Week 1 of the 2025 FCS season is here, and it features two ranked matchups.
Let’s predict some scores. Our weekly predictions are for FCS vs. FCS games only.
Predictions Record:
2025 Record: 3-1
2024 Record: 126-40
FCS Week 1 Predictions
No. 25 Richmond at No. 14 Lehigh Prediction
What a Patriot League debut for Richmond, taking on last year’s champ. Lehigh and Richmond were picked No. 1 and 2 in the league’s preseason poll, but keep an eye on Holy Cross to compete near the top as well. As Villanova and William & Mary join the league in 2026, the Patriot looks to be a multi-bid conference.
This is a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff game, where Lehigh defeated the Spiders 20-16 on the road. The Mountain Hawks return a bulk of their production from last season’s squad, including their young RB duo Jaden Green and Luke Yoder, QB Hayden Johnson, leading WR Geoffrey Jamiel, and three starting offensive linemen. Defensively, Lehigh returns 7/10 leaders in snaps. The d-line will be stout, led by Matt Spatny and TJ Burke, while Nick Peltekian is one of the top FCS safeties. Not to mention linebacker Brycen Edwards, who returns after leading the team with 90 tackles.
Richmond, meanwhile, has more holes to fill. Its starting quarterback, leading running back, four key pass-catchers, and three OL are gone. But QB Kyle Wickersham is back after starting in 2023. The defense is led by standout LB Carter Glassmyer, although the unit needs to replace 7/11 top tacklers.
Based on Lehigh’s returners and Richmond’s departures, last year’s head-to-head matchup, and it being a home game for Lehigh, the Mountain Hawks should be favored here.
Prediction: Lehigh 28-17
No. 15 Sac State at No. 3 South Dakota State Prediction
One of the most intriguing non-conference games in recent memory.
Sac State brings in a ton of hype and attention, both on the field and off the field. Brennan Marion was an impressive head coaching hire. And the Hornets have brought in transfers like former four-star high school QB Jaden Rashada, FCS All-American RB Jamar Curtis, FBS running backs Savion Red and Rodney Hammond with significant experience, and wide receivers Jordan Anderson and Ernest Campbell, who were four-star recruits in the Class of 2024. Rashada is listed with an “OR” along with Tulsa transfer Cardell Williams on the depth chart.
SDSU has plenty of new as well after its entire coaching staff left and it lost several key players, both to graduation and the transfer portal. First-year head coach Dan Jackson (a former assistant HC for SDSU) hired a good staff, including bringing back coordinators from SDSU’s 2010s rise. And he rallied the locker room, retaining many SDSU players who had the option to go to Washington State while also bringing in some impact transfers.
But with all the new, there is also some cohesion for the Jackrabbits. On the depth chart, 9/11 offensive starters were on SDSU’s 2024 roster, as were 10/11 defensive starters. Several guys are returning starters, rotational players, or have been waiting their turn after developing in the system. On paper, SDSU looks to have one of the top offensive lines in the FCS. It brings back a lot of experience from a standout d-line, while the linebackers should reload just fine with guys coming up through the system like Joe Ollman, Chase Van Tol, and Cullen McShane. The wide receivers may surprise some people with their playmakers that emerge (keep an eye on Lofton O’Groske). And new starting QB Chase Mason is already getting NFL buzz despite his inexperience. But again, that’s all on paper. Until we see these guys when the lights are bright, we just don’t know.
There might be something said about cohesion, culture, discipline when things get tough, and playing for something bigger than yourself.
How well is the cohesion for a Sac State team that brought in 50+ transfers? How much were the new players and coaches sold on an FBS dream, NIL dollars, and a new on-campus stadium, all things that have hit roadblocks?
Keep in mind, this was a 3-9 football team last year with a horrible defense, allowing 34.8 points per game. Did the Hornets do enough to address a struggling defense? The WRs and RBs are loaded with talent, but has the o-line improved enough after ranking as the No. 75 FCS rushing offense?
If recent trends continue, FCS teams that bring in a bunch of transfers don’t have much success. And teams that lack physicality and depth on the lines lose the battle in the second half against the top-tier teams, even if they look to be going toe-to-toe in the first half. Maybe Sac State puts an end to that trend. There are so many unknowns and curiosities going into this one.
