2026 Around the FCS - Week 2

[ST_Lawson]

OVC Games (all games listed are on Saturday, September 12)
12 PM - UT Martin (1-1) at FBS West Virginia (1-0), ESPN+
5 PM - Charleston Southern (0-2) at The Citadel (1-1, including beating FBS Charlotte last weekend), ESPN+
5 PM - Gardner-Webb (0-2) at FBS Liberty (0-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Indiana State (0-2) at Eastern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Southeast Missouri State (1-1) at Southern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+ (The "War for the Wheel" rivalry game)
6 PM - Tennessee State (0-2) at Alabama A&M (1-1)
6 PM - Lindenwood (1-1) at FBS Missouri State (0-1), ESPN+

Other local/regional/games of interest:
1 PM - Drake (0-2) at Northern Iowa (0-1), ESPN+
4 PM - Morehead State (1-1) at Austin Peay (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Illinois State (2-0) at Northern Illinois (0-1), MW+ (ISU is actually favored in this game by a little bit)
6 PM - Valparaiso (1-0) at Murray State (0-2), ESPN+ (the battle to see which MVC school has the worst football team)

[meganeck]

OVC Games (all games listed are on Saturday, September 12)
12 PM - UT Martin (1-1) at FBS West Virginia (1-0), ESPN+
5 PM - Charleston Southern (0-2) at The Citadel (1-1, including beating FBS Charlotte last weekend), ESPN+
5 PM - Gardner-Webb (0-2) at FBS Liberty (0-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Indiana State (0-2) at Eastern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Southeast Missouri State (1-1) at Southern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+ (The "War for the Wheel" rivalry game)
6 PM - Tennessee State (0-2) at Alabama A&M (1-1)
6 PM - Lindenwood (1-1) at FBS Missouri State (0-1), ESPN+

Other local/regional/games of interest:
1 PM - Drake (0-2) at Northern Iowa (0-1), ESPN+
4 PM - Morehead State (1-1) at Austin Peay (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Illinois State (2-0) at Northern Illinois (0-1), MW+ (ISU is actually favored in this game by a little bit)
6 PM - Valparaiso (1-0) at Murray State (0-2), ESPN+ (the battle to see which MVC school has the worst football team)

 

I watched Northen Illinois play last week and they didn't look good on offense or defense. Any idea what Northern is paying ISU for this game.
 

[ST_Lawson]

OVC Games (all games listed are on Saturday, September 12)
12 PM - UT Martin (1-1) at FBS West Virginia (1-0), ESPN+
5 PM - Charleston Southern (0-2) at The Citadel (1-1, including beating FBS Charlotte last weekend), ESPN+
5 PM - Gardner-Webb (0-2) at FBS Liberty (0-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Indiana State (0-2) at Eastern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Southeast Missouri State (1-1) at Southern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+ (The "War for the Wheel" rivalry game)
6 PM - Tennessee State (0-2) at Alabama A&M (1-1)
6 PM - Lindenwood (1-1) at FBS Missouri State (0-1), ESPN+

Other local/regional/games of interest:
1 PM - Drake (0-2) at Northern Iowa (0-1), ESPN+
4 PM - Morehead State (1-1) at Austin Peay (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Illinois State (2-0) at Northern Illinois (0-1), MW+ (ISU is actually favored in this game by a little bit)
6 PM - Valparaiso (1-0) at Murray State (0-2), ESPN+ (the battle to see which MVC school has the worst football team)

 

I watched Northen Illinois play last week and they didn't look good on offense or defense. Any idea what Northern is paying ISU for this game.

Yeah, they did ok in 2024 (when they beat Notre Dame and won a bowl game), but 2025 they only won 3 games (one against an FCS team), and they weren't able to even muster a FG against an (admittedly pretty good) Iowa team last weekend. Looks like they're paying ISU $350k to play there this season: https://northernstar.info/134484/sports ... all-games/

[meganeck]

OVC Games (all games listed are on Saturday, September 12)
12 PM - UT Martin (1-1) at FBS West Virginia (1-0), ESPN+
5 PM - Charleston Southern (0-2) at The Citadel (1-1, including beating FBS Charlotte last weekend), ESPN+
5 PM - Gardner-Webb (0-2) at FBS Liberty (0-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Indiana State (0-2) at Eastern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Southeast Missouri State (1-1) at Southern Illinois (1-1), ESPN+ (The "War for the Wheel" rivalry game)
6 PM - Tennessee State (0-2) at Alabama A&M (1-1)
6 PM - Lindenwood (1-1) at FBS Missouri State (0-1), ESPN+

Other local/regional/games of interest:
1 PM - Drake (0-2) at Northern Iowa (0-1), ESPN+
4 PM - Morehead State (1-1) at Austin Peay (1-1), ESPN+
6 PM - Illinois State (2-0) at Northern Illinois (0-1), MW+ (ISU is actually favored in this game by a little bit)
6 PM - Valparaiso (1-0) at Murray State (0-2), ESPN+ (the battle to see which MVC school has the worst football team)


 

I watched Northen Illinois play last week and they didn't look good on offense or defense. Any idea what Northern is paying ISU for this game.

Yeah, they did ok in 2024 (when they beat Notre Dame and won a bowl game), but 2025 they only won 3 games (one against an FCS team), and they weren't able to even muster a FG against an (admittedly pretty good) Iowa team last weekend. Looks like they're paying ISU $350k to play there this season: https://northernstar.info/134484/sports ... all-games/

 

Thanks Scott, NIU has an interim coach and I think they have a lot of new players this season so it will probably be a rough season for them.