Some of the best games we’ve seen in college football feature FCS teams pulling off upsets in FBS stadiums. It provides fans with the ultimate high on one side and a crushing low on the other. Writing some of these teams off completely isn’t recommended (just ask Michigan), so your team better take it seriously.
Best FCS college football upsets
National championships aren’t won against FCS teams, but they’re definitely lost against them. We won’t skip past the most obvious college football upset. Appalachian State pulled off one of the most stunning wins in sports history when they went to The Big House in 2007 and stunned No. 5 Michigan 34-32 thanks to some great team play and a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter that ended the game. The Mountaineers became the poster child of FCS upsets and even moved up to the FBS level in 2014.
Since then, it’s been North Dakota State stunning FBS teams regularly. The Bison notched wins against Kansas State (2013), Iowa State (2014), and Iowa (2016). If not for COVID, they might have added Oregon to that list last year, as the two were scheduled to play in Eugene.
Other thrillers include Eastern Washington’s 45-42 stunner of Washington State, a team that had a strong case for the College Football Playoff in 2016 without the upset. Additionally, in 2013, Georgia Southern stunned Florida in The Swamp. James Madison beat Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in 2010 before they became an FCS power.
Those games move the meter more than anything, but not all will be Power Five wins. In fact, this year, we should expect some FCS teams to win games against FBS opponents. Some might even be favored.
2021 FCS college football upset predictions
Predicting upsets for an FCS team typically requires a special program and the right opponent. While teams like NDSU don’t face any FBS opponents (exhale FBS fans), plenty of other talented FCS programs are ready to make statements.
Jackson State at ULM
Deion Sanders, excuse me, Coach Prime made plenty of noise for Jackson State just by arriving on campus. The Tigers’ spring season produced mixed results, starting with three wins followed by three consecutive losses and a forfeit to end the year. UL-Monroe might be the FBS team, but they won’t have the most talented roster in this matchup. This almost seems unfair to the Warhawks more than the Tigers.
Sanders already wants a seat at the Big 12 table, so they might as well win against an FBS opponent. That’s a start at a minimum because it won’t matter how popular he is if his team can’t win more football games at their current level. A win over the Warhawks doesn’t exactly move the meter much for any program, even one like Jackson State.
South Dakota State at Colorado State
Two points separated South Dakota State from a national championship last year, and the Jackrabbits hope to find their way back. Colorado State better be prepared for this one. Wide receiver Dante Wright and tight end Trey McBride lead the way, but the Rams need a quarterback to pass the football. South Dakota State’s defense returns six of their top seven tacklers from a defense that was largely responsible for their success in 2021.
Holy Cross at UConn/Yale at UConn
UConn’s recent history should tell you that the Huskies are a prime upset candidate. Over the last eight seasons (seven if you exclude 2020 in which they didn’t play), UConn’s finished 6-1 against FCS opponents.
However, those six wins came by a combined 28 points (4.7 per game). The loss came against Towson in 2013. This is a program that’s gone 19-65 in that same time period, so it’s safe to say that picking a Huskies’ loss or two this year is more than possible.
Yale’s been a model of consistency at the FCS level. In 2017, Holy Cross nearly stunned UConn. Yet, the Huskies find ways to hang on against inferior competition, but eventually, those wins turn into losses. This could be the year that happens. You get two chances to see an FCS college football team pull off an FBS upset, so your money better be against UConn.
Jacksonville State at UAB
Sometimes, college football upsets repeat themselves. You just have to look hard enough to find them. The Gamecocks enter the 2021 season 15th in the Hero Sports Preseason Top 25, and they’ll get a tough battle with the Blazers.
Starting quarterback Zion Webb returns for the Gamecocks to lead a potent rushing attack that also features Uriah West and Josh Samuel, and they’ll meet their match on the other side. Tyler Johnston III is back for UAB at quarterback, and DeWayne McBride is set to have a breakout season.
Here’s the big key for Jacksonville State: they have the right formula that we’ve seen another team utilize to pull off an upset.
NDSU faced Kansas State in 2013 — a year after the Wildcats won the Big 12. Now, Jacksonville State squares off with UAB after the Blazers won Conference USA last year. Kansas State was picked by many to win the conference again in 2013. Similarly, UAB’s currently the favorite to repeat as conference champions. Kansas State had a great rushing attack, and UAB has the same.
NDSU was one of the best preseason FCS teams, and Jacksonville State holds that honor this year as well. Not many picked NDSU to win over the Wildcats, and the same number of people are picking the Gamecocks. The similarities are too big to ignore.
Eastern Washington at UNLV
Looking for an underrated barn burner? This could be it. If Tate Martell wins the job at UNLV, the Rebels’ offense could take a huge step forward. We already mentioned the Eagles’ thrilling game against Washington State, and they’re capable of producing another thriller here.
Their quarterback, Eric Barriere, can produce some fireworks of his own, so this already has the makings of another exciting matchup for the Eagles. EWU comes into the season as the 16th-ranked FCS team, according to Hero Sports.
Montana at Washington
Another game that appears highly unlikely for the FCS team to win, but those are the games that sneak up on everyone. Montana didn’t play in 2020 but enter 2021 as the ninth-ranked FCS team after finishing 10-4 in 2019.
They face a Huskies team that’s struggled to move the ball through the air, and scoring isn’t exactly their forte. Montana appears to be the opposite, a team that likes to score and hopes their defense gives them just enough to win. Washington’s secondary provides a tough challenge for a new Grizzlies quarterback, so don’t hold your breath too long for this one. Just be ready for something crazy in case things get weird.
Other potential upsets (though not super likely):
Central Arkansas at Arkansas State
North Carolina A&T at Duke
Montana State at Wyoming
Southern Utah at Arizona State
Southern at Troy
Youngstown State at Michigan State