There’s a report going around that the WAC and the ASUN (formerly the Atlantic Sun, before it embarked upon its quest for global domination) are going to merge and jump from the FCS to the FBS. It’s bullshit. It’s fake. It’s real, of course, this is their real plan, they are planning to take their bizarre little collection of schools and all move from the FBS to the FCS together, but it is not going to happen. Because none of the WAC and the ASUN’s little plots happen. Remember when the ASUN decided to merge with whatever the CCSA is and expand to become a twenty-school conference? Remember when the WAC announced its big comeback? Remember when [insert any school in the broader American southeast] was going to stay in the ASUN?
I understand the temptation to have a plan. It’s survivalist. But these guys are ridiculous. They’re constantly getting mined for programs by Conference USA and regional leagues, they’re already on the brink of dissolution, and all of their plans are way too grand in scope to actually ever happen. It’s one thing to say, “We’re going to add another few schools to stabilize,” or, “We’re just going to merge and get it over with.” Instead, they say they’re going to all join the FBS and navigate that transition simultaneously without losing these members? This is the language of con men.
FCS Quarterfinal Preview
The FCS Quarterfinals are tonight and tomorrow, and this is the point in the FCS Playoffs where teams are distinct enough that we can talk about them without repeating ourselves ad nauseum (“____ is the second-fiddle public school in [underpopulated state]; and has gained national respect at the FCS level but has yet to break through and win a title”). So, each team remaining:
Montana State
Montana State is the second-fiddle public school in Montana; and has gained national respect at the FCS level but has yet to break through and win a title. There’s no reason to really believe this is the year—the Big Sky is good not great in the context we’re working with—but December football in Bozeman is the stuff of dreams, and being the more blue-collar school of the Montanas means you’re really fuckin’ blue-collar, which fills our heart with love. That’s the thing about FCS teams. We love all of them.
William & Mary
Ok actually we don’t have very strong feelings about these guys or two of the next seven, unless “curiosity” is a feeling, and curiosity really only applies here, to be honest. We oversold this all. But we do have tons of curiosity about the Williams and the Maries.
George Washington got his surveyor’s license here, and Thomas Jefferson went here, and James Monroe went here, and as longtime readers know, James Monroe was the originator of the #GoodVibesOnly movement. Lots of other folks, too, but nobody whose vibes matched James Monroe’s vibes. Sorry. Talk to me when there’s been an era of GREAT feelings.
The best part, though, about William & Mary is that it is in Williamsburg, home to a large population of colonial reenactors. Not war reenactors, either. Just colonial daily life. Dying during childbirth and all that. Well, maybe not that. That would be colonial daily death.
Samford
Remember Devlin Hodges? He went here. Put up numbers here. Private school in Homewood, Alabama, which is a suburb of Birmingham. (Incredible fact: Homewood, Alabama has more fast food restaurants per capita than any other U.S. town, per…the Census? That’s who Wikipedia’s citing. Might be some stretching of the truth going on, but too fun a purported stat to nitpick.) It appears Samford is one of the fundamentalist Christian schools. Which I guess makes sense, but here I was thinking they were just rich Alabama kids. Like TCU or SMU, but Alabaman.
North Dakota State
Ok, back to schools we love. We are in awe of the Bison, we named our dog after the city of Fargo, these guys are the kings of the FCS and they aren’t going anywhere.
South Dakota State
The Murray to NDSU’s Federer and JMU’s Nadal, the Jackrabbits are the only of the Dakota schools (NDSU, SDSU, UND, USD) to play football outside, which is a baller move in Brookings, South Dakota. More known for basketball, but right there with James Madison (RIP) in recent season as the second-best FCS program year-in and year-out.
Holy Cross
My sister-in-law went here! The pride of Worcester, Massachusetts, Holy Cross is the Crusaders but they go by the Saders in private. Bill Simmons also went here. Haven’t seen a single tweet from him about this game. Does Bill Simmons hate football? (Good liberal arts school, one of the last New England ones of those to still have football, dominated the Patriot League but North Dakota State’s C Team might be able to dominate the Patriot League.)
Sacramento State
Part of the Cal State system (I assume), Sacramento State’s been on the come-up for a few years but really broke through this season. There was a chance they were way better than we assumed (as there is for Holy Cross), because they haven’t been pushed this year (Fordham did push Holy Cross, but, uh, RIVALRY!), but over their last six games, they’ve won by one score five times. Been playing with a lot of fire. Hard to believe in a team like that once they play NDSU or SDSU, which would likely happen next round (though Sac State would get NDSU at home, which is big).
Incarnate Word
Finally, our Texan friends Incarnate Word. San Antonio’s best FCS football team, the Cardinals are, like Sac State, on the come-up. Feels like just yesterday they cracked the 2018 playoff field and got to play in Bozeman. Their coach, G.J. Kinne, just left for Texas State, but he’s doing double-duty through the playoffs, which is acceptable at this level of FCS-dom. I *think* UIW is partly a commuter school, but I really don’t know much about them. David Robinson got a master’s there.
The NCA* *********t Is Copying the NIT
Not the first time.
Oh, wait. This is a really old story. Well, the “Final Four” is going to be in Las Vegas in 2028. And it’s going to be in Indianapolis in 2029. And it’s going to be in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in 2030. Wonder where they got all those ideas (THEY GOT THEM FROM THE NIT WHICH WILL HOLD ITS FINAL FOURS IN LAS VEGAS IN 2023 AND INDIANAPOLIS IN 2024 AND HELD THEM IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH IN 2021).
