We’re previewing key games and storylines each week throughout the college football season. Our FCS coverage is the home of the Top 25 media poll, FCS National Awards and much more.
There are plenty of A-list matchups in FCS college football this week, but after last week’s schedule was brought to you by the letter C – chaos! – let’s hear it for the Bs.
Bubble. Burst. Bids. Bonkers.
Yup, on Saturday, the FCS playoffs could gain their first qualifiers, some conference titles may be clinched, and teams will drop out of the postseason picture.
It’s what November is all about.
As we span FCS nation prior to Week 11, “b”-eware of more upsets.
FCS Football Week 11 Preview & Predictions
FCS Game of the Week
No. 12 Mercer (7-1, 6-0 SoCon) at No. 24 Western Carolina (6-3, 5-0)
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+) at E.J. Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina
Series: Mercer leads 9-2 (last meeting: Mercer won 44-34 at home on Oct. 26, 2024)
Notable: Mercer has claimed nine straight matchups since Western Carolina won the first two in 2014 and 2015. With a victory, the visiting Bears would clinch at least a share of the Southern Conference title as well as an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The quarterback matchup is one of the biggest of the season. WCU redshirt sophomore Taron Dickens and Mercer freshman Braden Atkinson rank No. 2 and 3 in the FCS with 26 and 25 touchdown passes, respectively. Atkinson also is the FCS leader in passing yards per game (353.4), but Dickens would at 366.8 if he was qualified for that statistical category (he’s played in two-thirds of the Catamounts’ games, which is below the NCAA’s 75% minimum). Atkinson spreads around the passes for Mercer, while WCU’s James Tyre has caught eight of his 10 TDs since Dickens’ return to the lineup. Bears running back CJ Miller has heated up with 325 scrimmage yards and five TDs in the last two games, which is noteworthy because WCU allows over 100 rushing yards per game more than the Bears (180.9 to 78.6). Mercer’s Andrew Zock (15 TFLs, 10 sacks) is the defensive player to watch. WCU defensive backs Ken Moore Jr. and Hasaan Sykes have three interceptions each.
The Pick: Mercer
Second-and-10
1. After falling to South Dakota, there’s no tougher FCS opponent for No. 13 North Dakota (6-3, 4-1 MVFC) to try to rebound against than No. 1 North Dakota State (9-0, 6-0). But the top two teams in the standings are playing their oldest rivalry (it turns 118) inside the Alerus Center, where UND is on a 34-5 run. It includes handing the Bison the second-biggest loss of their FCS era two years ago (49-24, which is only topped by a 37-6 defeat at Cal Poly in 2005). Coach Tim Polasek’s defending FCS champion Bison will claim a 16th straight playoff appearance with a win, but it would be their first auto-bid since 2021.
2. With No. 8 South Dakota State (7-2, 3-2) smarting from its first cconsecutive losses in the same season since 2019, there’s anticipation of No. 1 QB Chase Mason returning to health (foot) and getting back into the lineup after missing over 2½ games. Mason would be difference-maker if he can play at No. 22 South Dakota (6-4, 4-2), which seeks another huge playoff resume-builder after upsetting North Dakota (the Coyotes then travel to Southern Illinois before having a Week 13 bye). The Coyotes have dropped the South Dakota Showdown in three straight years since walking off with a Hail Mary TD pass in 2021.
3. The QB who threw South Dakota’s 2021 Hail Mary against SDSU? Well, he’s playing in a big game on Saturday – for Southeastern Louisiana, that is, as the No. 19 Lions (7-2, 5-0) travel to No. 20 Lamar (7-2, 4-1) in the Southland. SLU’s scoring margin in its conference games – plus-170 – is topped only by Montana State (+177) in the Big Sky, and the Lions have done it with Camp and Kyle Lowe splitting time behind center. After three seasons at USD and two at Sacramento State, Camp has career highs in completion percentage (66.7) and pass efficiency rating (167.1) with the Lions, who share first place with No. 17 Stephen F. Austin (7-2, 5-0).
