FCS Football: Top 25 Nonconference Games of the 2025 Season

FCS 2025 football nonconference matchups

The 2025 FCS football season will be here before you know it, so let’s take a look at some of the top nonconference matchups you should not miss. These matchups have the potential to make or break your favorite team’s season, whether in terms of playoff positioning or bragging rights.

Here are the best nonconference matches for the 2025 season.

Week 0

UC Davis vs. Mercer in Montgomery, Ala.
North Carolina Central vs. Southern in Atlanta

The 2025 season begins with a electric fashion, with UC Davis and Mercer leading the way. That’s the 5th and 7th seeds from last season’s playoffs. The night finishes with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge between North Carolina Central and Southern, both of which have Celebration Bowl aspirations.

Week 1

Towson at Norfolk State
William & Mary at Furman
Howard vs. Florida A&M in Miami, Fla.
Sacramento State at South Dakota State
Eastern Washington at UIW

There are numerous storylines in Week 1’s nonconference slate.

Michael Vick, an NFL great, takes over as Norfolk State’s head coach for the first time against CAA opponent Towson.

Sacramento State’s top recruiting class in the FCS will meet a South Dakota State club that has retooled after losing its head coach and many players to the transfer portal.

Howard and Florida A&M resume their rivalry in the Orange Blossom Classic. Exciting!

And that’s before we get into a CAA-SoCon war with William & Mary and Furman, as well as a Big Sky-Southland battle with Eastern Washington at UIW.

Week 2

Chattanooga at Tennessee Tech
North Dakota State at Tennessee State
Holy Cross at New Hampshire
South Dakota State at Montana State
Stephen F. Austin at Abilene Christian

Week 2’s game of the week is South Dakota State versus Montana State. The two FCS powerhouses produced an instant classic in their final regular season in 2023. We’ll be in for a treat if they meet again.

There are plenty of additional meetings between playoff contenders. Last season, both North Dakota State and Tennessee State advanced to the playoffs. Last year, Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech were both on the bubble. Week 2 will have a season-long influence.

Week 3

Lehigh at Duquesne
Elon at Western Carolina
North Dakota at Montana
Southeast Missouri State at North Dakota State
Southern Illinois at UT Martin

In 2025, Lehigh and Duquesne might win the Patriot League and the North Eastern Conference. Southeast Missouri State and North Dakota State were both playoff teams last year, and they will meet during the regular season.

Any matchup between the Big Sky and MVFC, such as North Dakota and Montana, is always worth seeing.

Continuing with the Week 3 schedule, Elon at Western Carolina and Southern Illinois at UT Martin could impact which teams obtain at-large bids in 2025.

Week 4

Chattanooga at Tarleton State
Southern Illinois at Southeast Missouri State
Central Arkansas at Sacramento State
UIW at Northern Arizona

Southeast Missouri State will play another difficult MVFC opponent, Southern Illinois, in Week 4. It will be the RedHawks’ last chance to make a statement nonconference win.

Tarleton State’s rise from new FCS admission to FCS playoff contender will continue in 2025, with a visit from Chattanooga serving as a solid litmus test.

Central Arkansas and Sacramento State are both coming off poor seasons in 2024. I believe this game has the potential to go over into November.

Finally, when UIW travels to Northern Arizona, it will face the first of two consecutive playoff opponents.

Week 5

Abilene Christian at UIW

Abilene Christian and UIW both won FCS playoff games last year, and they’ll face off in San Antonio this autumn. It will be UIW’s second consecutive game against a former playoff team as the Cardinals try to establish themselves as a real title contender. This is Abilene Christian’s penultimate nonconference game before conference play, so a win here could strengthen their credentials.

Week 6

Rhode Island at Brown
Harvard at Holy Cross

The Governor’s Cup match between Rhode Island and Brown is always worth seeing. Last year, Rhode Island won with 14 fourth-quarter points, and the game was decided by four points in 2023. It’s one of the top rivalries in the northeast.

Elsewhere in Week 6, Harvard versus Holy Cross may have playoff implications now that the Ivy League is in the postseason. Both clubs are expected to compete for the conference title and, maybe, an at-large bid.

Week 7

North Carolina Central at Florida A&M

In Week 7, North Carolina Central will face Florida A&M, one of the top HBCU football programs in the 2020s. The two have not met since Florida A&M departed the MEAC following the 2019 season, but both have won Celebration Bowls. In 2025, the Eagles and Rattlers are predicted to be top candidates for the MEAC and SWAC championships, therefore this might be another Celebration Bowl preview.