FCS Podcast: Mixed Performances By Top 5 Teams, Realignment Talk, Week 4 Preview

Welcome to the FCS Football Talk podcast.

On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:

-Week 3 Three Game Balls and A Flag

-Southern Illinois & Idaho win statement games against ranked opponents

-Should we be concerned about North Dakota State’s defense after struggling against ETSU?

-Will the recent conference realignment impact the FCS?

-South Dakota State, North Dakota State, and Villanova look underwhelming in Week 3 wins… How should we view these wins?

-Week 4 previews: No. 24 Western Carolina at No. 9 Montana, No. 21 SEMO at No. 7 Southern Illinois, and No. 4 Idaho at No. 19 Abilene Christian

-Other FCS matchups to watch in Week 4

You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and Spreaker.​​

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3 Game Balls and a Flag

Each week of the 2024 FCS football season, the FCS Football Talk podcast will award three game balls and a flag from the previous weekend’s action.

The game balls are awarded to three standout teams or individual players, while the flag is thrown after a disappointing performance or questionable coaching decision.

Below are the three game balls and a flag from Week 3.

Zach’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag

• Game Ball: Idaho
  • The Vandals made a statement with a dominant win over No. 17 UAlbany
    • Idaho’s 2024 Resume:
      • Week 1: 10-point loss against Oregon (Top 10 FBS program)
      • Week 2: FBS win over Wyoming (17-13; 2^nd Year with FBS Win)
      • Week 3: Top 25 FCS win over UAlbany
  • Idaho’s defense continued to dominate, holding UAlbany without a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter
    • UAlbany’s offense finished with a 25% success rate and averaged less than 5.0 yards per play
    • The Great Danes struggled to run the ball as UAlbany averaged less than 2.0 yards per carry
      • Griffin Woodell was limited to 23 rushing yards on 14 carries (1.6 YPC)
    • Dallas Afalava & Keyshawn James-Newby: 7 total tackles, 2.5 TFLs, & 2.5 sacks
  • Idaho’s offense was led by a dynamic rushing attack, rolling up over 247 rushing yards & 2 TDs
    • Nate Thomas: 8 carries for 75 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs (9.4 YPC)
    • Eli Cummings: 11 carries for 71 rushing yards (6.5 YPC)
  • Wide receiver Jordan Dwyer led the Vandals with 5 receptions for 68 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs
    
• Game Ball: Southern Illinois
  • Defeated No. 12 Incarnate Word, 35-28, in a massive ranked matchup
    • Jumped out to an impressive 35-14 halftime lead
  • Quarterback DJ Williams had his best performance of the season, leading the Salukis in passing & rushing yards
    • Williams: 19-of-27 for 301 passing yards, two passing TDs, 79 rushing yards, and one rushing TD
  • Wide receivers Keontez Lewis and Nah’shawn Hezekiah combined for one of the best receiving performances in school history
    • Lewis & Hezekiah: 13 receptions for 266 receiving yards
    • Second-most combined receiving yards in program history
  • Southern Illinois looked dominant against the run, making the Incarnate Word offense one-dimensional
    • UIW: 71 rushing yards on 23 carries (3.1 YPC)
    • Ben Bogle: 8 total tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one sack

• Game Ball: Western Carolina
  • The Catamounts stunned No. 22 Elon for their first win of the season, avoiding an 0-3 start to the season
    • Western Carolina rebounded from a Week 2 upset loss against Campbell
    • Scored 14 points in the final four minutes of regulation, overcoming a 14-3 second-half deficit
  • Quarterback Cole Gonzales was spectacular after an unimpressive performance in Week 2
    • Gonzales: 254 passing yards & 1 rushing TD
      • Rushing touchdown with 3:48 remaining gave the Catamounts their first lead of the game
    • The Catamounts averaged 5.0 yards per play, rolling up over 370 yards of total offense
  • Western Carolina’s defense allowed over 420 yards, but made key plays to win the game
    • Defensive back Jordan Lowery returned a blocked field goal for the game-sealing touchdown with less than two minutes remaining
    • Forced two Elon turnovers inside the 20-yard line, which allowed the second-half comeback win
      
• Flag: North Dakota State’s Defense
  • The Bison allowed over 7.0 yards per play and 383 total yards to the Buccaneers
    • Allowed ETSU to score touchdowns on the first three drives of the game
      • 21 plays for 225 total yards (3 drives)
    • Only six explosive plays allowed, but ETSU dominated by gaining 5-7 yards per play all game
  • The Bucs recorded 270 rushing yards, averaging over 7.1 yards per carry against the Bison
    • Bryson Irby: 15 carries for 147 rushing yards and 3 TDs (9.8 YPC)
    • QB Jaylen King: 79 rushing yards (6.1 YPC)
  • Jaylen King made some key plays with his legs but was inconsistent in passing the ball
    • King: 6-of-15 for 113 passing yards and one passing TD
  • The Bison failed to generate any pressure or create many negative plays, which is a significant cause of concern
    • NDSU: 4 TFLs, 0 sacks, and 2 QBHs

Sam’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag

• Game Ball: Central Arkansas
  • Beats Austin Peay 45-17
  • Out to a 2-1 start with a controversial FBS loss at Arkansas State
  • David Walker: 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries
  • ShunDerrick Powell: 475 rushing yards, 6 TDs
  • Darius Hale: 240 rushing yards, 5 TDs
• Game Ball: Mercer’s defense
  • 3-0 start, beating Presbyterian 63-10, Bethune-Cookman 31-2, and No. 14 Chattanooga 10-3
  • Allowing 5 points per game, 0.5 rushing yards per attempt, and 13.7 rushing yards per game
  • Veterans Isaac Dowling and Ken Standley leading the unit with 17 and 14 tackles
• Game Ball: Lamar
  • Beats No. 20 Weber State 17-16
  • Now 2-1 overall, 2-0 vs. the FCS
  • Lost to Texas State 34-27, one of the best Group of Five teams
  • Finished 6-5 last year in Pete Rossomando’s first season
  • Lamar went 1-10 in 2022, 2-9 in 2021
• Flag: Youngstown State
  • No. 21 Youngstown State loses to Duquesne 28-25