4. Being two games back in the standings makes it difficult for St. Thomas to claim a share of the Pioneer Football League title, but the Tommies (6-3, 4-2) could impact the title race in a big way, traveling to two-time defending champ Drake (6-2, 5-0) on Saturday, then hosting No. 25 Presbyterian (8-1, 4-1) next week. Add in St. Thomas’ visit to No. 1 North Dakota State on Nov. 22, and its upcoming opponents’ combined winning percentage (.885, 23-3) is the highest in the FCS.
5. Seventh-ranked Monmouth (8-1, 5-0) may not want its key CAA game against New Hampshire (5-4, 3-2) to come down to field goals. UNH (team-wise) and Nick Reed (player-wise) have three more field goals than anybody else in the FCS. Meanwhile, Monmouth has one make from one attempt – the FCS low in both stats – as Hudson Fiene connected from 28 yards out against Villanova. Of course, Fiene has been busy after Hawks touchdowns, going 49 of 51 on extra points.
6. Tennessee Tech can clinch at least a share of the OVC-Big South title with a win at Eastern Illinois. A win by the No. 5 Golden Eagles (9-0, 6-0) coupled with a UT Martin loss to Tennessee State also would clinch an automatic playoff bid. That’s only happened in 2011, and this year’s team is tied for the best start in program history. TTU is departing the OVC next year to join the Southern Conference.
FCS Longest Active Winning StreaksOverall14 – Tennessee Tech13 – North Dakota State9 – Lehigh, MontanaHome 20 – Villanova17 – North Dakota State13 – Rhode IslandRoad6 – Harvard 5 – North Dakota State, Tennessee Tech pic.twitter.com/rMXySzbI4J
— Opta FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) November 2, 20257. Second-ranked Montana (9-0, 5-0 Big Sky) – although third in the playoff selection committee Top 10 rankings this week – can reach 10-0 for the first time since its 2009 national runner-up season when it hosts Eastern Washington (4-5, 3-2), a rival it’s scored at least 52 points against in three consecutive wins in the series (UM leads 31-18-1 heading into the 51st meeting). The Griz rank 32nd in the FCS in scoring defense, allowing 23.3 points per game, while the other four FCS unbeatens (Harvard, NDSU. Lehigh and Tennessee Tech) hold down the top four spots.
8. In addition to South Dakota State, North Dakota and Lamar seeking to bounce back following a season-high eight-loss week among Top 25 teams, fourth others share the same goal this week: No. 11 UC Davis (6-2, 4-1 Big Sky) at Idaho (4-5, 2-3), No. 21 Youngstown State (5-4, 2-3 MVFC) versus No. 15 Southern Illinois (6-3, 3-2) and now-unranked Northern Arizona (5-4, 2-3 Big Sky) versus Northern Colorado (3-6, 1-4) and Austin Peay (5-4, 3-3 UAC) versus Central Arkansas (3-6, 2-3). Tarleton State (9-1, 5-1 UAC) has a bye after tumbling from No. 2 to 6.
#FCS Through nine games, Youngstown State QB Beau Brungard has produced the 17th FCS season with both 2,000+ passing yards (2,082) and 1,000+ rushing yards (1,041). He's the 16th different player as Chattanooga's Jacob Huesman accomplished it in 2014 and 2015.
— Opta FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) November 4, 20259. With Delaware State the biggest surprise and most improved team in the FCS – five more wins than last season already – defending MEAC champion South Carolina State is flying a little under the radar. But the Bulldogs (6-3, 2-0) are on a four-game winning streak after a 2-3 start. Quarterback William Atkins IV has capably replaced Ryan Stubblefield in the last month, accounting for 791 passing yards and six touchdowns in the last two games. Jarod Washington leads the FCS in passes defended (15) and the Bulldogs rank second nationally in limiting opponents to just 28.0% of their third down attempts.
