power opponents on their future non-conference slate.
JACKSONVILLE STATE
Non-conference schedule: at North Dakota State (Aug. 29), Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 5), at Ohio (Sept. 12), Georgia Southern (Sept. 19)
Jacksonville State, which moved up to the FBS in 2023, last played non-league power opponents in 2024 (Louisville) and 2025 (UCF), but will not do so this season. The next scheduled power non-conference game for the Gamecocks is at Auburn in 2029.
JAMES MADISON
Non-conference schedule: Liberty (Sept. 5), Wagner (Sept. 12), at San Diego State (Sept. 19), at UConn (Nov. 14)
James Madison was previously scheduled to play Virginia Tech in 2026, but the Hokies dropped the contest following the ACC’s move to a nine-game league schedule. The Dukes later filled that void with San Diego State. Looking ahead, JMU is slated to visit Maryland in 2027, Virginia in 2028, UCF in 2029, and North Carolina in 2031.
KANSAS STATE
Non-conference schedule: Nicholls (Sept. 5), Washington State (Sept. 12), Tulane (Sept. 19)
Like Arizona, Kansas State faces non-power Washington State this season, although the series was scheduled way back in 2016 when the Pac-12 was a power league. The Wildcats are next scheduled to play a power non-conference foe when they visit NC State next season.
LIBERTY
Non-conference schedule: at James Madison (Sept. 5), Gardner‑Webb (Sept. 12), Ball State (Sept. 19), at Coastal Carolina (Sept. 24)
Liberty hasn’t faced a power non-conference team in the regular season since a 23-22 loss to Virginia Tech in 2022, and that season also included games against Arkansas, BYU, and Wake Forest. The Flames are next scheduled to face a power non-league opponent when they visit Virginia Tech in consecutive seasons (2027 and 2028).
MEMPHIS
Non-conference schedule: at UNLV (Aug. 29), Arkansas State (Sept. 5), at Boise State (Sept. 12), UT Martin (Sept. 19)
Memphis faced a non-conference power team as recently as last season when it defeated Arkansas at home, 32-31. The Tigers aren’t currently scheduled to face a power team next season, but have games lined up at Arkansas in 2028 and 2030 and a series with Mississippi State (2028 home, 2029 away).
NEBRASKA
Non-conference schedule: Ohio (Sept. 5), Bowling Green (Sept. 12), North Dakota (Sept. 19)
Nebraska opened the 2025 season against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium, but doesn’t face a power team in non-conference play in 2026 and 2027 after canceling a series with Tennessee. The Cornhuskers next face a power team in 2028 when they host Arizona.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Non-conference schedule: Jacksonville State (Aug. 29), Fordham (Sept. 5), at Sacramento State (Sept. 19), at San Jose State (Nov. 27)
North Dakota State will be playing its first season at the FBS level this fall. The Bison last faced a power conference team in 2024 when they fell at Colorado, 31-26. NDSU is next scheduled to visit Oregon in 2028.
PENN STATE
Non-conference schedule: Marshall (Sept. 5), at Temple (Sept. 12), Buffalo (Sept. 19)
Penn State eschewed playing a non-league power team last season and will do it again this fall. The Nittany Lions last played a power opponent outside of league play in 2024 when it crushed West Virginia in Morgantown, 34-12. Looking ahead, PSU has a series scheduled against Syracuse in 2027 (home) and 2028 (away).
SACRAMENTO STATE
Non-conference schedule: Mississippi Valley State (Sept. 5), at Fresno State (Sept. 12), North Dakota State (Sept. 19), at Hawaii (Nov. 28)
Like North Dakota State, Sacramento State will also play its first season at the FBS level in 2026. The Bison last faced an FBS power conference team in 2023 when they upset Stanford, 30-23. The next out-of-conference power opponent for Sac State is California in 2027.
TEXAS TECH
Non-conference schedule: Abilene Christian (Sept. 5), at Oregon State (Sept. 12), Sam Houston (Sept. 26)
Texas Tech hasn’t technically played a power non-conference foe since a 38-30 home loss to Oregon in 2023. The Red Raiders did face former power status teams Washington State in 2024 and Oregon State in 2025. TTU currently doesn’t have a power team slated until 2030 when it faces Arkansas in Las Vegas.
