- There are currently 118 FCS vs. FBS games in 2023.
- Holy Cross, William & Mary, and Sacramento State can all knock off in-state foes.
Longtime readers know I love FCS football. Even more, I love the history of FCS-over-FBS upsets (#FearTheFCS) and the value of big FCS point spreads.
I’ll look anywhere for value when it comes to college football odds!
Biggest FCS vs. FBS Games in 2023
I’ve taken the liberty of putting every single FCS vs. FBS game of the 2023 season in a big spreadsheet at the bottom of the page. You can check that out if you’re just here to data mine or plan college football bets.
You can also check out my updated list of FCS vs. FBS upsets, which goes all the way back to 2012 and is updated regularly.
In the meantime, here’s a quick look at some of the biggest games on the docket for this upcoming season:
Holy Cross vs. Boston College (Week 2)
It’s the battle for Massachusetts football, and don’t be so quick to write in the big boys. Bob Chesney’s Holy Cross program has built itself into a Patriot League goliath, earning a seeded position in last year’s FCS playoffs.
In September, the Crusaders will take aim at big brother in Boston, and Chesney’s boys likely have the grit and talent to put up a real fight.
BC was 3-9 last year, which also doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence.
Idaho vs. Cal (Week 3)
Idaho is one of the clearest cautionary tales that college football has for blind FBS ambition. The Vandals were a hot FCS commodity that moved up to find absolute irrelevance.
But give the head brass at Idaho a lot of credit for doing what many programs never would – admitting their mistake and moving back to the FCS, where the program can thrive once again. (Looking at you, UMass.)
Idaho has returned to its once-perennial top-10 spot in FCS football, which makes it a dangerous upstart rather than a rudderless G5 mark. That makes the Vandals a dangerous opponent for Cal, which has now posted three straight losing seasons.
Sacramento State vs. Stanford (Week 3)
Is Sac State actually the best team in northern California? We’ll get a head-to-head data point in mid-September when the reigning Big Sky champs take on slumping Stanford, which is just 14-28 over the last four seasons.
Stanford has rarely played (and never lost to) FCS programs during David Shaw’s tenure; Sacramento State beat FBS Colorado State by 31 points last season.
William & Mary vs. Virginia (Week 6)
I’ve watched FBS football explode in Virginia over the last decade, with ODU, Liberty, and James Madison all moving up. The latter two found quick success; it’s fair to say that Virginia may be the third or fourth-best college football program in the state right now.
UVA will play its home opener against James Madison this year, and the Cavaliers may well be a home dog to the Dukes. I’m pretty biased – I graduated from JMU in 2014 – but I’m expecting a road win for Madison.
A loss would put an awful lot of regional pressure on UVA for its Oct. 7 game against William & Mary – its second of three games against intra-state foes this year. (The third, of course, is the Commonwealth Cup game against Virginia Tech on Nov. 25.)
While a nerds-versus-nerds game between UVA and William & Mary would normally be nothing to fear for Cavs fans, the Tribe have rebuilt themselves into a dangerous FCS team over the last couple of years. They’re No. 7 in the HERO Sports FCS preseason Top 25.
Oh, and who’s that leading William & Mary? Why, it’s former UVA head coach Mike London, who was forced out of Charlottesville eight years ago.
FCS vs. FBS Games In 2023: The Full List
Date | FCS Team | FBS Opponent | . |
Aug. 31 | Elon | Wake Forest | |
Aug. 31 | Rhode Island | Georgia State | |
Aug. 31 | St. Francis (PA) | W. Michigan | |
Aug. 31 | South Dakota | Missouri | |
Aug. 31 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Tulsa | |
Aug. 31 | North Carolina A&T | UAB | |
Aug. 31 | Southern Utah | Arizona State | |
Sept. 1 | Howard | E. Michigan | |
Sept. 1 | Missouri State | Kansas | |
Sept. 2 | E. Tennessee State | Jacksonville State | |
Sept. 2 | Mercer | Ole Miss | |
Sept. 2 | Northern Iowa | Iowa State | |
Sept. 2 | Long Island | Ohio | |
