FCS Football Talk: Recent Episodes
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Sam Herder shares his FCS analysis, predictions, thoughts, and ramblings on the FCS Football Talk podcast, presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. He also brings on offseason guests from around the FCS for in-depth conversations.
On this episode, Sam discusses his most likely FCS over FBS upsets in the 2026 season.
Will the number of FCS over FBS wins increase this fall? And would one of them even be considered an upset?
On this episode, Sam and Zach compare and contrast their Top 25 ballots to the media poll’s rankings.
Who are they higher on compared to other voters? What teams are they a bit more hesitant about? Who could rise or fall quickly from their preseason rankings? Those discussion points and much more!
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds
On this episode, Sam breaks down his Top 5 preseason favorites to win the 2026 Buck Buchanan Award. Two defensive ends, two safeties, and a linebacker make the Top 5.
On this episode, Sam breaks down his Top 5 preseason favorites to win the 2026 Walter Payton Award. A loaded race is sure to ensue this fall with multiple All-American quarterbacks returning. But can a non-QB win the award for the first time since 2016?
Sam's 8-week parental leave is coming to a close, which means new and fresh podcast episodes are coming your way soon! And by popular demand, the number of episodes will be increasing to 2-3 per week for the upcoming season.
In this podcast channel, now called the FCS Football Talk Network, three shows will air:
-FCS Football Talk (presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM)
-FCS Talk w/ Sam Herder
-FCS Gameday
Note: This episode originally aired on May 27. Sam is currently on parental leave and will have new episodes out in late July.
On this episode, Sam breaks down his early FCS Top 15 teams heading into the 2026 season.
Note: This episode originally aired on March 9. Sam is currently on parental leave and will have new episodes out in early August.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Timothy Rosario, co-host of The Bluebloods on FCS Football Central.
The two discuss:
-Most surprising offseason headline
-Big-picture questions ahead of the 2026 season
-Is it Montana State vs. the field?
-Who are some dark horses?
-Can Illinois State keep its momentum going?
-Who can take a step forward with impressive transfers?
-And more
Note: This episode originally aired on April 8. Sam is currently on parental leave and will have new episodes out in early August.
On this episode, Sam is joined by West Florida broadcaster Will Kennedy. The two discuss UWF’s move to the FCS from D2, the football program’s rapid rise, the school’s investment in football, and more.
Note: This episode originally aired on March 18. Sam is currently on parental leave and will have new episodes out in early August.
On this episode, Sam is joined by KC Smurthwaite, HERO Sports writer and a college athletics consultant
The two discuss topics like future outlooks for conferences like the UAC and Summit League, future realignment dominoes, the college football landscape, and private equity in the FCS playoffs.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Note: This episode originally aired on March 4. Sam is currently on parental leave and will have new episodes out in early August.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Craig Haley, the FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform/The Analyst.
The two discuss:
-FCS championship future
-Private equity in the playoffs
-Penn hiring Rick Santos, and Yale hiring Kevin Cahill
-Future realignment
-Where has the FCS improved over Craig’s time covering the subdivision, and where has it weakened?
-Parity in the FCS
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam breaks down his early FCS Top 15 teams heading into the 2026 season.
On this episode, Sam talks about Harvard branching out and scheduling tough non-conference games against FCS playoff contenders. He also discusses the Week 0 slate this year and how it was a missed opportunity for the FCS.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam breaks down his top 30 returning FCS linebackers. The ranking in article form can be found here.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam breaks down his top 25 returning FCS quarterbacks. The ranking in article form can be found here.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Southland Conference Commissioner Chris Grant. They discuss:
-Multiple Southland players as 2026 NFL Draft prospects
-Player retention and the transfer portal
-FCS playoff committee emphasizing D1 opponents
-FCS Kickoff status
-Autonomy subdivision discussions
-Update on private equity and the FCS playoffs
-Update on FCS championship game bid process
-And more
On this episode, Sam breaks down his top 30 returning FCS running backs. The ranking in article form can be found here.
On this episode, Sam is joined by West Florida broadcaster Will Kennedy.
The two discuss UWF’s move to the FCS from D2, the football program’s rapid rise, the school’s investment in football, and more.
What are the biggest offseason questions for the Montana, Montana State, UND, USD, and SDSU football teams? We discuss one big-picture question for each program, and one on-field question for the 2026 season.
On this episode, Sam goes solo and talks about changes to the FCS playoff at-large selection criteria, this season’s championship game date possibly being moved, an executive order protecting the Army-Navy game potentially impacting the FCS quarterfinals and Celebration Bowl, changes to the targeting rule, and a potentially new subdivision at the top of Division 1.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by KC Smurthwaite, HERO Sports writer and a college athletics consultant
The two discuss topics like future outlooks for conferences like the UAC and Summit League, future realignment dominoes, the college football landscape, and private equity in the FCS playoffs.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Timothy Rosario, co-host of The Bluebloods on FCS Football Central.
The two discuss:
-Most surprising offseason headline
-Big-picture questions ahead of the 2026 season
-Is it Montana State vs. the field?
-Who are some dark horses?
-Can Illinois State keep its momentum going?
-Who can take a step forward with impressive transfers?
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Craig Haley, the FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform/The Analyst.
The two discuss:
-FCS championship future
-Private equity in the playoffs
-Penn hiring Rick Santos, and Yale hiring Kevin Cahill
-Future realignment
-Where has the FCS improved over Craig’s time covering the subdivision, and where has it weakened?
-Parity in the FCS
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Tennessee Tech general manager and director of player personnel Justin McMullen.
The two discuss:
-The role of a college football GM
-Recruiting the transfer portal
-Player retention
-Revenue-sharing
-Communication with agents
-Tampering
-Transfer portal windows
-TN Tech program momentum
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by Zach McKinnell of FCS Football Central and The Bluebloods.
The two discuss:
-NDSU going to the FBS, why it makes sense for the Bison, and what it means for the FCS
-Bobby Hauck retiring as head coach at Montana, and then quickly coming out of retirement to take the Illinois DC gig
-Travis Johansen stepping down as South Dakota’s head coach to take the Rutgers DC job
-Sac State’s FBS push
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill.
The two discuss:
-Bobby Hauck’s retirement
-Montana State winning the natty
-Nashville experience
-Update on Sequence Equity’s pitch for the FCS playoffs
-Southern Utah and Utah Tech joining the Big Sky
-Jersey patches
-Scholarship caps in the House era
-Collective bargaining in college football
-Western Realignment
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by FCS Nation Radio’s Stone Labanowitz.
The former Southern Illinois quarterback turned FCS media member talks all things quarterbacks. Sam and Stone chat about the top returners in 2026, discuss why many of the top signal-callers returned, and talk about some risks of the transfer portal.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by FCS Fans Nation’s Jamie Williams. The two discuss the biggest surprises and disappointments of the 2025 FCS season. Which teams surpassed preseason expectations? And which teams did not live up to the hype?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach recap an epic FCS championship game as Montana State defeats Illinois State in overtime. They also talk about how ISU and MSU can reload for next season. And then they discuss the experience in Nashville, which made its debut hosting the game.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Audio from Montana State's and Illinois State's FCS championship postgame press conferences.
Montana State head coach Brent Vigen met with the media in Nashville two days before the FCS championship game.
Illinois State head coach Brock Spack met with the media in Nashville two days before the FCS championship game.
On this episode, Sam and Zach preview the FCS championship game between Montana State and Illinois State. What are some key matchups, things to watch, and storylines heading into this game?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports and ESPN Montana. They discuss:
-Montana State’s journey to the national title game
-How this year’s team has a different personality from last year’s team
-Is last year’s championship result a motivating factor?
-Is this the best coaching job by Brent Vigen in his time at MSU?
-Justin Lamson and the new-look offense
-Illinois State matchup
-Nashville
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by John Fitzgerald, the play-by-play voice for Illinois State. They discuss:
-Illinois State’s playoff journey to Nashville
-When did things click for Illinois State
-The win at NDSU
-Expected crowd in Nashville
-Key players for Illinois State
-Brock Spack
-Illinois State adapting to the new age of college athletics
-The matchup against Montana State
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Montana State head coach Brent Vigen, offensive lineman JT Reed, and defensive tackle Paul Brott met with the media for a virtual press conference a week before the FCS championship. In-person media interviews will be conducted two days before the game in Nashville. Here is audio from the Dec. 29 presser.
Illinois State head coach Brock Spack, quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, and linebacker Tye Niekamp met with the FCS media for a virtual press conference a week before the FCS championship. In-person media interviews will be conducted two days before the game in Nashville. Here is audio from the Dec. 29 presser.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-Recapping the semifinal games as Montana State defeats Montana in an epic atmosphere, and Illinois State’s incredible run continues with a win at Villanova.
-They then give a 500-foot view of the FCS championship matchup and the atmosphere it’ll be in Nashville.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from the quarterfinals
-Previewing the semifinal round
-How hyped is the Montana-Montana State game? How unexpected is the Illinois State-Villanova game? What are the keys to victory? And is new blood in one semifinal matchup good for the FCS?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from the 2nd round.
-What do we make of NDSU’s loss and Mercer’s performance? Meanwhile, USD and Montana impress in their wins.
-Game-by-game previews for the quarterfinals and Celebration Bowl.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from the 1st round
-Game-by-game previews for the 2nd round
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss the FCS playoff bracket. What were the biggest surprises in the seeds and on the bubble? They then break down each corner of the bracket before looking into the FCS championship odds.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss playoff outlooks for each conference. Who are some bid thieves? Who is on the playoff bubble? Who is in a position to earn a Top 16 seed and a Top 8 seed? They break it all down here.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 11
-USD, Mercer, Lamar, YSU, and NDSU all pick up wins in ranked matchups
-Playoff scenarios for teams and conferences, and how some Week 12 games impact the postseason picture
-Notable games include No. 14 Illinois State at No. 16 South Dakota State, No. 19 Lamar at No. 15 Stephen F. Austin, No. 17 South Dakota at No. 21 Southern Illinois, No. 9 UC Davis at No. 3 Montana State, and No. 11 Rhode Island at Maine
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 10
-Which upsets were most surprising between:
No. 24/25 ACU beat No. 2/2 Tarleton State
Indiana State beat No. 4/5 SDSU
Idaho State beat No. 6/6 UC Davis
South Dakota beat No. 8/10 North Dakota
UIW beat No. 14/14 Lamar
Idaho beat No. 19/21 Northern Arizona
Southern Utah beat No. 22/24 Austin Peay
-What to do with teams like Tarleton State and SDSU?
-Did we jump the gun on the NDSU vs. the field talk?
-Top 4 playoff seed scenarios
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 9
-NDSU rolls SDSU, James Conway breaks an FCS career record, Michael Wortham is a star, and UTRGV continues to impress
-Is it NDSU vs. the field? And where does SDSU go from here?
-Big implications this week for No. 2/2 Tarleton State at No. 24/25 Abilene Christian
-A look at Top 8 playoff seed scenarios
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 8
-No. 1/1 NDSU at No. 2/2 SDSU preview. How crucial is Chase Mason’s status in this game? What are the key matchups? And what are the implications?
-No. 18/20 Illinois State at No. 21/NR South Dakota preview. A huge matchup for playoff hopes.
-No. 4/4 Montana at Sac State preview. A major game, plus some antics adding more drama.
-No. 3/3 Tarleton State at Eastern Kentucky preview. Can Tarleton keep it rolling?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam discusses the FCS playoff committee's Top 10 ranking. He breaks down the order of teams, their resumes, and some teams just on the outside.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 7
-Projecting what they think the playoff committee’s Top 6 will be when it reveals its Top 10 ranking on Wednesday?
-Are the top two obvious? Who has the best argument for the No. 3 spot? We think we know who the five teams are to be sorted within the Top 5, but how many teams are in position for the No. 6 spot?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 6
-What do we make of multiple Top 7 teams escaping upsets?
-As we hit the midway point of the season, some hypothetical playoff seed scenarios get thrown into the discussion
-Week 7 preview
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 5
-Discussing how we ranked the Top 5 nationally
-Week 6 preview: No. 1 NDSU at No. 6 Illinois State, No. 2 SDSU at No. 24 Youngstown State, No. 5 Montana State at No. 13 Northern Arizona, No. 16 West Georgia at No. 22 Austin Peay
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-A new model pitch for the FCS playoffs is being presented to commissioners. What is it? What are the positives? What are the negatives? Will it happen?
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 4
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 3
-Montana beats UND in comeback fashion
-Tarleton State and SIU dominate on the road
-NDSU QB Cole Payton off to a hot start
-Rhody improves to 3-0
-UIW makes a QB switch
-Week 4 top games
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 2
-SDSU's big win at Montana State
-Abilene Christian gets a ranked win over SFA
-The Pioneer gets two more big non-conference wins
-Lamar knocks off South Dakota
-Bryant and LIU earn FBS wins
-Week 3 top games
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 1
-Tarleton State and Austin Peay earn FBS wins
-SDSU and Lehigh grab ranked victories
-Two ranked SoCon teams get upset
-Multiple FCS teams nearly beat FBS opponents
-NDSU, Montana State, SDSU debut new QBs
-Week 2 top games
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Southland Conference Commissioner Chris Grant. The two discuss:
-Nicholls’ upset over No. 5 UIW on ESPN2
-Southland’s rise
-UTRGV’s potential
-New media deal
-Moving to a 9-game conference schedule
-FCS championship moving to Nashville
-Conference realignment
-New D1 governance
-And more
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 0
-Reacting to Nicholls knocking off No. 5 UIW
-Thoughts on Mercer-UC Davis resulting in a no-contest due to lighting
-Most intriguing Week 1 games. Will we see any FCS over FBS wins? Can Lehigh make a statement? How juicy is Sac State at SDSU?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds
FCS representatives held a press conference on Thursday ahead of the 2025 season, giving the media an opportunity to ask questions about the FCS playoffs and championship game.
In attendance were Chattanooga AD and FCS Championship Committee Chair Mark Wharton, Nashville Sports Council President Scott Ramsey, OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche, and NCAA Director of Championships Ty Halpin.
Here is audio from the presser.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss some storylines for Week 0.
Games include:
No. 5 UIW at Nicholls (ESPN2)
Idaho State at UNLV (Mountain West Network)
No. 10 Tarleton State at Portland State (ESPN2)
No. 8 UC Davis vs. No. 11 Mercer (ESPN)
NC Central vs. Southern (ABC)
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit Hero Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss some questions heading into the season.
-In alphabetical order, these were the first 4 teams left out of the 2024 FCS playoff bracket - Chattanooga, Southeastern Louisiana University, Southern Utah, Stony Brook. Which of these teams is most likely to make the 2025 playoff bracket?
-In alphabetical order, these were the last 4 teams selected into the 2024 FCS playoff bracket - Eastern Kentucky, Northern Arizona, Tennessee State, UT Martin. Which of these teams is LEAST likely to make the 2025 playoff bracket?
-What is South Dakota State's most likely record after its first 2 games?