SDSU has a 29-game home winning streak (including playoff games). Its last home loss was against Northern Iowa on Oct. 23, 2021. I think it moves to 30 games on Saturday. I can certainly see Sac State’s Go-Go Offense jumping off the quick lead, setting Twitter ablaze. But I expect SDSU to settle in and make adjustments. And as the game goes on, SDSU’s advantage in the trenches and the home crowd will lead to a Jacks victory.
Prediction: SDSU 35-28
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Eastern Washington at No. 5 UIW Prediction
A crucial game for No. 5 UIW after a 0-1 start and a dud of a Week 0 performance at Nicholls. The first in-season Top 25 polls don’t come out until after Week 1, so UIW is still currently the No. 5 team in the country.
QB Richard Torres and UIW’s o-line struggled against pressure last week. Torres was sacked three times while going 23/35 passing for 175 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. It may be too early to give up on him, especially when Torres played really well in a couple of QB1 games in 2023. But redshirt freshman and UCF transfer EJ Colson is waiting in the wings.
While EWU has seen some down years, it can still be a pesky opponent. The Eagles return just four starters from last year’s 4-8 squad. Jared Taylor, whose legs were used last season to the tune of 708 rushing yards and 10 scores, is expected to take over at QB.
UIW’s defense did look good against Nicholls. That unit may have to carry the day if UIW’s offense isn’t clicking, although EWU’s defense likely won’t present the same challenge as Nicholls.
Prediction: UIW 28-24
Gardner-Webb at No. 18 Western Carolina Prediction
WCU had preseason hype entering last year. But in Week 2, the Catamounts, ranked No. 17 at the time, lost 24-16 at home to unranked Campbell. It was a costly loss as WCU finished 7-5 and was left out of the playoffs.
The preseason hype is there again.
Taron Dickens has huge potential at quarterback after he started the final four games last year for an injured Cole Gonzales. Dickens went 3-1 as a redshirt freshman in those four starts. He finished 127/172 (73.8%) for 1,428 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Defensively, WCU returns six of its top 11 tacklers, led by LB Hayward McQueen Jr. The pieces are there for a playoff push.
Gardner-Webb finished 4-8 last season after back-to-back conference titles in 2022 and 2023. Second-year head coach Cris Reisert has an interesting squad this fall, adding 45 transfers, including 15 from the FBS. It’ll have some talent, and it’s a team WCU can’t mess around with like it did with Campbell last year.
Prediction: WCU 34-21
No. 1 North Dakota State at The Citadel Prediction
The defending champs hit the road to start the season. NDSU has a new starting QB in Cole Payton, three new starting offensive linemen, and returns just three of its top 11 tacklers from last year. There are plenty of question marks for the Bison. But with its proven track record of reloading on the o-line, Payton being in the system for years, and the defense potentially improving from last year with more athletic linebackers and a veteran secondary, the Bison are the preseason favorite to win it all again.
The Citadel is an interesting challenger, though. It went from 0-11 in 2023 to 5-7 last year. There is solid experience returning, especially defensively, led by DB Cale Williams and LB Je’Mazin Roberts. Quentin Hayes is an interesting QB transfer after starting games at Air Force last season.
I don’t expect this to be a 2024 NDSU at ETSU-type contest, where the Bison were on the cusp of losing. But I’ll be curious how smooth an operation the Bison offense is, or if it’s a bit choppy to start before pulling away. The Citadel will put a lot into this game, and a good crowd should be on hand. Maybe the Bulldogs can make NDSU’s offense uncomfortable. But I expect NDSU’s defense will stifle the Bulldogs as the Bison grind it out offensively.
Prediction: NDSU 31-7
More FCS Predictions
Campbell at No. 9 Rhode Island
Prediction: Rhody 31-28
West Georgia at Samford
Prediction: Samford 38-31
Alcorn State at Northwestern State
Prediction: Alcorn State 31-21
William & Mary at Furman
Prediction: Furman 28-24
Howard vs Florida A&M
Prediction: FAMU 31-17
Idaho State at Southern Utah
Prediction: SUU 35-31
New Hampshire at NC Central
Prediction: NC Central 28-21
