2024 FCS Football Season: All the Key Dates Coming Right at You

Anticipation for the 2024 college football season is soaring, and there are many key dates to know within the Football Championship Subdivision.

The 13-league FCS will be up one team to 129 this season, led by defending national champion South Dakota State. 

Following are many key dates to know before, during and after the 2024 FCS season (subject to change).

2024 FCS Football Season Key Dates

FCS Conference Media Days/Preseason Release Dates

July 16 – Southwestern Athletic Conference

July 17 – Big South-OVC Football Association

July 20-22 – Big Sky Conference (preseason poll and team on July 21)

July 21-22 – Southland Conference (preseason poll and team on July 22)

July 22 – Missouri Valley Football Conference (virtual preseason coaches calls on July 23-24)

July 22-23 – Southern Conference (preseason poll and team on July 23)

July 23 – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

July 23 – United Athletic Conference

July 24 – Northeast Conference

July 24-25 – CAA Football (preseason poll on July 24; virtual preseason coaches calls on July 24-25)

July 24 – Patriot League (virtual preseason coaches call on July 25)

July 30-31 – Pioneer Football League (preseason poll on July 30 and preseason team on July 31)

Aug. 12 – Ivy League (preseason poll on Aug. 5)

Stats Perform Preseason Honors

July 29 – FCS Preseason All-America Team

July 30 – Walter Payton Award Watch List

July 31 – Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

Aug. 1 – Urban Edge Network HBCU+ National Player of the Year Watch List

Aug. 5 – FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll

The Analyst FCS Conference Previews

Aug. 7 – Big Sky Conference

Aug. 8 – Southland Conference

Aug. 9 – Southwestern Athletic Conference

Aug. 12 – Big South-OVC Football Association

Aug. 13 – Southern Conference

Aug. 14 – Missouri Valley Football Conference

Aug. 15 – United Athletic Conference

Aug. 16 – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Aug. 19 – Northeast Conference

Aug. 20 – Patriot League

Aug. 21 – CAA Football

Aug. 22 – Pioneer Football League

Aug. 23 – Ivy League

FCS In-Season Dates

Aug. 24 – Week 0 games kick off 2024 college football season (week-by-week guide)

Aug. 29 – Traditional opening night of college football

Sept. 2 – Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (weekly polls begin)

Oct. 23 – Jerry Rice Award Watch List announced

Oct. 30 – FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award finalists announced

Nov. 23 – Final full Saturday of FCS regular season

Nov. 24 – 24-team FCS playoff field announced

Nov. 25 – Jerry Rice Award and Eddie Robinson Award finalists announced

Nov. 26 – Walter Payton Award and Buck Buchanan Award finalists announced

Nov. 30 – FCS playoffs (first round)

Dec. 3 – Top 3 voter-getters invited to announcement of Walter Payton Award

Dec. 3 – Top 3 voter-getters invited to announcement of Buck Buchanan Award

Dec. 4 – Jerry Rice Award recipient announced

Dec. 5 – Eddie Robinson Award recipient announced

Dec. 6-7 – FCS playoffs (second round)

Dec. 7 – SWAC Championship Game

Dec. 9 – Urban Edge Network HBCU+ National Player of the Year recipient announced

Dec. 10 – FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award recipient announced

Dec. 13-14 – FCS playoffs (quarterfinals)

Dec. 14 – Celebration Bowl in Atlanta (MEAC and SWAC champions)

Dec. 18 – Stats Perform FCS All-America Team announced

Dec. 20-21 – FCS playoffs (semifinals)

Jan. 4 – Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet – Walter Payton Award and Buck Buchanan Award recipients announced

Jan. 6 – FCS Championship Game (year-by-year results) in Frisco, Texas

Jan. 7 – Final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll

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