-Will the House settlement era (schools revenue-sharing with players, in-house NIL, no scholarship limits unless conferences individually set them) create more parity in the FCS nationally, or will it widen the gap even more?
-Which FCS conference will see the next team move to the FBS?
-What are your expectations for the Ivy League champion and their FCS playoff debut this season?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit Hero Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss their Top 25 ballots for the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Media Poll.
Sam’s ballot can be found here. Zach’s can be found here.
They discuss:
-Why did they rank some teams where they are
-Top teams with new starting quarterbacks
-Teams returning strong experience
-Teams that didn’t make the 2024 playoffs that will in 2025
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Sac State football play-by-play broadcaster Jason Ross
They discuss:
-Sac State’s FBS push and where things stand right now
-2026 plans and schedule
-Fan thoughts on FBS push
-2025 squad and competing for an FCS title
-Recruiting
-New stadium
-NIL pledges
-And more
HERO Sports was on site for MVFC Media Day on July 21 in Sioux Falls, SD. Here is some audio from head coach and player interviews with the media. Stay tuned for more stories and coverage on herosports.com
0:00:00 -- SDSU HC Dan Jackson, DT Kobe Clayborne
0:18:01 -- YSU HC Doug Phillips, DB DJ Harris
0:28:21 -- NDSU HC Tim Polasek, LB Logan Kopp
0:44:10 -- SIU HC Nick Hill, QB DJ Williams
1:00:48 -- Murray State HC Jody Wright, RB Jawaun Northington
1:15:40 -- USD HC Travis Johansen, RB Charles Pierre Jr.
1:34:53 -- Indiana State HC Curt Mallory, LB Dallas Westhoff
1:46:00 -- UND HC Eric Schmidt, LB Malachi McNeal
1:55:25 -- Illinois State HC Brock Spack, DL Jake Anderson
2:13:20 -- UNI HC Todd Stepsis, TE Derek Anderson
On this episode, Sam is joined by North Dakota head coach Eric Schmidt.
They discuss:
-Being a first-time head coach in the new era of college football
-UND's facilities and growth
-Early recruiting success
-Opting in and revenue-sharing
-The Dakotas' strength in the FCS and aiming for that standard
-Alerus Center
-2025 squad
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by Zach McKinnell of FCS Football Central and The Bluebloods.
They discuss:
-Transfer portal
-UIW additions
-USD and SDSU outlooks
-Sac State’s FBS push
-W&M joining the Patriot League
-Early preseason Top 5
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by Harvard head coach Andrew Aurich.
They discuss:
-Leading the Harvard football program
-The Ivy League now sending its champ to the FCS playoffs
-Recruiting to the Ivy League
-Being protected from the transfer portal
-The Game
-Harvard's one captain tradition
-2025 outlook
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by UIW head coach Clint Killough. They discuss:
-Offseason excitement
-Retaining top talent
-Making splash additions via the transfer portal
-Chasing an FCS championship
-QB competition
-UIW football's growth
-Being a young head coach
-Non-conference scheduling
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by UTRGV head coach Travis Bush. They discuss:
-Helping build UTRGV football from scratch
-Assembling his staff
-Recruiting high schoolers and the transfer portal
-Benefits to UTRGV's location
-Community excitement and selling out season tickets
-Practicing last fall
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by Montana State Director of Athletics Leon Costello. They discuss:
-Reflecting on the 2024 football season
-National title chase
-Opting in to the House settlement
-Scholarship caps
-Brent Vigen
-Sac State's FBS move
-Realignment in the West
-College football landscape
-12-game FCS season
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. They discuss:
-The SoCon’s approach to the House settlement
-The vote to keep scholarship limits the same
-How many FCS schools could afford to go above 63 scholarships
-How many SoCon schools will opt in
-The SoCon keeping its in-conference transfer rule
-Governance changes in Division I
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by ETSU head coach Will Healy.
They discuss:
-Healy's FCS roots, from being a QB on Richmond's 2008 national championship team to an assistant coach at Chattanooga to being the HC at Austin Peay and now ETSU
-The differences and similarities between the G5 and FCS
-What attracted him to ETSU
-What he's learned as a younger head coach
-Positives and negatives he's learned from recruiting the transfer portal
-Landing FBS transfer QBs Cade McNamara and Jacolby Criswell
-2025 spring ball
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr.
They discuss:
-Taking over as Idaho’s head coach
-Ford’s rise in the coaching profession
-Navigating the transfer portal
-Idaho fans’ thirst for more success
-A look at the 2025 squad
-And more
On this episode, Sam chats 1-on-1 with North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek.
They discuss:
-NDSU’s championship run
-Not losing any players to the transfer portal after the title game
-Former Bison players on the coaching staff
-FCS changes while he was in the FBS from 2017-2023
-Ever-changing CFB landscape
-2025 QB competition
-And more
FCS committee chair Matt Larsen (NDSU AD), vice chair Mark Wharton (Chattanooga AD), and NCAA Director of Championships Ty Halpin addressed the media in Frisco two days before the FCS national championship game.
They discussed the new bracket format, the future site of the FCS championship game, Nashville, TV windows, the Ivy League joining the FCS playoffs, and more.
North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek addressed the media in Frisco two days before the FCS national championship game.
Montana State head coach Brent Vigen addresses the media in Frisco two days before the FCS national championship game.
On this episode, Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports and ESPN Montana discusses Montana State's run to the national championship game.
Discussion points include:
-What’s the vibe right now in Montana?
-This MSU squad's business-like attitude
-Brent Vigen staying
-Tommy Mellott’s play
-Defensive improvements
-Senior class of Montana natives
-Biggest cause for confidence and biggest cause for concern for MSU going up against NDSU
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead's Mike McFeely joins to discuss NDSU's return to the national championship game.
Discussion points include:
-Level of excitement after a 1-year Frisco hiatus
-Tim Polasek and the energy he’s brought
-Cam Miller’s play
-Brent Vigen's time at NDSU
-Will the game be back in Frisco
-Plus an unscripted segment about NDSU and the FBS
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell preview the FCS championship game, discussing the key storylines and matchups between No. 1 Montana State and No. 2 NDSU.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-The Ivy League in the playoffs
-Jason Eck leaving Idaho for New Mexico
-Gevani McCoy potentially transferring to UIW
-Semifinal matchups
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell preview the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs.
Friday, Dec. 13
8 p.m. CT on ESPN: #8 Idaho at #1 Montana State
Saturday, Dec. 14
11 a.m. CT on ESPN: #6 UIW at #3 SDSU
2 p.m. CT on ESPN+: #5 UC Davis at #4 South Dakota
2:30 p.m. CT on ABC: #7 Mercer at #2 NDSU
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Three Game Balls and A Flag from the first round of the playoffs
-The Top 3 finalists for the Walter Payton Award and Buck Buchanan Award
-Most intriguing second-round matchups
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss playoff scenarios in each conference. Which teams are in contention for a Top 8 seed, and who are bubble teams to pay attention to?
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Week 11 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-A conference-by-conference look at teams still in contention for a Top 8 FCS playoff seed
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, FCS Playoff Committee chair Matt Larsen and the NCAA’s Ty Halpin join the podcast to help break down many topics:
-New format seeding the top 16 seeds
-The committee using new metrics — KPI, Massey Ratings, and ESPN’s Football Power Index
-Are ranked wins counted
-What criteria or metric is usually discussed the most when forming the bracket, whether it be rankings, overall record, eye test, strength of schedule, ranked wins, etc.?
-What is the selection process in determining the field and the order of seeds?
-There are a few playoff committee members whose school will be in the discussion for a spot somewhere in the bracket. How does that work if, for example, NDSU is being discussed when it comes to seeding?
-Minimum bids to host
-Several FCS playoff games getting a national spotlight
-Toyota Stadium renovations
-Frisco
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-The FCS Playoff Committee’s Top 10 rankings
-Week 9 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-SDSU’s big win over USD
-Week 10’s most intriguing games
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Big-picture outlook of NDSU beating SDSU and how it shapes the national title picture
-Week 8 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-How far should voters have dropped Villanova and Mercer after upset losses in Week 8?
-Is Tommy Mellott a dark horse pick for the Walter Payton Award?
-Week 9 previews: No. 24 WCU at No. 14 Mercer and No. 4 USD at No. 3 SDSU
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Week 7 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-Montana State gets a statement win, while North Alabama, Northern Colorado, and SFA pull off upset wins
-Week 8 previews:
An in-depth preview for No. 1 SDSU at No. 2 NDSU
No. 16 Rhode Island at No. 24 New Hampshire implications
Is Weber State at Sac State already a playoff elimination game?
Is Mercer at Samford a trap game?
Importance of McNeese at UIW in the Southland playoff race
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Week 6 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-What are the biggest midseason questions?
1. How good is Montana State?
2. Who has the best odds to win the FCS title?
3. What do we make of the CAA race?
4. Can a RB win the Walter Payton Award?
-Week 7 previews
No. 7 Idaho at No. 3 Montana State
No. 24 North Arizona at No. 14 Montana
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Week 5 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-Which team had the most impressive win in Week 5?
-Week 6 previews:
No. 7 North Dakota at No. 2 NDSU
No. 18 Illinois State at No. 19 SIU
No. 5 Central Arkansas at No. 16 ACU
No. 25 NAU at No. 10 Idaho
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Week 4 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-No. 4 Montana’s comeback win over No. 24 Western Carolina
-How open is the race for the FCS National Championship?
-Week 5 previews:
No. 12 Mercer at No. 23 Wofford
No. 17 SIU at No. 5 South Dakota
No. 2 NDSU at No. 18 Illinois State
No. 19 Lamar at No. 7 Central Arkansas
No. 4 Idaho at No. 14 UC Davis
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Week 3 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-Southern Illinois & Idaho win statement games against ranked opponents
-Should we be concerned about North Dakota State’s defense after struggling against ETSU?
-Will the recent conference realignment impact the FCS?
-South Dakota State, North Dakota State, and Villanova look unimpressive in Week 3 wins…How should we view these wins?
-Week 4 previews: No. 24 Western Carolina at No. 9 Montana, No. 21 SEMO at No. 7 Southern Illinois, and No. 4 Idaho at No. 19 Abilene Christian
-Other FCS matchups to watch in Week 4
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Week 2 Three Game Balls and A Flag
-No. 23 North Dakota’s win over No. 4 Montana
-No. 1 South Dakota State’s statement win against No. 12 Incarnate Word
-How do we view South Dakota State and Montana after two weeks?
-Multiple preseason-ranked programs fall to 0-2
-Week 3 previews: No. 17 UAlbany at No. 4 Idaho, No. 23 Mercer at No. 14 Chattanooga, No. 12 UIW at No. 9 Southern Illinois, No. 24 Nicholls at No. 11 Sacramento State
-Other FCS matchups to watch in Week 3
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 1
-NDSU’s battle against Colorado
-No. 6 Villanova’s win over No. 25 Youngstown State
-Missed opportunities for FCS programs to pull off FBS upsets
-No. 12 UIW at No. 1 SDSU will tell us a lot about both teams
-Can No. 23 North Dakota pull off the upset against No. 3 Montana?
-Other FCS matchups to watch in Week 2
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 0
-Montana State’s FBS win
-NDSU-Colorado preview
-SDSU-Oklahoma State preview
-Youngstown State-Villanova preview
-Intriguing Week 1 FCS-FBS matchups
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-Top 2024 storylines
-FCS playoff seeds increasing to 16
-The FCS championship game moving to Monday night
-Week 0 preview
On this episode, Sam is reunited with Brian McLaughlin. The two go on a wide-ranging conversation, including discussing the FCS level, what has changed, and if more changes could be coming.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Commissioner Michael Cross at SoCon Media Day. The two discuss:
-His first year on the job
-Challenges for mid-majors
-How the SoCon/FCS fits into the future of college football
-Facilities, scholarships, and revenue-sharing
-Conference membership
-SoCon rising in the FCS ranks
-And more
On this episode, Sam is joined by Cole Neely, former Furman football player and current TV analyst, to preview the Paladins.
The two discuss:
-Last year's memorable run
-2024 expectations
-QB Carson Jones
-Offensive question marks
-Defensive holes to fill
-High school recruiting
-SoCon gaining more respect
-thoughts on the FCS landscape
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Zach McKinnell of FCS Football Central and The Bluebloods.
The two discuss some FCS over/unders, including:
-Win totals for SDSU, NDSU, Montana, Montana State, USD, and Nova
-Number of playoff teams from the Big Sky, CAA, MVFC, and SoCon
-Number of Big Sky/MVFC teams in the semifinals
-Number of FCS over FBS wins
-Micah Davey tackles
-ShunDerrick Powell/Kayvon Britten/Lan Larison combined rushing yards
-SDSU defensive PPG
-Between Montana/Montana State/NDSU/SDSU, how many will join the Mountain West within the next 3 years?
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Jay Elsen of Midco Sports to preview the upcoming South Dakota football season.
The two discuss:
-the difference between last offseason and this offseason for USD football
-Offensive talent returning
-Aidan Bouman's progression
-Defensive question marks and names to step up
-USD's portal additions
-Overall roster talent improvement
-2024 expectations
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Brian Marceau, host of Tubs at the Club, to chat Idaho football.
The two discuss:
-Excitement around Idaho football
-Jason Eck
-Jack Layne at QB
-Offensive weapons
-OL progression
-Strength of the defense
-2024 expectations
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Stone Labanowitz, former SIU QB and current co-host of FCS Nation Radio
The two discuss:
-Mark Gronowski staying at SDSU
-Analysis of Cam Miller, Cole Gonzales, and Tommy Mellott
-Under-the-radar QBs
-Transfer portal regrets
-Frisco experience
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Ed Benkin to preview the upcoming Villanova football season.
The two discuss:
-Nova's run to the quarterfinals last year
-Year-to-year inconsistencies
-QB Connor Watkins
-Nova's defensive potential
-Villanova and the CAA
-Battle of the Blue future
-Villanova football following
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by CAA writer Daniel Steenkamer to preview UAlbany.
The two discuss:
-UAlbany's rise last year
-The departures and transfer additions
-QB battle
-Defense rebuilding
-Recruiting
-2024 schedule thoughts
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit herosports.com for FCS coverage and sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by NDSU radio play-by-play announcer Sam Neidermann
The two discuss:
-the energy around NDSU football this offseason
-new head coach Tim Polasek
-Eli Green entering the portal
-NDSU's offense
-Can the defense elevate its play?
-Colorado matchup
-NDSU's national title chances
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Montana football analyst Colter Nuanez.
The two discuss:
-Montana fandom at a fever pitch after the national title game appearance
-Bobby Hauck's contract
-Biggest question for the 2024 Montana football team
-Starting QB situation
-How good can the offense be?
-How the defense looks to reload
-Impact transfers
-Will Montana take another step toward winning a national title?
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by South Dakota State beat writer Matt Zimmer.
The two discuss:
-Mark Gronowski returning?
-Biggest questions for SDSU in 2024
-Who are the new weapons on offense?
-How good can the defense be?
