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FCS Podcast: Reacting To The FCS Playoff Committee’s Top 10

Zach McKinnell by Zach McKinnell
October 30, 2024
FCS Podcast

Welcome to the FCS Football Talk podcast.

On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:

-The FCS Playoff Committee’s Top 10 rankings

-Week 9 Three Game Balls and A Flag

-Takeaways from South Dakota State’s victory over South Dakota

-Week 10’s most intriguing games

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

SUBSCRIBE: FCS Football Talk

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 9.

Zach’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag

  • Game Ball: Mercer
    • No. 14 Mercer defeated No. 24 Western Carolina 44-34, the third win over a ranked opponent for the Bears
    • The Bears trailed 24-7 late in the second quarter but scored 27 unanswered points to spark the comeback victory
    • Mercer’s offense posted over 300 rushing yards and averaged over 7.5 yards per carry
    • Running back Dwayne McGee led the attack with 223 rushing yards and two touchdowns
    • Quarterback Whitt Newbauer made his first career start, completing 10-of-21 attempts for 234 passing yards and two total touchdowns
    • Despite allowing 24 points in the first half, Mercer’s defense held the Catamounts scoreless on six of their final eight drives
    • Brayden Manley: 9 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks
  • Game Ball: Stony Brook
    • Stony Brook defeated No. 16 William & Mary 35-13, earning the first win over a ranked opponent since 2021
    • Running back Roland Dempster led the Seawolves with 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns
    • Behind Dempster, the Seawolves recorded over 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging almost 5.0 yards per carry
    • Tyler Knoop: 15-of-26 for 240 passing yards and two passing touchdowns
    • The Seawolves held William & Mary to 3.4 yards per carry and forced four turnovers
    • After finishing last season 0-10, Stony Brook improved to 6-2 (3-1 CAA) and is positioned to earn an at-large bid for the FCS Playoffs
  • Game Ball: North Carolina Central
    • No. 20 North Carolina Central defeated Morgan State in a crucial MEAC matchup
    • The Eagles held the Bears to 204 total yards and 3.3 yards per play
    • Thomas Johnson: 6 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks
    • Linebacker Jaki Brevard led the Eagles with 12 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss
    • Running back J’Mari Taylor exploded 196 rushing yards and 1 touchdown while averaging over 7.5 yards per carry 
    • The Eagles move to 6-2 (2-0 MEAC) with a chance to remain the only undefeated team in the conference on Thursday night against South Carolina State
  • Flag: North Dakota
    • No. 7 North Dakota suffered an upset loss to Youngstown State
    • The Hawks fall to 5-3 (2-2 MVFC) and will need to win at least three of their four remaining games to secure an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs
    • North Dakota’s defense allowed over 400 yards of total offense, including 334 yards on the ground
    • Youngstown State’s two turnovers helped keep the Hawks in the game, leading to 14 points
    • Simon Romfo: 19-of-24 for 212 passing yards and three passing touchdowns
    • Bo Belquist: 10 receptions for 105 receiving yards and two touchdowns

Sam’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag

  • Game Ball: Idaho QB Jack Layne
    • Returned to the starting lineup for the first time since he broke his collarbone in Week 1 
    • Idaho beat EWU 38-28, and Layne finished 17/28 for 235 yards and two touchdowns, which opened up the running game for 252 yards and three scores
    • Idaho improves to 6-3 overall with two FCS losses, an FBS win, three then-ranked wins, and one currently-ranked win
    • Last 3 games: at Portland State, vs. Weber State, at Idaho State
    • The Vandals will have an argument for a first-round bye if they win out
  • Game Ball: SDSU QB Mark Gronowski
    • Gronowski had arguably his best game this season
    • No. 3 SDSU defeated No. 4 20-17 in OT
    • Gronowski went 20/27 for 163 yards, plus 54 rushing yards and a touchdown
    • He played better than his numbers indicate, making some impressive throws downfield while SDSU also had a few drops
    • SDSU’s offense still isn’t fully clicking, but the downfield passing attack looked improved
  • Game Ball: Chattanooga
    • Chattanooga has won 5 straight and is now 5-3 
    • Two losses were against FBS teams, including a one-score loss to Georgie State. The third loss is to ranked Mercer by one score
    • The Mocs have one ranked win over ETSU
    • They have won their last three games 41-10, 37-5, and 31-10
  • Flag: William & Mary
    • W&M lost to Stony Brook 35-13 to drop to 5-3 overall and 5-2 vs. the FCS with no ranked wins
    • The next three games: at NC A&T, vs. Elon, and vs. Bryant
    • The regular-season finale is at rival Richmond, who is currently No. 16
    • Might need to win out to make the playoffs at 9-3
    • Winning the next three but losing to Richmond results in an 8-4 record with no ranked wins
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