Flipping the calendar to October has helped some FCS football teams flip the switch with their season. Here are three coming off multiple playoff appearances that have reason to believe they’re back on track following subpar starts.
Idaho’s upset of top-ranked Montana State in the first FCS game of October suggested to struggling teams how a lot can still be accomplished this season.
Fall had arrived early for some teams with big aspirations – on the scoreboard, that is. But on the first weekend in October, with the air turning a bit crisper, so, too, did their play.
Idaho is trying to dig out of an 0-4 hole, with its 35-34 surprise of the defending national champion a good start. Three of the Vandals’ final six regular-season games are against teams that are nationally ranked, so they can play spoiler at the least.
The following three teams, though, don’t face as daunting a turnaround, and they already appear back on track in early October.
Central Connecticut State Blue Devils
The two-time defending NEC champion opened the campaign with an 0-3 record, but so would most FCS teams with a stretch of South Dakota, Toledo and Montana State. The Blue Devils pushed the Bobcats before falling 35-30, hinting at what Idaho wound up accomplishing two weeks later.
With the arrival of the NEC schedule against Wagner on Saturday, Gabriel Wiggins scored on the opening kickoff, and CCSU instantly shifted back into the conference favorite’s role. Quarterback Brett Giffis accounted for four touchdowns in a 45-14 win.
Upcoming Opponents: American International, at Mercyhurst, New Haven, Robert Morris, at Stonehill, at LIU, Duquesne
Drake Bulldogs
Like CCSU, the three-time reigning Pioneer Football League champion Bulldogs were 0-3 against tough competition, but they weren’t counting on the first loss happening against a good Division II team (38-35 to Colorado School of the Mines).
Playing under a different head coach for the third consecutive season (Matt Walker), Drake has jelled in league play, rolling 51-32 at Davidson, then handing Dayton both its first deficit and loss, 30-22 on Saturday. Transfer QB Riley Warzynski has sizzled all season while leading the FCS in passing yards per game (349.2). What’s been different in the last two games is the Bulldogs have rediscovered their running game, which had to replace 1,000-yard rusher Nick Herman.
Upcoming Opponents: at Valparaiso, Marist, Butler, at Morehead State, San Diego, at St. Thomas
Abilene Christian Wildcats
ACU has played one of the toughest FCS schedules to date, with a 1-4 start including losses to nationally ranked Lamar, Stephen F. Austin and Mercer plus Texas Tech, but a win at Idaho, where Montana State just lost.
The win total is doubled now because Saturday night, the Wildcats topped No. 17 West Florida 35-7 in their United Athletic Conference opener. They won a 2024 outright title and shared it last season.
Tucker Park completed 16-of-17 passes, including touchdowns to three different receivers to fuel the victory. The Wildcats have committed just one turnover in their two wins but 10 in their four losses.
Upcoming Opponents: Central Arkansas, at North Alabama, West Georgia, at Tarleton State, at Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky
Top photo, from left, from Abilene Christian Athletics, Steve McLaughlin Photography and Drake Athletics. For more FCS football coverage, follow at X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
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