-New offensive coordinator
-SDSU's NIL collective
-SDSU's chances at a 3-peat
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Missouri Valley Football Conference commissioner Patty Viverito.
The two discuss:
-MVFC's new multimedia deal that will include national TV
-push to seed more teams in the 24-team FCS playoff bracket
-FCS Oversight Committee and its top discussion points
-transfer portal
-future of D1 football and where the MVFC fits in
-potential employee model in college athletics
-what she's most optimistic about for the future of the MVFC
On this episode, Sam records a podcast in Indianapolis alongside HERO Sports’ G5 national writer Colton Pool.
The two are in Indy for the NFL Combine. And they hit record to BS about the combine, what covering the G5 is like compared to the FCS, the similarities of the G5 and the FCS, if NDSU will ever get an FBS invite, the future of the CFP, will the G5/top-of-FCS merger ever happen, college athlete employment, and more.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by HERO Sports contributor Daniel Steenkamer to discuss Delaware's decision to move to the FBS.
They discuss what went into the decision, if Delaware's view toward CUSA changed, how the CAA's membership movement impacted the decision, how Delaware fans feel about the move, and more.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam sits down with Stephen F. Austin Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey. He is the co-chair of a working group made up of administrators from the FCS and Division I-AAA to help “redefine and actualize their distinctive role and value within Division I athletics and to chart a path for the future.”
Sam and Ryan discuss:
-the goal of this working group
-how mid-majors want to fit into the future D1 landscape
-what an employee model in D1 sports would mean for mid-majors
-the importance of access to championships for mid-majors
-restructuring of D1 football
-the future of the FCS
-the future of the United Athletic Conference
-plus more topics
On this episode, Sam recaps a fun weekend in Frisco, discussing the scene, atmosphere, and the championship game.
Also, where does this SDSU team rank among all-time FCS teams? Will the transfer portal impact SDSU and Montana? And how do the 2024 SDSU and Montana teams look?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam previews the FCS championship with SDSU reporter Matt Zimmer and Montana reporter Colter Nuanez.
(16:20) Matt Zimmer discusses the energy around SDSU’s football program and the team’s path to another national championship game.
(54:35) Colter Nuanez talks about how Montana turned around its season and how much buzz around the state there is for the Griz.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam breaks down the semifinal results.
SDSU destroyed UAlbany 59-0 as the scene in Brookings was more entertaining than the game. And in an instant classic, Montana beat NDSU 31-29 in double overtime.
That sets up what will be an epic environment for the championship game in Frisco, Texas.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam looks back at the FCS quarterfinal games and looks ahead to the semifinal matchups. He also touches on the news of Matt Entz leaving NDSU after this season and where the Bison go from here.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam previews the FCS quarterfinal games, looking at the matchups, some statistics, and the keys to victory.
The predictions article can be read here.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam recaps the second round of the FCS playoffs.
SDSU and Montana looked the part of Top 2 seeds. CAA members UAlbany and Villanova dominated. South Dakota and Furman got convincing wins. And NDSU and Idaho won overtime thrillers.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam reacts to Delaware moving to the FBS. He dives into what type of impact this has on the FCS, attempting to balance this move hurting the FCS and that the FCS is getting watered down while still trying to calm the “FCS is going to die” online freakouts.
The second half of the pod then previews what should be an excellent second round of FCS playoff action.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam reacts to the playoff bracket, including thoughts on the seeds, the bubble, and first-round matchups. He also ranks the four corners of the bracket and which pod is toughest before giving his semifinal and national title game predictions.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam goes conference-by-conference to break down the playoff scenarios, whether it’s the auto-bid, at-large bids, or seedable teams in each league.
He ends the podcast by looking at the overall seeding scenarios. There may be seven teams in good position already to secure a seed. And there are potentially four teams battling for the No. 8 seed.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam brings on a superstar guest lineup for an FCS roundtable discussion. Joining are Kevin Marshall of FCS Nation Radio, Zach McKinnell of The Bluebloods and FCS Football Central, and Jamie Williams of FCS Fans Nation.
The guys discuss national award favorites, playoff scenarios in the SoCon/CAA/Big Sky/MVFC, and who the top four seeds will be. They also talk about teams like SDSU, Furman, UIW, UNI, Montana, Montana State, UAlbany, Delaware, NDSU, and many more before predicting who they think will square off in the national championship game.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
FCS playoff committee chair Kent Haslam joins the podcast to help break down many topics:
-How often the playoff committee meets
-Top 10 rankings reveal
-Kent’s duties as the Big Sky rep, but what happens when his school (Montana) is brought up during the selection process
-First-round hosting determinations
-How the at-large bids and top 8 seeds are selected
-How often strength of schedule is discussed
-Does having too many teams from one conference weigh in on a committee member’s mind
-How ranked wins, FBS wins, and non-D1 wins are viewed
-Seeding more teams in future brackets
-financial elements of playing in the postseason
-Frisco
-Plus much more
On this episode, Sam recaps Week 9 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment, featuring nods to Idaho, Tennessee State, and Portland State RB Jobi Malary. Plus, what does Idaho’s win over Montana State mean for both teams moving forward?
Other results around the FCS also caught the eye, including some unranked over ranked wins.
Finally, five ranked vs. ranked matchups this weekend will help shape the playoff seeds and at-large picture:
No. 7 Sacramento State at No. 4 Montana
No. 9 South Dakota at No. 10 Southern Illinois
No. 11 North Dakota State at No. 1 South Dakota State
No. 2 Furman at No. 14 Chattanooga
No. 24 William & Mary at No. 23 UAlbany
Who is in the running for a Top 4 seed? Will the SoCon get four teams in the bracket?
Furman head coach Clay Hendrix joins the podcast to talk about this season’s football squad and its No. 3 ranking.
He also discusses the Top 10 win over Western Carolina, the improvement of the SoCon, how Furman has built itself for playoff success, being motivated after last year’s UIW loss, plus more talking points.
On this episode, Sam recaps Week 8 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment and also looks ahead to the best Week 9 games.
The podcast also takes a gander at what the playoff committee’s Top 10 ranking could look like later this week.
On this episode, Sam recaps Week 7 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment. He dives deeper into the Montana over Idaho win and the UND over NDSU win, including the Griz flipping the narrative and also asking the popular question this week on whether the Bison’s dynasty is dead.
The podcast ends with a look at a few of the top games this weekend: No. 4 Furman at No. 8 Western Carolina, No. 1 South Dakota State at No. 12 Southern Illinois, No. 11 North Dakota at Northern Iowa, and No. 2 Montana State at No. 3 Sacramento State.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Idaho head coach Jason Eck joins the podcast to talk about this weekend’s ranked matchup vs. Montana, which will be played in front of a sell-out crowd and aired on ESPN2.
The second-year head coach also discusses why he thought Idaho was a sleeping giant, the Vandals being ahead of schedule with their No. 3 ranking, what he’s learned about the Big Sky, plus some other topics.
There is plenty to dive into in this week’s episode. Sam recaps Week 6 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment, plus some other takeaways.
The pod then touches on a couple of news items. Sam shares his thoughts on the FCS media poll being added to the list of criteria playoff committee members can utilize to help evaluate teams. He also touches on the FCS-to-FBS transition fee increasing from $5K to $5M.
Lastly, a huge weekend of games coming up on Saturday.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
South Dakota State All-American OL Mason McCormick joins the podcast for an interview, discussing SDSU’s season so far and his decision to return for a sixth year.
Sam and Mason also talk about a couple of other standout SDSU offensive linemen, the Jackrabbits playing with a target on their backs, new head coach Jimmy Rogers, paying attention to other Top 25 teams, and the buzz around SDSU football on campus and in the region.
Eight ranked FCS teams lost last weekend, and six of them lost to unranked opponents. Sam reacts to the crazy week of action and then looks ahead to the best Week 6 games.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is back from his Ireland trip to go through a long list of results from this last weekend.
He touches on the impressive performances of Delaware, UT Martin, and Montana State. And a year after having Montana as high as No. 2, Sam questions why the Griz are still being ranked.
Other performances talked about are Furman, Villanova, WCU, Chattanooga, Idaho, EKU, UCA, HCU, and EWU. The podcast ends with a look at some of the top matchups this weekend.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam gives his takeaways from Week 2 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment, including looking at the three FCS over FBS wins and wondering why Samford is still ranked ahead of WCU.
Other Week 2 thoughts include close FCS-FBS losses, Weber beating UNI, and SDSU beating Montana State.
The episode ends with a look at some of the best Week 3 matchups.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam gives his takeaways from Week 1 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment.
He then dives into false narratives about FCS-FBS games. Are FCS over FBS wins really getting less likely? The decade-to-decade numbers actually say otherwise. Although the year-to-year numbers show there are no trends. Is all the talent really trickling up in college football? Again, numbers say otherwise.
The podcast ends with a look at some of the best Week 2 matchups.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam briefly talks about the Week 0 results before discussing four under-the-radar teams who may end up being better than their preseason expectations. The show ends with a look at the most intriguing Week 1 games.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam breaks down the best FCS non-conference games and also every week’s biggest game with playoff implications.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam predicts the conference champion for all 13 FCS leagues.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam breaks down his top storylines entering the 2023 FCS season.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Kevin Marshall of FCS Nation Radio joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming FCS season.
What's the most intriguing storyline heading into the 2023 fall? And what are some storylines surrounding a few intriguing games? Kevin and Sam discuss Montana State at SDSU, UIW at UTEP, William & Mary at Virginia, Furman at Samford, and Ferris State at Montana.
They also talk about preseason rankings, where NDSU belongs, how good Furman can be, and who will be playing in Frisco.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
NDSU TV play-by-play voice and FCS Top 25 voter Dom Izzo joins to discuss the upcoming MVFC season.
Can anyone knock off SDSU? What do the 2023 Bison look like? Who's the No. 3 team? And how many playoff squads will the Valley have?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports and ESPN Montana joins the podcast to chat about Big Sky football.
Sam and Colter discuss Montana State's FCS title hopes, how Montana can get back into that top-tier discussion, and also how both fan bases feel about the FBS and a potential move down the road.
They also talk about how the Big Sky compares to the rest of the FCS talent-wise, Idaho's hype, new head coaches at Sac State and Weber State, and if EWU can rise back up.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
HERO Sports writer Daniel Steenkamer joins the podcast to discuss on-field and off-field storylines in the CAA.
Off-the-field topics include the CAA's size at 15 members, the renewed media rights agreement with FloSports, and Delaware's FBS mindset.
On-field topics include Campbell's potential, the CAA's national reputation, W&M's and UNH's season outlook, CAA sleepers, and the FCS national title picture.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam answers 26 questions from FCS fans on Twitter:
How long before St. Thomas moves to a scholarship football conference? Which one is most likely to jump in and scoop them up? Can they have success at a scholarship level like they did jumping into PFL?
How is it possible to make a champion and get an auto-bid when some teams in the same league go years without playing one another?
Best transfer class brought in?
Non mvc team who could win natty they won't but curious
Will off-field issues at Montana State derail the quest for a title?
If it’s the Football Championship Subdivision, shouldn’t a team compete for/in that championship race to be ranked within the division? Disclaimer: I like Ivy football and hope to attend Harvard v Yale this season.
Why can’t the BigSky move to FBS? Wac/ Asun isn’t a better conference. Build for the future
After losing their two best LineBackers, one to graduation and one to Georgia Tech, can the Vandals defense meet the high expectations this season?
Why do I keep moving myself to states without FCS teams?
How do you see the MVFC shaking out this fall?
Who is your surprise team to make a run to the quarters or semis this year?
Which Big Sky team with a new head coach is in better shape? Weber or Sac State?
Which non-D1 teams do you see most likely making the jump to FCS in the near future?
Why do FCS programs have better mascots and helmet logos than FBS?
Who’s the best bet to become the next Cooper Kupp or David Johnson to come out of the FCS?
Hey Sam, besides the champs, who’s the other top dog in the MVFC this year? What’s the percent chance that it’s UNI?
Which is your favorite FCS conference and why is it the Big Sky?
What teams would you like to see move down? I realize this is unlikely but it could be a fun discussion. Outside of the obvious (SHSU, App, JMU, and GSU returning) I think there's some schools playing bad football with poor fan support that could get a boost by moving down
It looks like the WAC-ASUN alliance is here to stay despite their earlier intentions. It's hard to believe the OVC-Big South alliance will stick beyond this year with the OVC adding WIU. What do you see happening with the 4 remaining Big South teams?
Do we see a conference with 7 members get into the playoffs in the next few years? Or is it 6, whichever the record would be.
Does Montana State have the toughest schedule in the history of college football?
How many FCS schools will move to the FBS due to pressure of their better athletes consistently leaving for FBS programs due to the transfer portal?
Who’s the next FCS head coach to leave for an FBS assistant coach position?
What conference will be the strongest in the FCS this year
Do you think Dakota and Montana schools would be at a similar disadvantage playing September games in SC or AL as SoCon/Southland teams are playing MT or SD in Nov/Dec? Do you think that’s why they typically won’t schedule home/home games with southern schools?
The question on the nation’s mind is singular: are the Hens back?
Keith Brake, the director of broadcasting at ETSU, joins the podcast to discuss several topics.
What are the expectations for ETSU football after falling short of 2022 expectations? Who are the top teams in the SoCon, and what does the conference need to do to get more teams into the playoffs?
Sam and Keith also discuss the 2023 FCS title picture before diving into realignment talk. Is more realignment coming? What are the next FCS-to-FBS moves? Could a spot open up for NDSU or the Montana schools? Is more FCS-to-FCS movement coming, and is the SoCon in a position/want to add more schools?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam breaks down his early 2023 FCS preseason Top 25, explaining his order and why teams are slotted where they are.
Zach McKinnell of The Bluebloods joins the pod to do some over/unders on FCS props.
Sam and Zach discuss O/Us for regular-season team win totals, how many teams FCS conferences get into the playoffs, number of Big Sky/MVFC teams in the semifinals, number of FCS over FBS wins, statistical totals for Sean Chambers/Tommy Mellott, Jaden Shirden, and Parker McKinney, Holy Cross' playoff seed, UIW's PPG, and more.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
The Fargo Forum’s Mike McFeely joins the show to talk NDSU football. Sam and Mike discuss some uncertainties across NDSU's 2-deep and if this is really going to be a "down" year for the Bison. They also talk about the transfers leaving, SDSU jumping the Bison, FBS reality, the FCS landscape, and much more.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Eastern Kentucky director of athletics Matt Roan joins the podcast to discuss EKU football's momentum, the ASUN-WAC's short-term and long-term goals, and potential changes coming to the FCS playoff bracket structure.
FCS Nation Radio co-host Stone Labanowitz joins the show to chat about some FCS quarterbacks.
Sam and Stone discuss the two QBs in the FCS title game (Mark Gronowski and Cam Miller) and their 2022 play. They also talk about Lindsey Scott Jr.’s NFL potential, Montana State's 2-QB system, and what returning QBs they like in 2023.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
New South Dakota State head coach Jimmy Rogers joins the podcast to talk about his first few weeks on the job, adjusting to being a head coach, what it means to lead SDSU, navigating the transfer portal, 2023 pressure, and more.
