The University of Maine’s football program will earn a total of $750,000 for traveling to play Football Bowl Subdivision schools Appalachian State and Boston College next fall.
The Black Bears will pocket $350,000 for their trip to Boone, North Carolina to play Appalachian State on Sept. 5, 2026, and $400,000 for the game in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts vs. BC on Sept. 19.
UMaine is in the Football Championship Subdivision, which has fewer scholarships and resources than FBS schools.
UMaine released its upcoming football schedule Tuesday.
The Black Bears are coming off a 6-6 season including a 5-3 mark in Coastal Athletic Association play.
They will play four of their first five games on the road starting with a CAA game at Towson in Maryland on Thursday, Aug. 27. Towson was 6-6, 4-4 this past fall.
App State is 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the Sun Belt Conference entering a Dec. 29, 2025, Birmingham Bowl game against Georgia Southern. UMaine has won both previous meetings vs. Appalachian State but haven’t played the Mountaineers since 2011.
UMaine will host Merrimack College for a non-conference game on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Merrimack was 4-8 this past season including a 20-13 home loss to the Black Bears.
Boston College was 2-10 this season, 1-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
UMaine is 3-7 all-time against the Eagles.
The following weekend, Sept. 26, UMaine travels to face CAA rival Elon in North Carolina. Elon was 6-6 and 4-4 including a 35-14 loss to UMaine in Orono this past season.
UMaine will entertain Sacred Heart on Oct. 3. Sacred Heart was 8-4 and will make its CAA debut next fall.
UMaine will have the next weekend off before hosting back-to-back conference games against Bryant (3-9, 1-7) on Oct. 17 and Campbell (2-10, 2-6) on Oct. 24. UMaine beat Bryant 34-14 but did not play Campbell.
The Black Bears will be away against reigning CAA champ Rhode Island (11-3, 8-0) on Oct. 31; will play a non-conference home game against FCS school Sacramento State (7-5, 5-3 in Big Sky Conference) on Nov. 7; have a road game at CAA rival Albany (2-10, 1-7) on Nov. 14 and will then battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket against visiting New Hampshire (8-5, 6-2) on Nov. 21.
UMaine lost to FCS playoff teams Rhode Island (45-13) and UNH (33-27) this season.
UMaine didn’t play Albany this fall and will be facing Sacramento State for the first time ever.