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Yesterday, Virginia-Lynchburg released its 2026 schedule with its usual slate of FCS and DII paycheck games. The schedule hardly elicits any excitement at first glance, but a closer look at the FCS broadcasting landscape shows the Dragons could have a groundbreaking opportunity. Virginia-Lynchburg opens the season at Hampton on August 29, who they have not played since 2019. The matchup against the Pirates is a wise financial move given the proximity. It could also pay dividends for the region's exposure to the Dragons.
Last year, Hampton began a linear tv deal to air home games on Monumental Sports Network, the television home of the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics. Regional sports networks (RSN) are at their lowest point ever. The remaining nine Major League Baseball teams partnered with the Fanduel Sports Network just terminated their deals with the broadcaster on the brink of extinction.
Nonetheless, franchise-backed RSNs like Monumental Sports are still fairly stable and can benefit programs like Hampton and Virginia-Lynchburg.The appearance on Monumental Sports would likely be Virginia-Lynchburg's first known appearance on linear (traditional, non-streaming) television. While Virginia-Lynchburg has a shared reputation with Lincoln (CA) as college football's unaffiliated punching bag, Monumental Sports has no reason to not air this game.
The Washington Mystics are off on August 29th creating a need for live programming. Monumental Sports showed its desperation for football inventory last year when it aired Hampton's game against Jackson State on tape-delay the day after its original airing on HBCUGo.Sure, college football broadcasts are more accessible than ever with the internet. However, linear TV still has credibility due to it not having an unlimited amount of bandwidth to allocate.
This is credibility Virginia-Lynchburg desperately needs as a non-affiliated school. The appearance on Monumental Sports Network could pay dividends for recruiting in the region. Monumental Sports reaches 4.7 million homes across Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Surprisingly, the network still carries strong viewership in the region. Washington Capitals viewership grew 37 percent during the 2024-2025 season, while the Washington Mystics saw a 46 percent increase in viewership. Monumental Sports has a considerable presence in the DMV.
A competitive performance against Hampton could transform the Dragons from a local laughingstock to respectable underdog in the region overnight. The Dragons also have some momentum heading into 2026. Virginia-Lynchburg beat NAIA Bluefield College last year, its first win over an NCAA or NAIA school since 2023 and their fifth such win since 2013. Perhaps the Dragons can put together the performance of a lifetime against Hampton in front of a regional audience.
Viriginia-Lynchburg is one of college football's most miserable programs. An appearance on a regional sports network may not be much, but it goes a long way for a program on the very fringes of college football.
