FCS vs. FBS: History of FCS Wins
The world of college football is a whirlwind of passion, rivalries, and fierce competition. College football I separated into two division ; the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). FBS schools are revered over FCS schools, so let’s examine the history of FCS wins and upsets.
Understanding the FBS vs. FCS Divide
The FBS, formerly known as Division I-A, is the pinnacle of college football. With a maximum of 85 full scholarships per team and a wealth of resources, these programs boast the highest level of competition and national exposure. On the other hand, the FCS, previously known as Division I-AA, operates with a cap of 63 scholarships and a more modest financial backdrop.
However, the differences between these divisions go beyond mere numbers. The FBS is structured around lucrative bowl games and a highly anticipated four-team playoff, while the FCS crowns its champion through a 24-team playoff system officially recognized by the NCAA. This contrast in postseason formats adds an extra layer of intrigue to the FBS vs. FCS rivalry.
FCS Upsets and the Power of the Underdog
While the FBS teams are typically considered a “higher caliber” of college football, the FCS has proven time and again that size and resources do not always dictate the outcome on the field. Throughout the years, FCS programs have pulled off remarkable upsets against their FBS counterparts.
![](https://i0.wp.com/sportsmonetize.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ndsu-iowa-inlinejpg.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
One of the most memorable FCS upsets occurred in 2016 when North Dakota State, a perennial FCS powerhouse, defeated the No. 13 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, an FBS team, by a score of 23-21. This victory not only shook the college football world but also solidified North Dakota State’s reputation as a formidable force, even against the highest levels of competition.
Which FCS Conference Wins the Most FBS Games?
Since the start of the 2012 season, the Big Sky Conference has garnered the most FCS upsets over FBS teams, with an impressive 21 victories to its name – more than any other FCS conference.
FCS vs. FBS Upsets: Full List of FCS Upsets Since 2012
Date | FCS Winner | FBS Loser | Final Score |
9/16/2023 | Sacramento State | Stanford | 30-23 |
9/9/2023 | Idaho | Nevada | 33-6 |
9/9/2023 | Fordham | Buffalo | 40-37 |
9/9/2023 | Southern Illinois | Northern Illinois | 14-11 |
9/24/2022 | Sacramento State | Colorado State | 41-10 |
9/17/2022 | Southern Illinois | Northwestern | 31-24 |
9/10/2022 | Weber State | Utah State | 35-7 |
9/10/2022 | UIW | Nevada | 55-41 |
9/10/2022 | Holy Cross | Buffalo | 37-31 |
9/10/2022 | Eastern Kentucky | Bowling Green | 59-57, 7OT |
9/3/2022 | Delaware | Navy | 14-7 |
9/2/2022 | William & Mary | Charlotte | 41-24 |
11/13/2021 | Maine | UMass | 35-10 |
11/06/2021 | Rhode Island | UMass | 35-22 |
9/18/2021 | Northern Arizona | Arizona | 21-19 |
9/18/2021 | UIW | Texas State | 42-34 |
9/11/2021 | Jacksonville State | Florida State | 20-17 |
9/11/2021 | Duquesne | Ohio | 28-26 |
9/4/2021 | East Tennessee State | Vanderbilt | 23-3 |
9/4/2021 | Montana | No. 20 Washington | 13-7 |
9/4/2021 | Holy Cross | UConn | 38-28 |
9/3/2021 | South Dakota State | Colorado State | 42-23 |
9/2/2021 | Eastern Washington | UNLV | 35-33, 2OT |
9/2/2021 | UC Davis | Tulsa | 19-17 |
