NDSU vs. The Field? + Tarleton-ACU Implications + Playoff Seed Scenarios

On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 9
-NDSU rolls SDSU, James Conway breaks an FCS career record, Michael Wortham is a star, and UTRGV continues to impress
-Is it NDSU vs. the field? And where does SDSU go from here?
-Big implications this week for No. 2/2 Tarleton State at No. 24/25 Abilene Christian
-A look at Top 8 playoff seed scenarios
The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:16):
All right, welcome in FCS tackle football fans to another
episode called the FCS Football Talk Podcast. We are presented
by Hero Sports and bet MGM. I'm your host, Sam
Herder with hero Sports and I'm joined by my co host,
Zach mckinnal of FCS Football Central and the blue Bloods.
A lot to get into today. We obviously will do

(00:37):
our three game balls and a flag.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Then we'll also touch on what I think is the
game of the week, which is Tarleton State going to
Ablin Christian. Then we'll have a little bit of playoff
talk and you know who's in position to get high
playoff seas. But before we dive into all that, Zach,
how are you doing and how was her?

Speaker 3 (00:54):
How was your weekend? Man?

Speaker 2 (00:56):
It was good, big weekend of FCS football. I know
everyone was focused on the Code of marker Is. I
don't blame them, and I know there was a ton
of hype around that one, but there was a ton
of matchups across the FCS that I was locked into,
a bunch of upsets that shook up some conference races.

Speaker 3 (01:10):
Man.

Speaker 4 (01:10):
So I'm ready to break it all down.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, we'll start right there, and you know we're going
to go around the country with the three game balls
and a flakes. We got some individual players to touch
on and we got some teams from all around the
country to touch on it as well. But when it's
number one versus number two, and you know a team
wins and blowout fashion, you have to start there with
my first game ball, and that's going to NDSU the

(01:33):
buys and go to Southcota State. They went thirty eight
to seven. It was a game where you know, after
NDSU second possession, you probably felt like the game was
over there because Southcota State went three and out a
couple of times and NBSU I just drove down the
field methodically and really took the.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
Crowd out of it.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
And you felt like, obviously last week going into the game,
the big storyline out of it being like number one
versus number two and all that, the big storyline was
Chase Mason going to play or not the South Kota
State quarterback, And by the time we got to game day,
it was pretty well known that it was gonna be
really tough for him to play in this game. And
I feel like that kind of took the wind out

(02:15):
of the sales a little bit. And then for NDSU
to take the crowd out of it that early, I
think was absolutely key because you looked at that matchup
for South Kota State with their backup quarterback in, it
was Okay, their defense is going to have to play
the best game they've played in quite some time, and
the offense lash special teams, they're going to have to
find a way to get to twenty four to twenty

(02:38):
seven points. And you know, NBSU just for the most
part did what they what they wanted to offensively, and
they took the crowd out of it right away, and
I think that was key. I can't remember the specific
crowd size, like nineteen thousand, four hundred something like that.
It was a record crowd for South Dakota State. And
you know, tailgating I was an electric scene. You know,
I was there.

Speaker 3 (02:59):
The crowd was juiced up to start, but it took eight.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
Minutes into the first quarter where that crowd kind of
went mum, and I think they realized, Okay, this is
this is not going to be our day, especially with the.

Speaker 3 (03:10):
Backup quarterback in.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
And like it's been talked about already, and I feel
like a majority of people, even South Kota State fans
have said this that even with Chase Mason in that
game fully healthy, NDSU still.

Speaker 3 (03:20):
Would have won.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
It would have been a more intriguing game. But I
don't think anyone is. It was beaten NDSU on that day,
and so yeah, not having your quarterback in took the
wind out of the sales a little bit for South
Kota State. But even with Mason in there, I just
think this NDSU squad is that good and it would
have been It would have been a thirty eight to
twenty one ballgame instead of thirty eight to seven. So

(03:43):
I still think it would have been a ten to
seventeen point win.

Speaker 3 (03:46):
For the Bison.

Speaker 4 (03:47):
Yeah, I agree.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
I think with me and you preview the game last week,
we talked about all the different boxes that SDSU needed
to check to pull off the win, and I don't
even I don't think they checked any of them. Say,
I'm like, yeah, they didn't establish the run, they didn't
win the time of possession, they lost third and fourth down,
money down battle. And the biggest check mark box is
you cannot let Cole Peyton beat you off of broken plays.

(04:09):
And all night col Peyton beat them off of broken plays,
and it just made some excellent throws. And then let's
just be honest, Sam, I understand there was a lot
of people tearing up the secondary. At some point, we're
just gonna have to say, Bryce Lance is that good?
There were just sometimes where Bryce Lance just made a
play that I mean the guy. I think it was
the sideline throw that got him into the red zone.

(04:31):
I think it was early in the game where Cole
Payton put it like right over the DB's head and
Lance just made an insane catch. I just don't know
what else would I don't know what else you want
the dB to do. And the safety was coming into
the picture as well. So I just think they made
some excellent plays, and I thought NDSU did a good job,
just like you said.

Speaker 4 (04:50):
Taking the momentum early.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
I mean, when you have what was it, a Sam
of sixteen play almost nine d R drive to start
the game, I mean, I don't know what you expect
South to go to State to do at that point,
especially with how bad the offense was. I'm gonna take
it around the country. Like you said, my first game
ball is going to Delaware State. A little bit out
of the box, man.

Speaker 4 (05:10):
Listen.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
There was a lot of hype surrounding Michael Vick coming
into the MIAC, but I don't think anybody, including myself
and I was wrong, did not give DeShawn Deshaun Jackson
enough credit for what he was doing at Delaware State.

Speaker 4 (05:23):
This team has been really good.

Speaker 2 (05:25):
Thirty five twenty six upset over North Carolina Central, who
looked to be the favorite to win the MIAC. It
was the first win in Durham since nineteen seventy seven,
their first MIAC win since twenty twenty two. And you
look at Cayden Bennett playing well. He's not being asked
to do much through the air, but he's still threw
for two hundred and twelve yards and three touchdowns only

(05:46):
nine completions, and they continue to find ways to run
the ball, Sam, I mean, they can run the football
on anybody.

Speaker 4 (05:53):
I want to say.

Speaker 2 (05:54):
They still lead the country in rushing offense and it
Marquise is just unbelievable. They're running back in I think
this team's them. Outside of that one bag call where
Caden got ejected versus Sacred Heart, which was still insane,
this team could be six and two right now. And
it's been a long time since Delaware State has been

(06:14):
in the MIAC race and had a chance to win
seven eight games.

Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, and even when they played Delaware obviously an FBS game,
that was like a decently close game as well. So
they're they're they're playing well. And yeah, I know, sometimes
when a program or a school hires, you know, a
former player, sometimes celebrity hire, that kind of phrase gets
thrown around. But some of these guys can coach, and

(06:40):
what coach Jackson is doing at Delaware State has been awesome.
We saw what you know, Eddie George did at Tennessee
State and now he's at the FBS level, and so
I to see that turn around, especially this quickly, has
been awesome. To see My second game ball I'm going
to give to a player and that's James Conway, a
Fordham linebacker who feels like he's been around forever. And
because he's been around and has played about four and

(07:02):
a half seasons, he's just a tackling machine. And this
last weekend he had sixteen tackles and that broke the
FCS record for career tackles. Conway is now at five
hundred and fifty five career stops. The previous record was
five hundred and fifty that was set by Boomer gridsby
an excellent name, former Illinois state linebacker Conway Is. I mean,

(07:23):
like I said, a tackling machine, and he had. He's
been playing at this level ever since twenty twenty one.
That year as a freshman, he had one hundred and
thirty one tackles. In twenty twenty two, one hundred and
twenty seven tackles, one hundred and twenty nine tackles in
twenty twenty three, and then last year he only played
in four games and that allowed him to redshirt and
come back this year for his fifth year. But in

(07:45):
those four games, he had forty nine tackles. And then
this year, this year, he's already up to one hundred
and nineteen tackles in eight games. And so not only
has he broken this all time record, but I mean
he's he's going to shatter it. I mean he's going
to get what at least fifty more tackles in the
final four games here. And so's he's been a tackling machine,

(08:05):
and he's played well against you know, even FBS opponents
as well. I'm not sure where he's at as far
as the NFL radar. You know, I'm sure he'll get
a shot. I'm not sure if he'll be viewed as
as a draft pick, but he's he's excellent, very sinctual player,
and he's just just been awesome throughout his whole career.

Speaker 2 (08:24):
Do do you think he has a chance to be
in the but Buchannan conversation.

Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, I think he will be, partially because obviously the numbers,
but also career wise as well. I mean, it doesn't
I mean Fordham has had a lot of really good
linebackers over the years, Ryan Greenhagen, there's another guy as
well who I'm blanking out. But they've had some really
good linebackers, but their defenses just haven't really been that good,

(08:52):
and so I think that could knock him that Fordham's
defense as a whole isn't very good and Fordham as
a team isn't very good, so that could knock him back.
But at the same time, it is an individual award,
and when you rack up this many tackles, not only
this season but in your career, I do think he'll
he'll be up there as far as being a top candidate.

Speaker 2 (09:11):
You know, the biggest thing he needs to root against
is someone like Joshua Stoneking or Andrew Zack starting starting
to kind of get that sack total love, because everyone
knows voters love sacks and tackles fort ball, So gotta
hope no one kind of runs away with those two
statistical marks. I'm actually going to go in individual here
as well. I'm gonna go Brandon Atkinson, Mercer quarterback, a

(09:32):
true freshman sam he has been unbelievable since taking the
starting role for Mercer. He's thrown for three hundred and
more or more yards and all but one of his starts,
and this past weekend was his best performance of the season.
Five hundred and thirty three passing yards on eighty two
point nine percent completion percentage, five touchdowns, zero interceptions in

(09:55):
a sixty two to nothing win over vm I. I
understand vmi's defense isn't the best in the country. Anytime
you set to the single game program record for passing
yards and tying again the record for passing touchdowns, which
he tied earlier this year against Stanford as well, got
to give Brady Atkinson props. And with Caden Pinnick missing
this this weekend, saying with an illness right now, you're

(10:18):
looking at Bradon Akinson maybe is the odds on favorite
to get that Jay Rice war He's sturning for over
two thousand yards this year, twenty one touchdowns, only four picks,
and he didn't even start, I believe, the first three
games of the year. So shout out to Brandon Atkinson's
he deserves a game ball because he's been playing at
an elite level right now.

Speaker 1 (10:37):
Yeah, Atkinson, Pinnick and then probably Trey Page Tarleton State
are probably your top three for the Jerry Rice Award,
I would guess at this point, but Page missed what
two games, and so that could not come back, and
so yeah, I think it's.

Speaker 3 (10:53):
It's a bit fluidad.

Speaker 1 (10:53):
I do think with this last weekend, Atkinson has probably
emerged as the favorite in I mean, what a revelation
for Mercer too, because their quarterback play the first two
games was just was just not good. And for him
to to take the reins there as a true freshman
as well as been major for Mercer and they're they're
definitely a hot team right now. My third game ball here,

(11:17):
I'm gonna stick with giving it to an individual that
is Michael Wortham from Montana. The Gris got a big
win on Friday ESPN two forty nine thirty five at
Sacramento States. Probably I thought I felt a bit more
decisive than you know, a two score win there for Montana,
and there was like a couple of late touchdowns in
that one. I think the Griz could have I mean,

(11:39):
they picked off a pass in the red zone with
like a minute fifty eight left something like that, and
they could have kneeled it out, but sax State did
have like three timeouts left, and so like maybe if
they kneeled it sacks Sate would have called the timeout,
and so instead they punched it in.

Speaker 3 (11:55):
For one more score.

Speaker 1 (11:56):
Then I think sax State also, you know, punched in
another score with like whatever thirty seconds left or whatever
like that. So it was a bit more high scoring
just with those final two minutes. But Wortham was just
phenomenal for the grizz An all purpose guy. He had
seven rushes eighty nine yards, two touchdowns, five catches eighty
yards in a touchdown, and then two kick returns for

(12:19):
sixty nine yards. And so he's been at it all
year and his all purpose ability has just been phenomenal,
and he's you know up there. Actually, I think he's
leading the FCS in all purpose yards. It'll be interesting
to see where he stacks up in the Walter Payton Award.
And I think I mentioned it last week. I'm pretty
sure he's on this podcast where if you're Montana, I mean,

(12:40):
you could you know, advocate for, have like a pr
push for because some teams will like start to push
for their guys for the Walter Payton Award, as they should.
But if you're Montana, I mean, you could go Eli Gilman,
who is probably the most recognizable name because he's going
to be a three time All American.

Speaker 3 (12:55):
You can go with Ayat.

Speaker 1 (12:56):
Because this is more of a quarterback award and Ayacht
has been phenomenal. Or you can go with war Them
because while it is a quarterback award and it's difficult
for running backs to get this or receivers to get
this unless you're like a Cooper Cup like season, you
could push, like you know, rushing special teams. I know,
I guess it's not a special teams award, but just

(13:18):
the all purpose level that he's been playing at, you
could maybe push him into being, you know, one of
the leading candidates for the Walter Payton Award and I
think he would get a decent amount of votes as
far as being, you know, a top three guy, and
if you're a top three candidate, you do get invited
to the award ceremony in Nashville this year. So it'll
be interesting to see how that plays out. But when

(13:39):
you do that on national television on ESPN, too, like
that's gonna help your case because there might be some
there might be some voters that hadn't watched Montana yet
to this point, and if they tuned in on Friday
night like they were them, gave them in everyone else's
show man.

Speaker 4 (13:57):
I believe it was the touchdown.

Speaker 2 (13:59):
I don't know if you second or third quarter of
the one where he juked the guy in the open field.
Just I mean, what a play. And I think you're
seeing how good of a wide receiver he is.

Speaker 4 (14:08):
Sam.

Speaker 2 (14:08):
I knew he was athletic with the ball, he was explosive.
I just don't know if I gave him enough credit
for being as good of a wide receiver as he
is because he's made some outrageous catches and I mean,
I think it's it's safe to say he's the most
versatile weapon in the FCS and and I understood, like
I understand the grizz have three guys you can kind
of promote for the award.

Speaker 4 (14:28):
If it was me, I don't know if you feel
the same way. I would pick Wartham.

Speaker 2 (14:32):
Over over Eli or I personally, just because he's such
a unique athlete and what he's doing we haven't seen
in the FCS in a long time.

