If the first week of MVFC play is any indication on how the 2021 season is going to go, we are in for a wild season to go on.
Author: Kent Schmidt
Originally from LaMoure, North Dakota, Kent is a 1996 graduate of North Dakota State University. His prior writing experience is over 15 years having previously worked with D2football.com, I-AA.org, and College Sporting News before coming to College Sports Journal in 2016. His main focus is college football is the Missouri Valley Football Conference within the Division I FCS. And in 2017, he began also to look at the FBS Group of Five conferences of the American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt.
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College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Sept. 26
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 26th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. South Dakota State remains atop the ranking after Week 4 after the […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Sept. 26
Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 26th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot after […]
Highlights: CSJ FBS Group of Five Top Five Games and Recap of Week 4
The biggest news this week had to be the Power Five upset by Bowling Green over Minnesota. The Falcons came into the week at 1-2 with the lone win over FCS Murray State coming into this contest against the Big Ten’s Gophers. BGSU lost its two other contests to the SEC’s Tennessee and to the […]
Missouri Valley Football Conference 2021 Week 4 Preview
The conference games start this week for the MVFC. The league through three full weeks of action sit with a 17-2 record versus other FCS conference teams, which is the best record amongst all conferences in non-conference action.
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Sept. 18
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 18th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. South Dakota State remains atop the ranking after Week 3 with the […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Sept. 18
Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 18th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot following […]
Missouri Valley Football Conference 2021 Week 3 Preview
After two weeks, the Missouri Valley Football Conference has again showed why it is the top league in Division I FCS.
Highlights: CSJ FBS Group of Five Top Five Games and Recap of Week 2
The biggest news this week was last Friday in the Group of Five will definitely be losing four of its strongest programs to the Big 12 Conference. The American Athletic Conference’s Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF, along with independent BYU, will be the four new members of the Power Five Conference. The Big 12 unanimously voted […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Sept. 11
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 11th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. South Dakota State remains atop the ranking after Week 2 following the […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Sept. 11
Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 11th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot following […]
Highlights: CSJ FBS Group of Five Top Five Games and Recap of Week 1
Wow, it it good to have a full week of football back this year. Last year, we had the Mountain West and Mid-America Conferences postpone their starts to the season and also had a couple teams not play at all last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And had another play in the spring. Yes, […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Sept. 6
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 6th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. South Dakota State remains atop the ranking after Week 1 following its […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Sept. 6
Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Sept. 6th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot following […]
GAME PREVIEW: Louisiana at Texas
The Ragin’ Cajuns are not new to facing a a Big 12 school to start their season.
2021 Division I Conference Preview: Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference was once thought to be the last of the 10 FBS conferences in rankings but that is changing over the past couple of seasons.
Missouri Valley Football Conference 2021 Week 1 Preview
This week, all the other ten MVFC squads are in action with Indiana State having a bye in this Week 1.
GAME PREVIEW: Boise State at UCF
Two first year head coaches clash in this Group of Five heavyweight battle.
2021 Division I Conference Football Preview: American Athletic Conference
Through an uncertain season of 2020, Cincinnati finally got to the top not only of the American Athletic Conference but was also the top Group of Five school and played in the Peach Bowl versus SEC power Georgia.
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Aug. 28
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending August 28th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. South Dakota State remains atop the ranking after Week 0 with North […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Aug. 28
Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Aug. 28th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot following […]
2021 Division I Group of Five Independents Preview
The G5 Independents last year made the most of the COVID-19 season with breakout performances namely from BYU and Liberty.
2021 Division I Conference Preview: Mountain West Conference
The 2021 season should provide plenty of intrigue in the Mountain West Conference.
GAME PREVIEW: UTEP at New Mexico State
TV/STREAMING: BALLY SPORTS AZ/KVIA-ABC 7 (EL PASO)/FLOSPORTS The last game of Week 0 is one with the longest rivalries in the southwest. UTEP travels to New Mexico State in the Battle of I-10. These two schools first started playing each other in 1914 and have had a few seasons missed over the years including the […]
GAME PREVIEW: Connecticut at Fresno State
This game will mark the return of fans to Bulldog Stadium as the state of California would not allow any attendence in games last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25– Preseason 2021
Below are the Top 25 FCS preseason rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the 2021 season. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Last spring’s runner-up South Dakota State is the preseason #1 team with MVFC […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25–Preseason 2021
Below are the Top 25 Group of Five (G5) preseason rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the 2021 season. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati is rated at the top spot in the preseason […]
2021 CSJ Missouri Valley Football Conference Fall Football Preview
Besides NDSU, North Dakota and Northern Iowa look like the toughest completion to unseat the Jackrabbits from the MVFC crown. Missouri State and Southern Illinois appear other teams that look like playoff hopefuls again this fall.
2021 FCS Season Preview: North Dakota State
The NDSU 2021 spring season was the worst team from the Fargo school in the last decade. The Bison still went to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs but fell at eventual national champion Sam Houston in that round after NDSU defeated Eastern Washington in the first round.
2021 FCS Season Preview: South Dakota State
South Dakota State finally got over the hump this past spring. The Jacks beat North Dakota State in the final regular season game to earn the top seed in the FCS playoffs where they would host all playoff games in Brookings. SDSU used that home field advantage to dispatch Holy Cross, Southern Illinois, and Delaware to reach their first ever national championship game in Frisco, Texas.
