The FCS is the least understood, yet most impressive college football level in Division I — and Gridiron Heroics is going to tell you all about it, 12 months a year, conference by conference, beginning with this week’s FCS football preview series for 2022. Today we publish the FCS’ Big Sky Conference Football Preview for 2022.
The college football programs are good, these programs produce NFL-level talent, they beat FBS teams every year (want evidence? stay tuned – we will publish this in the next week) and they still get overlooked. But Gridiron Heroics won’t be overlooking the FCS like everybody else does annually, we will be embracing the level and the stories these schools tell, year in and year out.
Enjoy the preview.
Also, from Monday, Aug. 22 until our FCS overall preview finale, Gridiron Heroics’ team of eight (yes, eight) FCS reporters break down the 15 conferences that make up the awesome, special level that is — the FCS. Check out the previews with the links below, conference by conference:
THE REST OF THE BEST FCS CONFERENCES IN AMERICA (click on links below)
OVERALL FCS PREVIEW: Overall FCS Preview
MONDAY, AUG. 22: ASUN-WAC & Big Sky
TUESDAY, AUG. 23: Big South, CAA, MVFC
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24: OVC, Patriot
THURSDAY, AUG. 25: Pioneer, Southland
MONDAY, AUG. 29: HBCU DAY – MEAC & SWAC
TUESDAY, AUG. 30: NEC, SoCon
MONDAY, SEPT. 13: Ivy League (1st game Sept. 16)
RELATED STORY: The Top 30 for 30 Shows in College Football — We Rank Them
BMAC AND THE NACH PODCAST (Aug. 23 episode at top)
FCS NUTS AND BOLTS: All of the key facts for the 2022 FCS season
Big Sky Conference (BSC)
We look at all twelve teams in The Big Sky Conference Preview. The Big Sky Conference is getting deeper and, I would say, even more physical compared to 10 years ago. Some say the Missouri Valley is the SEC of the FCS. If that is the case, then the Big Sky is the Big Ten. The Big Sky had a team in the National Title game and a record five teams in the playoffs Sacramento State, Montana State, Montana, Eastern Washington, and UC Davis. Eastern Washington’s Eric Barriere won the Walter Payton award. The conference had multiple players up for the Buck Buchannon award and saw three players drafted into the NFL this past April.
This conference is strong and as deep as the sky is big out west. The usual cast will likely lead the way, but the teams from six through nine will give the top of the conference all it can handle. The coaching and recruiting are getting better across the entire conference. Multiple teams in the Big Sky Conference brought in multiple FBS transfers. Here is a guarantee for you, this conference will beat and bruise its own, and one or a couple of good teams will miss the playoffs.
Sacramento State
2021 Season 9-3 (8-0)
The Hornets are no longer a surprise, winning the Big Sky title in 2019 and 2021. While they have won the Big Sky title, it has not translated to playoff success. Sac State fell in the second round of the FCS playoffs to Austin Peay in 2019 and South Dakota State in 2021. Both playoff games were at home.
Coach Taylor made a two-QB system work with Jake Dunniway and Asher O’Hara. Dunniway and O’Hara completed over 60% of their passes, and between the two, only eight interceptions. Dunniway seems to be the better passer (2,576 yards), but O’Hara brings big play ability in the run game (662 yards 9 TDs). The QBs will have their top two targets back in All-Conference TE Marshel Martin and WR Pierre Williams.
The Hornet’s defense ranked 15th last season in scoring defense, giving up 19ppg. Two-time preseason FCS All-American Marte Mapu will lead Sacramento’s defense. The Hornets will see four 2021 FCS playoff teams at UNI, at Eastern Washington, vs Montana. Then the rivalry game at home against UC Davis. The Hornets are once again a threat to win another Big Sky title.
Montana
Season 2021 10-3 (6-2)
The Griz have an opportunity to have one of the best defenses in all the FCS. They have three guys already named to Buck Buchanan watch list, two of which were 2021 finalists. LB Patrick O’Connell has 14 sacks, 22 TFL, DB Justin Ford eleven pass deflections and nine interceptions, and Robby Hauck is the third grizzly named to the watch list. Hauck led the team in tackles with 128. The Griz have multiple preseason all-conference guys at each level of the defense. This defense has it all.