2/21/2021 | Tarleton State | New Mexico State | 43-17 |
10/23/2020 | Jacksonville State | Florida International | 19-10 |
9/14/2019 | The Citadel | Georgia Tech | 27-24, OT |
9/7/2019 | Southern Illinois | UMass | 45-20 |
8/29/2019 | Central Arkansas | Western Kentucky | 35-28 |
9/22/2018 | Illinois State | Colorado State | 35-19 |
9/8/2018 | Maine | Western Kentucky | 31-28 |
9/2/2018 | North Carolina A&T | East Carolina | 28-23 |
9/1/2018 | Villanova | Temple | 19-17 |
9/1/2018 | Northern Arizona | UTEP | 30-10 |
9/1/2018 | Nicholls State | Kansas | 26-23, OT |
8/30/2018 | UC Davis | San Jose State | 44-38 |
9/23/2017 | Western Illinois | Coastal Carolina | 52-10 |
9/16/2017 | North Carolina A&T | Charlotte | 35-31 |
9/16/2017 | Idaho State | Nevada | 30-28 |
9/9/2017 | South Dakota | Bowling Green | 35-27 |
9/9/2017 | New Hampshire | Georgia Southern | 22-12 |
9/2/2017 | Liberty | Baylor | 48-45 |
9/2/2017 | James Madison | East Carolina | 34-14 |
9/2/2017 | Howard | UNLV | 43-40 |
8/31/2017 | Tennessee State | Georgia State | 17-10 |
9/24/2016 | Western Illinois | Northern Illinois | 28-23 |
9/24/2016 | Central Arkansas | Arkansas State | 28-23 |
9/17/2016 | North Dakota State | Iowa | 23-21 |
9/10/2016 | North Carolina A&T | Kent State | 39-36, 4OT |
9/10/2016 | Illinois State | Northwestern | 9-7 |
9/10/2016 | Eastern Illinois | Miami (OH) | 21-17 |
9/3/2016 | Richmond | Virginia | 37-20 |
9/3/2016 | Northern Iowa | Iowa State | 25-20 |
9/3/2016 | Eastern Washington | Washington State | 45-42 |
9/2/2016 | Albany | Buffalo | 22-16 |
11/21/2015 | The Citadel | South Carolina | 23-22 |
10/10/2015 | Portland State | North Texas | 66-7 |
10/3/2015 | Liberty | Georgia State | 41-33 |
9/26/2015 | James Madison | SMU | 48-45 |
9/19/2015 | Furman | UCF | 16-15 |
9/5/2015 | South Dakota State | Kansas | 41-38 |
9/5/2015 | Portland State | Washington State | 24-17 |
9/5/2015 | North Dakota | Wyoming | 24-13 |
9/4/2015 | Fordham | Army | 37-35 |
10/11/2014 | Liberty | Appalachian State | 55-48, OT |
9/27/2014 | Yale | Army | 49-43, OT |
9/20/2014 | Northwestern State | Louisiana Tech | 30-27 |
9/13/2014 | Indiana State | Ball State | 27-20 |
9/13/2014 | Abilene Christian | Troy | 38-35 |
9/6/2014 | Eastern Kentucky | Miami (OH) | 17-10 |
8/30/2014 | North Dakota State | Iowa State | 34-14 |
8/30/2014 | Bethune-Cookman | Florida International | 14-12 |
11/23/2013 | Georgia Southern | Florida | 26-20 |
11/9/2013 | Old Dominion | Idaho | 59-38 |
9/21/2013 | Jacksonville State | Georgia State | 32-26, OT |
9/14/2013 | Fordham | Temple | 30-29 |
9/14/2013 | Bethune-Cookman | Florida International | 34-13 |
9/7/2013 | Nicholls State | Western Michigan | 27-23 |
9/7/2013 | Maine | UMass | 24-14 |
9/7/2013 | Chattanooga | Georgia State | 42-14 |
8/31/2013 | Northern Iowa | Iowa State | 28-20 |
8/31/2013 | McNeese State | South Florida | 53-21 |
8/31/2013 | Eastern Washington | Oregon State | 49-46 |
8/31/2013 | Eastern Illinois | San Diego State | 40-19 |
8/30/2013 | Samford | Georgia State | 31-21 |
8/30/2013 | North Dakota State | Kansas State | 24-21 |
8/29/2013 | Towson | UConn | 33-18 |
8/29/2013 | Southern Utah | South Alabama | 22-21 |
9/29/2012 | Stony Brook | Army | 23-3 |
9/15/2012 | Cal Poly | Wyoming | 24-22 |
9/8/2012 | Sacramento State | Colorado | 30-28 |
9/8/2012 | Northern Arizona | UNLV | 17-14 |
9/8/2012 | North Dakota State | Colorado State | 22-7 |
