We're nearing the end of spring football practices, giving us all an appetizer of the 2019 FCS football season.
This year's calendar brings a 12-game regular season compared to the usual 11. That means four nonconference games for a majority of FCS teams, which could make for a juicy playoff bubble if several teams hit that seven D1 wins mark.
[divider]MORE FCS:
- Top 10 Way-Too-Early Favorites To Win The 2019 National Title
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- Top 50 Recruiting Classes
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Speaking of wins, let's look ahead and set some over/under win totals for last year's 24 playoff teams. @ me on Twitter and let me know which over/unders you'll take.
*All schedules are 12 games unless a * is next to the team.
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Montana State
2018 Record: 8-5
The Bobcats return a majority of their starters after reaching the second round of the playoffs. The nonconference schedule features a game against FBS Texas Tech, 2018 playoff participant Southeast Missouri State and two non-playoff FCS teams, one being at a tough Western Illinois program. They got a very favorable draw in the Big Sky schedule, avoiding Eastern Washington and Weber State.
2019 Wins: 9.5
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Incarnate Word
2018 Record: 6-5
The Cardinals have to replace half their starters, but Year 1 under Eric Morris along with the 2018 Southland Freshman of the Year in QB Jon Copeland points to many more wins on the horizon. UIW has a chance to pad their resume in the nonconference, playing FBS oppoents UTSA and New Mexico State. Those two teams went 3-9 in 2018. It will be a matter of not slipping too many times against beatable Southland foes if this program wants to return to the playoffs.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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James Madison
2018 Record: 9-4
Expectations are sky high for the Dukes. There are only a couple of holes to fill in the lineup as JMU has a legit argument to be a preseason Top 3 team. The Dukes could make a competitive game in the season opener against West Virginia. The remaining nonconference schedule shouldn't see any hiccups. And then it's the CAA gauntlet which starts with two road games at Elon and Stony Brook.
2019 Wins: 10.5
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Delaware
2018 Record: 7-5
Delaware loses half of its starters after ending its playoff drought in 2018. The Blue Hens are moving in the right direction under Danny Rocco. They face NDSU and FBS Pittsburgh in September while also playing at Elon and Towson. It's not a friendly schedule, but we'll see if Delaware can continue trending up.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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Wofford*
2018 Record: 9-4
The Terriers will remain the program to beat in the SoCon with around 15 starters back. The conference will be one of the more competitive ones from top to bottom in the FCS. The three-game nonconference schedule is manageable, though. One is Clemson. But the other two are favorable games against South Carolina State and Gardner-Webb.
2019 Wins: 9.5
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Elon*
2018 Record: 6-5
Even with some coaching staff turnover, the Phoenix have a ton of experience returning and hope to have good injury fortune on their side this year. All three nonconference games will be challenging against NC A&T, The Citadel and FBS Wake Forest. The CAA schedule has Elon facing four playoff teams from 2018, but three of those come at home.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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Towson
2018 Record: 7-5
Towson has its main offensive weapons back, including early Walter Payton Award candidate at quarterback, Tom Flacco. The way the Tigers lost their first-round home playoff game (31-10 against Duquesne) has hurt the buzz for this experienced group coming into 2019. They should win three of their four nonconference games. A tough late-season CAA stretch at JMU, vs. Delaware and at Stony Brook will be key.
2019 Wins: 8.5
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Duquesne
2018 Record: 9-4
Duquesne proved a lot of doubters wrong by taking down the CAA's Towson 31-10 in the first round of the playoffs. Despite a lot of pieces gone on the offense entering 2019, having running back A.J. Hines back is huge. The 2019 schedule isn't complete yet but does feature two challenging nonconference games at Youngstown State and New Hampshire.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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Southeast Missouri State
2018 Record: 9-4
It was a program-changing 2018 season for the Redhawks. The defense should be stout with every starter but one returning, led by Buck Buchanan Award winner linebacker Zach Hall. The offense does have some major holes to fill, especially in the run game. SEMO will be toward the top of the OVC standings again. Two of the four nonconference games are against FCS opponents: Montana State, a 2018 playoff team, and Southern Illinois from the MVFC.
2019 Wins: 8.5
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Stony Brook
2018 Record: 7-5
A gutted offensive cupboard leaves plenty of questions for the Seawolves. A strong defensive program, they do return most starters outside of a few holes. Besides its FBS game at Utah State, Stony Brook faces three nonconference opponents from the NEC and Patriot League. JMU and Towson are both at home in what could be key battles in the CAA race.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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Jacksonville State
2018 Record: 9-4
JSU has a loaded roster coming back in 2019. The Gamecocks have caught some flak for not making too much noise in the playoffs despite a good regular-season record. This looks to be the year they could make another deep postseason run. JSU beefed up its nonconference schedule, highlighted by hosting EWU. Southeastern Louisiana, Chattanooga and North Alabama are all respectable opponents. The Gamecocks' one OVC loss last year was to SEMO, who they get at home in 2019.
2019 Wins: 10.5
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East Tennessee State
2018 Record: 8-4
ETSU returns more than half of its starters coming off a historic season. Finding a QB will be key in replicating last year's success. The nonconference slate features two FBS teams (Appalachian State and Vanderbilt), a non-D1 opponent (Shorter) and OVC member Austin Peay. A major SoCon game against Wofford comes at home.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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Nicholls
2018 Record: 9-4
The Colonels return about half of their starters coming off a year where they defeated a Power 5 opponent (Kansas), went 7-2 in the Southland and reached the second round of the playoffs. It certainly helps to have the conference's player of the year in QB Chase Fourcade back. Nicholls plays two FBS opponents again, one being Kansas State and the other being a beatable Texas State team that went 3-9 last year. Trips to Sam Houston State, UIW and Southeastern Louisiana will be challenging.