Offensively, Marcus Knight is back after injury and looks strong. The Griz will need to find their starting QB, either Kris Brown, who started games last year or FBS transfer from San Diego State Lucas Johnson. The Griz will face four playoff teams in 2022, vs South Dakota, at Sacramento State (on ESPN2), vs Eastern Washington. Then the Brawl of The Wild at Montana State to end the year. That game will likely have significant playoff-seeding implications. I can see the Griz in Frisco at the end of the year, but it depends on the QB play they get.
Montana State
2021 Season 12-3 (7-1)
The Bobcats had a magical run in 2021. Unfortunately, though the Bobcats ran into the unstoppable dynasty that is North Dakota State. The Bobcats lose a lot of talent to graduation and the NFL (Troy Anderson with the Falcons, Lance McCutcheon, and Daniel Hardy to the Rams). The good news is the Bobcats still have Touchdown Tommy Mellott and All-American RB Isaiah Ifanse.
The defense won’t be quite the same without Troy Anderson, but the bobcats have a thumper like Callahan O’Reilly back and a lot of experience on the backend in Ty Okada, Jeffery Manning Jr, and Simeon Woodard. MSU will need to find its next sack artist with Daniel Hardy gone to the NFL. The Bobcats will play three playoff teams in 2022, at Eastern Washinton, vs UC Davis (on ESPN2). The rivalry game against arch nemesis Montana in The Brawl of The Wild. I think the Bobcats remain a deep playoff team, question is how much growth do we see from QB Tommy Mellott?
Eastern Washington
2021 Season 10-3 (6-2)
How do you replace Eric Barriere, the Walter Payton Award winner in 2021, Big Sky Leader in total offense, passing yards, and TDs? You don’t, granted Eastern has had quite the succession of QBs. Think of Gage Gubrud before Barriere. The QB battle is well underway in Cheney between Talkington, Turner, and Burkett. The good news for whoever the new QB is, he will have two big weapons at his disposal in Efton Chism III 57 rec 735 yards 9 TDs, and Freddie Roberson 49 rec 779 yards 6 TDs.
On the defensive side, DL Jerome Joshua a redshirt sophomore returns as the team’s leader in tackles and sacks from 2021. The Eagles under Aaron Best have been explosive and a perennial playoff team. I don’t think that changes this season. Yea there will be new faces but coach Best gets the best out of his guys. Eastern will face three playoff teams, Montana State, Montana, and Sacramento State. Eastern Washington will also see Oregon and Florida from the FBS.
UC Davis
2021 Season 8-4 (5-3)
Coach Dan Hawkins has turned the Aggies into a perennial playoff team. If the Aggies want to get back to the playoffs in 2022, Ulonzo Gilliam Jr will be the man that gets them there. Gilliam had 946 rushing yards and six TDs in 2021. Gilliam could be the school’s new leader in rushing yards, and all-purpose yards by season’s end. UC Davis boasts two All Big-Sky OL in guard Jake Parks, and center Connor Pettek that will help open holes for Gilliam. A breakout player for the Aggies could be sophomore TE McCallan Castles who had 12 rec 194 yards and three TDs. The Aggies will have to figure out the QB situation, Miles Hastings played quite a bit last year putting over 1,000 yards passing and seven touchdowns but will need to cut back on the eight interceptions if he is the starter.
Coach Dan Hawkins has UC Davis in a primed position to make another playoff run but I think the production from the QB position will tell us if they really can be. UC Davis will see three playoff teams. They will face South Dakota State in Brookings who knocked them out of the playoffs last year. They will see Montana State than Sacramento State at the end of the year.
Weber State
2021 Season 6-5 (5-3)
The wildcats feel a little more of a mystery this season. Health will be key for Weber State as they had to deal with the injury bug throughout the season. QB Bronson Barron returns as the QB with the most experience but will others in the QB room challenge him for the starting job. Josh Davis exploded onto the scene in 2018 and 2019. Injuries have held him back hopefully, this season he can return to form.
Weber State’s defense doesn’t quite have the name recognition as years past but you can be sure the DL will be physical and get after the QB. Weber State plays great defense and executes on special teams that has been a Jay Hill staple in Ogden. Until I see otherwise I expect the Wildcats to return to that form in 2022. Weber State doesn’t get a break in the schedule though. Five out of the first six conference games feature every Big Sky playoff team from 2021. The good news is the wildcats will see Eastern, Montana, and Sacramento State in Ogden.