Speaker 1 (14:43):
Yeah, he I mean because because he separates himself kind of,
because if you're if you kind of push for Ayat
like I do think he is, you know, one of
the better quarterbacks in the FCS, but you're also putting
him up against uh Tron Dickens and you know, Cole
Payton and Derrek Robertson potentially if he does come back,
but we're them. He is kind of in his own
in his own category in a sense because of his

(15:05):
all purpose abilities. And I mean we saw it with
maybe not to maybe not like different players, but like
we saw with Lan Larrisson last year, right with his
Russian abilities and his receiving abilities, and he finished what
fifth or sixth I'm in voting, And so it can
be a bit difficult when you are an all purpose
guy and your numbers are being put up to you know,

(15:27):
quarterback numbers, but I do think he might be that
top candidate to push if you're Montana.

Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:34):
I mean moving on here to my last game ball
I have ut RGV here. I mean, what a performance
from them this weekend. They moved to six and two overall, SAM,
two and two in the South end fifty six twenty
eight win over Incardinate Word, which has been the most
disappointing team in the country this year. They have just
it looks like they've just milled in the season. But

(15:55):
Eddie Lee Marlberger quarterback, four hundred and forty passing yards,
six touchdowns, Tony Diaz at seventeen catches for one to
seventy two. What a statement win for U t RGV
and Sam. You released your bracketology yesterday. The trgvs in
the playoff picture right now their first season ever, Sam,
I mean, what they should get a game ball for

(16:15):
the entire season. And I want to ask this and
for my part of my game ball segment here, So
if they win this weekend, because if I'm not taking
the place Steven f Alston, yep, if they find a
way to win this weekend and win out, is there
any chance at ten and two they find a way
to get into the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (16:33):
I think they they could. And some people might be like,
what do you mean, like ten and two, of course
they would be in. Well, they also have three non
Division one opponents, which is understandable because this is like
their very first season as an FCS program playing games.
And you know, I did confirm it's just to make sure,
but they are playoff eligible because they're not a transitioning team, right,

(16:55):
Like they've been established as a Division one school for
a while now, and so it isn't you know, a
D two team that started football and is transitioning. So
there they are playoff eligible if they win out I
mean seven D one wins. They do have a ranked
win over SFA, you know, ten to two overall, I

(17:15):
think you would give them a pretty good argument there. Now,
they did lose to Lamar, they did lose to Southeastern Louisiana,
and I think those two teams are looking pretty good
to potentially be in the playoffs. You know, SFA, you know,
if they went out there probably in the playoffs as well.
So it would just be a matter of if utr
GV beats SFA, you know, does that knock SFA out

(17:39):
of the playoff conversation? And then if Lamar in Southeastern
Louisiana are in, is there room for a third Southland team?
And I think there is, whether it's whether it's UTR
GV or whether it's SFA, I do think there will
be room for a third Seuthland team because I mean,
the big South OBC is probably going to get one

(18:00):
team in. I will see if Gardner Web can win out.
You know, the CIA will probably get three teams in,
but the UAC might end up only getting two teams in,
whereas at the start of this year we thought, you know,
maybe they're a four bid league or a three bid league,
and so there might be room four for a third
team from the south end. Whether that is UTR GV,
we'll see. But they absolutely have.

Speaker 3 (18:21):
To win out.

Speaker 1 (18:22):
Seventy one wins is going to be tough, but there
might be enough room on the bubble for them to
get in.

Speaker 2 (18:29):
Yeah, that's where the argument falls apart. Right if you
play Suelver All State, you played in Langston, and you
played Texas Westland. Yeah, And to be.

Speaker 4 (18:37):
Fair, can I give them a little bit of leeway here? Sam?

Speaker 2 (18:40):
I don't think anybody thought they'd be in the playoff
picture year one, so I don't think they're scheduled to
be on the playoff to be on the playoff. But
also two, I know people kind of scoff at this win,
but they have a road win over PV who's probably
gonna win the Swack West this year too.

Speaker 4 (18:57):
That's not a bad win.

Speaker 2 (18:58):
But also too, I think even f Alston needs to
win this week in because Sam if you remember, they
also played a non D one opponent, So yeah, I
think it would It would really help the Southlank get
three teams in. If if Steven Fallsten can get that,
it can get the auto bid, And then I think
Southeast Louisana and Lamar are probably in good spots to
get at large bids, especially Lamar with a win over

(19:19):
South Dakota really helps them there.

Speaker 1 (19:21):
Yep, yep, all right to the flag portion Now, I'm
gonna throw it on South Kota State's defense. Uh, you know,
they we touched on it. For the Jacks to win
this game, especially without Chase Mason, they they needed to
play probably their best defensive game in you know, several years,
and I would say they probably played their worst defensive
game in several years, and you know, NDSU's offense just

(19:44):
might be that good. And I still think South Kota
State has one of the better defenses, you know, in
the FCS, just by just a you know, a normal
FCS bar. But you know, maybe there was a bit
of warning signs earlier on in the year where you know,
Youngstown State got thirty some points on them, and you know,
Murray State got some exposive plays on them as well,

(20:05):
So maybe there were some warning signs that this defense
was was a bit you know, more leaky compared to
pass defenses for the jack Rabbits. But NYSU, I mean,
they had five hundred yards of total offense that was
pretty split as well between passing yards and rushing yards.
And I thought South got State's defense, I will give
them this. I thought they played pretty well on first

(20:27):
and second down in some instances. But whether it was
third and five, third and nine, heck, third and twelve,
it seemed like NDSU was picking those up rather easily.
Whether it was you know, Cole Payton scrambling, whether it
was Bryce Lance getting really good separation neither the sideline,
or whether even if it was like you mentioned some

(20:47):
good coverage, just a ball placement and Bryce Lance high
point in the ball along the sideline. It was just
it was not a good performance by South Kota State
by their defense. And yeah, when they're when your offense
goes three and out, three and out and the kansustained drives,
that's that's gonna that's gonna tire you out for sure
as as a defense. But even from the starts with

(21:09):
a sold out crowd, you know, making noise and pushing
you guys like it was, it was a rather decisive
NBSU offensive performance from the start, and you know, a
pretty disappointing performance by South Goda State's defense.

Speaker 4 (21:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (21:24):
I think the one thing they did do well is
stop the like downhill rushing attack because a lot of
it was just Peyton getting off. Both did a good
job after the first job containing Penu and that rushing attack.
But like you said, and then also too in the
second half, I don't want to say they both teams
melded in, but Sam, you were there the energy just
like it kind of like they were both just like okay,
this game's over, like let's look ahead the next week.

Speaker 1 (21:45):
Yeah, it was, and I wrote it too. It was
kind of just it didn't have the number one versus
number two feel to it, and you know, a big
part of that was just the blowout fashion from the
start and just I mean it was number one versus
number two national television record crowd, and then after eight
minutes of the game, it was kind of just like mum,
you know, in the crowd, and then like you said,

(22:06):
the teams two kind of just ran the clock and
all that, and it was kind of like it was
almost like if you're if you're a boxing fan or
a UFC fan and you're getting ready for like a
heavyweight fight, and like you're all juiced up and you're
ready to go, like this is gonna be awesome, and
then you know, someone wins with a knockout in like
a minute and you're kind of like, oh, that was
all right, That's not exactly.

Speaker 3 (22:24):
What I was expecting.

Speaker 1 (22:25):
And so yeah, I was a bit of a weird
energy being there. But I mean, like we talked about,
that's if you're NSU, that's what you wanted to do
was take the crowd out of it pretty early.

Speaker 3 (22:35):
Yeah, moving on.

Speaker 2 (22:36):
To my flag, I'm going to go Jackson State. They
were number twelve in the country. They lose to Gramplin
State for the second straight year. Granmlain State hit a
forty four yard game whin a field goal twenty one
seconds left, twenty six, twenty four loss. Now it was
a weird game. Jackson loses Jacobe and Morgan early. They
go to Parkerstofa. He wasn't what they needed. They go bet.