Baker Mayfield Is a Great Underdog
Baker Mayfield is at his best when he has completely been counted out. I think that’s what we were reminded of last night. I have an impression some people hate the guy, but he’s got some cojones, even if he isn’t the second coming of Steve Young. And when it’s clicking, the man is a blast. Last night was a hilarious blast. I love the concept of Baker Mayfield playing spoiler. Also, good lord, Raiders, and good lord in the other way to Sean McVay. Very “still got it” game for everyone involved, in all the ways. No notes.
The Sens Got Sunk
The Senators rallied after falling behind early 2-0 last night in Dallas, even taking a 3-2 lead in the third, but they ended up losing in overtime with Anton Forsberg not playing his best game. Still got a point, which is good, but the season’s at a point where the fellas need to win on the road more often than not. At least for a little while.
Burnley’s Back
The Burnley’s are back in action on Sunday morning, playing Queens Park Rangers bright and frickin’ early. Anass Zaroury is still at the World Cup (by the way, Croatia had Burnley vibes today, just saying), but it sounds like besides him, the full squad should be available? Like the sound of that. QPR’s near the top of the table, but FiveThirtyEight doesn’t think that much of them. Burnley probably needs at least a point to stay in first, with Sheffield favored to win tomorrow against Huddersfield.
Mason Ramsey Update
Haven’t seen much from our favorite former yodeler. (Are former yodelers a thing? Or once you’re a yodeler are you always a yodeler?) Just a lot of stuff along the lines of, “Big things coming!” We’re keeping tabs on the situation. You’ll know what you need to know. And you’ll know it when you need to know it (probably, I don’t know, I could see us missing something big, you probably shouldn’t trust me).
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Weekend viewing schedule:
Saturday, 11:30 AM EST: Buffalo vs. Tulane (???)
Saturday, 12:00 PM EST: Penn State @ Illinois (BTN)
Saturday, 1:00 PM EST: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma (ESPN2)
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: UNC-Asheville @ Dayton (USA)
Saturday, 5:00 PM EST: Memphis vs. Auburn (ESPN2)
Saturday, 6:00 PM EST: UAB @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
Saturday, 6:00 PM EST: New Hampshire @ St. John’s (FS2)
Saturday, 7:30 PM EST: Clemson vs. Loyola (ACCN)
Saturday, 10:00 PM EST: Louisiana Tech @ Wyoming (MWN?)
If Illinois blows out Penn State, they’re probably off our teams-who-could-win-the-NIT list. If Dayton gets upset, ditto. Memphis is at a little bit of risk if they’re too good, and Wyoming’s at a little bit of risk if they’re too bad, but everyone else is probably safe barring a real shocker. Those are the ones we’re unsure about right now.
Sunday, 4:00 PM EST: Marquette @ Notre Dame (ESPN2)
Game of the NITe of the Weekend. Title contender vs. Shaka Smart. A dream come true.
Saturday, 3:00 PM EST: Xavier @ Cincinnati (ESPN2)
Another dream come true. Defending champion in one of college basketball’s wildest rivalries. Let ‘em fight!
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: Wake Forest vs. LSU (ESPNU)
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: N.C. State @ Miami (ESPN+)
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: Drake @ Richmond (ESPN+)
Saturday, 2:15 PM EST: Purdue @ Nebraska (BTN)
Saturday, 4:30 PM EST: Washington State vs. UNLV (FS1)
Saturday, 5:30 PM EST: North Texas vs. Grand Canyon (ESPN+)
Saturday, 7:00 PM EST: Nevada @ Oregon (P12N)
Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Boise State @ Saint Louis (ESPN+)
Saturday, 10:00 PM EST: TCU vs. SMU (ESPN2)
Saturday, 10:00 PM EST: BYU vs. Creighton (FS1)
Saturday/Sunday, 12:30 AM EST: Loyola Marymount vs. Utah State (FS1)
Sunday, 11:30 AM EST: Iona vs. St. Bonaventure (YES)
Sunday, 2:00 PM EST: Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech (ESPN2)
Sunday, 6:30 PM EST: Wisconsin @ Iowa (BTN)
Sunday, 6:30 PM EST: Seton Hall @ Rutgers (FS1)
Plenty of teams we’ve got eyes on in this batch.
Saturday, 1:00 PM EST: Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Texas (LHN)
I don’t want Texas to lose. That would be mean to the kids. I want UAPB to win.
Friday, 7:00 PM EST: Samford @ North Dakota State (ESPN2)
Friday, 10:15 PM EST: William & Mary @ Montana State (ESPN2)
Friday, 10:30 PM EST: Incarnate Word @ Sacramento State (ESPN+)
Saturday, 12:00 PM EST: Holy Cross @ South Dakota State (ESPN)
Saturday, 3:00 PM EST: Army vs. Navy (CBS)
Is this the best football weekend of the year?
Saturday, 10:00 AM EST: Morocco vs. Portugal (FOX)
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: England vs. France (FOX)
Morocco is the Burnley of the World Cup, Burnley is located in England, etc.
Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Mavericks @ Bulls
Sunday, 6:30 PM EST: Bulls @ Hawks
The Bulls stink but I will pay some sliver of attention.
Sunday, 8:00 AM EST: Burnley @ Queens Park Rangers (ESPN+)
GET ‘EM, BURNLEY.
Saturday, 1:30 PM EST: Senators @ Predators (ESPN+)
Sens need wins. Predators need defeating. This is all adding up.
