HERO Sports wraps up the previews with "Two-A-Days" for each FCS conference through Friday, Aug. 24 (see full schedule below). Today, we feature the Southern Conference.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Compare Any Two FCS Teams [divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
SUM IT UP
(NOTE: Team by team previews in this conference are below)
Want a summary of the Southern Conference preseason forecast? Oh, this one is easy.
Straight from the SoCon rules book, we bring you Tiebreaking Procedure B … Ready? —- B. In the event of a three-way tie (for the SoCon title), the won-loss records of the tied teams against each other is first considered (i.e., head to head concept). If the teams are still tied, then each team’s record against the highest seeded team not involved in the tie is considered. If the tie is still not broken, the teams’ won-loss record against the next highest seeded team not involved in the tie is considered and so on down the line until the tie is broken. If the tie is still not broken, the team with the fewest points allowed among the tied teams shall be considered. If this does not resolve the tie, then the automatic bid will be determined by a random draw conducted by the Commissioner.
Read it, learn it, memorize it … it'll come in handy come November. Also, please grab some Tylenol. And popcorn.
The SoCon is going to be a roller coaster ride on steroids, my friends. I've been researching and reading up on this league for two months now and I still don't have any real answers for this bowl of spaghetti. Forecasting where it begins and ends is tough. I did put my SoCon poll thoughts down below, based solely on who looked like it might have the nicest home game slate in league play. Parity baby! And listen … when you're listed No. 7 or something on the poll, it doesn't mean we think you're bad, we just think this league is good, collectively. This is clearly the best looking SoCon since App State and Georgia Southern moved "up" to being forgotten in the FBS, fighting for those well-attended bowl game slots against MAC schools (instead of winning national titles in the FCS).
So sit back and relax … check that, relax isn't a good word for this league … sit back, put on your safety belts … and did you get the Tylenol yet? Or at least the popcorn?
[credit]
Samford Athletics[/credit]
Samford star Ahmad Gooden has been a stud on defense for the Bulldogs
[divider]
NAMES TO KNOW
THE NFL PROSPECT: Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
Keion Crossen found out what it was like to be a DB from WCU last year in the draft. We think Tillman will get a nice shot, too.
THE VETERAN COACH: Mark Speir, Western Carolina
Speir has led WCU to 3 winning seasons the past 4 years, and is the longest tenured at one school (2012).
TOP PASSER: Devlin Hodges, Samford
Tired of his name yet? Get used to it — 3,983 passing yards, 31 TDs last year.
TOP RUSHER: Andre Stoddard, Wofford
This fullback proves his position hasn't died – 825 yards rushing, 15 TDs.
TOP RECEIVER: Kelvin McKnight, Samford
Caught 86 passes for 1,179 yards and 12 touchdowns.
TOP TACKLER: Ahmad Gooden, Samford
He finished with 101 tackles last season, along with 5.5 sacks.
TOP SACK MAN: Nasir Player, ETSU
This 6-foot-6 terror had 7 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in 2017.
TOP INT ARTIST: Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
This NFL prospect has a knack for the INT — snagging 5 last year.
BOUNCE BACK ARTIST: Nick Tiano, QB, Chattanooga
Once again, Tiano will get a shot at starting for the Mocs after an injury stalled him after 4 starts last year. The former Mississippi State QB could flourish in 2018 if given the chance.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Tyrie Adams, QB, Western Carolina
It's not like he's an unknown commodity, but so many other FCS QBs are mentioned before Adams, nationally. But he was a 3,000-yard man last year and will be again.
[divider]
TOP FANBASE (*)
Mercer is the No. 1 program in the SoCon and a Top 10 FCS program when it comes to their fans hitting our previews. They're pretty tuned in. They're also neck-and-neck with Western Carolina in terms of which fanbase drew the most fans (both were just a smidge under 11,000 fans a game last year and one gets the feeling that may bump up this year with Mercer, as the Bears are looking pretty good).
(*) – Based on fan engagement with our previews this summer.
[divider]
THE DARKHORSE
Not only are things stirring in terms of fan interest, the Mercer football program looks like it might be about to take that "next step" it has been dreaming of since getting back into football into 2013. The Bears were right on the cusp last year. Take the two losses to Alabama and Auburn (who Mercer was within a touchdown of in the 4th quarter) and consider the losses to Wofford and Furman were both close, and you realize this is a solid group. Keep an eye on Mercer.
[divider]
THE FAVORITE
There are just so many things that could happen in the SoCon this year, it is dizzying. But one thing we're sure of is Samford is playoff-bound in 2018, and we're more sure of that with the Bulldogs than any other program in the league — and that, to us, makes Samford the favorite. There are landmines everywhere on this SoCon schedule, but Samford has the offensive firepower to put your lights out, and a capable defense to hold off opponents. We think this is a playoff seed waiting to happen, but it needs to navigate the league well.
[divider]
RANKING THE SOCON
| RK | HERO SPORTS (McLaughlin) | COACHES POLL |
| 1 | Samford | Samford |
| 2 | Mercer (up) | Wofford |
| 3 | Furman | Furman |
| 4 | Wofford | West. Carolina |
| 5 | West. Carolina | Chattanooga |
| 6 | The Citadel (up) | Mercer |
| 7 | Chattanooga | The Citadel |
| 8 | ETSU | ETSU |
| 9 | VMI | VMI |
[divider]THE DIFFERENCE: We really feel like ranking the SoCon at this point has more to do with who is hosting whom than anything else. You can take this list of 9 teams, shake it up and spill it out on the table to create any sort of order — and we'd probably nod. In fact, aside from VMI in the No. 9 position (as it rebuilds), Nos. 1 through 8 could just about be in any order. We have a feeling this will be one of those years where the SoCon champ will be a team with a 6-2 record. There's your real prediction.
HERO SPORTS FCS PODCAST: Subscribe here
BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
[divider]
THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Chattanooga | ETSU | The Citadel
Furman | Mercer | Samford
VMI | Western Carolina | Wofford
[divider]
FCS PREVIEWS CONFERENCE BY CONFERENCE
Aug. 19 – Missouri Valley & Ohio Valley
Aug. 20 – Southland, SoCon & Big South
Aug. 21 – MEAC & MVFC
Aug. 22 – CAA & NEC
Aug. 23 – Big Sky & Pioneer
Aug. 24 – Patriot & Ivy