FCS Fans Nation's Jamie Williams joins the show to talk about the 2023 outlooks for SDSU, NDSU, UIW, and Montana State. Jamie and Sam also discuss the new FCS head coaches, the CAA's reputation, and its renewed deal with FloSports.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam recaps the weekend in Frisco and the FCS title game. He also looks ahead to what the result means for SDSU, NDSU, and the rest of the FCS moving forward. Is SDSU the clear favorite next season? Are the Bison regressing? And if they are, what does that say about the rest of the FCS if this NDSU squad still made it to Frisco?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam brings on three guests to preview the FCS title game -- MVFC commissioner Patty Viverito, NDSU reporter Dom Izzo, and SDSU beat writer Matt Zimmer.
Talking points include:
Patty Viverito (02:30)
-All-MVFC final
-Bison/MVFC fatigue
-Changes to the FCS playoff structure
-New FCS playoff TV deal discussions
-Frisco
-Toyota Stadium playing surface
-ASUN-WAC's FBS hopes
Dom Izzo (24:00)
-NDSU injuries
-Is this matchup good for the FCS?
-What does it mean if NDSU wins?
-What does it mean if SDSU wins?
-Cam Miller
-The game being on Sunday on ABC
Matt Zimmer (45:03)
-SDSU's week-to-week mentality
-Mark Gronowski
-Who faces more pressure?
-SDSU fan excitement
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is joined by Kevin Marshall of FCS Nation Radio to help break down the semifinal results and help set the stage for Frisco.
The two discuss the UIW-NDSU and Montana State-SDSU games and what went down. They also talk about conference strength after these playoffs for leagues like the MVFC, Big Sky, CAA, and SoCon. Finally, they talk about NC Central’s win in the Celebration Bowl before discussing what the atmosphere will be like in Frisco as NDSU and SDSU meet in the FCS title game.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam shares his thoughts and some insights into the news last week that the ASUN-WAC is hoping to form an FBS conference. He then recaps the quarterfinal games and previews the semifinal matchups.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam talks about the notable FCS head coaching changes at Jackson State and Weber State before diving into the quarterfinal matchups.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam breaks down the upcoming second round of the FCS playoffs. What are the key on-field storylines and matchups this weekend?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam reacts to the FCS playoff bracket, how it’s set up, and discusses the gripes he and some folks have before going through his bracket predictions for the later rounds.
Sam goes through the conferences and tries to break down the different playoff scenarios in each one as the final week of the regular season is here.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is joined by the Division I Football Championship Committee chair Jermaine Truax to talk FCS playoffs. They discuss the selection process, including what committee members look at on resumes, how ranked wins are viewed, how FBS wins are evaluated, and how the seeds are ordered.
They also discuss strength of schedule, losses, regionalization, why the committee is not doing an in-season rankings reveal, and the championship game being on a Sunday this season.
Sam plays back his Nuanez Now interview on ESPN Missoula talking about the FCS landscape. Colter Nuanez and Sam discuss some FCS storylines, including if the FCS championship race is as wide open as it currently seems. Based out of Montana, does Colter feel the Big Sky has a true title contender? Is this the best year to knock off NDSU? We discuss!
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam breaks down the big wins by Chattanooga, Montana State, and Sac State. He also talks about the fallout of those games for the winners and losers.
Plus, ESPN’s College GameDay is heading to Jackson State as part of an anticipated Week 9 of the season.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam discusses the big wins from Idaho, SDSU, and Rhode Island. He also talks about where Montana and NDSU go from here after suffering losses.
Plus, how are the playoff races shaping up in the CAA and the SoCon? How did Sam order his Top 5? And what are the biggest games this upcoming week?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam looks back at Week 6 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment. He also highlights Weber State’s great start.
Plus, Kennesaw State appears set to join the FBS. Is this another big blow to the FCS? And October has a number of high-profile matchups that will shake up the subdivision’s top tier.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam looks back at Week 5 with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment. He then dives into the national title picture. Who are the teams that are legitimately good enough to win a national title this season? And who is just outside of the top tier?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam looks at some narratives and conclusions formed from Week 3 results and discusses what we actually learned and what we didn’t learn yet.
Is Missouri State a legit title contender? Is Montana State overrated? Is NDSU vulnerable? Will the head coaching change result in ETSU struggles? Plus more.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam highlights the four FCS over FBS wins from Week 2, plus some other great victories. He then brings on BetMGM sports betting analyst Chase Kiddy to talk about the FCS betting market, including why FCS odds drop so late. The podcast ends with a look ahead to the top games in Week 3.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Week 1 featured a couple of FCS over FBS wins, several near wins, and some big FCS vs. FCS upsets. Sam recaps the weekend with the 3 Game Balls and a Flag segment, plus some additional thoughts, including strong showings from HBCU teams, and EWU and Montana possibly answering its QB questions. We end with some top games to watch in Week 2.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam reacts to Week 0 with a couple of segments. He then discusses six teams that made the 2021 playoffs who will not make the 2022 bracket, and which six teams take those spots. And finally, what are the three most intriguing Week 1 games?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Joe DeLeone and Sean Anderson, co-hosts of the Bleav in FCS Football podcast, join the show to talk FCS storylines. The former Rhode Island players discuss the CAA's strength with the loss of James Madison and the additions of Hampton, Monmouth, NC A&T, and Campbell. We also dive into preseason rankings, draft prospects, FCS over FBS wins, and the national title picture.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Big Sky Conference Deputy Commissioner Dan Satter joins the podcast for an episode recorded in Spokane to discuss a big weekend for the conference, including football media day and the inaugural Big Sky Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Sam and Dan also talk about the different initiatives the conference has done recently involving players and coaches, plus its focus on growing the conference's brand more regionally and nationally.
Lastly, they discuss increased exposure through digital platforms, including the Big Sky's partnership with ESPN (and who decides which two games are on ESPNU or ESPN2), the new Scripps partnership, and the FCS ALL-IN show.
Chris Grant joins the show to discuss his first months as Southland Conference Commissioner. What were the conversations like with UIW and McNeese when they were considering leaving the conference? What went into Lamar coming back to the Southland this summer? And is the Southland looking to add more members? Sam and Chris also discuss how the conference can improve on a national FCS scale, and what the future of D1 football looks like.
John Liddle, a play-by-play broadcaster for Tarleton State and the Southland Conference, joins the show. Sam and John discuss Tarleton's move to D1, their level of commitment to D1 success, and their desire to be an FBS program. They also talk about the WAC, the Southland finding stability, and future realignment.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Zach McKinnell of The Bluebloods joins the pod to discuss a range of FCS topics, including:
-New top-tier QBs
-Strongest FCS position group
-NDSU's top challenger
-Jackson State's preseason rankings
-Realignment
-Potential G5/FCS merger
-Pros and cons of the transfer portal
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
The news of USC and UCLA leaving for the Big Ten in 2024 sent shockwaves around college football. From an FCS perspective, the trickle-down effect could be massive. Just like last fall when Texas and Oklahoma announced they are leaving for the SEC, the dominos eventually led to three FCS teams leaving for the FBS.
Will the same happen this time? Could the Mountain West lose teams and then have openings for a combination of FCS programs like North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Montana, Montana State, or UC Davis?
Or is there a chance that this has zero impact on the FCS? Or is it possible that this is a giant step toward a P5 split and FCS/G5 merger?
All scenarios are on the table. Sam gives his thoughts and then shares audio in a joint podcast going over many hypotheticals with the crew at FCS Fans Nation.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Craig Haley, the FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform and The Analyst, joins the show to talk about top storylines in the FCS. Sam and Craig discuss:
-voting panel for the Top 25 media poll and national awards
-Early favorites for the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan Award
-Will Sam Houston and Jacksonville State be eligible for Top 25 votes this season?
-FCS-to-FBS realignment concern
-FCS playoff expansion
-Ivy League in the playoffs
-Top storyline in the FCS entering this season
-National title picture
-Frisco
-Future of D1 football
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Chris Hammond, an Idaho fan and an admin for FCS Fans Nation, joins the show to talk about Idaho’s move from the FBS to the FCS. What led to that decision, how did fans feel then, and how do they feel now about the FCS?
Chris and Sam also talk about what Moscow is like as a football town, what kind of resources the football program has, the level of expectation from the fan base, and the new excitement around the program with the hiring of Jason Eck.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Nathan McCreary, a co-host of the AQ10 podcast who also spent time as the play-by-play voice for Kennesaw State football.
The two discuss the ASUN-WAC Challenge being extended into 2022 and beyond. How good will this joint league be, and how many playoff teams could it have this season? They also talk about potential future FBS teams out of the ASUN-WAC, what does Kennesaw State need to do to take the next step as an FCS program, and is the preseason hype for SFA deserved?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is joined by Dom Izzo, the Sports Director at WDAY in Fargo, the TV play-by-play voice for NDSU, and an FCS Top 25 voter. They discuss several topics, including:
-How the 2022 Bison team compares to past teams
-Cam Miller at QB
-FBS interest in Matt Entz
-How Fargo is feeling about the FCS
-Is there a realistic path for NDSU to go FBS, or is it a long shot
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is joined by South Dakota State beat writer Matt Zimmer. They discuss the season outlook for the 2022 Jackrabbits and if this is the year we finally see an NDSU-SDSU matchup in the national championship.
They also take a big-picture look at the program: how its expectations have grown, the next steps it needs to take to become elite, the fan base, John Stiegelmeier’s time as HC, and where SDSU is positioned in the changing landscape of college football.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Kevin Marshall of FCS Nation Radio to talk SoCon and FCS football. They discuss where the SoCon is at right now after taking a step back as a premier conference. Is the top-to-bottom competitiveness of the SoCon better than having a top-heavy league with multiple quarterfinalists? And what does it need to do to gain more national respect?
They also talk about national FCS storylines, including the 2022 title picture, the changing landscape of the FCS, and if the subdivision is stronger or weaker in 2022 compared to 2012.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports and ESPN Missoula joins the show to discuss the Montana and Montana State football programs. Sam and Colter talk about:
-the passion for the Griz and the Bobcats in the state
-Troy Andersen
-Montana and Montana State's dip in national relevancy in the mid-2010s and their rise back up
-Jeff Choate, Brent Vigen, and Bobby Hauck
-How close Montana and Montana State are to being legit threats to win an FCS title
-How good will the Griz be in 2022?
-Will MSU return to the championship game this season?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by HERO Sports’ HBCU contributing writer Duane Nash. The two discuss numerous HBCU topics, including:
-NC A&T’s conference movement and the reaction from its fans
-The future of the MEAC
-The rise of the SWAC and its brand
-How good will Jackson State be?
-What would it take for the MEAC and SWAC to send its conference champ to the FCS playoffs?
-The Celebration Bowl experience
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Jamie Williams, a co-host of the FCS Fans Nation podcast and a Stats Perform FCS Top 25 voter and national awards voter.
The two discuss numerous FCS topics, including:
-JMU’s 1st year in the FBS
-FCS teams that need to step up with JMU, SHSU, and JSU departing
-increased national conversation and attention on the FCS
-analyzing the CAA and the SoCon
-2022 national title picture
-thoughts on the new WAC and ASUN conferences
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Big South Commissioner Kyle Kallander joins the podcast to discuss new football-playing member Bryant. Sam and Kyle go over the process of adding teams and what all goes into it.
Kyle also talks about the challenges of losing multiple members recently.
They then discuss the Big South-OVC Association that is forming for the 2023 season. How was the association formed, and how does it impact the Big South’s search for new members?
Former Montana athletic director Jim O'Day joins the show. O'Day was a part of the administration for 15 years at UM and spent the last seven as the AD from 2005-12. He has since remained plugged into collegiate athletics through consulting work.
O'Day was a part of the FCS championship site committee back when it moved from Chattanooga to Frisco. He and Sam discuss what that selection process was like, who all submitted bids, and O'Day shares his thoughts on how Frisco has been the ideal fit.
The two also dive into the FCS-to-FBS talk. Montana had two opportunities to make the jump when O'Day was the AD. Why was the decision made back then to remain FCS? And how has the FCS landscape changed from the 2000s to now? As more FCS bluebloods leave, has the appetite to go FBS increased for Midwest FCS powers?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid joins the show on this episode. Reid is a former player and coach at North Carolina Central before shifting to media. He breaks down some of the top FCS prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft and which players have caught his attention.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is back to going solo for this week as he talks about the FCS success at the NFL Combine and why testing numbers are important. He then dives into his opinions on possible FCS playoff expansion. What are the pros and cons of expanding? He also addresses some social media reactions to the podcast/article, along with whether having a different host city for the national title game every year is a good idea.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is joined by Big Sky Conference Commissioner Tom Wistrcill. The two discuss different offseason FCS topics, including:
-The Big Sky’s facilities arms race
-FCS playoff expansion
-Is seeding more than eight teams a discussion?
-The national championship game field issues
-Conference realignment
-How can the FCS brand grow nationally, and what realistic improvements can be made to the playoffs?
Guest Daniel Steenkamer joins the podcast. Daniel has covered Delaware and CAA Football for HERO Sports since 2019 and grew up following the Blue Hens.
He provides insight into what led to UD's dip in the 2010s, including why K.C. Keeler was let go two seasons after a national title appearance, and what the blueblood program needs to do to get back to a national title-contending level. Daniel discusses what the UD fan base is like in its level of expectations and what the athletic department is doing to be a big-time FCS contender.
They also talk about Danny Rocco's firing, the Ryan Carty hire, and where UD and the CAA are at in conference realignment.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
Sam is joined by Matt Brown, the publisher of Extra Points -- https://www.extrapointsmb.com/
Matt discusses all things realignment, both FCS-to-FCS and FCS-to-FBS. Talking points include:
-What are the next moves for FCS conferences that are low on membership numbers, like the OVC, ASUN, and Southland? Is a conference merger on the table?
-How many D2 schools could we see move up to the FCS?
-What makes an FCS school a good target for an FBS conference?
-What is the future of FCS-to-FBS moves?
-Reasons why FCS-level athletic departments would want to go to the FBS.
-Was NDSU a C-USA target?
-What is NDSU's path to the FBS?
-If the Mountain West lost teams to the Big 12, would it then look to NDSU or the Montana schools? And where is the Big 12 at on wanting to add more teams?
-Could a group of FCS teams form their own FBS conference?
-What FCS teams are all-in on trying to be FBS at some point?
-Will the Power Five ever split off from the Group of Five, creating a G5-FCS merger?
-And the likelihood of a G5 team/teams moving to the FCS like Idaho did.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
There is plenty to talk about a month after the FCS season ended. Realignment continues as the CAA added Hampton and Monmouth. What does this mean for the Big South? And what other conferences are getting low on membership numbers? Former FCS players are making an impact on Super Bowl rosters. And soon-to-be NFL players are showcasing their talents at all-star games. Finally, James Madison is officially an FBS program a year sooner than usual.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for online betting odds.
