Potential FCS Upsets Against Power Four Teams in 2026

The tradition of FCS teams upsetting Power Four opponents in college football may be fading, as evidenced by a 125-game winning streak by Power conference teams against FCS competition. The last notable upset occurred in Week 4 of the 2023 season when Sacramento State defeated Stanford 30-23.

Since then, no FCS team has managed to achieve a similar feat, with the disparity between FBS and FCS programs growing due to factors like the transfer portal and NIL. FBS power conference teams have dominated FCS opponents with a record of 223-2 since the start of the NIL era in 2022, compared to a 747-38 record over the previous 16 seasons.

Looking ahead to 2026, there are over 120 matchups scheduled between FBS and FCS teams, including 57 games featuring FCS programs against Power Four opponents. Among these, six games are highlighted as having the potential for upsets, including matchups involving South Dakota State, Youngstown State, North Dakota, Tennessee Tech, Austin Peay, and Monmouth against West Virginia. Each of these games presents unique challenges and opportunities for FCS teams to break the current streak.