FBS Independent

About the FBS Independent

Notre Dame and UConn are college football's two FBS independents in 2026, each with distinct reasons for operating outside conference membership. Notre Dame's independence is a century-old tradition that preserves the Fighting Irish's ability to schedule nationally, appear on NBC, and maintain a unique national brand. UConn's independence reflects a more recent decision as the Huskies seek the right conference fit.

Notre Dame's 2026 schedule features the annual Navy game, multiple Power Four opponents, and the ACC scheduling agreement that guarantees five annual games against conference opponents. The Irish's combination of national brand, NBC deal, and independent scheduling freedom makes them unique in modern college football.

Select any team below to view their live countdown, full 2026 schedule, and cross-linked opponent pages. Every game on every schedule links to that opponent's own CFBCountdown page.

The Independent Path

Independent status in FBS football is rare and carries both advantages and challenges. Notre Dame, the most prominent independent, maintains scheduling freedom that allows the Fighting Irish to play a truly national schedule — hosting games at Notre Dame Stadium while traveling to marquee opponents from coast to coast. This independence is central to Notre Dame's identity and its exclusive media deal with NBC Sports, which has broadcast Irish home games since 1991.

UConn and UMass represent a different kind of independence — programs that have struggled to find a permanent conference home amid repeated rounds of realignment. Both schools maintain FBS membership while competing without the revenue sharing, guaranteed bowl access, and scheduling stability that conference membership provides. UConn's return to the Big East for other sports while remaining independent in football creates a unique operational model, while UMass continues to evaluate its long-term FBS viability.

For independent programs, scheduling requires building relationships with conferences, other independents, and FCS programs to fill a complete slate. Notre Dame's arrangement with the ACC — playing five ACC opponents annually while maintaining independence — provides a template for how elite independents can access conference scheduling structures without formal membership. The challenge for smaller independents is securing enough home games to generate revenue while finding opponents willing to travel to their venues for competitive matchups.

Independent status in 2026 carries more uncertainty than ever. Conference realignment has reduced the number of available non-conference slots across FBS, making it increasingly difficult for independents to build attractive schedules. Whether independence remains viable for programs beyond Notre Dame is one of the most debated questions in college athletics administration, with many analysts predicting that all FBS programs will eventually need conference affiliation to survive financially.