NDSU wins another national title, dominating Montana State. Sam shares his thoughts on a fun week in Frisco, the game, and, of course, the field. He also discusses what the landscape of the FCS looks like in the 2020s. Plus, who are the Top 5 teams heading into next season?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
Game week is finally here! On this episode, Sam talks about the upcoming FCS title matchup between Montana State and NDSU. First, the NCAA came out with their COVID contingency plan, but should that generate much worry about the game not happening this week? On the field, what are the keys for both teams to be victorious? What are the difference-makers in this game? And finally, who is going to win and why?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
NDSU and Montana State square off next week in the FCS title game. How did their paths to Frisco come about? What were their preseason expectations, and what were the national expectations for both teams in September, October, and November as the season progressed? Sam looks back at the months and games leading up to the championship for the Bison and the Bobcats.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
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Sam offers his thoughts and analysis on the semifinal games. What was most impressive about NDSU’s and Montana State’s wins? JMU is off to the FBS now, but what’s in store next for SDSU after falling short of Frisco? And finally, how fun is Frisco going to be with these two fan bases there?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
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Sam shares his thoughts on the quarterfinal results before breaking down the four remaining teams. He explains why NDSU, JMU, Montana State, and SDSU each have what it takes to win a national title, and also gives reasons why they can’t win it all.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
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Sam reacts to the second-round results in the FCS playoffs. Who had the most impressive wins? And which wins weren’t quite as impressive? The quarterfinals are set, and it’s a good group of eight teams. How do the teams match up this weekend?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
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Sam reacts to the first round of action in the FCS playoffs. Who had great wins? Which results were surprising? He discusses the Southland going 2-0 while the MVFC went 2-3. Also, a look ahead to the second round. Which games are the most intriguing, and who are the favorites?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
Sam discusses his trip to Missoula before diving into the playoff bracket. How did the committee do? Who got tough draws? Which first-round games look to be the best, and could we see some second-round upsets? Also, we could be in store for some great quarterfinal and semifinal games. Finally, who are the top-tier title contenders?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
What does the playoff picture look like with one week of games remaining? Sam discusses the auto-bid scenarios, which teams are in line for playoff spots, and which teams are in the hunt. He also looks at who can be seeds, and discusses how the bracket is formed by the committee.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
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What were the fallouts of last week’s ranked matchups and their results? With two games left in the regular season, what does the national title picture look like? What are the tiers in the championship discussion? And finally, what games this weekend impact the playoff picture the most?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
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Sam highlights the wins by Davidson, UNI, and William & Mary last week. He talks about Jacksonville State and Sam Houston likely being the next FCS teams to jump to the FBS. And then it's on to discussing some high-stake games for this weekend.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
Sam highlights Weber State’s and UNI’s wins along with the play of SLU QB Cole Kelley. Plus, is Sac State in line for a playoff seed? In off-the-field news, how does JMU leaving for the FBS impact the FCS? Is it enough of a reason for other top teams to be worried and try to jump ship? Finally, what are some games to keep an eye on this weekend that will impact the playoff picture?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
Sam highlights VMI's and Sac State's wins along with EWU's offense and NDSU's defense. He touches on the Montana schools after the Griz suffered their second loss while Montana State got its first ranked win to improve to 6-1 overall and 6-0 against the FCS. Plus, which teams that we expected to be postseason contenders are in playoff mode already? Lastly, what are some top games to keep an eye on this weekend?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
Sam goes through the Top 10-ranked FCS teams and their path to get one of the eight playoff seeds. He dives into resumes, remaining games, how many ranked wins these teams could have, and where they could land in the playoff seeding. How high could a team be seeded if they win out? Or if a team drops a game, how far could they fall?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS betting odds.
Sam highlights some teams with impressive wins this last weekend and shakes his head about a blowout loss. He ponders how high of a seed UC Davis can get. And he breaks down some big-time matchups, including Montana at EWU and NDSU at UND.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS odds.
Sam discusses Austin Peay heading to the ASUN Conference. He also talks about the fallout of James Madison winning decisively at Weber State, which ranked teams are too high and too low, and how big the Sam Houston-Central Arkansas result will be.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS odds.
Sam Herder discusses Jacksonville State beating Florida State, how good James Madison is looking, Duquesne getting another FCS over FBS win, Missouri State's big win over Central Arkansas, and how Monmouth has looked in the first two weeks. He also talks about how wide-open the playoff picture looks this season. And lastly, what big games are coming up in Week 3?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS odds.
Sam Herder recaps Week 1 with three segments: 3 Game Balls and a Flag, The 5-Emojis Don’t Sleep Team of the Week, and the Montana Griz Who’s Back of the Week Award. He discusses how much we should react, overreact, or underreact to certain FCS over FBS wins. And Sam looks ahead to Week 2 games.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS odds.
Sam Herder gives his brief thoughts on the Week 0 results. Then he breaks down the new starting quarterbacks for teams in the national title hunt -- SDSU, NDSU, Montana, and Montana State. Sam ends the podcast talking about how some Week 1 results could shift the conversation on social media.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM.
Visit https://herosports.com/ for FCS coverage and https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports for FCS odds.
On the debut episode of the FCS Football Talk podcast, Sam Herder discusses how fair it is for FCS narratives to shift or form based off of the weird spring season. He talks about the FCS playing two seasons in one calendar year, upcoming Week 0 games, and an exciting Week 1 slate. Sam rips the #FearTheFCS hashtag, the NCAA FCS Twitter account, and questions if Jacksonville State can make the playoffs. But he ends on a positive note and says why there won't be a lot of game cancellations this fall.
B-Mac and Herd discuss their thoughts on the 2020 FCS season. Is there a chance we see games this fall? Or are we likely heading to a spring season for every team? Where is this all heading?
B-Mac and Herd continue their 2020 FCS preview series with the Patriot League. What’s the outlook on this conference, especially considering current events? What are we going to see this fall? And who could be the top contender? We discuss it all ...
B-Mac and Herd continue their 2020 preview series with the Big South. What’s the outlook on this conference as it continues to grow? And who are the top challengers in 2020?
HERO Sports gets a chance to talk to catch up with Charleston Southern head coach and Notre Dame legend Autry Denson. We talked Denson's philosophy of guiding a program, spiritually ... his time at Notre Dame and all the people he met along the way ... and what does he like to cook on the grill when he gets a chance to chill out with his family? That and much more ...
B-Mac and Herd continue their 2020 preview series with the OVC. Just how competitive will this conference be? How many teams can the OVC send to the playoffs? All of that and more..
HERO Sports gets a chance to talk to UT Martin head football coach Jason Simpson, who has won more games than any other coach in Skyhawks school history. Simpson talks about expectations in a crazy OVC this year, what it's like to live in Martin, Tenn. and what he loves to do when he gets that very rare break. Oh, and is Colton Dowell a tight end or a wide receiver, or is it all just silly semantics? That and much more ...
B-Mac and Herd continue their 2020 preview series with the Big Sky. How many teams in this conference are going to be in the national title picture? And who are some players to keep an eye on? All of that and more...
HERO Sports gets a chance to talk to New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell. Coach Mac stepped back last fall to battle bladder cancer, but earlier this year announced he would be back as head coach of UNH. We talked about that, the success of the program, his days as a DB ... and what was it like to knock off Army on its own historical field at West Point? That and much more ...
HERO Sports gets a chance to talk to Albany head football coach Greg Gattuso about building the Great Danes into a CAA threat, traveling to Montana in December for a playoff game, and what's it like to have a 6-foot-5 freshman quarterback who led the nation in TD passes? Plus, what was it like to play for a Penn State national championship team under Joe Paterno, and chase around players like Dan Marino, Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie? All that and more ...
B-Mac and Herd continue their 2020 preview series with the CAA. Who’s the favorite in the conference? And just how many legitimate threats are there in the standings? And is Brian chickening out (maybe)?
HERO Sports gets a chance to talk to Elon head football coach Tony Trisciani, who took over for Curt Cignetti when he headed to James Madison. Trisciani has a solid program coming back for 2020 and talks about everything going on these days as a head coach, as well as having a great QB back in Davis Cheek ... and how challenging the CAA looks. All that and more ...
HERO Sports gets a chance to talk to Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill, a former Saluki star QB who knocked off Indiana in the Big Ten and also sat in the same QB room with Aaron Rodgers as an aspiring pro QB. We talk recruiting, MVFC and how SIU should have made the FCS Playoffs in 2019 and how hungry they are to do it now in 2020. That and more ...
HERO Sports gets a chance to talk to Indiana State football coach Curt Mallory. Has he dunked on Larry Bird? He's humble enough to say "no". But has he met the Sycamores' Larry Legend? Of course. Coach Mallory has also led arguably the greatest "bounceback" in FCS history going 0-11 to 7 wins in one season ... and should have been (in HERO Sports' opinion) playoff bound in 2018 as a result. Good things are happening at ISU and we talk about it.
In our first 2020 FCS Coaches Corner podcast, we talk to the head coach of the national title winning NDSU Bison -- Matt Entz. We talk about the team, the insanely talent O-line ... and we also talk about what Coach Entz does at 4 a.m., thanks to a "leak"within the NDSU program. Seriously ... who DOES Entz bang his head to in the early morning to replace coffee? HERO Sports investigates ...
B-Mac and Herd kick-start their 2020 preview series with the MVFC. They go in-depth about the conference, how strong it’s looking and what you need to know about each team.
B-Mac and Herd break down their preseason Top 25 rankings. How was the poll formed? What does the poll say about the 2020 season? Is the FCS top heavy once again? And who are some teams that could sneak up on the top programs? All of that and more …
B-Mac and Herd react to the low number of FCS prospects taken in the NFL Draft. How much is the lack of Pro Days to blame? Or is this a trend? They also discuss the upcoming CFL Draft. Plus, the Trey Lance hype train for next year’s NFL Draft is already underway.
B-Mac and Herd preview the NFL Draft. They share anecdotes from their conversations with FCS pro prospects. And they break down how many FCS guys will be drafted, and how many will be selected on Day 1 or 2.
B-Mac and Herd briefly talk about how COVID-19 has affected the FCS level. They then take questions from FCS fans. What do QB competitions look like across the country? Will NC A&T be a national title contender in 2021? And more importantly, which head coach would they choose to be quarantined with?
B-Mac and Herd react to NDSU linebacker Jabril Cox entering the transfer portal. They then dive into a tremendous showing from FCS prospects at the NFL Combine, discuss the importance of Pro Days and share some stories of past FCS players getting a shot in the NFL because of impressive Pro Days.
B-Mac and Herd break down the super early look at the FCS Top 10 list that Herd has put together, and it looks like we may have some familiar faces. Plus, who are some potential sleeper teams? We break it all down.
B-Mac and Herd break down our FCS recruiting rankings, and who won the mythical national title? Do we use a Ouija Board to determine this (answer: no comment)? Plus, why are only 12 FCS products going to the NFL Combine? And what does North Carolina A&T's exit from the MEAC mean? We discuss it all ...
B-Mac and Herd break down the college all-star games and how FCS products did (Answer: Well). Also, we jumped into some of the head-scratching coaching changes, but also the big names who have entered the FCS realm. Also, how the heck do we rank FCS recruiting? Do we use a Ouija Board? We discuss it all ...
B-Mac and Herd break down the national championship game after having a few days to digest all that happened in "Snowy" Frisco (at least it snowed for a little bit). Who dominated? Or did anyone dominate? What could have been done differently? What will happen in 2020? We discuss it all ...
B-Mac and Herd take questions via Facebook livecast for more than an hour, taking questions about the JMU-NDSU matchup, the coaching resumes, the dominant lines for both teams, and what color jello shot would we "shoot" if we were allowed to on Saturday morning ... plus, if we were a tree, what kind of tree would we be? All that and more ...
B-Mac and Herd take a step-by-step look at the FCS National Title game ... which continues to look more and more like a brutal battle waiting to happen. We did the "Tale of the Tape" style breakdown, are there trends (nope), what will turn this game one way or the other? Is there something to watch for? And what do other FCS coaches think (we asked them). That and more ...
B-Mac and Herd discuss the much anticipated FCS National Title game, taking questions from diehard FCS fans all over the country. They talk about key matchups between NDSU and JMU and the importance of this game being on ABC along with providing a realistic outlook on NDSU ever going to the FBS. Plus ... they wrap with a question from a 9-year old ...
We have ourselves a championship showdown! As Brian takes some well-earned family time for the Christmas Holiday, Sam is joined by HERO Sports Contributor Chase Kiddy for a recap of the semifinal round. Sam and Chase discuss what they observed in Fargo and Harrisonburg, respectively, before diving into some broader topics around FCS Football. Was the Big Sky actually overrated this season? Would an NDSU loss be good for FCS? All that, and more, on the latest episode of B-Mac and Herd's FCS Podcast.
B-Mac and Herd discuss the four quarterfinal-round FCS Playoff games, then preview the two semis coming up ... along with discussing how we do the FCS All American teams, which came out this week. We talked about all of that, along with our plans for Christmas and more ...
Usually we interview FCS head coaches here, but we had the unique opportunity to talk to Weber State University President Brad Mortensen, and Brian McLaughlin had the chance to ask Dr. Mortensen about how the school's deepest playoff run in school history affecting campus, plus much more.
B-Mac and Herd discuss the four quarterfinal-round FCS Playoff games in depth, make their picks for the games, while also discussing the FCS' major awards and also ... coaching changes. We talked about all of that, along with giving our details about the FCS All-American teams.
B-Mac and Herd discuss how the FCS second round finished up. Who was left out in the Walter Payton Award preliminary vote (there were some stunners)? How's the Celebration Bowl looking, and who is leading the fan FCS Bracket Contest ... and which media members have done terribly (thumbs pointing backward)? Plus, what's on tap for this weekend? What's the big-picture quarterfinal-round outlook? That and much more...
B-Mac and Herd discuss the eight second-round FCS Playoff games in depth, the SWAC Championship game -- and who will win this year's picks contest, and what might they win? We talked about all of that, along with giving our details about the FCS All-American teams.
B-Mac and Herd discuss how the FCS first round finished up, and who did they vote for in the four FCS legacy awards, which were due Monday (Dec. 2). And why? And what's up next for this weekend? What's the big-picture 2nd-round outlook? That and much more...
B-Mac and Herd discuss how Sam's trip to Bozeman for the Brawl of the Wild went, what we thought of the bracket and who did we choose to go deep in the playoffs. Also, what we think the scores of the first-round games will be, and the already-lengthy list of coaching changes since Saturday. That and much more...
Austin Peay head coach Mark Hudspeth joins the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin. Hudspeth, in only his first year at the school, has led the Governors to their first OVC title since 1977, the school's first playoff berth and set the record for most wins in a season (9). He talks about the experience, the excitement in Clarksville, Tenn. and his players ... plus what has his coaching journey been like, and what was it like to coach at Navy when 9-11 happened? ... that and much more ...
