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The 2025 FCS football season will be here in no time, and it's only right to highlight some of the best nonconference games you can't miss. These matchups could make or break your favorite team's season, either with playoff seeding or bragging rights.

Here are the top nonconference games for the 2025 season.

Week 0

• UC Davis vs. Mercer in Montgomery, Ala.
• North Carolina Central vs. Southern in Atlanta

The 2025 season starts in an electric fashion as UC Davis and Mercer kick off the season. That’s the No. 5 and No. 7 seeds from last season's playoffs. The night concludes as North Carolina Central and Southern meet in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge — two teams with Celebration Bowl aspirations.

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Week 1

• Towson at Norfolk State
• William & Mary at Furman
• Howard vs. Florida A&M in Miami, Fla.
• Sacramento State at South Dakota State
• Eastern Washington at UIW

There are storylines galore in Week 1’s nonconference slate. 

NFL legend Michael Vick takes the reins as Norfolk State’s head coach for the first time against CAA opponent Towson. 

Sacramento State’s top recruiting class in the FCS faces a South Dakota State team that has retooled after losing its head coach and a number of players to the transfer portal.

Howard and Florida A&M renew their rivalry in the Orange Blossom Classic. Exciting!

And that’s before we get into a CAA-SoCon battle with William & Mary and Furman and a Big Sky-Southland battle with Eastern Washington at UIW.

Week 2

• Chattanooga at Tennessee Tech
• North Dakota State at Tennessee State
• Holy Cross at New Hampshire
• South Dakota State at Montana State
• Stephen F. Austin at Abilene Christian

The game of the week in Week 2 is South Dakota State at Montana State. The two FCS powers had an instant classic in their last regular season in 2023. We’ll be in for a treat when they meet again.

There’s plenty of other matchups between playoff contenders, too. North Dakota State and Tennessee State both made the playoffs last year. Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech were on the bubble last year. Week 2 will have a season-long impact.

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Week 3

• Lehigh at Duquesne
• Elon at Western Carolina
• North Dakota at Montana
• Southeast Missouri State at North Dakota State
• Southern Illinois at UT Martin

Lehigh and Duquesne could win the Patriot League and NEC in 2025. Southeast Missouri State and North Dakota State were both playoff teams last year, and they’ll meet in the regular season. 

Anytime the Big Sky and MVFC match up like North Dakota and Montana will, it’s always worth a watch.

Continuing the Week 3 slate, Elon at Western Carolina and Southern Illinois at UT Martin could impact which teams receive at-large bids in 2025.

Week 4

• Chattanooga at Tarleton State
• Southern Illinois at Southeast Missouri State
• Central Arkansas at Sacramento State
• UIW at Northern Arizona

Southeast Missouri State faces another tough opponent from the MVFC when Southern Illinois comes to town in Week 4. It'll be the last chance for the RedHawks to get a statement nonconference win.

Tarleton State’s rise from new FCS entry to FCS playoff contender will continue in 2025, and a visit from Chattanooga will be a good litmus test. 

Central Arkansas and Sacramento State are each coming off of disappointing seasons in 2024. I think this game could carry weight into November.

Finally, UIW plays its first of two back-to-back playoff teams when it visits Northern Arizona.

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Week 5

• Abilene Christian at UIW

Abilene Christian and UIW both won an FCS playoff game last year, and they’ll meet in San Antonio this fall. It’ll be the second straight game against a former playoff team for UIW as the Cardinals look to prove themselves as a legitimate title threat. This will be the last nonconference game for Abilene Christian before heading into conference play, so there’s a chance for a resume-boosting win here.

Week 6

• Rhode Island at Brown
• Harvard at Holy Cross

The Governor's Cup between Rhode Island and Brown is always one to watch. It took Rhode Island 14 fourth quarter points to win last year, and the game was decided by four points in 2023. It’s one of the best rivalries in the northeast.

Elsewhere in Week 6, Harvard at Holy Cross could have playoff implications now that the Ivy League is participating in the postseason. Both teams figure to be in their conference title race and potentially in contention for an at-large bid.

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Week 7

• North Carolina Central at Florida A&M

Two of the top HBCU football programs of the 2020s meet in Week 7 when North Carolina Central heads to Florida A&M. The two have not met since Florida A&M left the MEAC after the 2019 season, but each program has since won a Celebration Bowl. In 2025, the Eagles and Rattlers are both expected to be top contenders for the MEAC and SWAC titles, so this could be another Celebration Bowl preview.