9/8/2012 | Illinois State | Eastern Michigan | 31-14 |
9/1/2012 | Youngstown State | Pitt | 31-17 |
9/1/2012 | Tennessee-Martin | Memphis | 20-17 |
8/30/2012 | McNeese State | Middle Tennessee | 27-21 |
8/30/2012 | Eastern Washington | Idaho | 20-3 |
Most All-Time FCS Wins Over FBS:
- Youngstown State: 20 wins (most recent: 31-17 over Pittsburgh in 2012)
- Delaware: 16 wins (14-7 over Navy in 2022)
- Boise State*: 14 wins (38-14 over Utah State in 1995)*
- Northwestern State: 13 wins (30-27 over Louisiana Tech in 2014)
- Nevada*: 12 wins (50-8 over UNLV in 1991)*
- North Dakota State: 9 wins (23-21 over No. 13 Iowa in 2016)
*Note: Boise State and Nevada were FCS programs at the time of these victories but have since transitioned to the FBS level.
RELATED: BEST NORTH DAKOTA STATE QUARTERBACKS ALL TIME
![](https://i0.wp.com/sportsmonetize.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ead37df9-a9bb-447a-9f1d-a9aeb5200888-091022-ud_v_dsu_-_wb807355.JPG.webp?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1)
Largest Margins of Victory
While close games and nail-biting finishes are often the hallmark of FCS upsets, some victories have been truly lopsided affairs. In 2015, Portland State demolished North Texas by a staggering score of 66-7, marking the largest margin of victory in an FCS upset over an FBS team. Similarly, Lehigh’s 58-0 thrashing of Penn in 1981 and Nevada’s 49-3 victory over Cal State Fullerton in 1986 (when both teams were FCS members) stand as testaments to the potential dominance of FCS programs on their best days.
Has an FCS Team Ever Changed to FBS?
While the competitive landscape between FBS and FCS teams is constantly evolving, it is rare for programs to make the transition from one division to the other. Financial difficulties, competitive balance, and institutional priorities all play a role in determining whether a team remains in its current division or seeks a change.
Requirement Changing for FCS to move to FBS ( effective October 2023):
- Eliminate attendance requirements at FBS schools (effective immediately).
- Increase the application fee for transitioning from FCS to FBS from $5,000 to $5 million (effective immediately).
- Require all FBS programs to provide 90 percent of the total number of allowable scholarships over a two-year rolling period across 16 sports, including football. FBS schools will also be required to fund 210 scholarships each year, amounting to no less than $6 million annually (effective August 2027).
- For schools that begin transitioning to FBS in 2024-25 or later, requirements must be met by the conclusion of the transition process.
In recent years, a handful of programs have made the leap from FCS to FBS, such as Coastal Carolina and Liberty, seeking the exposure and resources that come with the higher division. Conversely, the move from FBS to FCS is even rarer, as it often signifies a program’s struggle to maintain the financial and competitive demands of the top tier.
Formidable FCS
The FBS vs. FCS divide in college football represents more than just a difference in scholarship numbers and resources. It is a testament to the passion, determination, and unpredictability that make the sport so captivating. While FBS teams may hold the upper hand in terms of funding and exposure, the FCS has proven time and again that heart, grit, and a never-say-die attitude can overcome even the mightiest of opponents.