B-Mac and Herd discuss every single one of the 64 games involving FCS teams this week, going in-depth on the big ones -- along with checking out the upset potential. Also, which teams are in must win situations for seeds and at-large berths? And how do teams get to host the first round?We discuss it all.
B-Mac and Herd discuss the full FCS playoff scenario going into the final regular-season weekend -- along with the Ivy League and HBCU titles. Who is already in the playoffs, even in the at-large realm? Also, do we overvalue FBS wins? Maybe so, as it turns out. Also, Sam's headin' to The Brawl of the Wild in Montana ... all of that and much more ...
B-Mac and Herd discuss every single one of the 65 games involving FCS teams this Saturday, going in-depth on the big ones -- along with checking out the upset potential. Also, which teams can clinch a playoff berth this weekend, and which teams can basically clinch at-large berths by hitting a certain win-mark? We discuss it all.
Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens joins the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin. Teevens has the Big Green at 8-0, aiming for their first outright Ivy League title since going 10-0 in 1996. We talked about his days working with Steve Spurrier at The University of Florida ... what's like to be a "two stint" successful coach at your alma mater, what's it like to recruit to an Ivy League school ... and much more ...
B-Mac and Herd discuss Sam's upcoming trip to his first "Brawl of the Wild" when Montana travels to Montana State in Bozeman. We also debated the playoff picture as we get down to the final two weeks, we talked about who should win this year's big national awards, and what teams have had the biggest turnarounds ... that and much more ...
B-Mac and Herd discuss every single one of the 58 games involving FCS teams this Saturday, going in-depth on the big ones -- along with checking out the upset potential, the playoff potential of others (now that we're in November) ... and who will be sad after this weekend? Plus, the playoff committee released its initial Top 10 ranking ... and we discuss it.
Weber State head coach Jay Hill joins the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin. Hill has his Wildcats in position for a fourth straight playoff berth, and a third straight Big Sky title -- and truly has turned this program into one of the FCS' elite. Along with the strengths of this year's team, we talk about RB Josh Davis and his 7 years of eligibility remaining, coaching under Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham at Utah, what's it like to be a Top 25 recruiter in the FBS, and what does the Hill family do when it gets a rare break? That and more ...
B-Mac and Herd break down the wacky FCS Playoff situation with three games remaining, Poll Bashing - Part 17, "The Quest For More Logic" (it's PG-13 and is on in theaters). We talked about the history of where the FCS/I-AA title game has been played, can Kennesaw still get in to the playoffs ... that, three game balls and a flag and more ...
B-Mac and Herd discuss every single one of the 57 games involving FCS teams this Saturday, going in-depth on the big ones -- along with checking out the upset potential, the playoff potential of others (now that we're in November) ... and who will be sad after this weekend?
Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan joins the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin. Callahan has the Hawks in good position for an FCS Playoff berth, as it controls its own destiny ... and his teams are 21-8 the past three seasons. As he nears 160 career wins at the school, Callahan talked about this weekend's battle at Kennesaw State for Big South Conference supremacy with playoff ramifications, how far the Hawks' program has come since he started it in the early 1990s, are QB Kenji Bahar and RB Pete Guerriero in their 9th year of eligibility (it seems they've been producing for that long) ... and what's it like to have your son coaching on staff with you? That and much more ...
B-Mac and Herd break down Sam's trip across the prairie to Brookings, S.D. to see ESPN's "College Gameday" and the best FCS game of the year. We talked about this James Madison team that seems to be forgotten (echo), which teams could get seeds in conferences not called Big Sky, CAA or MVFC ... and how about some HBCU/Ivy talk? That, three game balls and a flag and more ...
B-Mac and Herd discuss every single one of the 58 games involving FCS teams this Saturday, going in-depth on the big ones -- with ESPN Gameday talk being a major topic of discussion.
North Dakota State coach Matt Entz joins the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin, and of course we talked about ESPN Gameday coming to Brookings, S.D. for the SDSU-NDSU matchup. We talked about Entz being an asst coach at Winona State 10 years ago today, mapping out his long term career plan to be the head coach of the No. 1 team in the nation and attracting the ESPN Gameday crew (just kidding, he admittedly couldn't have dreamed this up, he says). What has this show done for the Bison program? And ... through the thick and thin of coaching, we talked about how Entz still makes it to his sons' athletic events. That and more ...
South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier joins the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin, and of course we talked about the elephant in the room -- ESPN Gameday coming to Brookings, S.D. for the first time and the FCS for only the 9th time in show history. Also, how about the opponent? You know, that NDSU team that has won a few national titles this decade? Also, what does Coach Stig's Twitter handle "Holy Nutmeg" mean? That and more ...
B-Mac and Herd break down the massive ESPN Gameday announcement to be in Brookings, S.D., is the FCS mired in parity or parody (and of what?), great college coaches who once were head coaches at current FCS schools, and how crazy is the Big Sky and who knew Sac. State would be such a player? All that and more ...
B-Mac and Herd make a big Podcast announcement, break down last week's "3 Game Balls and 1 Flag", talked about a trip to Harrisonburg, Va. to see James Madison play host to Villanova in a slobber knocker ... and which FCS programs once went to New Years Day Bowl games, and other odd bowls like the Barcardi, Raisin and Salad Bowls? All that plus much more.
Villanova coach Mark Ferrante comes on the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin, and we talked about what it's like to be 6-0, this weekend's massive matchup with James Madison, the "Blue V" brand at 'Nova, playing QB for and coaching with the legendary Andy Talley ... and something called the Barcardi Bowl in Cuba.
B-Mac and Herd discuss this week's hot topics: What are the best FCS "Trophy Games" ... what defines a "Statement Win", "Statement Game" or "Statement Statistic" in our opinion? Who gets this week's Game Balls and where do we throw the Flag? And what's happening this weekend?
B-Mac and Herd discuss this week's hot topics: Should ESPN Gameday have an FCS segment (Answer?: Yes), who should get game balls for last week's showing, but who should get flagged? Why are three conferences looking so dominant and "at large berth" hungry? And what's happening this weekend? This and more ...
Houston Baptist coach Vic Shealy comes on the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin, and we talked about what it's like to lead the nation in offense through five games after going 1-10 last year. We talked about the 4-1 start for the Huskies (best in school history), coaching mentors, a QB named Bailey Zappe who is on fire, and a unique story about Andre Walker and his practice regimen.
Tennessee Tech coach Dewayne Alexander comes on the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin, and we talked about taking a 1-10 team from 2018 and getting it off to a 4-1 start in 2019. We also talked about 30+ years coaching in the state of Tennessee, what's special about Cookeville, Tenn., and what can a sophomore player named Bailey Fisher do to help a team.
B-Mac and Herd discuss this week's hot topic: Who is No. 1 - JMU or NDSU? They disagree. Who stunned us last week, who could impress this week and how far off were we with our preseason poll now that we're four weeks in. Plus a shout out to a President and we hit HBCUs and Ivys.
Princeton coach Bob Surace comes on the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with Brian McLaughlin, and we talked about what his 10-0 team in 2018 might have done in the FCS Playoffs last year, beat P5 schools for recruits, what it was like to work under NFL Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg and to coach in the NFL. Oh, and how much he loves the Jersey Shore. That and much more ...
NDSU and JMU have looked pretty darned good through three weeks, but what lies ahead of the only two teams to win a national title since 2011? Also, what's it like to go from being 1-10 last year to 2-1 already this year? And which games this weekend could wreck the polls? We discuss all of it.
James Madison coach Curt Cignetti comes on the FCS Coaches Corner podcast with HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin, and we talk about his legendary father, the coaches he's worked with, the Dawg Walk and a star JMU RB named VanHorse ... and much more ... Listen in!
This week's B-Mac & Herd's podcast features a ton of ranting (as usual, mostly by B-Mac, who has a problem with ranting). Also, Griz-Cats (gotcha Cats' fans, I reversed it to see how it goes over). Is Montana's sked too tough, is MSU's not loaded enough? Plus, don't tell us what to do! And we talk about this week's top FCS games and last week's standouts.
Montana State head coach Jeff Choate joins the FCS Coaches Corner with HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin, and we talked whether 'Cats star Troy Andersen is from another decade when two-platoon football was the norm, the just released STATS poll, what the heck happened in the 3rd quarter with SEMO, and what's it like to coach your son in college football? And much more ...
Central Arkansas head football coach Nathan Brown joins HERO Sports National Coordinator Brian McLaughlin just a few days removed from UCA beating an FBS opponent, Western Kentucky. Coach and B-Mac discuss the big win, how strong this UCA team can be, his cool, calm and collected Soph. QB Breylin Smith ... plus, Brown's days as a QB himself, and who really runs practice? The head coach, or his two young kids? (Hint: Don't ask his kids). That and more.
Sam and Brian chirp even more about the FCS Poll, as they were tweeting about it over the weekend (ahem). Hurricane Dorian is nasty and already has cancelled one FCS game. Which games nationally could be long-term factors ... and Central Arkansas had the FCS's first FBS win of 2019.
Eastern Kentucky coach Mark Elder has taken his program from 8th to 5th to 3rd in the OVC in his three years, and most of his 7-4 team from 2018 is back at EKU. They were nationally ranked in the HERO Sports FCS preseason poll, and open Thursday with Valparaiso at home. HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin caught up with Coach Elder this week ahead of the season opener.
B-Mac and Herd talk about the "State of the FCS Nation" ... a look back at last year and a look forward to 2019. What do we think should change? And how's Week One looking, and how did Week Zero turn out? Plus ... Herd rolls his eyes at B-Mac from six states away because of constant goofy "Dad jokes", which B-Mac is actually proud of.
B-Mac And Herd break down Week Zero (don't worry, sugar and caffeine haven't been eliminated from this week's matchups). Samford-Youngstown in the Guardian Kickoff Classic at 3 ET on ESPN, and Colgate-Villanova at Noon ET on CBSS. We also talked about some big-time QB battles that just were resolved. Tune in!
B-Mac and Herd break down all 13 FCS conferences (since they'll be previewed Conf-by-Conf this week) and gave a regular season pick for each one, and explained why. Plus ... Sam's buying a house right now and B-Mac watched Dolphins fishing in the Atlantic Ocean from seven floors up last week ... what more can you ask?
BMac and Herd break down the media days they hit in July, what it's like to write 126 diehard and detailed previews in about 45 days (and what "biting off more than you can chew" truly means), and the story of Tennessee State's Christion Abercrombie being back with his teammates at OVC Media Day. That and more ...
Sam Herder and Brian McLaughlin break down how they came up with the 2019 FCS Preseason Top 25, and defend their choices. Who are the surprises? Who isn't a surprise? We discuss it ... with mustard.
Sam Herder and Brian McLaughlin discuss the NFL Draft from the past weekend, the 150+ FCS products who will get rookie opportunities at camps in May, and who were the big surprises? And how does this whole undrafted free agent/tryout thing work? We explain.
Sam and Brian break down the FCS Pro Day winners and what is next heading into the NFL Draft, which is slated for the end of April. Plus ... Pro Day failures and the AAF collapse. What gives?
Sam Herder and Brian McLaughlin discuss who "won" the NFL Combine from an FCS perspective, and what's on tap for Pro Days this week on March 7 and 8. Also, how's that NDSU trip to the White House go, Mr. Easton Stick?
Sam Herder and Brian McLaughlin talk about the FCS products who will be at the NFL Combine starting this weekend, and break down each one -- and explain the details of the event.
Sam and Brian talk about the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft, the NFL Combine, FCS Pro Days and who may make NFL rosters from the FCS ranks this year.
Sam and Brian break down the FCS National Title Game in Frisco, TX, which will be on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2. We discuss how these two got here, how they've both dominated the decade, and how in the heck schools in Fargo and Cheney have created these monster FCS programs.
Eastern Washington head football coach Aaron Best sits down in the FCS Coaches Corner with HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin, and we talk about the upcoming national title game, what it was like playing center and long snapper at EWU, and how'd the holiday season go with an FCS Title Game looming in the near future?
First of all ... thank for listening and Merry Christmas! Second of all? We have a great FCS Title Game Matchup with NDSU and Eastern Washington and we're looking forward to that and also looking forward to being in Frisco, Texas ... but why is Frisco so great?
Sam and Brian talk about the 19 head coaching changes currently going on in the FCS, as well as the FCS Semifinals and we also touch on the Celebration Bowl. All a part of the program as we go around the FCS.
Maine head coach Joe Harasymiak comes on the FCS Coaches Corner with HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin and talks about a long trip to Ogden, Maine for the Quarterfinals, getting kids to come up to attend school in Maine and getting the live national platform of ESPN2 in primetime on Friday night.
Another FCS coach (Austin Peay's Will Healy) departs for the FBS (Mike Houston to East Carolina happened earlier this week) and we have four badass FCS quarterfinal games coming up this weekend to battle over. Which ones are 50/50? Which ones ... we ... aren't? We tell you.
News broke on Wednesday that James Madison head coach Mike Houston may have accepted the head coaching job at FBS Charlotte, in his home state. He wouldn't confirm that he accepted it, but did say he'd been offered it and was interested. Sam and Brian try to read between the lines, both about the job and how all of this affects Saturday's FCS 2nd Round Playoff game at Colgate.
Sam and Brian analyze the bracket and look forward to potential matchups down the line in the FCS Playoffs. How tough is NDSU's side of the bracket? Will a Big Sky team finally make it back to Frisco, or will somebody else mess that up? In many ways, we talked turkey, FCS style. Or maybe that it is that we are turkeys. Or maybe I should wrap up this description before I lose listeners.
North Dakota State head football coach Chris Klieman climbs on board with The FCS Coaches Corner with HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin. We talked perfection, efficiency, Easton Stick and Greg Menard in their 17th years of eligibility, and what a tough S*B Klieman's famous dad was in Waterloo, Iowa when NDSU's coach was a kid.
The FCS Playoffs are upon us, the conference title scenarios are nutty, and there are bubble teams all over the place -- but by Sunday afternoon we'll have endured Selection Sunday and all of that will be behind us. How much craziness do we have ahead of us in the next week?
SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz joins the FCS Coaches Corner and talks about the Redhawks' rise to prominence in the OVC and FCS, what it was like to get his first head coaching win -- in a bowl game -- and how nice it was to stop Jacksonville State's OVC win streak.
Colgate head coach Dan Hunt talks about an undefeated season (so far), the history on the campus in Hamilton (N.Y.), and has anybody tried to clone star defensive player Nick Wheeler yet ... and if not, why not?
When it comes to the FCS Playoff pictures, bring the Windex because the window for viewing might need a little bit of cleaning so you can make out the details on the other side. The FCS has been nuts, folks, and it's about to get nuttier. Where does JMU fit in now after a loss? Can a league get 6 teams in the FCS Playoffs for the first time? We talk about it all.
UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins comes on the FCS Coaches Corner and talks about the key upcoming game at Eastern Washington, the culture at his alma mater and what it was like to coach at Boise State and Colorado.
