FCS Football Talk Network

What are the biggest offseason questions for the Montana, Montana State, UND, USD, and SDSU football teams? We discuss one big-picture question for each program, and one on-field question for the 2026 season.

On this episode, Sam goes solo and talks about changes to the FCS playoff at-large selection criteria, this season’s championship game date possibly being moved, an executive order protecting the Army-Navy game potentially impacting the FCS quarterfinals and Celebration Bowl, changes to the targeting rule, and a potentially new subdivision at the top of Division 1.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

On this episode, Sam is joined by KC Smurthwaite, HERO Sports writer and a college athletics consultant 
The two discuss topics like future outlooks for conferences like the UAC and Summit League, future realignment dominoes, the college football landscape, and private equity in the FCS playoffs.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

On this episode, Sam is joined by Timothy Rosario, co-host of The Bluebloods on FCS Football Central.
The two discuss:
-Most surprising offseason headline
-Big-picture questions ahead of the 2026 season
-Is it Montana State vs. the field?
-Who are some dark horses?
-Can Illinois State keep its momentum going?
-Who can take a step forward with impressive transfers?
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

On this episode, Sam is joined by Craig Haley, the FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform/The Analyst. 
The two discuss:
-FCS championship future
-Private equity in the playoffs
-Penn hiring Rick Santos, and Yale hiring Kevin Cahill
-Future realignment
-Where has the FCS improved over Craig’s time covering the subdivision, and where has it weakened?
-Parity in the FCS
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

On this episode, Sam is joined by Tennessee Tech general manager and director of player personnel Justin McMullen.
The two discuss:
-The role of a college football GM
-Recruiting the transfer portal 
-Player retention
-Revenue-sharing 
-Communication with agents 
-Tampering 
-Transfer portal windows 
-TN Tech program momentum
-And more

On this episode, Sam is joined by Zach McKinnell of FCS Football Central and The Bluebloods.
The two discuss:
-NDSU going to the FBS, why it makes sense for the Bison, and what it means for the FCS
-Bobby Hauck retiring as head coach at Montana, and then quickly coming out of retirement to take the Illinois DC gig
-Travis Johansen stepping down as South Dakota’s head coach to take the Rutgers DC job
-Sac State’s FBS push
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

On this episode, Sam is joined by Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill.
The two discuss:
-Bobby Hauck’s retirement
-Montana State winning the natty
-Nashville experience
-Update on Sequence Equity’s pitch for the FCS playoffs 
-Southern Utah and Utah Tech joining the Big Sky
-Jersey patches
-Scholarship caps in the House era
-Collective bargaining in college football
-Western Realignment
-And more

On this episode, Sam is joined by FCS Nation Radio’s Stone Labanowitz.
The former Southern Illinois quarterback turned FCS media member talks all things quarterbacks. Sam and Stone chat about the top returners in 2026, discuss why many of the top signal-callers returned, and talk about some risks of the transfer portal.
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

On this episode, Sam is joined by FCS Fans Nation’s Jamie Williams. The two discuss the biggest surprises and disappointments of the 2025 FCS season. Which teams surpassed preseason expectations? And which teams did not live up to the hype?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.