FCS Football Week 3 Preview: It’s a Competitive Schedule

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The FCS vs. FCS matchups are taking over as Division I college football shifts to Week 3.

OK, the fourth week for fans of Week 0 (surely, a title contrived in an NCAA lab).

The FCS schedule has found a big way to build on last week’s three wins over FBS competition – four matchups between nationally teams and important conference games slipping into mid-September.

Already FCS vs. FCS results such as West Georgia’s Division I debut against Samford in Week 1 and North Dakota’s rally past Montana and Southeast Missouri’s overtime win over UT Martin in Week 2 have suggested the competitiveness is here to stay all season long.

FCS Football Week 3 Preview

FCS Game of the Week

No. 17 UAlbany (1-1) at No. 4 Idaho (1-1)

Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET Saturday at the Kibbie Dome (ESPN+/SWX)

Notable: UAlbany won 30-22 at Idaho in the 2023 FCS playoff quarterfinals, outscoring the Vandals 23-6 over the final 36 minutes, 55 seconds of their programs’ first-ever meeting. This year’s starting lineups are a bit different, with UA returning just seven regular starters from last season and Idaho changed in the offensive skills positions, including quarterback Jack Wagner already replacing an injured Jack Layne (the season-opening starter) for last week’s FBS win over Wyoming. The matchup to watch is one between experienced units: UA’s offensive line vs. Idaho’s defensive line. The Vandals, behind linebacker Jaxton Eck (23 tackles) and defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby (five sacks), are No. 1-ranked in the FCS in defensive TRACR. UA running back Griffin Woodell rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in the Great Danes’ playoff win over Idaho, and transfer QB Myles Burkett is coming off a strong performance (306 passing yards, TD pass) against West Virginia. UA coach Greg Gattuso was runner-up for the 2023 Eddie Robinson Award, while Idaho’s Jason Eck is 14-6 against FCS opponents.

The Pick: Idaho

Second-and-10 

1. Through their first two games, four FCS quarterbacks have completed over 30 passes at a rate of at least 80% (last season, there was one QB at this point): Eastern Washington’s Kekoa Visperas (46 of 54, 85.2%); Jackson State’s Jacobian Morgan (32 of 39, 82.1%); Mercer’s DJ Smith (37 of 46, 80.4%); and North Dakota State’s Cam Miller (32 of 40, 80.0%). The FCS single-season record (200+ attempts) occurred two years ago with Samford’s Michael Hiers at 76.6% (353 of 461).     

2. Speaking of statistical averages that aren’t commonly seen in the FCS, Western Illinois has surrendered over 700 yards in back-to-back losses to Northern Illinois and Indiana for an average of 703.5 per game, with the two opponents a combined 14 of 17 on third downs for an 82.4% rate. The Leathernecks are rebuilding under first-year coach Joe Davis in their first season in the Big South-OVC. Their FCS-high 26-game losing streak since 2021 figures to continue at No. 18 Illinois State on Saturday, but it could end in their home opener on Sept. 28 against Division II McKendree.

3. The season’s first Southern Conference game is one of the biggest on the schedule: No. 23 Mercer (2-0) visits No. 14 Chattanooga (0-2, two FBS losses). Quarterback Chase Artopoeus seeks to get the host Mocs, picked first in the SoCon preseason poll, on track against Mercer’s formidable defense. Having handled Presbyterian and Bethune-Coolman, the Bears rank No. 1 in the FCS in fewest yards allowed per game (151.5), tackles for loss per game (12.0) and third-down conversion percentage (11.5), and second only to Stetson in points allowed per game (6.0).

4. Sacramento State hosting Nicholls is quite the nonconference matchup as neither nationally ranked team catches a scheduling break following back-to-back FBS losses – solid performances, but 0-2 starts nonetheless. Sac State won 38-24 last year when they opened playoff campaigns in a first-time meeting. This season, the Hornets have committed eight turnovers, already half of last year’s 16 across 13 games. Nicholls’ Collin Guggenheim is coming off a huge game against LSU (25 carries, 145 yards, two touchdowns), posting the most rushing yards by an FCS player against the SEC power since at least 1995.  

5. The Southland schedule extends well beyond Nicholls at Sacramento State this week, and it includes Stephen F. Austin’s return to conference play following a three-year departure to the Western Athletic Conference with a visit to McNeese (SFA previously spent 34 years in the Southland, collecting four conference titles). Other highlights include No. 12 UIW (1-1) at No. 9 Southern Illinois (1-1) as the Cardinals return to the Missouri Valley Football Conference one week after a solid performance at top-ranked South Dakota State; Lamar (1-1) hosting No. 20 Weber State (1-1); and Southeastern Louisiana (1-1) welcoming in Eastern Washington (1-1) for a potential track meet.