(22:58):
They go to a true freshman after for that who
played pretty well. Shared Lockhart led two touchdown drives on
the fourth quarter, but mad twenty three unanswer points. After
a ten to zero lead early in the game for Jackson,
Gramblin State went on a run. Even as a zay
T set went down late in the game, they had
no answer for tea set. Wealthy was in the game,
and Gramblin's scored on it five of its last six drives,

(23:22):
including the game winning drive. A huge win for Gramplet's State,
but a big collapse there for Jackson, who now makes
the Swack East race to way tighter. I think a
lot of people, including probably me and you, looked at
Jackson as the odds on favorite to win the Celebration Bowl,
win the Swack and now you're looking but thumquipment saw
as a shot. They control their own destiny to a point.

(23:42):
Alabama State and needs Jackson to slip up one more time.
There's whispers that Jacobean Morgan could be out for an
extended amount of time. There's a lot going on here,
So I'm gonna give Jackson the flag second straight year
collapsing against Gramblin's State.

Speaker 1 (23:55):
Yeah, I kept Jackson State in my top twenty five,
just barely. I think I had them twenty four to
twenty three. I know Morgan's injury status probably plays a
part in this, But if you had to put odds
on it right now, would you still favor Jackson State
as the favorite to win the Celebration Bowl or is
that maybe too tough to say depending on Jacobean's injury status.

Speaker 2 (24:18):
If Jacobean is coming back, yes, I would still lean Jackson.
If it's going to be lockhard as a true freshman,
I feel less confident.

Speaker 4 (24:28):
About that.

Speaker 2 (24:31):
Because, I mean, I don't think PV's been super impressive Sam,
but PV's defense is legit, and let's just say Jackson
slips up. I think if PV wins out, they host
the Slack Championship. So You're looking at a true freshman
having to go on the road for the SLACK Championship
against the defense that ranks number one in a ton
of statistical categories right now on the SWACK.

Speaker 4 (24:50):
That'd be a tough matchup.

Speaker 3 (24:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (24:52):
And if I mean that, if Jackson State isn't playing
in the SWACK Championship game, that you know, that puts them,
you know, potentially in that playoff at large discussion, and
that could take you know, a bid from from you know,
another team. And so that's definitely the SWACK is is
a champion or is a conference championship race to pay
attention to if you're you know, a team that is

(25:13):
looking like they're probably going to be on the playoff bubble.
Let's go back to South Kota stakes. I wanted to
touch on them a little bit as far as where
the Jacks go from here, and they're still i mean,
they're still overall, you know, sitting fine as far as
their overall resume, you know, seven and one. They have
a few ranked wins, a couple of ranked wins over

(25:33):
teams that are still you know, currently ranked Youngstown State
and Montana State win it is still very very strong
and one of the best wins that an FCS team
has so far this year. Remaining games Indiana State at
home at South Dakota, who's falling out of the rankings,
and then the final two games at home versus Illinois State,
who's number seventeen and eighteen in the polls, and then

(25:55):
a road trip to u n D who's number eight
and number ten in the polls. I feel like this
might be kind of a similar discussion to Jackson State, like,
you know, how well are they going to finish the season?

Speaker 3 (26:09):
Well, it kind of.

Speaker 1 (26:09):
Depends on the quarterback status. And it does sound like
Chase Mason is going to return at some point. It's
doubtful he's going to return this week. I don't know
if I can speak specifics, but I think he's battling
a couple of different injuries in his foot slash lower leg,
and so I mean, probably maybe he's out of the
walking boot by now, but I feel like they're kind
of just stabilizing things and making sure he doesn't regress.

(26:32):
But I would doubt he returns this week. And it
also sounds like Chase man Toll Stanley linebacker, he's also
not going to play this week and also Lofton o'growski,
their best receiver, is also not going to play this week.
I don't think any of those three are season ending injuries,
and they could They should be able to get by
without those three this week against Indiana States. Next week

(26:55):
going to South Dakota, the Yoats are down, but it's
it's a rivalry game, it's on the road. Like you'd
probably like to have Mason back by that week, and
certainly the final two weeks of the year as well,
because U and D you know, going there, that's going
to be a busa and Illinois State's going to be
in the playoff discussion as well, so they're gonna need
a big win with two weeks left of the regular season.
So I think South got to State. I mean they could,

(27:16):
they could go four and oh, you know down my stretch.
That would surprise me. I feel like the U and
D game, if Mason is playing, is probably a fifty
to fifty type of game, maybe fifty five forty five
toward U and D because it's at home. But South
go to State could certainly run the table and finish
eleven and one and be a top three seed. They
could also drop another game, and then at that point,

(27:37):
if you're ten and two, you're still probably you know,
I would say a first round by type of team,
but in that instance, you're probably going You're probably going
down the road in the quarterfinals. And so where do
you see South Gota State going from here after? After
this loss?

Speaker 4 (27:54):
I think they're going to be fun.

Speaker 3 (27:55):
I would.

Speaker 2 (27:58):
The reason that I think they're going to be fine,
Sam is I still think they're a good team. I
understand there's been a ton of conversation about what this
team is going to be moving forward and how I've
seen people overreact to the loss of North Dakota State,
and I know we're going to get into it, but
I really do think it could just be a case
of North Dakota State being that good. But I think

(28:19):
the biggest thing with South Dakota State is, like you say,
getting healthy. But then also too, there are a handful
of issues that are going to probably be something to
watch against the better teams on their schedule, and when
I look ahead at their schedule, they should feel good
about winning every game outside of und Like un D's
the one game I kind of circle Sam as a

(28:40):
game that like, if it was played right, now, Like,
if if we had to preview that game right now,
I'd probably pick U and D at home to win
that game. But I like that, like you said, I
like their chances to win against Indiana State. They should
do that dominantly at home. It's a bounce back game.
But like you said, the traveling to Pavilion is a
tough one. Illinois State at home.

Speaker 4 (28:59):
I like there.

Speaker 2 (28:59):
I don't know how you feel about it, but Illinois
State just kind of seems like they're missing something and
I can't really put my finger on what it is.
They're just when I watch that team, they just they
they are missing that top level. So I think if
if if Lucas to God moving forward, let's just say
Chase doesn't finish out the regular season and they got
to get them ready for the playoffs, I feel really
good that they can finish at that ten and two mark,

(29:21):
and worst case nine and three, you're probably not a
top eight seed.

Speaker 4 (29:25):
At nine and three. I don't.

Speaker 2 (29:26):
I guess it kind of depends on how some of
those mid like those teams through what is it seven
through twelve, finish out. The Mamas, the Harvard's, the Tennessee Text,
the UC Davis is the Lee has but I think
I think South Dakota State is five.

Speaker 3 (29:40):
Man.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
I still for me, at least in my ballot this week, Sam,
I still had them in the top five, and I
think until proven otherwise, I still think they're a top
to top five team in the country.

Speaker 3 (29:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:52):
I mean, they're gonna have to lean on the run
game and the offensive line, and we've seen like the
second half against Young ste State, I mean, Southcota State
was just smalling them, and even against you know, you
go back to Montana State game and there was I mean,
they didn't run wild by any means. And Montana State's
front seven, front six, I guess is really good. But
there are still some some decent running lanes and you

(30:14):
know lo Forridge, I believe when over one hundred yards
and if you can go over a one hundred yards rushing
against Montana State, like you should be able to establish the.