Portland State
2021 Season 5-6 (4-4)
The Vikings return 17 starters while adding more FBS transfers to its roster. Coach Bruce Barnum has a talented squad but probably wishes he had just one more year of QB Davis Alexander. The Vikings will be led by All-American DB Anthony Adam who had 52 tackles, three interceptions, and five pass breakups. In the trenches is All-American DL VJ Malo who led the team in sacks with 10.5 last season.
On Offense, WR Beau Kelly (69 rec 981 yards, 10 TDs) will be the man on the outside. There is depth in the receiver room but will be interesting to see who emerges as defenses will look to neutralize Kelly. According to Vikings beat writer Joe Terry, going into camp QB 1 is Dante Chachere. Chachere was the backup to Davis Alexander. Portland State will see three playoff teams Montana, Eastern Washington, and Sacramento State. I think Portland State is a dark-horse playoff team. What will propel the Vikings or hinder them will be the play from the QB position.
Northern Arizona
2021 Season 5-6 (4-4)
The Lumberjacks have finished 7th, 9th, and 8th in the conference in the last three full seasons. Case Cookus who was great in the USFL was the last QB to lead them to the playoffs in 2017. NAU was among the few that knocked off an FBS when they beat Arizona 21-19. HC Chris Ball will have 15 starters back this season. NAU had two preseason All-Big Sky honorees in OT Jonas Leader and Safety Morgan Vest. NAU returns Big Sky Freshman of the year QB RJ Martinez. Martinez threw for over 1700 yards and an impressive 14 TDs to just two interceptions, he added 5 rushing TDs last season as well. RB Kevin Daniels returns after rushing for over 1,100 yards last season. Daniels piled 280 against Cal Poly.
The offense for NAU looks stout and the defense has plenty of experience back as well. Northern Arizona will see three playoff teams from 2021. Sam Houston (FBS now) UC Davis and Montana State. If NAU wants to get back to the playoffs they have to get a win against one of those two teams. NAU is another team that I think is a dark horse playoff team.
Northern Colorado
2021 Season 3-8 (2-6)
The Bears saw a lot of turnover in the offseason 35 players transferred out, and 27 new players came in. Dylan McCaffery will be challenged for the starting QB job by Jacob Sirmon who transferred in from Central Michigan. Leading the defense is LB David Hoage who is racking up preseason accolades like candy on Halloween. Hoage recorded 69 tackles 23.5 TFL and 10.5 sacks, the man is only a sophomore, he was also added to the Buck Buchanon watch list for this season. With Northern Colorado its, what do we see in year two from Coach Ed McCaffery? How much growth is there in the culture and in the win column?
Idaho
2021 Season 4-7 (3-5)
The Vandals are a sea of exciting change. Jason Eck served as the offensive coordinator for the SDSU, now he leads his own program. He has brought back the excitement for the Vandal fan base. He wants to return the program to its glory days in the 80s and 90s. The Vandals have only won 15 games since their return to the FCS. Idaho will have talented inside LB Fa’Avae Fa’Avae, who racked up 72 tackles four tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Coach Eck brings QB J’Borre Gibbs from SDSU. Gibbs who in six games from SDSU racked up over 1,000 yards passing 10 TDs to just 4 interceptions and added four rushing TDs before an injury cut his season short. If Gibbs is healthy the Vandals will be a team that can make your day hell if you are not careful. I think Idaho will have its moments of excitement this season but it’s all about building the foundation for the future.
Cal Poly
2021 Season 2-9 (1-7)
Coach Beau Baldwin is in his second year at Cal Poly. Transitioning the program from the triple option to a modern style of play with multiple formations and options. Cal Poly brings back a wealth of experience across the board. They have moved some players from one side of the ball to the other so that will be interesting but this team is still building and trying to firmly grasp the entire playbook coach Baldwin has. I think we will see growth from Coach Baldwin’s crew but I think it will still be a struggle to make the playoffs for this team.
Idaho State
2021 Season 1-10 (1-7)
It was just a couple of years ago that the Bengals were close to knocking on the playoff door. That feels like it was a decade ago now. The Bengals have Soph QB Hunter Hayes who threw over 1,000 yards with six TDs and seven interceptions. Coach Charlie Ragle has his work cut out for him as he leads this program in 2022. I think for the Bengals trying to beat Idaho in the rivalry game is a big goal but I think if this team can stay close to teams in the conference that’s a big win for 2022. It’s a complete rebuild for the Bengals.
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
