The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) is coming off one of the most electric and exciting football seasons in recent history. As we continue to count down the days until College Football returns, our previews continue to chug along. Let’s dive in and take a look at the College Football 2026 FCS preview, odds, and best bets.
The Montana State Bobcats reached the top of the mountain in 2025, claiming their first national championship since 1984. It marked the first time in five seasons the crown left the Dakotas. It was sweet revenge for the Bobcats who made the title game in 2024 and fell short. They took down their arch rivals in Montana to get there, and ultimately defeated the Cinderella story Illinois State Redbirds in dramatic fashion in overtime.
The biggest story: North Dakota State’s run ended early as Cinderella came into the Fargodome and played spoiler. Villanova also made a run, as the No. 12 seed made it all the way to the semifinals. Four FCS teams defeated FBS schools during the season. Tarleton State defeated Amy, Austin Peay smoked Middle Tennessee, and Bryant got their first-ever win against an FBS team as they defeated UMass. While LIU took down Eastern Michigan.
North Dakota State, a traditional power in the FCS year after year, has left the building. They’ve moved up to the FBS as a member of the Mountain West. Leaving a large gap at the top of the FCS odds board. Montana State looks to be the team to beat as they begin their title defense.
Odds to Win the FCS National Championship
Montana State +240
South Dakota State +310
UC Davis +400
Montana +850
North Dakota +1200
Rhode Island +2000
Youngstown State +3000
Tarleton State +3000
Southern Illinois +3000
Stephen F. Austin +3500
South Dakota +3500
Mercer +4000
Villanova +4500
Illinois State +5000
Idaho State +6000
Yale +8000
Abilene Christian +8000
Tennessee Tech +10000
Harvard +10000
Austin Peay +15000
Lehigh +20000
UTRGV +20000
Western Carolina +50000
Southern Utah +50000
Northern Arizona +50000
Incarnate Word +50000
Idaho +50000
Eastern Kentucky +50000
Dartmouth +50000
SE Louisiana +50000
College Football 2026: FCS Preview, Odds, and Best Bets
Montana (+850)
Let’s start in Montana, but not with the reigning champion Montana State. Instead, let’s head over to Missoula, Montana, and visit the University of Montana. Montana went 13-2 in 2025, finished second in the Big Sky at 7-1, and made the FCS semifinals. Their only two losses were to Montana State. First in the regular season, and then again in the semifinals. The regular season loss was a heartbreaker, dropping the game 31-28. They were four points away from an undefeated regular season, their only losses coming to the eventual National Champions.
Now there is one big loss for this team in the off-season. The winningest active head coach in the FCS, Bobby Hauck, moved on, leaving a big hole at the top. But the team didn’t just go hire a hope and a prayer. They got a veteran coach in Bobby Kennedy who should be able to step right in and pick up where Hauck left off. Kennedy was already a part of this squad last season; he knows the culture, he knows the program, he knows the players. All of that is huge. The team returns nine starters on defense, a massive number for any College Football program.
Their offense had a good bit of change, but their starting quarterback and running back are both back and hungry to pick up where they left off. Quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat was a 2025 Payton Award finalist and is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the FCS. Running back Eli Gillman was the 2025 Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year and had 1,540 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
Youngstown State (+3000)
On the surface, Youngstown State was 8-5 last year and lost in the first round of the playoffs, for a kind of so-so season. But that doesn’t tell the whole story of this team. They had a 28-point lead in the second half of that playoff game against Yale. Win that one, and the outlook is completely different.
The biggest key for Youngstown, they have Beau Brungard back. Brungard won the 2025 Walter Payton Award, the Heisman equivalent for FCS. The star quarterback had 3,234 passing yards,26 passing TDs to just 3 interceptions, 1,468 rushing yards, and an additional 27 rushing TDs. Absolute video game numbers.
Brungard is back, and with him is a nasty offensive line to help him keep up his video game numbers. He lost his top four wide receivers, so that’s one area of concern for the team. And if their defense can step up and hold serve, the schedule sets up well for them to get into the dance and avenge last year’s playoff embarrassment.