In this FCS Coaches Corner episode, Mike Houston talks about the scenic trip to New Hampshire this weekend, CAA super depth, whether teaching chemistry can help create chemistry on a Division I team -- and Halloween with the Houstons, with Daddy getting the final inspection of all Peanut Butter Cups.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator Brian McLaughlin dials up Samford head coach Chris Hatcher, as All-Americans Devlin Hodges and Kelvin McKnight prepare for a stretch run at the FCS Playoffs.
When will the upsets stop?! Brian McLaughlin, Sam Herder and Chase Kiddy sit down to discuss a tumultuous Week 8 schedule were there were more than a dozen upsets with FCS Football playoff implications. The guys go around the country and play a game of "Upset or No Upset?" They also discuss North Dakota State's Upset Alert fatigue and debate who the real No. 2 team in the country is before previewing a big Week 9 slate. Seeds should be decided this week! Mailbag: Which conference has the best chance of getting three playoff bids: the OVC, the SoCon or the Southland? Plus our Don't Sleep Team of the Week and an OVC Prop Bet.
HERO Sports' CAA writer Chase Kiddy catches up with three key figures surrounding the James Madison football team -- quarterback Ben DiNucci, sixth-year senior tailback Cardon Johnson and head coach Mike Houston -- ahead of a critical conference game with Stony Brook. DiNucci and Johnson cover what's going well, and what can still be improved on, with JMU's (39.7 ppg) top-10 offense. Coach Houston believes Stony Brook will provide one of the stiffest challenges of the season.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator Brian McLaughlin talks with Wofford head coach Josh Conklin two days before a major SoCon showdown with first-place East Tennessee State.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator Brian McLaughlin interviews Murray State football coach Mitch Stewart, whose Racers team is undefeated in OVC play so far this season.
Brian McLaughlin, Sam Herder and Chase Kiddy tackle the toughest week of the season, as No. 4 Eastern Washington, No. 5 Elon, No. 6 Wofford and No. 10 North Carolina A&T all lost last weekend. Should Eastern Washington be forgiven because All-American Gage Gubrud didn't play? And after a blowout loss at the hands of North Dakota, does Montana have any shot at getting back in the playoff conversation? Plus more ETSU debate, a Mailbag question on NCAT's updated playoff odds and the second waiver round of the FCS Playoff Fantasy game.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator Brian McLaughlin chats with Illinois State head coach Brock Spack, who is preparing for a huge game against No. 1 North Dakota State in Fargo this weekend.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator Brian McLaughlin dials up East Tennessee State head coach Randy Sanders, who is fresh off securing the Bucs' first winning season since the program was restarted in 2015. ETSU is currently 6-1 and in first place in the Southern Conference.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator talks with Portland State head coach Bruce Barnum following a massive upset win over Big Sky rival Montana in Missoula.
Brian, Sam and Chase reconvene for a lengthy, surprise-filled episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast. Week 6 of the FCS College Football Season featured plenty of shocking road warrior upsets; Elon and Portland State got most of the headlines, but Bryant, Georgetown and Dartmouth also scored big road wins as underdogs. The guys also revisit preseason predictions and admit where they were wrong. Mailbag: when and where is the next upset going to happen? Storytime: Chase explains exactly where he was and what he was doing while JMU was losing to Elon.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator Brian McLaughlin dials up Gamecocks coach John Grass on the heels of a blowout road win at Eastern Kentucky.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator talks with Nicholls head coach Tim Rebowe about what had made the Colonels program so successful over the last four years.
Brian, Sam and Chase reconvene for another episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast in the wake of some big rivalry games. After Brian starts the pod with an update on Christion Abercrombie, the guys talk about Missouri Valley Football and craziness on the coasts. They also clarify how they approach building a poll in the wake of South Dakota State's loss to NDSU. Mailbag: who would be ranked in the top 2 if the Bison lost a conference game? Plus: Sam asks Chase how this year's JMU team compares to last year's national runner-up squad. Brian and Sam think UC Davis is being underrated. Don't sleep on Princeton.
HERO Sports FCS Coordinator Brian McLaughlin jumps on the phone with Kennesaw State head coach Brian Bohannon for a wide-ranging discussion about FCS football.
Brian, Sam and Chase are finally starting to see a clear top level to this year's FCS hierarchy. They discuss that and more in this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, including Samford's playoff hopes and Illinois State's place in the Missouri Valley pecking order. They also play the first of three waiver rounds in the 2018 FCS Fantasy Playoff game. Mailbag: Will JMU win every CAA game by three scores? Brian and Sam disagree.
James Madison head coach Mike Houston joins the FCS Podcast to discuss the season so far and more with Brian McLaughlin.
Brian, Sam and Chase get ready for conference play by recapping what they learned from some notable Week 3 upsets. Mailbag: Could all four Dakota schools really make the FCS Playoffs? What would be a more impressive conference run -- undefeated North Dakota State or undefeated James Madison? Also: South Dakota State apologized for scoring 90 points in a game. Mercer is the Pod's "Don't Sleep" Team of the Week.
Chase might have a serious problem, with Hurricane Florence bearing down on Virginia and the Carolinas. Either way, he uses the electricity he has for now to link up with Brian & Sam and talk about the upcoming Week 3 of the FCS Season. Sam breaks down the latest results in the MVFC-Big Sky Challenge, and all three guys pick their No. 3 team between Eastern Washington and South Dakota State. Brian explains why this week's Nicholls-McNeese showdown might actually be a playoff elimination game. Prop Bet: Ivy League teams are finally getting in on the action. How many get wins in their opening week?
Welcome to Week 2 of the 2018 Season! Brian, Sam and Chase react to a crazy Week 1 that featured plenty of meaningful upsets. The guys play Buy or Sell, debate whether NDSU deserves an FBS Top 25 vote and warn against overlooking UC Davis. Storytime: Chase reviews NC State's press box food and recaps his encounter with some drunk frat boys in Raleigh.
Following No. 2 James Madison's close loss at NC State, Head Coach Mike Houston discusses the four critical errors that led to the result. Starting quarterback Ben DiNucci and receiver Riley Stapleton offer thoughts, too.
Brian, Sam and Chase finally have games to talk about! The guys tackle the ugly (and not-so-ugly) parts of last Saturday's Kickoff Classic before looking ahead to an exciting Week 1. Closing segments: Sam asks the first mailbag question of 2018; Brian opines about the lack of an HBCU band in Montgomery; Chase's prop bet involves FCS-over-FBS upsets.
Our first "Extra Point" Interview! HERO Sports Lead Writer Sam Herder catches up with North Dakota State sophomore Jabril Cox, just days before the Bison begin their 2018 campaign against Cal Poly.
Montana State head coach Jeff Choate spoke to the media as his Bobcats prepare for Western Illinois next week.
There's college football on Saturday! Brian, Sam and Chase preview the Kickoff Classic between North Carolina A&T and Jacksonville State. The guys also offer guesses at who will win the Walter Payton Award, the Buck Buchanan Award and the Eddie Robinson Award. Ending Segment: Chase offers the podcast's first prop bet.
Brian, Sam and Chase have finished writing 125 team previews, so it's time for a bonus episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast. What did they learn, what will they remember and what's coming next? The guys offer answers while enjoying a celebratory drink (or three).
Brian, Sam and Chase ask 15 questions This-Or-That style questions about the upcoming FCS season.
Brian McLaughlin catches up with Donald Payne, formerly of the Stetson Hatters, now in the preseason of his second year in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Brian, Sam and Chase each draft teams they think could win their conference or make the playoffs. The loser could be buying a lot of beer in Frisco. Also: Thoughts on Jimmye Laycock's retirement and the HERO Sports Mascot Rankings. Storytime: Chase gets dragged by a beer vendor at a Nationals game.
Former St. Francis (PA) defensive back Lorenzo Jerome talks with Brian McLaughlin about his opportunity with the Seattle Seahawks and more.
Chase fields questions from Brian and Sam about his time in Baltimore at CAA Media Day. Plus: Brian offers his thoughts from the Patriot League teleconference, and all three guys look back on the last month of FCS Previews. Off-Topic: Brian doesn't understand the appeal of Fortnite.
Brian, Chase and Sam discuss the No. 1 storyline in each FCS conference as media days are underway. The guys also debate how many Southland Conference teams will make the 2018 playoffs and discuss Sam's article on the best traditions in the subdivision.
While Brian sips Mai Tais in an exotic, faraway land, Sam and Chase discuss huge roster news out of Bozeman. Plus: the FCS games we most want to attend in 2018, and more thoughts on being a media member.
Brian, Chase & Sam react to massive news at the start of NBA Free Agency. What program compares most closely with the LA Lakers? Plus: Brian talks recruiting and offers his thoughts on our first Debate Club article; Chase teases his new segment, "really good advice".
Chase, Sam and Brian talk about what has jumped out when writing the early FCS "Two A Days" previews, how Brian would contrast his days being around Florida and Florida State football and how it compares to an FCS atmosphere, and what's coming up in Chase and Sam's FCS Point/Counterpoint ... and much more.
While Brian is on vacation, Sam and Chase wonder -- can you be a fan of a program and still cover the team objectively? That, plus amusing stories from the guys' time covering the two best teams in FCS Football, like the NDSU game that caused one of Sam's peers to rage quit before a post-game press conference, and the JMU game that led to people lighting stuff on fire in the streets of Harrisonburg.
Brian, Sam and Chase debut the soon-to-be-named new FCS Podcast following the recent additions to the HERO Sports FCS Staff. They also talk off-season FCS ball, discuss their daily by-the-numbers FCS player jersey countdown and breakdown their preseason Top 25 poll and All-American teams
The former Western Carolina defensive back joins the HERO Sports FCS Podcast and talks with Brian McLaughlin about his time in college and the NFL Draft.
The former Maine offensive lineman talks to Brian McLaughlin about his time in college, the NFL Draft and more.
Former Murray State defensive back D'Montre Wade joins the HERO Sports FCS Podcast and chats with Brian McLaughlin about his college career, his potential in the NFL Draft and more.
HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin talks to Wagner head coach Jason Houghtaling and offensive tackle Greg Senat about Senat's potential in the NFL Draft and his transition from basketball to football.
Former Central Arkansas cornerback Tremon Smith joins the HERO Sports FCS Podcast to talk about his time in college and the upcoming NFL Draft.
Former Delaware defensive lineman Bilal Nichols talks to HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin about his time in college, the NFL Draft and more.
Former Illinois State defensive back Davontae Harris joins the HERO Sports FCS Podcast to talk about his draft stock, his time at the combine, and more.
Yale's Foyesade Oluokun talks with HERO Sports' Brin McLaughlin about Ivy League football, the NFL Draft and more.
The former Grambling running back joins the HERO Sports FCS Podcast to talk bout his time at Grambling and the opportunities ahead of him in the NFL.
Former Fordham running back Chase Edmonds talks about his college journey, NFL Draft day plans and more.
Former Stephen F. Austin defensive lineman John Franklin-Meyers talks about his time in college and the upcoming NFL Draft.
Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin talk about the FCS draft prospects who helped their causes in Pro Day workouts, discuss potential Day 2 NFL Draft picks and talk about some late-round prospects who've risen on draft boards.
Sam Herder is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Keelon Brookins, who talks about his journey from Wisconsin to Northern Iowa, his NFL Draft hopes, and more.
Brian McLaughlin files another edition of the Kyle Lauletta Draft Diary -- this time in podcast form -- as the former Richmond quarterback prepares for the 2018 NFL Draft.
The NFL Combine has come and gone, and several FCS players made waves during the on-field drills and workouts, as well as in the interview rooms. Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin talk about the FCS players who helped themselves the most in the workout portion of the NFL Combine -- guys like Fordham running back Chase Edmonds, Stephen F. Austin defensive lineman John Franklin, Illinois State corner Davontae Harris and Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta.
Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin talk about the top-rated draft prospects from the FCS level heading into the East-West Shrine Bowl, the Senior Bowl and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, and look at who's trending up at this point in the process.
Did you miss our Facebook Live fan Q&A with Brian McLaughlin? Listen to this podcast version as Ben Fox hosts a Facebook Live Q&A with B-Mac to answer all of your questions ahead of the big game.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to James Madison fan and recruiting guru Michael Evangelista (@Michael_2Clutch). The two discuss the early signing period in college football recruiting and more.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season. On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to James Madison wide receiver Riley Stapleton. The two talk about his strong play in the playoffs -- 15 catches, 321 yards, 3 TDs -- how QB Bryan Schor has led the team and the opportunity to return to the FCS Championship.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin talks to the top tackler of the Celebration Bowl-bound Grambling Tigers, linebacker De'Arius Christmas. Christmas talks about his time at East Mississippi Community College and how he felt the Netflix show Last Chance U reflected his experience at the junior college, how rewarding his journey to Grambling has been, what it was like to be a part of the blocked extra point that was so crucial in last year's Celebration Bowl, what it's like to play for a storied University like Grambling, and more.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin talks to a linebacker from the undefeated and Celebration Bowl-bound North Carolina A&T Aggies, Jeremy Taylor. Taylor talks about the 2015 Celebration Bowl and what he remembers from the game, how much he's grown as a player since that game, this year's matchup against Grambling, his dedication to special teams, and more.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin talks to the running back of the Celebration Bowl-bound Grambling Tigers, Martez Carter. Carter talks about the Tigers' win in the 2016 Celebration Bowl, what quarterback Devante Kincade brings to Grambling's offense, the season so far for Grambling and more.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin talks to the quarterback of the undefeated and Celebration Bowl-bound North Carolina A&T Aggies, Lamar Raynard. Raynard talks about winning the Celebration Bowl two years ago and what it's like to play in a game of that magnitude, how the team has fared this year after seeing Tarik Cohen head to and exceed in the NFL, the team's current draft prospect -- offensive lineman Brandon Parker, and the upcoming Celebration Bowl matchup against Grambling, among other topics.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to James Madison quarterback Bryan Schor. The two talk the huge win over Weber State in the quarterfinals, JMU's offensive weapons and Schor's ability as a dual-threat QB, his recruitment to JMU and the semifinal matchup with South Dakota State.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to former James Madison wide receiver Brandon Ravenel. Ravenel talks about life after JMU football -- which includes football overseas, the current JMU season and more.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to former James Madison offensive lineman Matt Frank. Frank reflects on last season's championship run and talks about his life after JMU football (which is still heavily involved in JMU football). The two also discuss the current Dukes' season and more.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to Weber State head coach Jay Hill. The two talk about the defensive and special teams strengths for Weber State and the upcoming matchup with James Madison, as well as Hill's coaching history and his philosophies after working with coaches like Urban Meyer, Gary Andersen and more.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to JMU head coach Mike Houston. The two talk the about the Dukes first playoff game, Houston's commitment to staying at James Madison and more.
Austin Peay head coach Will Healy joins Brian McLaughlin on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast to talk about the Governors' 2017 season and the outcome from FCS Selection Sunday.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to JMU offensive lineman and NFL Draft prospect Aaron Stinnie. They talk about the team's 10-0 start, the tough battle with Richmond, his switch from defensive line to offensive line and the upcoming game against Elon.
