Week 0 of the 2025 FCS season is finally here, and it features five games with four ranked teams in action.
Let’s predict some scores.
Predictions Record:
2024 Record: 126-40
FCS Week 0 Predictions
No. 5 UIW at Nicholls Prediction
A conference game on ESPN2 opens UIW’s year after plenty of offseason hype.
The Cardinals are loaded with talent. The offense returns its All-American wide receiver Jalen Walthall, its No. 2 rusher Lontrell Turner, its All-Southland tight end Logan Compton, adds a former Southland Conference Player of the Year at RB in Jaylon Spears, adds a former FCS All-American WR in Chedon James, and has groomed new starting QB Richard Torres for the last couple of years. UIW’s defense returns five of its top 11 tacklers, led by standout linebackers Dune Smith and Declan Williams. The unit also added five FCS transfers who started at their previous school, including an All-American DB (Tyler Morton) and an All-Conference LB (David Powers).
Nicholls should have a good front seven, led by LB Jake Dalmado, and defensive linemen Alex Villavaso, Joe Mason, and Rasheed Lovelace. That’s a solid test for UIW’s o-line, which needs to be stronger to contend for an FCS title.
This is a key game for UIW. Half the battle of making a deep playoff run is where you’re seeded. As a tough non-conference looms with games against Eastern Washington, FBS UTSA, and 2024 playoff teams Northern Arizona and Abilene Christian, a sharp performance is ideal, and a victory is crucial for the Cardinals. It’s tough to see Nicholls having the offensive firepower to snag an upset.
Prediction: UIW 31-21
Idaho State at UNLV Prediction
Our weekly predictions are usually just FCS vs. FCS games. But we’ll make an exception here with the limited slate.
Idaho State is a 3-4-touchdown underdog here, which seems about right. UNLV was picked No. 2 in the Mountain West preseason poll with four first-place votes.
I’m curious if the high-flying Idaho State offense can hit on some explosive plays to make this interesting for a bit. The Bengals scored 32.1 points per game last fall and threw for 298.4 yards per game (No. 8 in the FCS). Jordan Cooke is back at QB after he sat out last season. As a sophomore in 2023, he went 209/355 for 2,453 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Cooke has a very talented arm, but needs to take better care of the ball.
ISU has a ways to go defensively, allowing 37.8 points per game in 2024. I don’t see the defense getting the stops needed to stay in this one.
Prediction: UNLV 45-21
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No. 10 Tarleton State at Portland State Prediction
Portland State football will have a national network broadcast from home for the first time, with this one airing on ESPN2. The Vikings return nine total starters, led by tight end Tanner Beaman and safety Isaiah Green. But there will be plenty of new on the squad.
Tarleton will be an interesting team after splashing onto the national FCS scene last year, its first as playoff-eligible. The Texans finished 10-4 and pushed eventual semifinalist South Dakota in the second round before losing 42-31. While the offense loses its All-American running back and wide receiver, and most of its starting line, it returns Victor Gabalis as one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS. He threw for 2,883 yards, 23 TDs, and 11 interceptions in 2024. Hunter Smith is a standout coming back on the offensive line, and keep an eye on Hawaii transfer Tylan Hines to be a breakout running back.
Tarleton’s defense is loaded with talent. Eleven of its top 12 tacklers from last season’s unit are back, plus getting the return of 2023 All-UAC Second Team defensive linemen Josh Griffis. Brandon Tolvert is another elite player on the d-line.
The Texans have the right public message when it comes to their future — They have FBS aspirations, but until that happens, they want to be FCS contenders. The facilities and funding are in place. The talent is there, but the trenches need to improve to be in the FCS top tier.
Portland State hasn’t finished above .500 in years, but it has been a pesky opponent at times in the Big Sky. If Tarleton wants to prove its Top 10 preseason ranking is deserved, the Texans should win by a few scores.
Prediction: Tarleton State 38-21
No. 8 UC Davis vs. No. 11 Mercer Prediction
This is the best FCS Kickoff matchup on ESPN we’ve had since it moved to a neutral site in Montgomery, AL. UC Davis and Mercer are preseason Top 11 teams after reaching the quarterfinals.
Both lost significant names from last year, but have a decent nucleus back.
The Bears return quarterback DJ Smith, who started the first half of the season before being slowed by injury. They also bring back their No. 2 and 3 wide receivers (Brayden Smith and Adjatay Dabbs), three offensive linemen who started at least six games last year, and added RB Autavius Ison, a transfer from Charleston Southern who was a 2024 All-Big South-OVC Second Team selection. Mercer had an excellent defense, but returns only three of its top 12 tacklers. Andrew Zock is back as one of the top defensive ends in the FCS.
Davis named redshirt freshman and three-star recruit Caden Pinnick as its starting QB. There is a lot of experience around him. The Aggies return five starting offensive linemen, their top wide receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr., and First Team All-Big Sky tight end Winston Williams. Similar to Mercer, the Aggies lose most of their defensive production. But they return two All-Americans in Rex and Porter Connors at safety and linebacker, plus added three FCS transfers who earned 2024 All-Conference honors and three FBS transfers with starting experience.
Yes, it’s Week 0. But this is a big game for playoff positioning. The SoCon feels it isn’t getting the proper respect from the playoff committee. Knocking off a Big Sky contender reflects well for the conference and would be a big data point for the committee. UC Davis, meanwhile, feels it can build off last year’s quarterfinal season instead of regressing.
There are a lot of unknowns about both teams. But Davis is a bit more intact, which leads to more confidence in the Aggies getting a win.
Prediction: UC Davis 28-20
NC Central vs. Southern Prediction
The 2025 MEAC/SWAC Challenge, played in Atlanta and on ABC, features two teams with Celebration Bowl aspirations.
Central went 8-3 last year and 4-1 in MEAC play, finishing in second place. Southern went 8-5 and 7-1 in league play, representing the West in the SWAC championship game and losing 41-13 to Jackson State.
Southern defensive end Ckelby Givens is a name to know in the Buck Buchanan Award race. Last year, he racked up 73 tackles, 27.5 TFLs, 12 sacks, and 13 QB hurries, getting named the 2024 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. The Jaguars have a lot of question marks offensively, though. That doesn’t match up well with a more experienced Eagles offense.
NC Central has a known commodity in QB Walker Harris. The lefty threw for 1,882 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions a season ago. The o-line has stability as well, led by Trevon Humphrey, Noah McKinney, and A.C. McMoore. NC Central’s defense has leaders at all three levels in DL Christian Smith, LB Max U’Ren, and DB Malcolm Reed.
NC Central looks like the more complete team in this one.
Prediction: NC Central 28-17