2021 FCS Season Preview: North Dakota
The newest MVFC member is North Dakota had a very successful first season in the MVFC this past spring in being a tri-champion. The Fighting Hawks won their first ever DI playoff game over MVFC mate Missouri State before falling to FCS power James Madison in the quarterfinals.
2021 FCS Season Preview: Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa was just not on its game this past spring in finishing with a losing record for the first time since the 2016 season. That next season of 2017, the Panthers bounced back to make the playoffs. UNI hopes to duplicate that in the 2021 season.
2021 FCS Season Preview: Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois got over the hump this past spring with its first playoff bid since 2009. SIU used the most of their appearance in getting an upset win at Weber State in the first round and the Salukis advanced to the quarterfinals but lost at 31-26 heartbreaker to MVFC mate South Dakota State.
2021 FCS Season Preview: Missouri State
MSU finished tied for the conference crown and also received the team’s first playoff bid since 1990. While the Bears would fall in the first round to MVFC foe North Dakota, the team exceeded expectations by a long shot in Perinto’s first campaign in Springfield.
2021 FCS Season Preview: Illinois State
Illinois State lost its first three contests before defeating Western Illinois in what would be their last game of the spring. Illinois State after that win then shut down their season due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 FCS Season Preview: South Dakota
USD started Carson Camp as the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener in recorded history at USD. He was the Valley’s second-leading passer and ranked 16th nationally at 241 yards per game.
2021 FCS Season Preview: Youngstown State
Coach Doug Phillips took over the Penguins this past spring season after most recently being on the staff of FBS Cincinnati. He was previously on the YSU staff as a graduate assistant in 1991 and 1992.
2021 FCS Season Preview: Western Illinois
Western Illinois had no problems really on offense this past spring with QB Conner Sampson leading the team with two go-to receivers in Dennis Houston and Tony Tate being his prime targets.
2021 FCS Season Preview: Indiana State
Indiana State was the lone MVFC squad to decide to not play any game in the spring 2021 schedule. The Sycamores will be the first MVFC team to play this fall with a game at home in Week 0 versus the Ohio Valley’s Eastern Illinois.
2021 College Sports Journal Group of Five Super Seventy Preseason All-American Team
Seventy student-athletes in the NCAA Division I Football’s Group of Five FBS Conferences have been named to the 2021 College Sports Journal G5 All-America Team. As a reminder, the Group of Five FBS conferences include the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference USA (C-USA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), Mountain West Conference (MWC), and the Sun Belt Conference […]
College Sports Journal 2021 Group of Five Preseason Rankings
Rather than do a Top 25 this year, I thought I would rank all 65 schools that make up the Group of Five FBS leagues as we head into what we all hope is a more normal 2021college football season without the COVID-19 cancelations or postponements like the 2020 season had. As a reminder, the […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25–FINAL Spring 2021
Below are the final Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the Division I FCS Spring 2021 schedule. These rankings are amongst all the FCS teams that participated with at least three games in the spring schedule and includes teams that may have opted out of the season. NOTE: the Ivy League and […]
South Dakota State’s Road to Their First-Ever FCS National Championship Game
South Dakota State finally has gotten over the hump. The Jackrabbits will play in their first ever football national title game this Sunday, May 18th. SDSU’s third semi-final round appearance finally got the Jacks a win to get to the national title game.
2021 Spring FCS Semifinals: Delaware at South Dakota State
Delaware and South Dakota State meet for the the second time ever in this 2021 Spring FCS Semifinal round with the winner moving on to Frisco, Texas and the division’s national title game.
Spring 2021 FCS Round 1 Playoff Preview: Missouri State at North Dakota
This might the rarest of first round Division I FCS playoff games in the history of the event. While two teams from the same conference have played before (rule implemented if two conference mates had not played during the regular season), this game features two schools within the same conference that have never played each other as conference mates before.
College Sports Journal Missouri Valley Football Conference Football Preview Week of 4/17/2021
Well, we have made it sort of to the final regular season weekend in the Missouri Valley Football Conference spring schedule.
College Sports Journal Sagarin 2021 Spring Division I FCS Playoff Predictions–Apr. 12
Using the Sagarin ratings from this week to project the 2021 Spring Division I FCS playoffs, along with the automatic bid for the conferences that receive a bid, the following would be the playoff teams. These teams are seeded 1 through 16 for the 16 teams that make the FCS playoffs for this spring season. The actual […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25–Apr. 11
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending April 3rd. These rankings are amongst the now 88 schools participating in the spring schedule. Joining Illinois State, who opted out the prior week, to opt out of the season after starting their season are Albany, Chattanooga, and Cal Poly […]
College Sports Journal Missouri Valley Football Conference Football Preview Week of 4/10/2021
After a week of postponements and further schools opting out of this 2021 spring season, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is down to just two weeks left and there is a four-way tie for the top spot currently. Missouri State, North Dakota, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State all sit atop with identical 4-1 records in conference play right now.
College Sports Journal Sagarin 2021 Spring Division I FCS Playoff Predictions–Apr. 5
Using the Sagarin ratings from this week to project the 2021 Spring Division I FCS playoffs, along with the automatic bid for the conferences that receive a bid, the following would be the playoff teams. These teams are seeded 1 through 16 for the 16 teams that make the FCS playoffs for this spring season. […]