Speaker 3 (30:22):
Run against Indiana State.

Speaker 1 (30:23):
And you know, South Dakota although you know the Olt defense,
they actually are playing pretty well. So you do feel
a certain level of confidence with South Kota State going
forward because it's it's I mean, the performance against ENDUSU
is fresh on the mind. But then you know, it
probably also is fair to kind of zoom out a
little bit and look at the overall picture. And with

(30:45):
the fact that Chase Mason is going to return at
some point, we don't know when, that gives you a
bit of confidence that that South Kota State will, uh,
we'll be able to we'll be able to rebound it
and go on a nice run here. And like you said,
let's go to the NDSU part of it, because we've
kind of hinted at it a little bit, it started
to feel that way of it being NDSU versus the field, especially,

(31:08):
you know, after how the Bison looked, you know, against USD,
you know, at that point in time, and how they
looked in the second half against Illinois STATEA and Southern Illinois.
But after this performance that, you know, it does really
feel like we are this season where we were in
twenty eighteen where it was NDSU versus the field. They're
in twenty twenty three where it was South Gota State

(31:29):
versus the field. And you know, I've seen some comments
from from other fan bases that they also kind of
admit the same as well, whether it be you know,
other fan bases in the Valley or even even Montana
Montana State fans saying like NSU just kind of looks
like a Juggernauts and we hope we make it to
Nashville because that'd be fun, but it's probably not going
to go well if we do make it to Nashville.

(31:49):
And it does seem like that conversation has started to
really make its way onto you know, FCS social media,
and there's still a lot of football left. Obviously the Bison.
They host ranked Youngstown State this weekend and then they
go to und so those will be you know, two
tough contests and then the final two versus Northern Iowa
versus Saint Thomas, like those are very favorable games for

(32:11):
the Bison. So there's still a lot of football left.
But at this point with how NSU has looked, their
closest game has been what either fourteen or seventeen points
against Illinois States. I mean, at this point, it's kind
of like who who is going to be able to
stop the Bison, And it seems like we're at that
spot where it is, you know, team a versus the field.

Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yeah, I'm gonna be honest, like if I'm just trying
to think like, hypothetically, is there a team SAM that
you would predict to be within ten to fourteen of
NDSGU right now if you had to make a prediction today.

Speaker 1 (32:48):
So I think the I don't right now. As of
right now, I don't think Carlton State is the second
best team in the FCS, but I feel like they
might be the team that matches up well to NDSU,
because I mean, we talk about it all the time
of like if if you want to win a national championship,
you have to be really good in the trenches and
run the ball and be able to stop the run.

(33:09):
But it's very hard to out bison the Bison and
South got To State was able to do that for
a couple of years. But like, is Montana State's style
of play going to beat NDSU? I you know, I
don't know about that this year. And it's not like
I don't want to get this misconstrued either, because it's
not like Tarleton State is winging it all all around

(33:30):
the feeld like you know UIW was a few years ago.
Like they do establish the run and they come at
you in ways with their running back room, but they
also they run that slow mesh where they can you know, uh,
you know, spread the ball out a bit more. And
I think the type of offense that can give NDSU
trouble is one that does have a physical offensive line
and can run the ball, but they also spread a
defense out with multiple ride receivers that can make a

(33:53):
defense hurt, you know, light in the box a little bit.
So I feel like Tarleton State if there was if
there was one team where I'd be like, I want,
I definitely want pick Charlton State to beat NDCU on
a neutral fielder in Nashville. But if there's one team
where I go, maybe they could keep it somewhat interesting,
I would go with Tarleton State just based off of matchups.

Speaker 2 (34:13):
Yeah, And I'm just trying to think, like, if we're
really looking at this INDISU team, what would be the
chink in the armor?

Speaker 4 (34:20):
Right?

Speaker 2 (34:21):
Maybe it's like we've seen them off to maybe a
slow start every once in a while. You look at
Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Illinois State. Maybe it's the run
game at toimes just kind of it seems seems to
be a little bit lackluster at times with Pinu the
downhill rushing attack specifically, but like outside of that, man

(34:42):
like this is really not a ton of chinks in
this armor. Like you look at you look at the season,
they've only allowed they haven't no one scored twenty points
on this team all year. They've scored thirty three or
more points against everybody they've played. And Sam, they've played
how many ranked teams now four or at least four

(35:03):
teams that were ranked at the time of them playing,
and they're outscoring their opponents three forty three to seventy seven.
Like I just think, I really do think this team,
if they find a way to finish sixteen to zero,
we'll look back on this team as.

Speaker 4 (35:18):
One of the all time greats. And I think they
have the potential to not I don't want to say.

Speaker 2 (35:24):
Cruise, but just just bully their way to another national championship.
And I agree with you, I think Tarlton would be
interesting matchup for them.

Speaker 4 (35:32):
And also to Charlton's.

Speaker 2 (35:34):
Offense schematically is something that Indiasu's probably not going to
see in the Valley. So maybe that's the that's why
it's a good matchup, right, because it's just a it's
just a different style passing attack than what they're used
to seeing in the Valley.

Speaker 4 (35:48):
But also to with Tarlton this year. It actually run the.

Speaker 2 (35:50):
Ball a ton more as well, like they have a
way to run the football. It kind of reminds me
of that Incarnate Word offense in twenty twenty two that
made the semifinal run where everyone remembers Lindsay Scott but
people don't remember them. They had like two what was it,
eight hundred yard rushers one over one thousand on that
offense too, is just so balanced. The one I am
also interested in is Montana, especially if Ayat is on

(36:14):
his game, because they have warth them, they have Gilman.
The only question I have with Montana is that defensive
line has not been super dominant, and I just wonder,
like does Indiasu just wear them down in the long run,
Like maybe that game is close early.

Speaker 4 (36:29):
But and then also too.

Speaker 2 (36:31):
We've seen it with Ayat one mistake and that thing
can get off the rails, and so I think Montana
would need the perfect scenario. But I do think they
have the talent to make that game interesting.

Speaker 1 (36:41):
Yeah, that's a good call as well, because they do
have so many different playmakers on that offense. For Montana,
you know, offensive line is probably right around being average
this year, but you can you can kind of work
around that if you have Ayats and Gilman and Wortham
and you know Davis as well, you know on the outside.
So let's stick with Tarleton State here that there is

(37:03):
one game I want to touch on, and more so
about the implications in this one, because Tarleton State goes
to Abilene Christian this weekend. ACU is number twenty four
slash twenty five in the polls. You know, Tarleton State
is still undefeated. They have the FBS win over Army.
They did beat West Georgia as well, who was ranked
at the time but is no longer ranked. There's a

(37:25):
chance that West Georgia could find themselves back into the rankings,
which would obviously be helpful for Tarleton States. Abling Christian
interesting team four and four overall, they are but four
and two versus the FCS. They have three wins over
ranked teams at the time. Two of those teams are
still ranked. Those are Austin p and SFA. But they
also have two losses to unranked teams. That was to

(37:48):
UIW in Southern Utah and the Southern Utah loss happened
a couple of weekends ago, and that really sets Ableing
Christian back when they lost to Southern Utah thirty one
to twenty four and now sitting.

Speaker 3 (38:00):
At four and four overall for.

Speaker 1 (38:02):
Ablin Christian, they you know, if they win out, there
for sure in the playoffs. Right obviously you're eight and four,
you have a you know, multiple ranked wins, including over
Tarleton State.

Speaker 3 (38:12):
If you lose this.

