North Dakota State ran roughshod over the Football Championship Subdivision with unmatched dominance. The Bison won 10 titles over 15 years, and even when they fell short — like in last year’s playoff — they were the favorite.That era is over, with North Dakota State departing for the FBS’ Mountain West Conference. The 2026 season kicks off tonight, and to no surprise, two regions are vying to fill the power vacuum: the state of Montana and the rest of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.Montana State claimed its first FCS title last season with a 35-34 overtime win against Illinois State, dethroning the Bison in the second round with an epic comeback. The Bobcats begin this season ranked No. 1, edging in-state rival Montana atop the coaches’ preseason poll.Last year, Montana State won both 2025 matchups and handed the Grizzlies their only defeats. The teams are slated to meet in Bozeman for the regular-season finale, but there’s a chance they could meet again either at campus or for the championship on Jan. 11 in Nashville, Tenn.Still, it’s not a given that either will reach the title game — at least if the MVFC has anything to do with it. NDSU was the powerhouse, but the league owns the deepest pool of title contenders. Last year, the league tied an FCS record with six playoff participants, and with the Redbirds’ title appearance, the MVFC has reached the championship for 15 consecutive seasons. South Dakota State, which won the 2022 and 2023 titles, enters the season ranked No. 3 and beat Montana State in a nonconference game last fall. Illinois State is No. 4, and four other MVFC teams are ranked in the top 16.The FCS season opens a week earlier than previously allowed to permanently install a 13-week schedule. Previously, FCS teams would not have a bye when their regular season concluded the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Now, the season officially kicks off on the final Thursday in August.Postseason scheduleThe FCS selection committee chooses the 24-team field on Sunday, Nov. 22, with the tournament opening Thanksgiving weekend. The top 16 teams are seeded, with the top eight receiving first-round byes. The second eight receive home games, while the final eight are slotted largely by geography. The field consists of 11 conference champions and 13 at-large teams.Ten players to knowReigning Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard, the unanimous first-team all-FCS quarterback, threw for 3,234 yards and rushed for 1,468 yards at Youngstown State last year. Brungard, who stayed with the Penguins rather than entering the transfer portal, ran for 27 touchdowns, threw for 26 and also caught a 50-yard touchdown pass.Beau Brungard is back at Youngstown State after winning the Walter Payton Award and being named a unanimous first-team all-FCS quarterback. (Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)Alongside Brungard, the “Brawl of the Wild” might feature the nation’s top two quarterbacks in Montana’s Keali’I Ah Yat and Montana State’s Justin Lamson. Ah Yat led FCS with 4,070 passing yards last year, while Lamson threw for 3,172 yards, rushed for 734 yards and combined for 38 touchdowns.Montana running back Eli Gillman, the reigning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, finished with 1,540 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns and caught 33 passes for 240 yards and two scores.Rhode Island receiver Marquis Buchanan led all FCS receivers with 1,337 yards last season. He caught 78 passes and eight touchdowns.South Dakota State’s Quinten Christensen, a 2025 first-team All-American, has started at left tackle for two consecutive seasons.Furman edge Joshua Stoneking led the FCS in sacks (14.5), tackles for loss (23) and TFL yards (132). Stoneking (6-3, 258) was runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the FCS’ top defensive player.North Dakota edge Lance Rucker led the MVFC with 15.0 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles to guide the Fighting Hawks to the FCS playoffs. Rucker suffered a foot injury during fall camp and likely won’t return until October.Illinois State linebacker Tye Niekamp led the FCS with 160 total tackles and was the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year. He added 16 tackles for loss and nine pass breakups.Yale defensive back Abu Kamara picked off two passes, forced three fumbles, recovered four, produced 76 tackles and totalled 3.5 sacks to earn All-American honors.Major coaching changesMontana — Bobby Hauck, the winningest coach in Big Sky history, retired after 14 seasons, then became Illinois’ defensive coordinator five days later. Bobby Kennedy, who previously served as wide receivers coach at Texas, Iowa, Colorado and Stanford among others, becomes a first-time head coach.South Dakota — Travis Johansen left after one season to become Rutgers’ defensive coordinator, and Matt Vitzthum steps in as the Coyotes’ third coach in three seasons. Vitzthum worked as South Dakota’s co-offensive coordinator last season.Yale — Kevin Cahill orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in recent FCS history, guiding Lehigh to consecutive Patriot League titles and a 21-5 combined record. Now he heads to Yale, while Lehigh defensive coordinator Rich Nagy replaces Cahill.Games to watchAug. 27 — Southern Illinois at West Florida. The No. 16 Salukis hail from the MVFC while perennial Division II power West Florida makes its FCS debut.Aug. 29 — Alabama A&M vs. Howard. ABC televises the MEAC/SWAC showdown from Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium.Oct. 3 — No. 3 South Dakota State at No. 4 Illinois State. These national title contenders have competed in three of the last four FCS championship games.Nov. 7 — No. 14 Abilene Christian at No. 5 Tarleton State. This could be the first of two collisions between a pair of possible FCS playoff participants.Nov. 14 — No. 17 Mercer at No. 15 Tennessee Tech. The Southern Conference could be at stake in Tech’s first season in the league.Nov. 21 — No. 19 Yale vs. Harvard. The 142nd installment of “The Game” shifts to Boston’s Fenway Park.Nov. 21 — No. 11 Lehigh at Lafayette. The nation’s most-played rivalry kicks off for the 162nd time, and last year’s edition decided the Patriot League title.Nov. 21 — Richmond at William & Mary. Approaching its 137th edition, the South’s Oldest Rivalry concludes the regular season.Nov. 21 — No. 2 Montana at No. 1 Montana State. The 125th meeting takes place in one of the nation’s most picturesque settings.Nov. 28 — Southern vs. Grambling. The Bayou Classic never disappoints at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome or in the halftime Battle of the Bands.