Two more FCS teams knocked off FBS opponents in Week 3, creating one of the more unique starts to a season for the subdivision. Northern Arizona slid past Arizona, 20-19, and UIW — led by star quarterback and reigning Jerry Rice Award Winner Cameron Ward — outgunned Texas State, 42-34. Coach Prime’s Jackson State also came up just short against Louisiana-Monroe, losing 12-7.
The fact still remains: Fear the FCS.
This week, there are a few games that should definitely draw some intrigue in the “upset alert” department, including one of the bigger ones that we will break down below. With the Ivy League getting off to a great start last week — five of eight teams posted wins — the FCS is whole once again as many teams dive into conference play this week.
With that being the case, expect a lot of big-time matchups this week that’ll for sure shake up my top 25 for next week.
For now, let’s take a look at how I have the teams stacked up in my Week 4 FCS Power Rankings.
1. Sam Houston (2-0): Fresh off of a bye week, the reigning FCS national champions are back on the field this week against Central Arkansas.
2. South Dakota State (2-0): Just like the Bearkats, South Dakota State is coming off of a bye, and they get to see if they can keep the winning going against Indiana State.
3. James Madison (3-0): JMU was able to get a great win against Weber State last weekend before heading into a bye this week.
4. Montana (3-0): So far, no team has been able to score more than seven points against the Grizzlies defense this season. Good luck this weekend, Cal Poly.
5. North Dakota State (3-0): The Bison head into the bye week undefeated with two weeks to prepare for in-state — and former long-time — Division II rival North Dakota.
6. Southern Illinois (2-1): The Salukis showed last week that their running game is equally as explosive as their passing game. Sophomore running back Javon Williams Jr. (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) is a legit beast!
7. Montana State (2-1): You won’t be able to argue with me about the Bobcats’ place in this ranking. They are legitimate contenders to get to Frisco, Texas, this year.
8. Eastern Washington (3-0): I don’t know what’s in the water up there in Cheyney, Washington, but they seem to be QBU of the FCS: Bo Levi Mitchell, Vernon Adams and now Eric Barriere, who helps them stay in every game the Eagles play.
9. Villanova (3-0): The Wildcats were able to outpace Richmond last weekend. This week is a bit tougher challenge against Penn State … but … should the Nittany Lions be on upset alert?
10. North Dakota (2-1): The Fighting Hawks were able to get back on the winning track against Drake; they now await their showdown against NDSU in two weeks as they head into their bye.
11. UC Davis (3-0): Like Myspace, Aggies QB Hunter Rodrigues should be in your Top 5 for Payton Award candidates. He’s been that good this year.
12. Weber State (1-2): This is a pivotal week for Weber State. I’ve been giving them the benefit of the doubt so far this season, but with a potential QB controversy looming, they need a win in the worst way possible.
13. East Tennessee State (3-0): The Bucs play good defense. The Bucs can run the ball really well. What does that equal? An undefeated team that is starting to look like the favorite in the SoCon.
14. SLU (2-1): The Lions get a bye this week, and what will be the challenge for them moving forward will be to ensure that the defensive performance we saw against Central Connecticut State was not an aberration but rather a sign of things to come.
15. Northern Iowa (2-1): UNI gets a week’s rest before heading into a tough part of their schedule that includes a three-game stretch of Youngstown State, North Dakota State and South Dakota.
16. Jacksonville State (2-1): JSU has played in some of the more entertaining games so far this season. They better be careful this week against the Skyhawks as UT-Martin is looking like a fly-in-the-ointment-type team
17. Monmouth (2-1): The Hawks finally started to look like themselves last week in their beat down of Charleston Southern. Let’s see if they can get a repeat performance this weekend against Holy Cross.
18. Austin Peay (2-1): Making headlines this week with their announcement of leaving the Ohio Valley for the Atlantic Sun in 2022, the Governors will face their future, and former, conference foe Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
19. Missouri State (2-1): Missouri State will get a chance to make a statement this week against the Coyotes of South Dakota. A win here could catapult them up the rankings.
20. Rhode Island (3-0): When the Rams return from their Week 4 bye, they’ll jump back into conference play with back-to-back home games against Stony Brook and Delaware.
21. Delaware (2-1): Speaking of the Blue Hens, Delaware lost its first game last week to Rutgers but are still one of the better teams in the FCS this season.
22. Richmond (2-1): The Spiders have to quickly rebound from a tough loss to Villanova last week to battle with Virginia Tech down in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Saturday.
23. New Hampshire (3-0): UNH hits the road this week to take on Pittsburgh. I’m intrigued by this game more than anything as the Wildcats are a very opportunistic bunch.
24. VMI (2-1): The Keydets nearly took a loss last week against Cornell but were able to get outstanding play from wide receiver Jakob Herres, who hauled in seven receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
25. Alabama A&M (2-0): QB Aqeel Glass was in his bag last weekend against Bethune-Cookman. The Bulldogs needed all four of his touchdown passes to slip past the Wildcats, 30-27.
Just missed the cut: Princeton, South Dakota, Incarnate Word, Furman, Jackson State
The Czar’s Game of the Week
South Dakota at Missouri State: Quietly, the Coyotes have gone under the radar so far this young season. South Dakota nearly upset Kansas in Week 1 and made light work of two FCS opponents in Cal Poly and Northern Arizona. They can get their run game whenever they feel like it and are stout defensively. It’s the “stout defensively” part that makes this game against Missouri State a very good matchup. The Bears, led by coach Bobby Petrino, have a well-balanced offensive attack that can work every area of the field in the passing game, while also being able to effectively run the ball. Something’s gotta give, right? We may get overtime in this one. Pick: South Dakota 20, Missouri State 17
NFL prospects to watch: Missouri State: DT Eric Johnson | South Dakota: LB Jack Cochrane, S Elijah Reed
The Czar’s Upset Alert
UT-Martin at Jacksonville State: I’m a big fan of how the Skyhawks have been playing ball this year. You have to give credit to QB Keon Howard, who is a grad transfer from Tulane. He has been exactly what this offense needed. He’s throwing to two legitimate NFL prospects in WRs Colton Dowell and Donnell Williams. Jacksonville State, although it is coming off an excellent win vs. North Alabama, that game shouldn’t have been close. It’s the inconsistency that puts them on upset alert this week, but it’s the consistency of UT-Martin that is capable of actually pulling it off. Pick: UT-Martin 30, Jacksonville State 21
The Czar’s Featured SportsLine Pick
Stetson at Princeton: The Tigers blanked Lehigh last weekend, 32-0, and will be looking to post back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1965. Princeton is a 35.5-point favorite in this game. Can the undefeated Hatters not avoid the shutout but also cover Check out my pick plus every Week 4 pick on SportsLine.
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