The Nashville Sports Council and the Ohio Valley Conference, along with partners Vanderbilt University and the City of Nashville, have been awarded the 2026 and 2027 NCAA Division I Football Championship games.
According to a Nashville Sports Council press release, Nashville becomes the 11th city to host the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Championship since 1978. The games will be played at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University on January 5, 2026 and January 4, 2027.
Vanderbilt’s newly renovated First Bank Stadium seats approximately 35,000 and features modern facilities and fan-focused amenities with a state-of-the-art locker room and 4-level press box. The nearby John Rich Complex offers three practice fields, a 2,000 sq. ft. weight room, and synthetic turf matching the stadium’s surface ensuring consistency for the athletes.
The Championship was previously played in the state of Tennessee from 1997 to 2009 when Chattanooga served as the host. Since 2010 the Championship has been played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The 2025 FCS Championship game will be played in Frisco on Monday, January 6 at 6 p.m. CT and will air on ESPN.