Week 1 of the 2026 FCS football season delivered FBS upsets, breakout performances and results that could matter deep into the season.
Tarleton, The Citadel, and Idaho State each knocked off FBS opponents, while one of the top-ranked teams in the country suffered its first loss. Tennessee Tech also made an early statement against a new Southern Conference foe.
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Here are five FCS football games from Week 1 you need to know about.
No. 5 Tarleton State Beats Bowling Green 20-13
Tarleton entered Week 1 ranked No. 5 and left with another reason to believe it belongs among the national championship contenders.
The Texans beat FBS opponent Bowling Green 20-13 on the road to improve to 2-0. It marks the second consecutive season Tarleton has beaten an FBS opponent after defeating Army 30-27 in double overtime in 2025.
Tarleton didn't simply survive against Bowling Green. The Texans outgained the Falcons 464-386 and won the rushing battle 258-103.
Tarleton RB Tylan Hines led the way with 250 rushing yards on 26 carries and added 47 receiving yards. His performance earned him Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Tarleton was already a UAC and playoff contender. Now it owns an FBS road victory that could become an important résumé piece when the selection committee determines playoff seeds and the eight teams receiving first-round byes.
Campbell Beats No. 24 Western Carolina 28-19
The Camels are quickly becoming a team to watch in the CAA after beating No. 24 Western Carolina 28-19 to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2018.
The Camels controlled the matchup in dramatically different ways on each side of the ball. Campbell piled up 528 yards of offense, its second consecutive game with more than 500, while its defense held Western Carolina to just one rushing yard. They allowed the Catamounts to convert only 2-of-13 third-down attempts.
The bigger picture makes the 2-0 start even more interesting. Campbell was picked eighth in the CAA preseason poll, well behind defending champion Rhode Island and several other expected contenders. The Camels haven't played a conference game yet, but consecutive wins over ETSU and No. 24 Western Carolina give them momentum before CAA play begins against North Carolina A&T on Sept. 19.
Before that, Campbell gets an even bigger measuring stick. The Camels travel to Gainesville to face Florida on Sept. 12 in the program's first game against an SEC opponent.
The Citadel Stuns Charlotte 43-41 In Triple Overtime
The Citadel ended up with one of the biggest turnarounds from Week 0 to Week 1.
After opening with a 42-14 conference loss to Wofford, the Bulldogs went on the road and stunned FBS opponent Charlotte 43-41 in triple overtime.
It was The Citadel's first FBS victory since beating Georgia Tech in 2019.
Running back Gavin Garcia rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns, while Nick Billoups provided a spark after replacing starting quarterback Quentin Hayes.
Billoups rushed for two touchdowns and helped The Citadel convert the winning two-point attempt in the third overtime. The Bulldogs finished with 268 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns despite Charlotte outgaining them 538-400.
The victory doesn't erase the Wofford result. The Citadel remains 0-1 in the SoCon and already has ground to make up in the conference race.
Idaho State Beats Utah State 29-17
Idaho State may have changed the perception of its season more than almost any FCS team in Week 1.
The Bengals beat Utah State 29-17 on the road for their first FBS victory since defeating Nevada in 2017. Idaho State improved to 2-0 and earned its first victory over Utah State since 2000.
The Bengals did it despite Utah State controlling much of the box score.
The Aggies outgained Idaho State 407-241, recorded 29 first downs to the Bengals' 14 and possessed the ball for more than 33 minutes. Idaho State made up the difference by forcing four interceptions without committing a turnover.
The result could have major implications later in the season. Idaho State competes in a loaded Big Sky alongside national contenders such as Montana State, Montana and UC Davis.
FBS Northwestern Hands No. 2 South Dakota State A Loss
No. 2 South Dakota State Football suffered its first setback of 2026 with a 34-18 loss at Northwestern.
The Jackrabbits remained competitive before Northwestern pulled away late, scoring on its final four possessions and putting up 17 points in the fourth quarter.
SDS quarterback Chase Mason threw for 285 yards, while Grahm Goering recorded 117 receiving yards. Former Jackrabbits receiver Griffin Wilde, now at Northwestern, hurt his former team with 104 receiving yards, including a 71-yard reception on the Wildcats' first offensive play.
While the Jackrabbits suffered their first loss, No. 5 Tarleton added an FBS road win. Montana State, Montana, Illinois State, UC Davis, and other contenders will also be competing for one of only eight first-round byes.
No. 13 Tennessee Tech Beats Chattanooga 24-9
Tennessee Tech officially joined the Southern Conference this summer, and the Golden Eagles didn't wait long to make a statement against their new competition.
No. 13 Tennessee Tech went on the road and beat Chattanooga 24-9 to improve to 2-0.
Despite both teams now belonging to the SoCon, the matchup did not count in the conference standings because it was scheduled before Tennessee Tech joined the league.
Both programs still have their eight-game conference schedules ahead of them.
That doesn't make the result any less significant.
The Chattanooga win won't help Tennessee Tech in the conference standings, but it showed the Golden Eagles can go on the road and beat one of the programs they will now compete against in the SoCon.
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