FCS Daily Dose: Sac State’s Path To FBS Independent Approval + USD Loses 2 Standouts + SDSU Adds Key OL Transfer

The FCS Daily Dose is a blog-style article series featuring an assortment of news, rumblings, quick hitters, and commentary on various topics.

A new Daily Dose will be published multiple times a week.

Sac State’s Path To FBS Independent Approval

Last week, Sacramento State filed an application with the NCAA to transition from the FCS to be an FBS independent member. The school had already filed a waiver to make this transition, which is required because a team needs a conference invite to move from the FCS to the FBS.

It’s important to note that this is not necessarily an NCAA office decision on whether or not to grant Sac State a waiver. These sorts of decisions go through a voting/approval process from different committees, boards, and/or councils with representatives from schools and conferences.

Sac State’s approval process will start with the FBS Oversight Committee, which is made up of mostly FBS conference/school admins. It would then go to the Division I Council, which is made up of conference/school admins from 32 D1 conferences.

The FBS Oversight Committee’s next meeting is on April 10.

RELATED: Thoughts On Sac State’s Plan To Go FBS Independent

It’s no secret that FBS leaders, especially those in the Power 4, do not want to see the FBS grow by adding more FCS teams. Some within the Mountain West Conference wanted to add North Dakota State, but MWC presidents instead voted to invite Northern Illinois as a football-only member, and a big reason for that was wanting to add an already-established FBS program.

Sac State has a strong pitch to join the FBS as an independent due to its location, facility upgrades, and reported community financial support.

However, its fate is essentially up to other FBS schools and conference representatives. Will these FBS leaders deny Sac State’s request to join their subdivision as an independent? Will a “no” answer result in a lawsuit from Sac State, so they’ll say “yes” to avoid that headache? Is there a concern of opening the floodgates and a precedent if they say yes and we see other FCS programs try to take this same FBS independent route? How does the future pathway from FCS to FBS look as NCAA governance sees some changes?

It’ll certainly be interesting to see how it unfolds. Liberty was able to make a similar jump in the 2010s. Sac State hopes to follow that same path.

Here are the FBS Oversight Committee members:

South Dakota Loses 2 Standouts

South Dakota lost two All-Americans to the transfer portal over the weekend: left tackle Joe Cotton and leading tackler Gary Bryant, who is a linebacker.

It’s two tough blows to a team coming off a semifinal appearance, has a strong nucleus coming back, and may have the best argument to be the preseason No. 2 team in the FCS.

After the winter transfer portal came and went, it looked like USD’s offense was going to be loaded. The o-line had a good chance to be the best in the FCS, returning four starters after helping USD to the No. 6 FCS rushing offense. But since then, and after coaching changes, Bryce Henderson followed his o-line coach to Vanderbilt in late February. Cotton’s departure now makes it two starting OL coming back: Adrian Hawkins (6’6″ 300 lbs) and Jordan Larsen (6’3″ 310 lbs).

But the Coyotes still have quarterback Aidan Bouman, the only semifinalist to bring back their starting QB. Leading rusher Charles Pierre Jr. is also back after a breakout season, totaling 1,244 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. On the outside, home-run hitter Quaron Adams is back after he averaged 30.2 yards per catch, finishing No. 2 on the team with 543 receiving yards and a team-high five receiving touchdowns.

Defensively, the Yotes did return their top two tacklers, but the next seven leaders in tackles are gone. With Bryant’s departure after leading USD with 103 tackles, it leaves another big hole to fill. No. 2 tacker Nate Ewell (78 tackles) returns. So does veteran DB Shahid Barros after totaling 41 tackles.

USD still looks to be very good in 2025 and may still be the top challenger to the Bison. The Yotes have a known talent at QB, while NDSU, South Dakota State, and Montana State have unknowns. However, their path to a national title got a bit tougher as two All-Americans departed.

South Dakota State Adds Key OL Transfer

SDSU got positive news this weekend when it landed a big addition via the portal. SFA transfer offensive lineman Nate Adams (6’7″ 330 lbs), who was a Southland All-Conference 2nd-Team performer in 2024, is heading to Brookings.

Last season, Adams played 364 snaps at right tackle, 257 at center, 48 at right guard, and 40 at left guard.

His 88.1 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked No. 6 among FCS offensive tackles.

The Jackrabbits will have an o-line with solid experience. Starting tackles Quinten Christensen and Sam Hagen return. Guard William Paepke is also back after playing more than 300 snaps last year.

Chase Mason looks to take the reins at quarterback after serving in a backup role and being utilized as a running QB. He has elite physical promise but unknowns at the intangibles until we see it in live action.

The Jacks lost their top three running backs and top wide receiver from last season. The No. 2 and 3 WRs are back: Grahm Goering and Lofton O’Groske. So are two of the top three tight ends: David Alpers and Greyton Gannon.

Past Daily Doses

FCS Teams Playing Multiple FBS Opponents In 2025 + Brock Spack Gets Contract Extension … READ MORE

Thoughts On Sac State’s Plan To Go FBS Independent … READ MORE

142 Of Top 350 NFL Draft Prospects Transferred At Least Once, 26 Of Them From The FCS … READ MORE