FCS Championship Predictions 2026: Odds, Best Bets & Picks
Thanks to this new era in college football, the FCS has been plucked feverishly by the FBS. Multiple top programs have opted to move up, most recently North Dakota State and Delaware, while FBS coaches have scooped some of the best talent from each roster across the country. As such, some would argue the FCS has become even more of an afterthought behind the FBS, but at the end of the day, this is still Division I football with some of the best athletes in our country going head-to-head weekly. As a football fan, what more could you want?
With the season kicking off next week, it’s time to dive into the FCS futures market, analyze the odds to win the national championship and lock in a couple of bets. Don’t forget our FBS college football futures content for more betting tips and analysis with Week 0 just a couple of days away.
2026 FCS National Championship Odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook and available at the time of publishing.
- Montana State Bobcats +250
- South Dakota State Jackrabbits +320
- UC Davis Aggies +500
- Montana Grizzlies +850
- North Dakota Fighting Hawks +1300
- Rhode Island Rams +2500
- Tarleton State Texans +3000
- South Dakota Coyotes +3500
- Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks +3500
- Illinois State Redbirds +4000
- Southern Illinois Salukis +4000
- Youngstown State Penguins +4000
- Villanova Wildcats +4500
- Abilene Christian Wildcats +6000
- Idaho State Bengals +6000
- Mercer Bears +8000
2026 FCS National Championship Best Bet: Montana State Bobcats (+250)
With the Bison off to the FBS, it’s Montana State’s turn to take over as the dominant force among the FCS ranks. South Dakota State, UC Davis and Montana will all offer resistance, but ultimately, each of those programs have too many questions surrounding them ahead of the season for me to divert from the Bobs as repeat national champions.
It all starts with quarterback Justin Lamson, the MVP of last season’s FCS national championship game in his first full year in Brent Vigen’s system. After spending a couple of years at Stanford, Lamson took over the reins en route to a 71.6% completion percentage, 3,172 yards, 26 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Going one step further, he carried just a 1.1% turnover-worthy play rate per PFF, which was tied for fourth nationally among qualified FCS quarterbacks, while he finished second in adjusted completion percentage. Under pressure, his 78.3% adjusted completion percentage was also second-best nationally, and he tallied only two turnover-worthy plays. Oh, and he can run; he put up 734 yards and 16 touchdowns on 176 carries.
Lamson will be behind a line that brings back three starters after finishing second in run-blocking grade and 11th in pass-blocking per PFF. Two reserve players will fill in the vacant starting roles, so there’s plenty of program continuity here, and this unit will be led by one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the FCS in Braden Zimmer. In the backfield, All-American Adam Jones returns alongside Lamson after putting up back-to-back seasons of at least 1,300 scrimmage yards. He’s scored 32 touchdowns in the last two years. Out wide, the Bobcats will have their three top receivers back, led by Taco Dowler and his 1,025 yards and seven touchdowns.
It’s much the same on defense. There are some pieces to replace from last year’s title team, but at the end of the day, Montana State has over 66% returning production on this side of the ball, headlined by Zac Crews, Dominic Solano, Caden Dowler and Bryant Meredith. For what it’s worth, the Bobcats were top-15 in scoring defense and top-20 in total defense a season ago.
Schedule-wise, things couldn’t be much better for Montana State. They will avoid UC Davis during the regular season, they get rival Montana at home at the end of the year and their non-conference schedule isn’t that daunting – nor is their FBS contest, if we’re being honest. An undefeated season is certainly in the cards here, as Lamson only figures to get better with a full season under his belt. Of course, that's easier said than done.
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2026 FCS National Championship Longshot Bet: Youngstown State Penguins (+4000)
This bet is mostly centered around quarterback Beau Brungard, who returns to northeast Ohio after completing nearly 69% of his passes for 3,230 yards, 26 touchdowns and three interceptions while running for almost 1,500 yards and 27 more scores. By my count, Brungard accounted for 53 of Youngstown State’s 61 offensive touchdowns, so you can understand why he won the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS.
Along with Brungard in the backfield will be returning running back Jaden Gilbert, who offered 670 yards and three scores last year, and they will line up behind one of the most experienced offensive lines in the FCS – which makes up for the lack of experience in the pass-catching group.
Defensively, the Penguins could take a step forward with nearly 60% returning production from a season ago. Their front seven offers plenty of talent and production, headlined by All-American defensive end Michael Wells, who carried a top-30 pass-rush grade with his 10.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last year, and linebacker Carston Marshall. It all comes down to how their new-look secondary gels together with three starters moving on, but that is appropriately priced in here.
The Penguins haven’t made it out of the second round of the FCS playoffs in a decade, so look for them to have their sights set on accomplishing just that this season. Road games at Southern Illinois and South Dakota State will be difficult, but this projects to be a playoff team given a manageable FCS non-conference schedule and conference home games against Illinois State, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Check out our previews and predictions for each Power 4 Conference, including the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and AAC!