Sept. 2 | Robert Morris | Air Force | |
Sept. 2 | Portland State | Oregon | |
Sept. 2 | Towson | Maryland | |
Sept. 2 | Tennessee State | Notre Dame | |
Sept. 2 | Wofford | Pittsburgh | |
Sept. 2 | E. Kentucky | Cincinnati | |
Sept. 2 | Gardner-Webb | Appalachian State | |
Sept. 2 | W. Carolina | Arkansas | |
Sept. 2 | SE Louisiana | Mississippi State | |
Sept. 2 | Colgate | Syracuse | |
Sept. 2 | Bryant | UNLV | |
Sept. 2 | UT-Martin | Georgia | |
Sept. 2 | South Carolina State | Charlotte | |
Sept. 2 | Monmouth | Florida Atlantic | |
Sept. 2 | The Citadel | Georgia Southern | |
Sept. 2 | Bucknell | James Madison | |
Sept. 2 | Albany | Marshall | |
Sept. 2 | Maine | Florida International | |
Sept. 2 | Alabama A&M | Vanderbilt | |
Sept. 2 | SE Missouri State | Kansas State | |
Sept. 2 | Central Arkansas | Oklahoma State | |
Sept. 2 | Bethune-Cookman | Memphis | |
Sept. 2 | Alcorn State | Southern Miss | |
Sept. 2 | Stephen F. Austin | Troy | |
Sept. 2 | Northwestern State | Louisiana | |
Sept. 2 | W. Illinois | New Mexico State | |
Sept. 2 | Incarnate Word | UTEP | |
Sept. 2 | N. Arizona | Arizona | |
Sept. 2 | Idaho State | San Diego State | |
Sept. 7 | Murray State | Louisville | |
Sept. 9 | Indiana State | Indiana | |
Sept. 9 | Austin Peay | Tennessee | |
Sept. 9 | E. Washington | Fresno State | |
Sept. 9 | Albany | Hawaii | |
Sept. 9 | Tennessee Tech | New Mexico | |
Sept. 9 | Cal Poly | San Jose State | |
Sept. 9 | Idaho State | Utah State | |
Sept. 9 | Portland State | Wyoming | |
Sept. 9 | Delaware State | Army | |
Sept. 9 | Youngstown State | Ohio State | |
Sept. 9 | Delaware | Penn State | |
Sept. 9 | Holy Cross | Boston College | |
Sept. 9 | South Carolina State | Georgia Tech | |
Sept. 9 | New Hampshire | Central Michigan | |
Sept. 9 | E. Illinois | Bowling Green | |
Sept. 9 | Charleston Southern | Clemson | |
Sept. 9 | E. Kentucky | Kentucky | |
Sept. 9 | Southern Utah | BYU | |
Sept. 9 | Richmond | Michigan State | |
Sept. 9 | Wagner | Navy | |
Sept. 9 | S. Illinois | N. Illinois | |
Sept. 9 | Texas Southern | Toledo | |
Sept. 9 | SE Louisiana | S. Alabama | |
Sept. 9 | Lafayette | Duke | |
Sept. 9 | Duquesne | West Virginia | |
Sept. 9 | Morgan State | Akron | |
Sept. 9 | Fordham | Buffalo | |
Sept. 9 | Northwestern State | Louisiana Tech | |
Sept. 9 | Houston Christian | W. Kentucky | |
Sept. 9 | Florida A&M | South Florida | |
Sept. 9 | Idaho | Nevada | |
Sept. 9 | McNeese | Florida | |
Sept. 9 | Grambling | LSU | |
Sept. 9 | Furman | South Carolina | |
Sept. 9 | Nicholls | TCU | |
Sept. 9 | Lamar | UL Monroe | |
Sept. 9 | UC Davis | Oregon State |
Date | FCS Team | FBS Opponent | . |
Sept. 14 | Bethune-Cookman | Miami (FL) | |
Sept. 16 | VMI | NC State | |
Sept. 16 | Long Island | Baylor | |
Sept. 16 | Central Connecticut | Kent State | |
Sept. 16 | North Dakota | Boise State | |
Sept. 16 | Weber State | Utah | |
Sept. 16 | Norfolk State | Temple | |
Sept. 16 | Indiana State | Ball State | |
Sept. 16 | Idaho | California | |
Sept. 16 | North Carolina Central | UCLA | |
Sept. 16 | N. Colorado | Washington State | |
Sept. 16 | Villanova | UCF | |
Sept. 16 | Murray State | Middle Tennessee | |
Sept. 16 | Tarleton | Texas Tech | |
Sept. 16 | Prairie View A&M | SMU | |
Sept. 16 | Texas Southern | Rice | |
Sept. 16 | Duquesne | Coastal Carolina | |
Sept. 16 | Stony Brook | Arkansas State | |
Sept. 16 | Jackson State | Texas State | |
Sept. 16 | Samford | Auburn | |
Sept. 16 | Sacramento State | Stanford | |
Sept. 23 | Nicholls | Tulane | |
Sept. 23 | Delaware State | Miami (OH) | |
Sept. 23 | Texas A&M-Commerce | Old Dominion | |
Sept. 23 | Gardner-Webb | East Carolina | |
Sept. 30 | Wagner | Rutgers | |
Sept. 30 | Abilene Christian | North Texas | |
Sept. 30 | Utah Tech | Colorado State | |
Oct. 7 | William & Mary | Virginia | |
Oct. 7 | Howard | Northwestern | |
Nov. 4 | Merrimack | UMass | |
Nov. 4 | Kennesaw State | Sam Houston | |
Nov. 4 | Campbell | North Carolina | |
Nov. 11 | Holy Cross | Army | |
Nov. 18 | North Alabama | Florida State | |
Nov. 18 | Chattanooga | Alabama | |
Nov. 18 | Abilene Christian | Texas A&M | |
Nov. 18 | Sacred Heart | UConn |
College Football Parlays
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