Speaker 1 (38:13):
Weekend and then you win out and Abline Christian still
has to play Utah Tech at Eastern Kentucky and at
Central Arkansas, you like Abline Christian in those games, although
going to Eastern Kentucky can be tricky. At seven and
five and seven and three versus the FCS with the
you know, maybe two currently ranked wins, Like, is that
good enough to make the playoffs? Maybe if the bubble

(38:35):
is weak, But that lost to Southern Utah really set
Ablain Christian back in. Made this game, you know, perhaps
a must win. And Abline Christian did have a buye
this last weekend and so that could be helpful. It
is homecoming, I believe as well for Ablin Christian, so
that could be helpful. So to me, this is a
really intriguing game. I think Tarleton State is going to win,
but I mean, abline Christian, They're probably gonna treat this

(38:58):
like a playoff game. So I do think this is
a really good test for the Texans here.

Speaker 2 (39:02):
Yeah, this, this to me is one of the bigger
tests that they've had this season, especially at the FCS level.
The question here becomes in and I think he's played
well most of the year, but there's been weeks where
Stone Earl has not been great. Like you look at
Southern Utah. Was it two weeks ago that he threw
three picks? You look at Incardinate Word had two big
interceptions through for less than two hundred yards. Like those

(39:26):
type of performances are going to get you beat this weekend.
And so that's the match up on watching this Stone
Earl against a passing defense for Tarlton Sam the stats
on the secondary are actually insane. They're allowing one hundred
and fifty yards passing per game. They have forced fifteen
interceptions and only allowed four passing touchdowns. That is unbelievable.

(39:47):
And I think the real key here for Appling Christian
is to try to take some pressure off of Earl,
to just force it into the secondary by running the football.
But that's also not super easy for against the Tartan
def has been really good. But you look at this
Applein Christian team the last three games, is that incardinate
ward loss. They've run the football pretty well, rushing for

(40:08):
over two hundred yards per game.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
They're just need to.

Speaker 2 (40:11):
Hope stone Roll has a big game because I really
don't love the matchup for Abily Christians defense here because
Charlton has been so balanced, especially since the return of
Victor Gabalis, who sim I don't know how you feel
about it, but I think if he didn't get hurt,
he probably would also be in the Peyton conversation because
he's been playing his best football of his career. He's
not turning the football over, he's been super efficient, and

(40:34):
the fact that he has such a good run game.
Last year they had one guy just kind of carry
the load in Cavon Britton.

Speaker 4 (40:40):
This year, Trey Page, James Page, Caleb Lewis of Rosemond,
all these guys have been good.

Speaker 2 (40:47):
And this is without the guy who they thought was
going to be their number one running back in Tyland Hans,
who goes out Week one for the season. And you
look at all the talent at wide receiver they have
Peyton Kramer, Cody Jackson, Trayvon West, Bryce Parker, ty Year Young.
They just have so many weapons that I want to
bring one guy to your attention. And Angelo Anderson missed

(41:09):
a few games because of injury. He's been so good
off the edge, and he's a transfer from Tulane eight
and a half tackles for lost eight and a half sacks.
Combined that with Yassier Holmes from Frostburg State, a transfer
nine tackles falls four and a half sacks. They've nailed
their transfer portal evals this year. And so I like
Tarlton in this one. And I just don't know if

(41:31):
it's a great matchup Rabbling Christian unless stone Roll has
an outstanding game.

Speaker 4 (41:35):
Which we've seen him. Do we look at that Austin
p game.

Speaker 1 (41:39):
Yeah, their D line is legit, and you know they
brought Griffis back as well from Oregon State and then
tol Verta as well on the interior, one of the
better interior.

Speaker 3 (41:50):
Guys on the D line.

Speaker 1 (41:53):
And yeah, it was It was interesting when Daniel Greek
backup quarterback when he started well two or three game
when you had the minimum number of snaps for PFF.
Both Cabalis and Greek were both like in the top
ten for the highest graded FCS quarterbacks on PFF, So
they kind of have that luxury of having that backup

(42:15):
quarterback to be able to come in and keep winning games.
But you know, it wasn't just the quarterback spot too.
I mean, they've been beat up a little bit at
running back and defensively as well. But most of those
guys now are back and so they're getting healthy and
I think they're they're looking really good. You know, I
wouldn't have a problem with anyone putting them number two
in the rankings or even the seeding if they do

(42:38):
went out. And the online discourse about Tarleton State has
certainly been interesting because on one hand, like when you're
when we're talking about fan bases in the Midwest and
the Dakotas and Montana's, you know, you hear a lot
about like like we want other teams to like step
up in you know, out east or west or down south,
like someone else has has to step up. And now
that Tarleton State has stepped up not only on the field,

(43:02):
but also off the field with how they're funding things
in their facilities, like you you would think there'd be
like some sort of excitement or like oh, there's this
new new Ish FCS team and like this is fun.
Now there's another team to pay attention to. But instead
it's over They're overrated, you know, they're they're they're a
paper tiger. Like there's no way Tarleton State is is
better than than Montana.

Speaker 3 (43:21):
And like, I I think.

Speaker 1 (43:23):
Montana is better than Tarleton State, but it's not an
assumption of like, oh yeah, like of course Montana is
better than Tarleton State, because I do think the the
Texans are really strong, you know, offensively and defensively, and
I mean we've seen, like, just to take the Montana
angle of it, we've seen in the playoffs like Simo
gave Montana a really good game a few years ago,
Furman did. Last year, Tennessee State was right there with

(43:46):
Montana if it wasn't for a couple of you know,
Junior Bergen highlight moments like that was a really tight game.
And I understand Montana won all of those games, But
it seems like every year it's there's no way this
team from the South is as good as us. Yet
every year in the playoffs there is one team that
is right it is not like right on par but
pretty dang close. And Tarleton State is not no offense

(44:09):
to Furman, but they're not Furman right Like, they have
the facilities, they have the funding, it's a huge school.
They have, you know, all the things in place to
be really good. And we talk about how like the
Coda States and the Montana Schools they're FCS and name only,
but they're operating like an FBS team. Meanwhile, the other

(44:30):
ninety eight percent of the FCS is operating like FCS teams.

Speaker 3 (44:33):
Well, Tarboton State.

Speaker 1 (44:34):
Is operating like an FBS program as well, with their
facilities and their money. And so to me, I like,
I get the like if you're Southcota State or you know,
the Montana Schools, whatever, like I get the argument of like, no,
we should be ranked higher than them, we should be
seated higher than them. Because you're a fan of that team,
of course you're gonna feel that way. But the dismissive

(44:54):
nature around Tarleton State to me is kind of puzzling
to just totally discount them and be like they're there's
no way they're good. To me, I don't I don't
understand that angle of things that that other fan bases have.

Speaker 2 (45:07):
I'm gonna be honest, there's some media members that are
also on this on this side that had just consistently
downplayed Tarlton, Like I'm just gonna say, Man, if you
are a voter or a media member and you don't
think Tarlton's a top five team, I just don't know
what exactly you're watching. And I just I don't understand
having them at like six or even five, Like I

(45:29):
think this team is clearly a top three team right
now in FCS.

Speaker 4 (45:33):
I think what people get.

Speaker 2 (45:34):
Confused about is the top twenty five and rankings and
everything like this isn't like a Sagarin or FPI like
predictive model Like this is ranking the teams as of
late October, and even if Tarlton loses this weekend or
they fall in the second round or fall in the quarters,
that doesn't mean on October twenty eight that they weren't

(45:57):
a top three team in the country, if that makes sense,
Like we can only ranked teams based on what we've seen.
And this is where I pushed back and I kind
of wrote about it in my ballot this week, Sam
is I just don't I understand a little bit because
these Southern teams have always kind of got it. Like
Sam Houston had to go through this talk, Jacksonville State
had to go through this talk until they proved it,

(46:19):
and then even still people were skeptical.

