Brace yourselves, FCS football fans. There is going to be a lot of opinions below — and ornery opinions in general — at Gridiron Heroics.
After eight weeks of results, I’m going to repeat this: Clearly, the Big Sky Conference is the top conference in the FCS. There, I said it. And like I said last week? Yes, the MVFC won the Big Sky-MVFC challenge, but in a larger scope. The Big Sky is better (the challenge had matchups that don’t reflect this level perfectly — that apples and oranges thing.
The undefeated list was shortened with Weber State’s five-point loss in Bozeman to Montana State. I will never call that result an upset because MSU is damned good. It was just two good teams going toe-to-toe and home field advantage being the tiebreaker.
So now we have Holy Cross at 7-0 (but barely, edging things out by three points at a pretty weak Lafayette team). Jackson State is also 7-0 after beating what is likely its toughest opponent yet (Big South leader Campbell), and the last Big Sky undefeated is Sacramento State (7-0), who not only is undefeated but has a blowout, 31-point win over an FBS team — Colorado State. This will be massive come seeding time if the Hornets keep this up.
Now, when it comes to being undefeated against the FCS, which will come in as very important the Sunday before Thanksgiving on Selection Sunday? Aside from the unbeaten above, Here’s the list: South Dakota State is still 7-0 and is clearly the No. 1 seed at this point (my opinion, but I know what I’m looking at — just ask my wife). Montana State is clearly top tier now (7-0 vs. FCS). Idaho has two P5 losses but is 5-0 against the FCS, with a big win over Montana on the resume.
See why the Big Sky is the best in the land?
SEMO is 6-0 vs. the FCS but its signature win over Southern Illinois by 3 is shining less than it was a few weeks ago. Chattanooga just picked up its biggest win of 2022 so far, beating Mercer by an impressive 20 points, and the Mocs are 6-0 vs. the FCS. Samford is 6-0 against the FCS, as is idle Fordham, along with 4-0 Stephen F. Austin — who has three losses, but one is FBS, and two are against transitional opponents Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State.
Four Sundays from today? On Nov 20th? We’ll know for sure what the selection committee thinks going into the FCS postseason.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 23): What do you disagree with?
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BMAC’S POLL – THE TOP-FIVE DEBATE … OH, AND THE BIG SKY IS STILL NO. 1:
I really don’t think this is so complicated. SDSU stays put at No. 1, and Sacramento State is the only Big Sky team with an undefeated record and a blowout FBS win (Colorado State). Montana State got a clutch win at home against Weber State. North Dakota State still has only a three-point loss in FCS play to its bitter rival, SDSU — and Weber State has still done big things, and losing by five on the road to Montana State isn’t a deal breaker — plus the Wildcats have a blowout FBS win over Utah State.
That’s as solid a top five as we’ve had in years, but a couple of them have to face off, so trust me — it’ll change.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 23): What do you disagree with?
The key drops are obvious, but honestly? None of them is really that big a shock. Weber State falling by five points in Bozeman to Montana State? That’s not an upset.
Montana falling in overtime is hardly a bad result for the Griz, but two weeks in a row of losses drops Montana out of the seeding picture — my take. But of course Montana can fix that in the coming weeks. The Griz have that opportunity.
Southern Illinois falling on the road at South Dakota? It’s a tad bit unexpected, but like the SEC when it comes to Power 5 schools? Any MVFC team going on the road is vulnerable. Chattanooga’s home 20-point blowout win over Mercer might be a tad surprising, but it doesn’t erase Mercer’s progress (yet).
Oh, and New Hampshire is 6-2 with an FBS loss (Western Michigan) and an absolutely head-scratching loss to North Carolina Central, who lost tonight to a subpar South Carolina State team. UNH is about one more win away from completely erasing the memory of previous FBS and HBCU losses, because the Wildcats keep winning in the CAA and currently lead in the standings — even though they have the toughest games on their schedule coming up. UNH is clearly in the lead to win the CAA, at this point.
Stay tuned, we’ll reveal the national STATS/PERFORM FCS vote within the next hour or two.
The risers? Clearly, we’re talking about the big ones: Montana State, Idaho, SEMO, William & Mary, Chattanooga, Jackson State, Rhody, Furman, Princeton, New Hampshire, and, SE Louisiana.
THE RISE AND FALL:
Missouri State has fallen out of the discussion altogether. The win over OVC co-leader UT Martin and the win over ASUN-WAC team Central Arkansas were fascinating a few weeks ago. Now? They don’t look quite as impressive.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 23): What do you disagree with?
North Dakota now has three losses, two in the MVFC. Certainly, the Hawks have done some big things, but the Southern Illinois and South Dakota State losses have hurt. UND can rebound, though.
Elon will drop some because Rhode Island and New Hampshire have proven to be better. The William & Mary and Richmond wins earlier this year prove Elon is a strong program, but the Phoenix need another big one after the past two weeks.
THE HBCUs and IVYs:
Jackson State clearly hurdled its toughest challenge yet and seems like it is now on the path to an 11-0 season. The Tigers beat Big South Conference title favorite Campbell by eight points in Mississippi. It was an anticipated game and went well.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 23): What do you disagree with?
In the MEAC, last year’s Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State knocked off favored North Carolina Central (who destroyed a VERY good CAA leader — New Hampshire — team up in NH about a month ago). That was a massive result.
Lastly? Princeton hammered a very strong Harvard team (28 points on the road) and Penn beat Yale. Clearly, they are the two Ivy League monsters as we crank into November.
BMAC’S BONUS FCS FOOTBALL TALKING POINTS.
BIG SKY PARITY: There’s no question the Big Sky is 2022’s top league but is that really a good thing? The league is good, and these teams seem to keep chopping each other up. This weekend (MSU over Weber St and Sacramento State beating Montana) proves this league is eating its own. While we may mention five or six or seven teams now? Somebody will drop out because of how tough this schedule is.
It’s the same situation with the SoCo. Chattanooga owned a very good Mercer team in Tennessee today, while Furman was impressive and Samford picked up a key win at ETSU. Nothing is certain in the SoCon in 2022, but we learned some things this weekend. Overall? The SoCon is good.
Last thing? NDSU was idle this weekend, yes. But the Bison annually tend to “get over” their hiccups by this time in the calendar. Since 2015, NDSU has been 16-2 in the critical month of November — with both losses being close ones to SDSU.
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