David Hunter
With Allen Bored covering the FBS, I thought it would be apropos to cover the FCS (note to people: they are no longer called I-AA or worse, D2. D2 is the 3rd tier of college football) especially as the first few weeks often feature the possible upset scenarios. Not every fan wants to see SEC/ACC/Big 10/Big 12 football dominate the television airwaves and a lot of alumni prefer to celebrate the schools that they went to at the lower levels.
Also, given the playoff system at the FCS level, an upset can really spotlight a team and help them get a better chance at earning a playoff bid. Who can forget classic upsets like Appalachian State toppling Michigan?
Writer Chris Lang wrote up a great article examining potential Week 1 upsets that is worth a read.
All rankings are credited to SportsNetwork.com.
Thursday, August 29th
#13 Illinois State @ Ball State on ESPN3.com at 7:00/4:00 PM
Indiana State @ Indiana on Big Ten Network at 7:00/4:00 PM
#11 Towson @ Connecticut on ESPN3.com at 7:30/4:30 PM
Dayton @ Youngstown State on MyYTV at 7:30/4:30 PM
Friday, August 30th
Southern @ Houston on ESPN3.com at 8:30 /5:30 PM
#1 North Dakota State @ Kansas State on FS1 at 8:30/5:30 PM
#18 Northern Arizona @ Arizona on Pac-12 Network at 10:00/7:00 PM
Saturday, August 31st
#5 Villanova @ Boston College on ESPN News at 12:00/9:00 AM
Elon @ Georgia Tech on ESPN3.com at 12:00/9:00 AM
Southern Illinois @ Illinois on Big Ten Network at 12:00/9:00 AM
William & Mary @ West Virginia on FS1 at 12:00/9:00 AM
NC Central @ Duke on ESPN3.com at 4:00/1:00 PM
#4 Eastern Washington @ Oregon State on Pac-12 Network at 6:00/3:00 PM
#25 Coastal Carolina @ South Carolina State at 6:00/3:00 PM
McNeese State @ South Florida on ESPN3.com at 7:00/4:00 PM
San Diego @ #14 Cal Poly at 7:05/4:05 PM
#8 Wofford @ Baylor on FSN at 7:30/4:30 PM
#17 Northern Iowa @ Iowa State on Cyclones.tv at 8:00/5:00 PM
#21 Eastern Illinois @ San Diego State on Mountain West Network at 8:00/5:00 PM
#12 Appalachian State @ #20 Montana on ESPN3.com at 9:00/6:00 PM
Sunday, September 1st
Mississippi Valley State @ Florida A&M on ESPN at 11:45/8:45 AM
#23 Bethune-Cookman @ Tennessee State on ESPN3.com at 8:00/5:00 PM
If you are a fan and watching some of the above games, here is a quick player spotlight for potential names who could get called in April for the 2014 NFL Draft. Most will come in as UDFAs but can quickly earn roster spots or stick on the practice squad. Some of these players may be opening next week but are worth mentioning.
2014 NFL Draft Hopefuls
QB Jeff Mathews [Cornell]
QB DeNarius McGhee [Montana State]
RB Shakir Bell [Indiana State]
RB Marcus Coker [Stony Brook]
RB Zach Bauman [Northern Arizona]
RB Jerick McKinnon [Georgia Southern]
RB Fabian Truss [Samford]
RB Rolandan Finch [Norfolk State]
WR Matt Hazel [Coastal Carolina]
WR Tony Washington [Appalachian State]
WR Erik Lora [Eastern Illinois]
WR Lee Doss [Southern]
WR Jordan Harris [Bryant]
WR Mike Milburn [Delaware]
WR Greg Hardin [North Dakota]
OT Danny Kistler Jr [Montana]
OT Billy Turner [North Dakota State]
OT Josh Wells [James Madison]
OG Dakota Dozier [Furman]
OG Kadeem Edwards [Tennessee State]
DE Colton Underwood [Illinois State]
DT Caraun Reid [Princeton]
DT Zack Kerr [Delaware]
LB Stephon Robertson [James Madison]
LB Brandon Denmark [Florida A&M]
LB Clarence Bumpas [Northern Colorado]
LB Jordan Tripp [Montana]
CB Marcus Williams [North Dakota State]
CB Jordan Love [Towson]
CB Kendall James [Maine]
CB Todd Washington [SE Louisiana]
S Julien David [Howard]
S D.J. Key [Tennessee Chattanooga]
Credit to NCAA.com for featured image.