Speaker 4 (46:21):
But the reason that I don't love.

Speaker 2 (46:23):
This is if you remember last year, Sam and looking
at Montana States resume, what was really the difference between
Montana States resume and late October last year compared to
Tarlton's right now?

Speaker 4 (46:36):
What would was the difference? And I'll lay it out
for you.

Speaker 2 (46:40):
They both had an FBS win over a mediocre to
mid level FBS team. They both only had one quality
or one ranked win because West Georgia was ranked i
think in the coaches pull when Tarleton beat them forty
five to ten, and then Montana State's only ranked win
at this point of the year was a win over Idaho,
which was really banged up in and was a playoff team.

(47:01):
But I think me and you both agreed West Georgia
would be in the playoff conversation that they were eligible
right now. And on top of that too, they were
dominating every opponent on the schedule, and no one questioned
Montana State being a top three team last year, and
everyone talks about Charlton hasn't beaten anybody and hasn't played anybody,
And what's their real quality win?

Speaker 4 (47:19):
Sam?

Speaker 2 (47:20):
Their quality win is Army, Like that's the quality win. Like,
regardless of how you think Army is, if you look
at any model or anything that ranks FCS versus FBS,
Army would be a top ten FCS team right now.
And Army's only FBS losses are the teams in the
College Football Playoff RaSE for that g FO spot in

(47:40):
North Texas and someone else. Like, Army's the signature win,
And I think a quality win is still West Georgia.
I don't understand what everyone is questioning them. And they've
won every single game STAMD by ten or more points,
including not having their starting quarterback for multiple weeks, and
they've outscored their FCS opponent's three seventy eight to one nineteen.
I don't understand the disrespect that Tulton's getting.

Speaker 1 (48:02):
Yeah, and it is Army isn't oh to twelve U
Mass right, Like I think there is one year when
Southern Illinois finished with seven wins and one of them
was I think.

Speaker 3 (48:13):
It was over U Mass.

Speaker 1 (48:14):
It was it was a really bad East Coast G
five team and they didn't get into the playoffs because
you know, the playoff committee. I think it's probably smarter
than some people give them credit for, and they do
realize that not all FBS wins are created equal.

Speaker 3 (48:28):
But we'll see how Army finishes.

Speaker 1 (48:30):
And yes, they are three and four right now, but
like you said, whether it's computerized rankings or how they've
competed against some top G five teams like that is
a pretty good Army squad.

Speaker 3 (48:41):
And what's going to happen here is Montana.

Speaker 1 (48:46):
I want to touch on the seating here as well,
but the hypothetical of Montana gets the two seed, Tarleton
State gets the three seed, Tarleton State goes to Montana
in the semi finals and loses, let's say twenty eight
twenty one, and it's going to be yeah, overrated, told
you guys, they're overrated. It's like they went to your
place and they lost by seven points. If you switched

(49:07):
that around and Charleton State got the two seed, they
probably would have won twenty eight twenty one. So I'm
I'm already mentally prepared for myself for that Twitter discussion.

Speaker 2 (49:17):
And it's maddening to me because if like when Montana
went and lost to South Dakota State by twenty the
other year, anyone say they were overrated or or I,
Or if some mid level valley team goes and gets
the break speed off of them in the second round,
does anyone say they're overrated? No, And so it only

(49:37):
applies to a certain number of teams that get overrated
if they lose, right, And that's what's frustrating. And then
at the end of the day, sain when they make
the semifinals, it doesn't matter what happens. Right, Like they
made the semi finals, they were one of the four
best teams in the country, and all it does is
further validate where they've come as a program. And I
think you saw that with like the U Albany team

(49:58):
that went to South Dakota State and what they got
to beat what was it now, fifty nine to nothing.

Speaker 3 (50:02):
Yeah, it was bad.

Speaker 4 (50:04):
It didn't mean that you already didn't belong in that
spot like that. You Albany team was good and beat
Idaho on.

Speaker 3 (50:10):
The road, and yeah they went to Idaho.

Speaker 2 (50:12):
Yeah, like they earned their spot, but at that at
that year, they ran into the best team in the country, like, well,
I don't know what you on the road and they
just weren't that they weren't that good. So I just
think it's a weird line of drawing the distinction between
overrated and I will be interested though, because I do
think can we both agree that if Montana wins out,

(50:32):
they're probably.

Speaker 4 (50:33):
The two seed.

Speaker 2 (50:34):
And this is the same North Dakota State wins out right,
does that they lock up the one seed? If INNDYSU
wins out, If Montana wins out there probably the two seed.
Charlton wins out there probably the three. What happens if
Montana slips up to Montana State is and I think
there's a lot of Bobcat fans that think they would
jump to the two seed because they would probably have
a win over UC David's top ten team in the

(50:55):
country and Montana top five team in the country. Do
you think a two lost Montana Montana State team losses
to Oregon in South Dakota State with two top ten
wins would jump and undefeated Tarlton State.

Speaker 1 (51:10):
I think they would have a decent chance at it
because in that scenario, the Cats would have three ranked
wins and you know, for this discussion, I'm talking about
wins over teams who I think are going to be ranked,
you know, at the end of the season. So that'd
be Northern Arizona, UC Davis, and Montana for the Cats,
and I mean that would be one more ranked win

(51:34):
than Tarleton States. I don't know if West Georgia will
be ranked, but you know Austin p and Abline Christian.

Speaker 3 (51:42):
Well, I mean if Abilie Christian.

Speaker 1 (51:43):
See, this is kind of the tough spot with then
ranked wins versus currently ranked wins, because if Tarleton State
beats Ablain Christian this week, Ablion Christian probably falls out
of the rankings, and so there's that's technically not going
to be a currently ranked win for a currently ranked
win for Tarleton State. But I feel like there are
different levels of then ranked wins, right Like Tarleton State

(52:06):
beating Abline Christian this week, knocking Abline Christian the top
twenty five this late in the season, like that's better
than beating UIW in week two and now UIW is
whatever the record is two and whatever, three and three
and whatever like So there are different levels to then
ranked wins. But I do think in this scenario, the
Cats would have one or two more ranked wins a

(52:27):
strengthen schedule of third compared to Tarleton State's twenty nine.
So I do think you could have that argument of where,
you know, if the Cats do win out, you know,
especially with those last two games, they could jump all
the way to number two. But it's also that's also
dependent on Let's say South Kota State wins out. In
that scenario, then maybe South Kota State is the two

(52:49):
because they deserve to be one spot ahead of Montana
State if the Cats went out. But in that scenario,
does that mean undefeated Tarothon State falls all the way
back to number four behind South Kota States and Montana States,
And of course NDSU at number one, like that kind
of seems like a far drop for a twelve and
oh Tarlton State squad. So there's so many different scenarios.
And even if Montana wins out, like I was kind

(53:10):
of toying this with my bracketology, if Montana goes twelve
and zero, Tarleton State goes twelve and zero, they would
have the same number of ranked wins up projecting they'll
have wins over two teams who will be ranked, you know,
in the final final rankings, Tarlton State would have one
more D one win, they would also have an FBS win,
and then the projected year and strict the schedules Montana

(53:31):
twenty seventh, Tarlton State twenty ninth, So I mean pretty
much pretty much the same there. I think you can
make an argument for Tarleton State to be number two
and Montana to be number three in that scenario. And
we've already seen the playoff committee a few weeks ago
they had Tarleton State ahead of Montana. Now is you
know the GRIZ If they beat Montana State, is that

(53:52):
enough for them to jump Tarleton State? Possibly, But there
are fascinating scenarios, especially if South got To State wins
Montana State wins out, like that could potentially drop you know,
Tarleton State, you know, down a couple of spots. There's
also scenarios where let's say U and D wins out,
which would mean beating South Kota State and North Kota

(54:12):
State and Montana wins out. Does that mean Montana is
the one and you would probably have to put U
and D either the two or the three ahead of
NSU and South Dakota State. So like there's a scenario
where NYSU drops a game at U and D and
they don't get a top two seed depending on what
happens elsewhere. And I was also penciling out in this
just to make people mad here to finish, I was

(54:33):
penciling out certain certain results. And let's say NDSU wins out,
Tarleton State wins out, Montana wins out, and then un
D beats South Dakota States, but the Jacks won their
other three games, like in that scenario.