10. Similar to SCSU’s Washington, other FCS defensive leaders include Fordham’s James Conway (131 tackles), Furman’s Joshua Stoneking (19.0 TFLs and 12.5 sacks), Tarleton State’s Kasyus Kurns (five interceptions), Abilene Christian’s Rashon Myles Jr. (four fumble recoveries) and Charleston Southern’s Justin Waters (eight forced fumbles).
FCS Football Top 25 Schedule – Week 11
All times ET and on Saturday unless noted; Predicted winner in boldface
Last week’s record: 15-6 (.714); Season record: 165-39 (.809)
No. 1 North Dakota State (9-0, 6-0 MVFC): at No. 13 North Dakota (6-3, 4-1), 2 p.m. (ABC North Dakota/ESPN+)
No. 2 Montana (9-0, 5-0 Big Sky): Eastern Washington (4-5, 3-2), 3 p.m. (Scripps/SWX/ESPN+)
No. 3 Montana State (7-2, 5-0 Big Sky): Weber State (3-6, 1-4), 3 p.m. (Scripps/ESPN+)
No. 4 Lehigh (9-0, 4-0 Patriot): Holy Cross (1-8, 1-3), noon, ESPN+)
No. 5 Tennessee Tech (9-0, 6-0 OVC-Big South): at Eastern Illinois (3-6, 2-4), 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 6 Tarleton State (9-1, 5-1 UAC): No game
No. 7 Monmouth (8-1, 5-0 CAA): New Hampshire (5-4, 3-2), noon (FloCollege)
No. 8 South Dakota State (7-2, 3-2 MVFC): at No. 22 South Dakota (6-4, 4-2), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 9 Harvard (7-0, 4-0 Ivy): at Columbia (1-6, 0-4), 7 p.m. Friday (ESPN2)
No. 10 Villanova (6-2, 5-1 CAA): at Towson (4-5, 2-3), 1 p.m. (Monumental/FloCollege)
No. 11 UC Davis (6-2, 4-1 Big Sky): at Idaho (4-5, 2-3), 7 p.m. (SWX/ESPN+)
No. 12 Mercer (7-1, 6-0 SoCon): at No. 24 Western Carolina (6-3, 5-0), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 13 North Dakota (6-3, 4-1 MVFC): No. 1 North Dakota State (9-0, 6-0), 2 p.m. (ABC North Dakota/ESPN+)
No. 14 Rhode Island (7-2, 5-0 CAA): at Elon (4-5, 2-3), 2 p.m. (My48/FloCollege)
No. 15 Southern Illinois (6-3, 3-2 MVFC): at No. 21 Youngstown State (5-4, 2-3), 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 16 Illinois State (6-3, 3-2 MVFC): at Indiana State (3-6, 1-4), 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 17 Stephen F. Austin (7-2, 5-0 Southland): at HCU (2-7, 1-4), 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 18 Abilene Christian (5-4, 4-1 UAC): Utah Tech (2-7, 1-4), 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana (7-2, 5-0 Southland): at No. 20 Lamar (7-2, 4-1), 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 20 Lamar (7-2, 4-1 Southland): No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana (7-2, 5-0), 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 21 Youngstown State (5-4, 2-3 MVFC): No. 15 Southern Illinois (6-3, 3-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 22 South Dakota (6-4, 4-2 MVFC): No. 8 South Dakota State (7-2, 3-2), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 23 Jackson State (6-2, 4-1 SWAC): at Mississippi Valley State (1-7, 0-4), 3 p.m. (SWAC TV)
No. 24 Western Carolina (6-3, 5-0 SoCon): No. 12 Mercer (7-1, 6-0), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 25 Presbyterian (8-1, 4-1 Pioneer): at Davidson (8-1, 4-1), 5 p.m. (ESPN+)
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FCS Football Week 11 Preview & Predictions: Are More Upsets Ahead as the Postseason Takes Shape? Opta Analyst.
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