2019 Wins: 8.5
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San Diego*
2018 Record: 9-3
The streak of two straight seasons with a playoff win came to an end in 2018 for the Toreros. Four-year starter Anthony Lawrence is gone at QB, but some huge weapons are back, most notably 1,698-yard WR Michael Bandy. The defense will need to show improvements, especially in the nonconference schedule versus the Big Sky's Cal Poly and UC Davis and also Harvard. San Diego's dominant run through the Pioneer Football League looks to continue with 13 total returning starters.
2019 Wins: 9.5
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Northern Iowa
2018 Record: 7-6
Another year, another brutal nonconference schedule for UNI. The Panthers show no fear in lining up tough opponents and this year face FBS Iowa State and three Big Sky opponents: vs. Southern Utah and Idaho State and at Weber State. The Panthers also have to travel to NDSU and SDSU as they replace about half of the 2018 starters.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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Lamar
2018 Record: 7-5
The Cardinals look to keep the momentum going as a program and have the returning experience on offense to do so. The nonconference slate is OK against non-D1 Bethel, FCS Mississippi Valley State and FBS Texas A&M. The Southland is always wild week after week. Lamar avoids Nicholls but does play UIW and Sam Houston State on the road in back-to-back weeks.
2019 Wins: 7.5
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8. Colgate
2018 Record: 10-2
A memorable season leaves Colgate hungry for more. But their depth and recruiting will be put to the test as the Raiders have a ton of new starters on both sides of the ball. They'll still be the class of the Patriot League. Six nonconference games will tell us a lot more. That slate features one FBS team (Air Force), three CAA teams (Villanova, William & Mary and 2018 semifinalist Maine) and two Ivy League teams (Dartmouth, who went 9-1 last year, and Cornell).
2019 Wins: 8.5
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7. Maine
2018 Record: 10-4
Coming off a memorable run to the semifinals, the pieces are all back for the new-look coaching staff. Quarterback Chris Ferguson has his top two RBs and top two WRs back with an experienced OL. And the defense has four of its five First Team All-CAA players returning. Maine does play two FBS opponents, although Georgia Southern and Liberty are beatable. Add in Colgate, and that's a tough nonconference slate. However, the CAA schedule is favorable by avoiding JMU, Delaware and Stony Brook.
2019 Wins: 8.5
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6. UC Davis
2018 Record: 10-3
Outside of future NFL Draft pick Keelan Doss at wide receiver, the explosive UC Davis offense stays intact. The Aggies made a historic run to the quarterfinals last year, and with the amount of returning starters, expectations are to take that next step. They'll be challenged early, with FBS California starting the nonconference schedule and a trip to NDSU ending it. Their three toughest Big Sky games (Montana, Weber State and Montana State) are all at home.
2019 Wins: 9.5
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5. South Dakota State
2018 Record: 10-3
The Jacks are loaded coming off another trip to the semifinals. Who replaces Taryn Christion at QB is the No. 1 question followed by the inexperience in the secondary and new coordinators. But the two-deep is rich in experience and talent. A 3-1 nonconference record is likely, but don't be shocked if SDSU goes to FBS Minnesota, wins and enters the MVFC schedule 4-0. SDSU's three toughest MVFC opponents (NDSU, Illinois State and UNI) are all at home.
2019 Wins: 9.5
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4. Kennesaw State*
2018 Record: 11-2
The Owls just keep improving their record. But for the first time since the program started, they need to replace a huge senior class. This is the year we find out if KSU can remain a deep playoff threat through depth and recruiting. Many people got on the Owls for a weak strength of schedule in 2018. This year doesn't get much better if we're being honest. Kennesaw should still roll through the Big South like it's been doing for a while. The nonconference features FBS Kent State, NAIA Point University and FCS non-playoff teams Missouri State and Alabama State from the SWAC.
2019 Wins: 9.5
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3. Eastern Washington
2018 Record: 12-3
The Eagles finally made it back to Frisco and don't want to take another long hiatus from the national title game. A huge senior class is gone along with a good chunk of the starters. But talent and experience remain. Per usual, EWU isn't backing down from competition. The nonconference features one non-D1 opponent in Lindenwood, then three road games (FBS Washington, perennial Top 10 program Jacksonville State and Idaho in a game that doesn't count toward the Big Sky standings). Seven of EWU's 12 games are on the road, including at Montana. The Eagles do avoid Weber State, UC Davis and Montana State
2019 Wins: 9.5
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2. Weber State
2018 Record: 10-3
The Wildcats need to replace just a couple holes on offense and a few more on defense as this program continues to get better and better. This is another Big Sky team challenging itself in the nonconference: at FBS opponents San Diego State and Nevada and hosting 2018 playoff participant Northern Iowa and Cal Poly. Weber State has to go on the road to face UC Davis and Montana in the Big Sky slate.
2019 Wins: 8.5
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1. North Dakota State
2018 Record: 15-0
With any other FCS team, seeing only three offensive and four defensive starters returning is concerning. But considering NDSU's depth and ability to rotate players, there is still good experience coming back. How the new starting QB and new HC/OC/DC come together remains to be seen. Don't expect the Bison to be out of the national title picture anytime soon. But we really don't know yet if this is a typical one-loss regular season type of NDSU team either. A home game against UC Davis is a 50/50 game and a trip to Delaware won't be an easy win. Illinois State and SDSU look to be Top 3 teams in the MVFC. Both of those games are on the road for the Bison.
2019 Wins: 9.5
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NEXT: 2019 Top 300 FCS Signees