Speaker 3 (54:49):
I believe I said that correctly.

Speaker 1 (54:50):
In that scenario, I seedd it out in NDSU, un D,
and South Kota State, We're all on one side the bracket.
In Montana, in Montana State on one side of the bracket.
And I saw that, I'm like, ah, I do not
like how that bracket looks. And so my bracketology. I
took some creative freedom and said, you know what, for now,
let's just have South Dakota State winning out beating you

(55:11):
in D just so the bracket looks a little bit better.
Because when I when I saw the bracket and those
three rivalry teams were on one side and then CAT
and Grizz were on the other side, I'm like, oh man,
that could definitely be a realistic scenario. But I don't
like how that looks, and so let's switch it up
a little bit here. But I just when you have NDSU,
South Kota State, und Montana Montana State as five of

(55:34):
the top six teams, probably I mean there's gonna be
some quarterfinal and semi final rematches like so, just mentally
prepare that the bracket might not look very uh am,
I look somewhat regionalized, just because of where how the
seatings lay out.

Speaker 2 (55:52):
Would if Chase Mason's out for instant amount of time,
does that take like it does to commit take that
into account?

Speaker 1 (56:01):
Do you think they do take player availability into account?
Which is why I think if Western Carolina, you know,
even if they lose one more time, that would put
them at eight and four, I believe out the top
of my head. Yeah yeah, and they lose to Let's
just let's just say mercer, I do think a Western
Carolina squad at eight and four would get in, and

(56:24):
that I'm tying that back to the player availability because
Toron wasn't there for three of those losses, and their
uh you know, eight or you know, they've they've won
a whole lot of games with him in.

Speaker 3 (56:34):
I think they might.

Speaker 1 (56:35):
Take that into consideration, a consideration with Chase Mason being out,
But it also depends on like I mean, like we
talked about, like Chase Mason, how much of a difference
does he make in the NDSU game, Like, Yeah, there's
a difference there, but it's still a loss regardless of
whether he's in or not. Now, if if they if
they if they lose to Illinois States without Chase Mason

(56:58):
and then he returns and they beat you in D,
how much do they forgive South Goota State for the
Illinois State loss without Mason and then he comes back
and they beat you and D Like that's that's that's
like I don't know in a sense, that might be
moving the goal pulse a little bit, like especially if
you're Rocks out on Like no, I really think Southcota
State is a good team and we're going to see
them in the top four.

Speaker 3 (57:18):
Like you can kind of move your argument around how you.

Speaker 2 (57:22):
Wish, because it what hurts them is Tarlton kept winning
without their starting quarterback.

Speaker 3 (57:28):
Exactly, yep, yep.

Speaker 4 (57:30):
And so if.

Speaker 2 (57:31):
Tarlton can win without their starting quarterback, you've got to
be held in the same center. The last question, I
know we got to get out of here? Where how
was the ceiling for an eleven and oh, Harvard a
twelve and oh leha and a twelve and oh or
I guess eleven and one. Tennessee Tech undefeated against the
FCS because I think they played what was a Kentucky
later this season, and and I mean the real chaosk

(57:54):
is Kentucky's bad.

Speaker 4 (57:55):
What happens to Tennessee Tech pulls on that upset.

Speaker 1 (57:59):
Right and like one more team to Momoth. I mean
they might have to win a couple of games without
Derrick robertson and so that goes back to the Chase
Mason discussion. But we could have We could have Lehigh
at twelve and oh no ranked wins rich I'm not
gonna count Richmond twelve and oh No ranked wins eighty seven.
Strength to schedule Mamoth could be eleven and oh versus

(58:22):
the FCS one ranked win over Villanova, who I think
is pretty good, seventy six strength to schedule, Tennessee Tech
eleven and oh or eleven and one, but ten and
oh versus the FCS because they do have a non
D one win in there, no ranked wins, eighty to
strength to schedule. You could also have Harvard, who would
be ten and oh because they played ten games, right

(58:43):
I believe, Yeah Harvard, Yeah, Harvard ten and oh no
ranked wins eighty four strength to schedule. Like, how many
of those teams.

Speaker 3 (58:52):
Would be top eight seeds? I mean, you can make it.

Speaker 1 (58:56):
You can make an argument that North Dakota could finish
eight and four. Let's say they lose to North Kota
State and South Dakota State and still be seated above
some of those teams because they would have two ranked
wins and the number one strength of schedule in the FCS.
And I know some people like, how can you see
an eight win team over and eleven win team? I

(59:17):
think it's possible there just because those teams, those other
teams are going to lack ranked wins and their strength
to schedules are all going to be in the seventies
or eighties.

Speaker 4 (59:26):
Yeah, and then you got the real bubble buster.

Speaker 2 (59:29):
What happens if UC Davis wins out and beats Montana
State and then they're sitting there UNDEFEATEDFCS and so they would.

Speaker 4 (59:37):
Shake it up. And my last question here with Harvard
would they get.

Speaker 2 (59:41):
In with one loss nine in one, Like, let's just
say they lose the Dartmouth this weeaking in Dartmouth was
the auto bid.

Speaker 1 (59:49):
I think the ball honestly, like right now, looking at
the bubble, I don't think the bubble is going to
be that strong. I mean, Presbyterian might be you know,
on the bubble, or like an eight win William and
Mary team or UTRGV UTRGV like abling Christian at seven wins,
like sax State could get to seven wins if they
beat UC Davis they're at eight wins. I just don't

(01:00:10):
know if the bubble is going to be that strong.
Where I do feel like a one loss Harvard team
could get in and even if Dartmouth loses and then
they went out, Dartmouth would be eight and two. And
if they lose to Harvard and it's a competitive game,
like maybe even Dartmouth could get in it if the
bubble is that week. So I do think Mercer could
afford one loss and probably still make it in as

(01:00:34):
an at large bid. But it, as we always say,
it kind of kind of depends on what help what
happens elsewhere.

Speaker 2 (01:00:41):
Yeah, So man, I can't wait to get into more
of the bubble talk here because I think it's going
to be chaos over these last four weeks.

Speaker 3 (01:00:47):
Man.

Speaker 1 (01:00:48):
Yeah, it's gonna be fascinating to see how it all
plays out. We still have four more weeks of action,
but Selection Sunday is coming right around the corner here,
so we'll wrap it up there. Thank you everyone so
much for listening. Thank you Zach as always, and we'll
catch you guys on the flippity flip