6. This season, Austin Peay (0-2) and No. 7 Central Arkansas (1-1) are opening their United Athletic Conference schedule against each other. Last year, they ended it with an automatic playoff bid at stake, and Austin Peay held on for a 14-12 victory (a game with under 500 offensive yards). The Governors lineup is vastly different (including 35 transfers) under first-year coach Jeff Faris, while UCA’s is quite familiar, including All-American ShunDerrick Powell off to a huge start with 421 yards from scrimmage and five TDs – both national highs.

7. The Big Sky-MVFC Challenge has lost attraction with last year’s then-low five matchups now down to four between the top two FCS conferences. This year’s regular season series is tied 1-1, with Montana splitting two games, and the MVFC having a likely edge this week with No. 6 South Dakota at Portland State (a first-time participant) and No. 10 North Dakota hosting Idaho State. The MVFC has won the seasonal series four of the first five times, with the two conferences tying the other time, 3-3 in 2022. 

8. Jackson State has spotlight games against Southern and Grambling State over the next two Saturdays, but neither one counts toward the Tigers’ SWAC record. They’re facing SWAC schools in 10 of the 12 games of coach T.C. Taylor’s second season, but only the final eight are conference games. This week’s “Boombox Classic” could draw the season’s biggest crowd to date, and JSU comes in with a four-game winning streak over Southern, including in the 2022 SWAC championship game.

9. About one-quarter (31) of the season’s 121 FCS-vs.-FBS matchups remain, with 11 this week. Included are three teams receiving votes in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll: Northern Iowa at Nebraska; Eastern Illinois at Northwestern; and North Carolina Central at North Carolina.

10. Mercer (2-0), No. 5 Villanova (2-0) and Dayton (1-0 over FBS conqueror Saint Francis) are the only FCS teams yet to trail in a game, with the exception of the Ivy League programs that kick off their season on Sept. 21.

FCS Football Week 3 Top 25 Schedule

All Times ET Saturday

1. South Dakota State (1-1, 0–0 MVFC): Augustana (7 p.m., ESPN+)

2. North Dakota State (1-1, 0-0 MVFC): at ETSU (5:30 p.m., ABC North Dakota/ESPN+)

3. Montana State (3-0, 0-0 Big Sky): No game

4. Idaho (1-1, 0-0 Big Sky): No. 17 UAlbany (4 p.m., ESPN+/SWX)

5. Villanova (2-0, 0-0 CAA): Towson (3:30 p.m., FloFootball)

6. South Dakota (1-1, 0-0 MVFC): at Portland State (9 p.m., ESPN+)

7. Central Arkansas (1-1, 0-0 UAC): Austin Peay (7 p.m., ESPN+)

8. Montana (1-1, 0-0 Big Sky): Morehead State (3 p.m., MTN/ESPN+)

9. Southern Illinois (1-1, 0-0 MVFC): then-No. 12 UIW (7 p.m., ESPN+)

10. North Dakota (1-1, 0-0 MVFC): Idaho State (2 p.m., Midco/ESPN+)

11. Sacramento State (0-2, 0-0 Big Sky): then-No. 24 Nicholls (9 p.m., ESPN+)

12. UIW (1-1, 0-0 Southland): at then-No. 9 Southern Illinois(7 p.m., ESPN+)

13. William & Mary (1-1, 0-0 CAA): at Wofford (6 p.m., ESPN+)

14. Chattanooga (0-2, 0-0 SoCon): then-No. 23 Mercer (6 p.m., ESPN+)

15. UC Davis (1-1, 0-0 Big Sky): at Southern Utah (8 p.m., ESPN+)

16. Tarleton State (2-1, 0-0 UAC): No game

17. UAlbany (1-1, 0-0 CAA): at then-No. 4 Idaho (4 p.m., ESPN+/SWX)

18. Illinois State (1-1, 0-0 MVFC): Western Illinois (1 p.m., ESPN+)

19. Lafayette (1-1, 0-0 Patriot): Marist (12:30 p.m., Lafayette SN/NBCSP+)

20. Weber State (1-1, 1-0 Big Sky): at Lamar (7 p.m., ESPN+)

21. Youngstown State (1-1, 0-0 MVFC): Duquesne (2 p.m., ESPN+)

22. Elon (1-1, 0-0 CAA): Western Carolina (6 p.m., FloFootball)

23. Mercer (2-0, 0-0 SoCon): at then-No. 13 Chattanooga (6 p.m., ESPN+)

24. Nicholls (0-2, 0-0 Southland): at then-No. 11 Sacramento State (9 p.m., ESPN+)

25. Abilene Christian (1-1, 1-0 UAC): at Northern Colorado (4 p.m., ESPN+)

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