On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 11
-USD, Mercer, Lamar, YSU, and NDSU all pick up wins in ranked matchups
-Playoff scenarios for teams and conferences, and how some Week 12 games impact the postseason picture
-Notable games include No. 14 Illinois State at No. 16 South Dakota State, No. 19 Lamar at No. 15 Stephen F. Austin, No. 17 South Dakota at No. 21 Southern Illinois, No. 9 UC Davis at No. 3 Montana State, and No. 11 Rhode Island at Maine
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 and Zach discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 10
-Which upsets were most surprising between:
No. 24/25 ACU beat No. 2/2 Tarleton State
Indiana State beat No. 4/5 SDSU
Idaho State beat No. 6/6 UC Davis
South Dakota beat No. 8/10 North Dakota
UIW beat No. 14/14 Lamar
Idaho beat No. 19/21 Northern Arizona
Southern Utah beat No. 22/24 Austin Peay
-What to do with teams like Tarleton State and SDSU?
-Did we jump the gun on the NDSU vs. the field talk?
-Top 4 playoff seed scenarios
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 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.

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 Eastern Kentucky preview. Can Tarleton keep it rolling?
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 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.

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. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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, Northern Arizona, Tennessee State, UT Martin. Which of these teams is LEAST likely to make the 2025 playoff bracket?
-What is South Dakota State's most likely record after its first 2 games?
-Will the House settlement era (schools revenue-sharing with players, in-house NIL, no scholarship limits unless conferences individually set them) create more parity in the FCS nationally, or will it widen the gap even more?
-Which FCS conference will see the next team move to the FBS?
-What are your expectations for the Ivy League champion and their FCS playoff debut this season?
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 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 for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.

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

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 Jawaun Northington
1:15:40 -- USD HC Travis Johansen, RB Charles Pierre Jr.
1:34:53 -- Indiana State HC Curt Mallory, LB Dallas Westhoff
1:46:00 -- UND HC Eric Schmidt, LB Malachi McNeal
1:55:25 -- Illinois State HC Brock Spack, DL Jake Anderson
2:13:20 -- UNI HC Todd Stepsis, TE Derek Anderson