USC
Non-conference schedule: San Jose State (Aug. 29), Fresno State (Sept. 4), Louisiana (Sept. 12)
With the exception of the COVID season in 2020, USC faced Notre Dame every year since 1946. But tensions between the two schools resulted in a series break for the next four seasons. Earlier this month, the two schools agreed to resume their rivalry in 2030. It’s currently unknown if the Trojans will fill their power non-conference opponent void from 2027 through 2029.
USF
Non-conference schedule: FIU (Sept. 5), Delaware State (Sept. 19), at Bowling Green (Sept. 26), Kent State (Oct. 17)
USF played a pair of in-state power foes last season, notching an 18-16 upset of Florida and a 49-12 defeat to Miami. The Bulls were slated to visit both Alabama and BYU this season, but the games were postponed to 2032 and 2034, respectively. The Bulls also have future power games scheduled against Louisville in 2027 and 2030, Miami in 2028, and NC State in 2029, and Notre Dame in 2029 and 2031.
WASHINGTON
Non-conference schedule: Washington State (Sept. 6), Utah State (Sept. 12), Eastern Washington (Sept. 19)
Washington played former power and in-state rival Washington State last season and hosts the Cougars to open the 2026 season. The two schools will tangle again in 2027 and 2028 before the Huskies begin a series with Tennessee in 2029 and 2030.
WYOMING
Non-conference schedule: at Colorado State (Sept. 5), Northern Colorado (Sept. 12), at Central Michigan (Sept. 19), UConn (Nov. 28)
Wyoming faced a non-conference power team as recently as last season when it lost at Colorado, 37-20. The Cowboys are scheduled to face a power team next season when they visit Utah. Other future power opponents include Texas Tech in 2028, California in 2029 and 2031, and Arizona in 2030 and 2033.
I dont blame Indiana, their conference schedule is never full of easy wins (unless it’s Purdue)
Main reason Indiana does not want to play a P4 OOC because they fair much better with cupcake teams.
Every Power 4 Conference should require each of their teams to play at least one non-conference Power 4 team every year, like the SEC requires. I hope the CFP considers strength of schedule with more weight. Indiana, Texas Tech, & some others non-conference slates are pathetic.🙄
Northwestern plays cupcake teams excellent.
Illinois plays cupcake teams excellent.
Michigan plays cupcake teams excellent.
Perhaps every Power 4 conference should require each of their teams to play at least one non-conference FCS foe, like the SEC (unofficially) appears to require. Talk about pathetic non-conference slates.
Only two P4 vs P4 OOC games I care about are Iowa-Iowa State & Georgia-Georgia Tech.
Dan I would add Kentucky-Louisville, Florida-FSU, Clemson-S. Carolina, and if they could bring it back, Kansas-Missouri
@Drew I’m surprised Kansas-Missouri didn’t get the “Rivalry Week” treatment like Kentucky-Louisville did once Mizzou left for the SEC.
Missouri will be excellent with Oklahoma on rivalry week.
Missouri-Kansas would be favorable in September.
The SEC Does Require One Power Team in their Schedules…
Kluthpike isn’t Certain of This but They Do ✅
I can excuse teams that scheduled Washington State and Oregon State back when they were still power conference teams and couldn’t replace them. What is unacceptable is teams like Indiana that are deliberately scheduling only cupcakes every year.
Yeah like that one time a team claimed a national championship even though their opponents went 3-7-1, 5-6, 6-5, 7-4, 3-8, 6-6, 8-4, 4-8, 2-9, 4-7-1, 6-5-1, 2-9, and 6-6. Yeah 62-84-3 combined for a .426 win percentage.
@Bison Jim
BYU didn’t claim the title, they were voted champions by the AP and UPI. is that BYU’s fault?
That year, Washington was #2 in both major polls, but we must remember that the Huskies were not Pac 12 champs–USC, by virtue of beating them, were.
U of W played and soundly beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, 28-17.
Let’s just say I’m glad the championship is now settled on the field.
But be fair, BYU didn’t claim anything—they were crowned champs by the media and the coaches.