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Austin Peay head coach Will Healy. The two talk about arguably the biggest game in Austin Peay history as the Govs look to defeat Eastern Illinois and earn the team's first-ever spot in the FCS Playoffs. They also talk about the success Jacksonville State has had in OVC play under head coach John Grass, the different ways Austin Peay has won games this season, the Govs' offensive firepower and the Austin Peay fanbase.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season. On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks once again to JMU SID Chris Brooks. Brian and Chris talk the JMU-Richmond rivalry and this weekend's matchup, the JMU win streak of 21 straight games, the Dukes' balanced approach to the season and the playoff outlook as it stands before week 11.
Brian McLaughlin and Jim Oxley discuss the upcoming FCS Playoffs, the Ivy League title, and the Celebration Bowl frontrunners. Four FCS teams can secure an auto-bid by winning their conference while six auto-bids will definitely be undecided until the final weekend of play. Also, can Yale secure an Ivy League title and is the Celebration Bowl destined for a North Carolina A&T-Grambling State showdown?
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Jacksonville State sophomore defensive back Marlon Bridges. Brian and Marlon talk about the JSU schedule and FBS opponents, what the JSU defense does so well, why he chose to play at Jacksonville State over FBS offers, what the rabid JSU fanbase is like and more.
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Jacksonville State offensive lineman Justin Lea. Brian and Justin talk about the tough non-conference JSU schedule year-in and year-out and the matchup last season with LSU, how the best FCS opponents JSU has played aren't that far off from the FBS teams they've faced, his high school days playing defense and JSU's track record with the NFL.
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Jacksonville State linebacker Joel McCandless. Brian and Joel discuss Joel's journey from high school football to JUCO Hinds Community College to Jacksonville State, playing against Auburn in one of his first FCS games, how JSU's defense has played this season, and how the Ohio Valley Conference has improved.
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Jacksonville State head coach John Grass. Brian and coach Grass talk about JSU's run in the Ohio Valley Conference and the parity forming in the league, Grass' path from high school coaching to Jacksonville State and his perspective on recruiting as former high school coach and a current college coach. They also talk about defensive lineman Darius Jackson and the atmosphere of JSU football.
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Austin Peay defensive lineman Jaison Williams. Brian and Jaison talk about how the defense has sparked the Austin Peay turnaround from a 29-straight loss team to a potential playoff squad, the upcoming matchup with Central Florida, his recruitment to Austin Peay and more.
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Austin Peay offensive lineman Kyle Anderton. Anderson talks about the team's decision to give up their bye week to take on FBS UCF, his decision to transfer from Vanderbilt to Austin Peay, the differences and similarities between FCS and FBS football, transitioning from playing quarterback in high school to tight end at Vanderbilt to offensive lineman at now at Austin Peay, and more.
Jim Oxley is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Kyle Schwartz, Ohio Valley Conference Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications. Jim and Kyle talk about the perception of the Ohio Valley Conference, how the Austin Peay turnaround has affected the OVC, the importance (or necessity?) of FCS-FBS matchups, how success in football helps other OVC athletic programs, and the OVC's potential to get multiple teams into the FCS playoffs.
Jim Oxley is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Justin Swallows, the Sports Director for Middle Tennessee's WJZM Radio and 105.1 The Wolf WVWF, and the host of The Saturday Sports Splash. Jim and Justin discuss the Austin Peay turnaround from 29-straight losses to making a payoff push, the competition level in the OVC and the strength of the recruiting and transfer players, and Swallows makes his case for why FCS voters need to start paying attention to what Austin Peay is doing this season.
Brian McLaughlin and Austin Peay quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall talk about his recruitment to Austin Peay, the upcoming matchup with FBS UCF and the quest to earn a playoff berth.
Brian McLaughlin and Southern Utah coach Demario Warren talk recruiting at Southern Utah, the difficulties the Big Sky Conference presents, the huge matchup with Eastern Washington, and more.
Brian McLaughligh and Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb talk about Lamb's playing and coaching days at Furman, starting the program at Mercer and the growth they've seen in the past few years, how QB Kaelan Riley has performed so far and how the defense has meshed this season. They also discus the tough FBS schedule -- Auburn AND Alabama this year -- and more.
Brian McLaughlin hosts Columbia head coach Al Bagnoli on this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast. The two talk recruiting in the Ivy League, Columbia's strong start, why the Ivy League deosn't participate in the FCS playoffs, and more.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to James Madison defensive lineman Andrew Ankrah, who had 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in the GameDay win over Villanova.
Brian and Andrew talk about the win over Villanova, Ankrah's family's journey from Ghana to the United States, his brother -- Jason Ankrah -- a former Nebraska Cornhusker and NFL/CFL player, Ankrah's dream to play in the NFL one day, and what Mike Houston means to the players on this team.
Jim Oxley and Sam Herder talk about ESPN College GameDay's visits to Fargo, discus the South Dakota win over Youngstown State, and preview the North Dakota State at Youngstown State matchup.
Brian McLaughlin is joined on the HERO Sports FCS Podcast by Villanova linebacker Ed Shockley and defensive back Malik Reaves before Villanova heads to James Madison for a CAA matchup on ESPN College GameDay. Shockley talks about watching GameDay as a kid and what it will be like for the team and the FCS level to be featured on the program, how the defense has been so good despite its injuries. Then Reaves talks about Florida high school football and recruiting, what it means to be on GameDay.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season. On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin speaks to one of JMU's superfans, Michael Evangelista, ahead of the JMU-Villanova ESPN College GameDay matchup. Check him out on Twitter @Michael_2Clutch.
On this episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, Brian McLaughlin Speaks to HERO Sports JMU correspondents Brian Hansen and Bennett Conlin about the last time JMU hosted GameDay and provide some insight on what it's like to be on campus for the big event.
On this edition of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin speaks to Central Arkansas head coach Steve Campbell and quarterback Hayden Hildebrand. McLaughlin and Campbell talk about UCA being in the driver's seat in the conference, Hildebrand's strong play so far, the strong play of the offensive line and UCA's recruiting philosophy. Then McLaughlin and Hildebrand talk about all the weapons on the UCA offense, the strength of the QBs in the FCS right now and the team's big win over Sam Houston State.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season. ESPN College GameDay is heading to Harrisonburg for the James Madison-Villanova matchup, and HERO Sports lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin hopped on the phone with JMU SID Chris Brooks to talk about the call from GameDay and more.
Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin talk about the FCS playoff picture after 5 weeks of play -- can the MVFC have six seeded teams? Who's next in the CAA behind James Madison? Can the OVC surprise and put three teams in the playoffs? They also discuss the Ivy League's strong start and the Celebration Bowl frontrunners, talk about the many true freshmen quarterbacks playing and starting for FCS teams, and preview the best games of the weekend.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season. This week, HERO Sports lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin talks to the leading tackler on the Dukes' defense, senior linebacker Kyre Hawkins. Brian and Kyre talk about the team's stellar run defense and how the group has evolved over the past few years. They also talk about Hawkins' work with the Ray Lewis Foundation, the FCS-NFL connection with his favorite NFL team's quarterback -- Joe Flacco, and what it would be like for the Dukes to host ESPN College GameDay this season.
Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin discus Brian's interviews with top FCS RB's Detrez Newsome from WCU and UT-Martin's Ladarius Galloway, talk about the Big Sky Conference where it looks like Weber State could be a team to keep an eye on, and talk about the improvement in the Ohio Valley Conference, as well as talk about some of the more important games this week. Then Sam Herder joins Jim to talk about the five unbeaten teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and preview the two big MVFC matchups -- South Dakota State at Youngstown State and South Dakota at Western Illinois.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: The FCS Podcast will be bringing you updates from the reigning FCS Champion James Madison Dukes throughout the 2017 FCS college football season. This week, HERO Sports lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin and Greg Madia, JMU football beat writer at the Daily News-Record, talk Dukes football. The guys discus Harrisonburg and the JMU football atmosphere, what Mike Houston has done for the James Madison program, the Delaware game this weekend and more.
Brian McLaughlin speaks to Western Carolina quarterback Tyrie Adams and defensive back Keion Crossen. Adams talks about WCU's fast start in games, the trip to Hawaii to open the season, playing in spotlight games and the upcoming Chattanooga matchup. Then, Crossen talks about the defense's improvement this year, his key pass breakup in the Samford matchup, and how the defense prepares for multiple offensive attacks within conference play.
Brian McLaughlin and Austin Peay junior linebacker Gunnar Scholato discus the Govs' win to break a 29-game losing streak and talk about what's next for Austin Peay.
Brian McLaughlin and Austin Peay head coach Will Healy talk about the big win that snapped a 29-game losing streak for the Governors. They also talk about what it's like to move on from an emotional event like that win and what is next for Austin Peay.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: Brian McLaughlin and James Madison coach Mike Houston talk about how Houston and the Dukes handled a tough situation -- running back Trai Sharp learning about his father passing away after the team's win on Saturday against Norfolk State, and the team losing running back Cardon Johnson for the season to an injury.
Sam Herder and Jim Oxley discus the dominance of NDSU and JMU to start the season, talk the big UND-USD matchup, and discus the outlook for both Eastern Washington and Howard. Then, Brian McLaughlin and Jim talk Austin Peay and if they will break a 29-game losing streak, and also talk about the remaining undefeated FCS teams and discus which of them have a chance to stay that way after this weekend.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMPS: HERO Sports lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin chatted with James Madison Sports Information Director Chris Brooks (@CBrooksSID) following the Dukes' win over FBS East Carolina in week 1. Brian and Chris talk about the 34-14 victory over the Pirates and the confidence the Dukes had going into the matchup, provide insight on head coach Mike Houston, talk about the passion of JMU fans, and more.
HERO Sports lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin speaks to a few Grambling players -- running back Martez Carter, quarterback Devante Kincade and offensive lineman Trenton Scott. Check out the mindset of the Tigers' as they prepare for the season.
Fordham running back Chase Edmonds has his sights set on setting the all-time rushing record, and HERO Sports lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin talked to Fordham quarterback Kevin Anderson, Edmonds' roommate and close friend. Check out their conversation, which also entails the upcoming matchup against Army.
Sam Herder and Jim Oxley preview FCS football in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Big Sky Conference and the Pioneer League, providing players to watch, conference favorites and more.
Sam Herder and Jim Oxley discus the top returning players in each FCS conference. Then, Brian McLaughlin and Jim talk about Chase Edmonds and his quest to break the all time FCS (and maybe FBS) rushing record. Finally, Fordham QB Kevin Anderson talks to Brian about Chase Edmonds.
Brian McLaughlin and Jim Oxley discus week 1 FCS matchups including upset opportunities in FCS vs. FBS games. Then, catch an interview between Brian McLaughlin and Grambling players Martez Carter, Devante Kincade and Trenton Scott.
Jim Oxley and Colt Kesselring discuss HERO Sports' preseason BennettRank for the FCS and explain why it looks so different from other rankings out there.
Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin kick off a series of conference previews with the Northeast Conference and the Patriot League.
Brian McLaughlin and Jim Oxley discus Brian's list of the top 10 upsets of Power 5 schools by current FCS football programs.
Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin take a summer dive deep into the top draft prospects in the FCS.
JIm Oxley and Brian McLaughlin get into a way-too-early discussion of the top 2018 NFL Draft prospects in the FCS level, including guys like Jake Wieneke, Dallas Goedert, Jeremiah Briscoe and more.
Jim and Brian break down the results from the NFL Draft -- where are FCS players headed, who got drafted, and who signed in undrafted free agency?
Jim and Brian break down the top FCS prospects in the NFL Draft, discuss the potential for around 20 FCS players to be drafted, and look at which NFL teams are giving the FCS prospects a look.
Brian and Jim talk FCS NFL Draft prospects who are moving up draft boards with only a week to go until the NFL Draft.
Description: Brian McLaughlin and Jim Oxley go over the interesting stories for potential NFL Draft picks Josh Thornton, Eric Saubert and De'Angelo Henderson. They also discuss the FCS quarterback NFL Draft class -- Kyle Sloter, Zach Conque, Brady Gustafson and Alek Torgersen.
On the latest episode of the HERO Sports FCS Podcast, HERO Sports lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin and managing editor Jim Oxley talk about the history of FCS players who weren;'t invited to the NFL Combine, but were still taken in the NFL Draft. The guys also speculate on who could follow that route this year in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Brian McLaughlin and Jim Oxley discuss the importance of pro days at the FCS level, get into some FCS players who weren't invited to the combine but had strong pro days, and end with an update on the current draft stock of the top FCS candidates.
Brian McLaughlin and Jim Oxley discuss: FCS first round draft picks (quarterbacks dominate); top overall draft picks from FCS schools (Ivy Leagues were dominant early in FBS history); top draft picks from the CAA (Villanova has sent a ton of draft picks to the NFL); and top draft picks from the MVFC (Don't forget about Southern Illinois).
Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin discus the top FCS performers at the NFL Combine: (1:20) Derek Rivers, OLB/DE, Youngstown State; (6:45) Brendan Langley, DB, Lamar; and Jessamen Dunker, OL, Tennessee State; (8:30) De'Angelo Henderson, RB, Coastal Carolina; (10:50) Corey Levin, OL, Chattanooga; (13:50) Erik Austell, OL, Charleston Southern; (15:00) Eric Saubert, TE, Drake; (16:25) Tarik Cohen, RB, NC A&T. They also discus guys who might have underperformed, but didn't hurt their draft stock, like (18:00) Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington; Lorenzo Jerome, DB, Saint Francis; Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova; (21:00) How can they help themselves at their Pro Days? And (22:30) what is their draft stock after the combine?
HERO Sports managing editor Jim Oxley and lead FCS writer Brian McLaughlin discus the NFL Combine, and highlight FCS players on the rise ahead of the combine, including: Kendrick Bourne, Eastern Washington WR (1:30); Avery Moss, Youngstown State DE (4:00); De'Aangelo Henderson, Coastal Carolina RB (6:20); Cameron Lee, Illinois State OG and Jerry Ugokwe, William & Mary (8:55); and other FCS combine invites on the rise (12:30). They also discus some of the players who were left off of the invite list, including: Javancy Jones, Jackson State DE (14:20); Dylan Cole, Missouri State OLB and Karter Schult, UNI DE (17:05); David Jones, Richmond FS (20:00); Emmanuel Holder, Towson FBand Anthony Firkser, Harvard FB (21:20), and other FCS combine snubs (23:00).
HERO Sports' Jim Oxley and Brian McLaughlin break down several FCS players who should be NFL Draft picks this season including Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp (1:00), Youngstown State defensive end Derek Rivers (5:37), Saint Francis (PA) free safety Lorenzo Jerome (8:21), Villanova defensive end Tanoh Passagnon (12:04), Bucknell offensive tackle Julie'n Davenport (14:20), and other potential draft prospects from the FCS level (16:30). Then McLaughlin breaks down Cooper Kupp and his road to the NFL (19:00), including some stories from his grandfather and father -- former NFL players in their own right -- and highlights from his interview with Cooper as the wide receiver prepares for the NFL combine.