The FCS Daily Dose is a blog-style article series featuring an assortment of news, rumblings, quick hitters, and commentary on various topics.
A new Daily Dose will be published multiple times a week.
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FCS Teams Playing The Worst FBS Teams In 2024
There are more than 120 FCS vs. FBS games this fall.
We often first look at which household FCS programs are playing an FBS opponent. This year, the two marquee games are No. 1 South Dakota State playing Oklahoma State and No. 2 North Dakota State going to Colorado.
But when it comes to potential FCS over FBS wins, sometimes you have to look at the FBS opponent first.
There are plenty of examples of FCS teams beating an FBS program, and then that FCS squad goes on to have a mediocre season and miss the playoffs.
Last year, Fordham got an FBS win over Buffalo and didn’t make the playoffs. Same thing in 2022 when Southern Illinois beat the Big Ten’s Northwestern. In 2021, Duquesne beat Ohio, Jacksonville State beat Florida State, Northern Arizona beat Arizona, Rhode Island beat UMass, and Maine beat UMass … and they all missed the playoffs.
So when it comes to scoping out some upsets on the long list of FCS-FBS matchups, it isn’t always picking the FCS bluebloods. It can be about picking against the worst FBS teams.
So with that said, here are FCS teams playing the worst FBS opponents in 2024, via ESPN’s SP+ rankings. We’ll list teams ranked in the 100s.
Northern Colorado at No. 100 Colorado State
Sac State (FCS preseason No. 8) at No. 101 San Jose State
Robert Morris at No. 102 Utah State
Lehigh at No. 103 Army
Fordham at No. 104 Bowling Green
Stephen F. Austin at No. 105 North Texas
Chattanooga (FCS preseason No. 9) at No. 106 Georgia State
Morgan State at No. 107 Ohio
Wagner at No. 108 FAU
Delaware State at No. 109 Hawaii
Northern Iowa at No. 109 Hawaii
Bethune-Cookman at No. 110 Western Michigan
Northwestern State at No. 112 Tulsa
Bucknell at No. 113 Navy
Tennessee Tech at No. 114 Middle Tennessee State
SEMO at No. 116 New Mexico State
CCSU at No. 117 Central Michigan
Saint Francis at No. 118 Eastern Michigan
Southeastern Louisiana at No. 119 Southern Miss
Nicholls (FCS preseason No. 23) at No. 120 Louisiana Tech
Eastern Washington at No. 121 Nevada
Missouri State at No. 122 Ball State
Lafayette (FCS preseason No. 17) at No. 123 Buffalo
Southern Utah at No. 124 UTEP
Merrimack at No. 125 UConn
Gardner-Webb at No. 126 Charlotte
Monmouth at No. 127 FIU
CCSU at No. 128 UMass
Montana State (FCS preseason No. 4) at No. 129 New Mexico
Saint Francis at No. 130 Kent State
UT Martin at No. 131 Kennesaw State
Colgate at No. 133 Akron
Jackson State at No. 134 Louisiana-Monroe
RELATED: 2024 FCS vs. FBS Payouts
FCS Championship Game Tickets
Some FCS Championship game tickets go on sale in September (no specific date just yet).
A good strategy is to buy some tickets early if you believe your team has a shot to go to the natty.
The best-case scenario is your team does advance to Frisco, Texas, and you beat the rush to get tickets in December. The worst-case scenario is your team doesn’t make it and you can sell your ticket and cash a little profit.
OR … you can go to Frisco no matter who makes it. It has become a fun destination for several FCS fan bases to meet up and mingle around town or in the tailgating lots. Last year, I saw these teams represented: Montana, SDSU, Montana State, EWU, Idaho, SFA, JMU, Jacksonville State, SHSU, SIU, NDSU, The Citadel, Weber, UIW, Alcorn, SLU, and Cal Poly.
The FCS championship can be a very difficult ticket to get in December. Fans will have an opportunity to buy some in September.
Past Daily Doses
Celebration Bowl Date Moved Up A Week + Idaho, South Dakota Schedule Home-and-Home … READ MORE
FCS vs. Non-D1 Opponents In 2024 … READ MORE
UIW Lands UAlbany Transfer WR Roy Alexander + Elijawah Tolbert Returns to EIU … READ MORE
