In a college football landscape where most FBS teams pencil in at least one matchup against an FCS opponent, a small group of programs is taking a different approach in 2025. Just ten FBS teams—out of 136—are currently set to play a schedule composed entirely of fellow FBS opponents. It’s a notable scheduling decision in a sport where early-season tune-ups against FCS foes have become the norm for many programs seeking a manageable path to bowl eligibility.
The ten teams opting out of FCS matchups in 2025 are Colorado, Michigan, Notre Dame, Sam Houston, Stanford, Texas, Tulane, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin. This group includes a mix of blue-blood programs, rising contenders, and a few that have broken from tradition. For some, like Michigan and USC, it’s business as usual. Michigan hasn’t played an FCS opponent since 2010, when it faced UMass, while USC hasn’t scheduled one since the early 1950s. Programs like these have historically avoided lower-tier competition, instead loading their schedules with Power Five and high-end Group of Five opponents.
Others on the list, such as Sam Houston and Tulane, reflect the shifting dynamics within the Group of Five. Sam Houston, a recent FCS-to-FBS transition program, has so far avoided scheduling its former peers. Tulane, on the other hand, appears to be prioritizing a competitive non-conference slate as the program continues to build momentum following recent success in the American Athletic Conference.
Texas, Wisconsin, Stanford, and Notre Dame round out the group. While Texas and Wisconsin have flirted with FCS opponents in past years, both have increasingly leaned toward stronger non-conference scheduling, likely influenced by their conference affiliations and playoff ambitions. Notre Dame, unaffiliated with a conference for football, has long held itself to a high standard of scheduling, and 2025 will be no exception. Stanford, now in the ACC, also avoids the FCS this season, perhaps as a statement amid changing league affiliations.
This marks a drop from the 15 FBS teams that avoided FCS opponents in 2024. As more programs scramble to fill scheduling gaps caused by realignment and changing media contracts, matchups against FCS schools continue to be a convenient option. However, for these ten teams in 2025, the decision to face only FBS-level opponents reflects a commitment to strength of schedule, brand value, and competitive identity.
Have zero issues with My Michigan Wolverines not playing an FCS team.
USC did *schedule* UC Davis at one point, but the game wasn’t played.
Doesn’t Texas know it’s in the SEC now?
They’re still supposedly among the SEC teams pushing for a 9-game conference slate. As a fan, I approve. The 8-game conference slate doesn’t make much sense at this point. If we’re going to be in the conference it makes way more sense to be able to play Oklahoma, Arkansas, and A&M every year.
Either way, I’m glad they’re sticking with FBS opponents. It’s funny that the article acts like Texas isn’t among the group where this is the standard though. The last time they played an FCS opponent it was pre-transition San Houston State team, and that was done last second to replace a cancelled game. It was met with mostly negative reactions by fans, alumni, ticket holders, etc., and the AD said they wouldn’t be scheduling FCS teams again. The previous time they scheduled a “FCS” team was before FBS and FCS existed, I believe?
Texas is also playing Ohio State this year and next, scheduled a home-and-home with Michigan in 2024 and ’27, and is playing Notre Dame the two seasons after that. I’m not a UT fan but they put their money where their mouth is in scheduling for the most part.
SEC is so good that they have to play FCS schools. The 1973 Alabama Football team would be ashamed of what the SEC has become: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Alabama_Crimson_Tide_football_team
The only post that should be posted is the SEC rigs the system to prop up their schools by playing only 8 conference games and now 1 power 4 game, totaling 10 Power 4 games. The Big 10 and B12 both play 9 conference games and at least 1 power 4 game, totaling 11 Power 4 games. On average, half their teams will have 1 more loss than the SEC because of the extra conference game. SEC = cheaters.
Kudos to these 10 schools!! Wish there were more.
Love the way you look down your nose at smaller programs but they need these games to survive and most fbs coaches know this. Love Dabo Swinney who wants to play an in-state fcs team every year because he knows they need the money and doesn’t want to see these teams go away.
Steve, Dabo is not as generous as you think. South Carolina law requires the Gamecocks and Tigers to play FCS schools every year on a rotating basis.
FBS cupcake games are needed including FCS.
Many FBS programs avoid scheduling strong FCS programs like North Dakota St, and South Dakota St.
This season Oregon plays Montana St, who were in the FCS championship game last year. Iowa St plays South Dakota which was a semifinalist. WSU and SJSU plays Idaho, and Auburn plays Mercer, both solid FCS quarter finalists.
I applaud FBS programs scheduling high level FCS opponents, versus playing a relatively weaker G6 opponent.
Just as important, I applaud conferences playing a 9-game conference schedule.
I want to see all four power conferences playing a 9-game conference schedule plus I want see another week added during CFB regular season so they can have 4 OOC games with two P4 & other cupcake games with G6 & FCS.
USC hasn’t played a FCS program since the 1950s? FCS or I-AA wasn’t around in the 50s.
So the Trojans have never played a FCS school? Just write that then.
I Hope I’m not the first commenter to point out the payday these FC’S schools receive from their bigger brethren to help finance their athletic departments
Before I was in college, I disapproved of FBS schools playing FCS schools. Then, I went to an FCS school, and welcomed the opportunity to play an FBS school every once in a while. It’s a good way to challenge yourself, and the FCS schools get a good pay out from the FBS schools playing them.
You talk about SOS, yet you have no idea how it is tabulated. If you play more conferences games than others, it goes down according to the stupid SOS formula. It’s been manipulated by the SEC to avoid playing an equal amount of Power 4 teams. Total hacks.
The SOS you are referring to is the Win-Loss method. The NCAA is the only one that uses that officially, most use other sources.