HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Pac-12 Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Pac-12 Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

FCS: 2023 Pioneer Football League Preview

Sam Herder by Sam Herder
August 30, 2023
Pioneer Football League Preview

Rebecca Twite/St. Thomas Athletics

The Pioneer Football League begins the 2023 FCS season with an intriguing race at the top of the conference. The reigning champs St. Thomas are still not eligible for playoffs, while the battle for the postseason auto-bid behind the Tommies has heated up.

Here are the top returning players and our predicted order of finish in the Pioneer Football League. 


New Customer Offers at BetMGM

New Customer Offer: Bonus Bets

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms


Teams Bringing In The Most D1 Transfers

FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers

Butler — 8 (1 FBS, 7 FCS)

Morehead State — 7 (4 FBS, 3 FCS)

Valparaiso — 6 (3 FBS, 3 FCS)

San Diego — 4 (2 FBS, 2 FCS)

Names To Know

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Bret Bushka, Butler QB – Bushka is the reigning Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year after a fantastic season. His dual-threat abilities saw him throw for 2,377 yards and 20 touchdowns and rush for 627 yards and five scores. The 5-foot-10 and 210-pounder led the PFL in pass efficiency (142.17) and completion percentage (64.7).

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Finn Claypool, Drake DL – Claypool was a breakout star in 2022, becoming one of the more feared defensive players in the conference and a top young player in the FCS. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder racked up 48 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and 11 quarterback hurries. Claypool’s overall PFF defensive grade of 92.2 was the second-highest among FCS edge defenders, and his pass rush grade of 93.3 was No. 1.

HERO Sports’ Predicted Order of Finish

  1. St. Thomas
  2. Davidson
  3. Dayton
  4. Butler
  5. San Diego
  6. Valparaiso
  7. Drake
  8. Marist
  9. Stetson
  10. Morehead State
  11. Presbyterian

St. Thomas has taken the PFL by storm as it continues its transition from D3. The Tommies are ineligible for the postseason as part of that transition, but they are eligible to win the PFL crown. Which is exactly what they did last season in just their second year in the league, going 8-0 in the standings and 10-1 overall. In 2021, they finished 6-2 vs. Pioneer opponents.

The Tommies have been strong defensively, and expect that to continue with the leadership and play of LB Jonathan Bunce and DB Yusef Leak. The offense has some weapons as well, highlighted by RB Shawn Shipman and WR Andrew McElroy.

As far as who is making the playoffs, that race may come down to Davidson and Dayton.

This league was once owned by San Diego, but Davidson has emerged as that new power outside of St. Thomas. The Wildcats have reached the postseason in three straight seasons. Davidson has owned the No. 1 FCS rushing offense with its option attack. And although big production has graduated, the system and a strong o-line will be tough to stop again.

Dayton has been consistently solid, going 6-2, 5-3, and 6-2 in the league over the last three fall seasons. Butler should also rise in the standings behind the arm of Bret Bushka. And to round out the top five, it’s unfortunately hard to know where to pencil in San Diego, where half the team is facing some level of discipline due to a hazing incident.

St. Thomas should lead the pack again. Davidson and Dayton will need some new star offensive names to emerge as those two and possibly Butler chase the playoff auto-bid.

split-fbo-6-23-25
Previous Post

2023 Week 1 HBCU FCS Predictions

Next Post

G5 College Football Week 1 Best Bets

Next Post
UTSA QB Frank Harris

G5 College Football Week 1 Best Bets

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • 2025 FCS Top 25: No. 12 Mercer Football Preview
  • 2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers
  • 2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Pac-12 Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.