FCS Football Talk

FCS Football Talk

FCS Football Talk is a weekly FCS podcast, presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Senior FCS Analyst Sam Herder hosts the show throughout the year. During the season, FCS Football Central Senior Editor Zach McKinnell joins as a co-host. In the offseason, Sam brings on guests from all around the FCS for in-depth conversations.

Episodes

October 21, 2025 44 mins
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 8
-No. 1/1 NDSU at No. 2/2 SDSU preview. How crucial is Chase Mason’s status in this game? What are the key matchups? And what are the implications?
-No. 18/20 Illinois State at No. 21/NR South Dakota preview. A huge matchup for playoff hopes.
-No. 4/4 Montana at Sac State preview. A major game, plus some antics adding more drama.
-No. 3/3 Tarleton State at Easter...
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam discusses the FCS playoff committee's Top 10 ranking. He breaks down the order of teams, their resumes, and some teams just on the outside.
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 7
-Projecting what they think the playoff committee’s Top 6 will be when it reveals its Top 10 ranking on Wednesday?
-Are the top two obvious? Who has the best argument for the No. 3 spot? We think we know who the five teams are to be sorted within the Top 5, but how many teams are in position for the No. 6 spot?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM...
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 6
-What do we make of multiple Top 7 teams escaping upsets?
-As we hit the midway point of the season, some hypothetical playoff seed scenarios get thrown into the discussion
-Week 7 preview
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 5
-Discussing how we ranked the Top 5 nationally
-Week 6 preview: No. 1 NDSU at No. 6 Illinois State, No. 2 SDSU at No. 24 Youngstown State, No. 5 Montana State at No. 13 Northern Arizona, No. 16 West Georgia at No. 22 Austin Peay
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Mark as Played
September 23, 2025 55 mins
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-A new model pitch for the FCS playoffs is being presented to commissioners. What is it? What are the positives? What are the negatives? Will it happen?
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 4
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 3
-Montana beats UND in comeback fashion
-Tarleton State and SIU dominate on the road
-NDSU QB Cole Payton off to a hot start
-Rhody improves to 3-0 
-UIW makes a QB switch
-Week 4 top games
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 2
-SDSU's big win at Montana State 
-Abilene Christian gets a ranked win over SFA
-The Pioneer gets two more big non-conference wins 
-Lamar knocks off South Dakota 
-Bryant and LIU earn FBS wins
-Week 3 top games
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 1
-Tarleton State and Austin Peay earn FBS wins
-SDSU and Lehigh grab ranked victories
-Two ranked SoCon teams get upset
-Multiple FCS teams nearly beat FBS opponents
-NDSU, Montana State, SDSU debut new QBs
-Week 2 top games
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam is joined by Southland Conference Commissioner Chris Grant. The two discuss:
-Nicholls’ upset over No. 5 UIW on ESPN2
-Southland’s rise
-UTRGV’s potential
-New media deal
-Moving to a 9-game conference schedule
-FCS championship moving to Nashville
-Conference realignment
-New D1 governance
-And more
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 0
-Reacting to Nicholls knocking off No. 5 UIW
-Thoughts on Mercer-UC Davis resulting in a no-contest due to lighting
-Most intriguing Week 1 games. Will we see any FCS over FBS wins? Can Lehigh make a statement? How juicy is Sac State at SDSU?
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds
Mark as Played
FCS representatives held a press conference on Thursday ahead of the 2025 season, giving the media an opportunity to ask questions about the FCS playoffs and championship game.
In attendance were Chattanooga AD and FCS Championship Committee Chair Mark Wharton, Nashville Sports Council President Scott Ramsey, OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche, and NCAA Director of Championships Ty Halpin.
Here is audio from the presser.
Mark as Played
August 20, 2025 34 mins
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss some storylines for Week 0.
Games include:
No. 5 UIW at Nicholls (ESPN2)
Idaho State at UNLV (Mountain West Network)
No. 10 Tarleton State at Portland State (ESPN2)
No. 8 UC Davis vs. No. 11 Mercer (ESPN)
NC Central vs. Southern (ABC)
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit Hero Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Mark as Played
August 13, 2025 60 mins
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss some questions heading into the season.
-In alphabetical order, these were the first 4 teams left out of the 2024 FCS playoff bracket - Chattanooga, Southeastern Louisiana University, Southern Utah, Stony Brook. Which of these teams is most likely to make the 2025 playoff bracket?
-In alphabetical order, these were the last 4 teams selected into the 2024 FCS playoff bracket - Eastern Kentucky, No...
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss their Top 25 ballots for the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Media Poll.
Sam’s ballot can be found here. Zach’s can be found here.
They discuss:
-Why did they rank some teams where they are
-Top teams with new starting quarterbacks
-Teams returning strong experience
-Teams that didn’t make the 2024 playoffs that will in 2025
-And more
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports fo...
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam is joined by Sac State football play-by-play broadcaster Jason Ross
They discuss:
-Sac State’s FBS push and where things stand right now
-2026 plans and schedule
-Fan thoughts on FBS push
-2025 squad and competing for an FCS title
-Recruiting
-New stadium
-NIL pledges
-And more
Mark as Played
July 21, 2025 148 mins
HERO Sports was on site for MVFC Media Day on July 21 in Sioux Falls, SD. Here is some audio from head coach and player interviews with the media. Stay tuned for more stories and coverage on herosports.com
0:00:00 -- SDSU HC Dan Jackson, DT Kobe Clayborne
0:18:01 -- YSU HC Doug Phillips, DB DJ Harris
0:28:21 -- NDSU HC Tim Polasek, LB Logan Kopp
0:44:10 -- SIU HC Nick Hill, QB DJ Williams
1:00:48 -- Murray State HC Jody Wright, RB Jawau...
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam is joined by North Dakota head coach Eric Schmidt.
They discuss:
-Being a first-time head coach in the new era of college football
-UND's facilities and growth
-Early recruiting success
-Opting in and revenue-sharing
-The Dakotas' strength in the FCS and aiming for that standard
-Alerus Center
-2025 squad
-And more
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam is joined by Zach McKinnell of FCS Football Central and The Bluebloods.
They discuss:
-Transfer portal
-UIW additions
-USD and SDSU outlooks
-Sac State’s FBS push
-W&M joining the Patriot League
-Early preseason Top 5
-And more
Mark as Played
On this episode, Sam is joined by Harvard head coach Andrew Aurich. 
They discuss:
-Leading the Harvard football program
-The Ivy League now sending its champ to the FCS playoffs
-Recruiting to the Ivy League
-Being protected from the transfer portal
-The Game
-Harvard's one captain tradition
-2025 outlook
-And more
Mark as Played

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