Except that it wasn’t claimed. It was given. The trophy’s in the student athlete building if you’d like to see it. We all know the real reason our championship is dissed is because elitists couldn’t bear the sight of a non power conference program winning it all. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
I love how Washington fans are still whining about it all these years later. Even after we absolutely destroyed them the very next year when both teams were returning largely the same talent.
It’s not because you aren’t in a power conference, it’s because your team was worse than UCF and played a worse schedule.
Funny how you bring up UCF. After we won it all the powers at be rigged the system to prevent a mid major team from ever winning it again. UCF never had a chance. Also hilarious that you say it’s not because we weren’t in a power conference but because we had a weak schedule. As if those don’t correlate.
It sure seems to me like you are in fact saying that because we weren’t in a power conference we weren’t a deserving champion.
Indiana and Cignetti should be embarrassed with their current and future non-conference schedules!
I agree shame!!!
Indiana wants to do cupcake games it’s their business.
Yes, cupcake teams like Alabama, Oregon, and Miami…
hey watch it Oregon Is not a cupcake team we actually try unlike indiana with their cupcake schedule
I don’t like “requiring” teams to play certain opponents. That said, schools should seek quality and like opponents. Season tickets for major college football are not cheap; good seats require a yearly donation, so why would an Indiana football fan want to spend money and time watching IU play FCS Howard, North Texas and Western Kentucky?
That said, their B1G schedule is not easy.
Northwestern
@Rutgers
@Nebraska
Ohio State
@Michigan
Minnesota
USC
@Washington
Purdue
One of these years, Nebraska is going to finally beat a ranked team
Ohio State is still Ohio State and remember, the Hoosiers beat them 13-10 in B1G Championship Game. Ohio State returns its QB, IU is breaking in a new guy.
Michigan will be better with the stabilizing direction of Whittingham. They just have to realize that Underwood is not he right guy at QB.
Minnesota is well-coached and usually gets one big win per year.
USC–at some point they play to their pedigree?
Going to Seattle in November and against a very good Washington team with an established and returning QB?
You tell me what to expect.
Nice article John!!!
Teams could always schedule “non-conference” games against fellow conference members that are not on that year’s schedule. I know UVA and NC State had one scheduled as did Wake and UNC.
I love this
Why not?
Great idea.
I hate those games, there’s 138 teams in FBS, there’s plenty of teams in other conferences to play
First time since 1999 that USF hasn’t played a Power conference team in non-conference. That was USF’s penultimate season in D-1AA (FCS)
As an everydayer of Locked on College Football here’s a thought. What if we just didn’t let schools control their non-conference schedules? We don’t let them control conference schedules, we shouldn’t let them control non-conference schedules either. Also what if games weren’t scheduled multiple years in advance? It would make everything so much better.
That I agree with. But college is different than the professional leagues
In historical terms, the NCAA is the Articles of Confederation. A loose union with more power to states (schools).
That’s why they make their no conference schedules.
As per Drew, before bloated conferences, I’d agree with you. But in the 18 team Big Ten, Purdue plays only half the league. Why not schedule a conference for that you are not playing
It’s only fitting that they SHOW Cignetti and his…
“Buying Out of Power Conference Contest Every Single Time They Had One Scheduled-Before His Arrival” on the FRONT of This Article!!!✅
He’s Cost Indiana 2.5 to 3 Million Bucks from His Buying Out Of OOC Scheduled POWER GAMES FROM THE DAY HE ARRIVED AND INTO HIS FUTURE SCHEDULE THERE ALSO! 😂🤷♂️
THERE ARE ZERO ON HIS FUTURE SCHEDULE!!!
ACTUALLY ZERO ON THEIR SCHEDULE!!! PERIOD
🤷♂️✅
Not to Mention Fans That Will Eventually Get Tired of the CURRENT CUPCAKES CIGNETTI IS SCHEDULING!!! They WILL Eventually Get Tired of His Tactics and Watching BLOWOUT GAMES WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO COST INDIANA WITH TICKET SALES!🙈😁😁😁
One could say it benefited Indiana More from Winning the Championship THIS SEASON + (Cignetti immensely in His Contract Incentives)!
