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Written By
Written By
Written By
Omar-Rashon Borja
Senior Writer, Editor, Historian
Written By
Omar-Rashon Borja
Senior Writer, Editor, Historian
Chicago State released its inaugural football schedule yesterday, and it may be the most unique in Division I. The Cougars play four sub-Division I schools at home while competing against the likes of name-brand FCS schools such as North Carolina A&T and Tarleton State. Chicago State's temporary home stadium, SeatGeek Stadium, adds intrigue to their four home dates.
The former home of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire and the National Women's Soccer League's Chicago Stars FC creates a rare bowl game-like atmosphere for Fort Lauderdale, Kentucky Christian, Roosevelt, and Virginia-Lynchburg.
Only one of these four schools has played in anything resembling a major pro sports venue. Kentucky Christian played Walsh University at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, home of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, and multiple USFL games from 2022 to 2023. The other three schools have not played in a venue of the stature of SeatGeek Stadium.
Fort Lauderdale and Virginia-Lynchburg will probably value the appearance at SeatGeek Stadium the most of this quartet. These two schools are not members of the NCAA or NAIA. They instead compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).
While they play against FCS schools, none of their opponents have called a pro sports venue home. Texas Southern hosted Virginia-Lynchburg in 2024 and 2025. However, the games took place at Texas Southern’s Alexander Durley Stadium, rather than at Houston Dynamo FC's Shell Energy Stadium, where the Tigers usually play home games.
These schools receive plenty of negative attention for the actions of their leadership. However, this is through no fault of the players, who long for even a glimpse of the college football limelight. They deserve chances to play at venues like SeatGeek Stadium.
Although the inaugural Chicago State home slate mostly lacks household names, it creates memorable trips for some of college football’s most overlooked fanbases.