The Fans of Indiana are Probably Alright with Watching their Team Demolish the Lowly Teams they Face Since They Are Honestly Not Used To Winning-Period!
Yet they are still The Ones That Are Missing Out on Good Football Games if they’re Truly…
“Fans of The Game”!!!
Now that the B10 and Anyone Else That Had People Listening Have Cried Sooo Much About The SEC Having An 8 Game Schedule Got Their Wish and Now They Have a 9 Games Conference Schedule + A MANDATORY POWER SCHOOL ON THEIR SCHEDULE ALSO…
MAYBE-JUST MAYBE THE PLAYOFFS COMMITTEE WILL DO SOMETHING THEY NEVER HAVE AND TAKE SOS INTO ACCOUNT AND THESE PEOPLE CRYING FOUL WILL HAVE A 10 WINS Team (Indiana) GET LEFT OUT FOR A TEAM THAT ACTUALLY CHALLENGES THEIR PLAYERS TO BE THE BEST TEAM THEY CAN BE…
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE WEEK AND THEIR FANS DO NOT GET CHEATED OUTTA THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY 💲💲💲EVERY SINGLE OOC CONTEST!!!
Cignetti doesn’t set the schedule for Indiana so he hasn’t cost them anything. No college football coach is on the phone setting this up, it doesn’t work that way. If you are losing out and feel you are being cheated, just don’t pay for season tickets. The AD’s office is overall responsible for the scheduling for all sports, not the coaches.
Coaches are absolutely consulted on scheduling.
The SEC Does Make It Mandatory for the SEC Member Schools to Have at Least One Power School on Their Schedule!!!
Maybe this Joke of a “Biased” Playoff Committee will Start Taking SOS Seriously and into Consideration and a 10 Win Indiana Team that plays a Pityful Schedule Year after Year and by that i Mean Probably around the 50th Ranked SOS-Which is my Guess and is Bound to be Fairly Accurate-Will Get Skipped Over By a Team Like South Carolina from “2024” that was 9-3 Yet Was Playing as Well as Anyone Out There in Winning Their Last 6 Games and Beat a Team that Got into the Playoffs because of Their Conference Championship Title Game Win in The Clemy Tigers 🙄😁✅
Sec is high and mighty on a 9 game conference schedule they haven’t even played yet…
What bothers me on this debate is that a lot of you are saying if team A plays Boston College, Charlotte and VMI in their OOC schedule, they are the righteous one over team B with a schedule of Tulane, James Madison and Boise State. While this is an extreme example, just because a team plays a low end P4 and an FCS nobody, how is that different than playing three decent G6 teams?
You can’t just say playing a P4 school makes the whole schedule, and it isn’t that easy to get all these schedules put together.
At this point, the whole issue is no different than when steroids were first ignored in baseball and then everyone became aware of what was going on and they still weren’t banned. You have to have a rule in place to make everyone fit to the format or there isn’t a violation, regardless of how fantastic you think the SEC is.
By the way, just a reminder, the SEC didn’t even have a semifinalist in last year’s CFP.
Again, it’s not that easy to put together a schedule and make dates match up, and if you are going to require this kind of conformity, you should have no problem with eliminating a bunch of bowl games and stop letting teams in with .500 or worse records. It is really time to end the rewarding of mediocrity and hanging a banner as the “CHAMPIONS” of the Kohler Toilet Bowl when your team finished 12th in the regular season conference standing and acting like it was a great year for the program.
Les be real Indiana just wants a real easy schedule and so that they can try and win all there games
The objective is to win the game. Herm Edwards had a great quote on this years back that has been used in several TV ads. You play to win the game.
Indiana and Nebraska shouldn’t get credit towards bowl eligibility when they beat the fcs teams they play until they schedule a p4 on their oc schedule.
That’s not how it works however.
I think whether these schools go on the road in the OOC schedule is also significant. Indiana is one of only three B1G teams who have determined that they should not play a Power team in the OOC schedule. Nebraska also does not play on the road. I would rather host a low level Power five team like Vanderbilt or Maryland vs. playing @ Wash State e.g.