Welcome to our latest and greatest preview series: the FCS Roundup! Each week, we will look to highlight all of the lower-level programs in action against the Mid-American Conference in one place.
Great news for the MAC: they went 3-0 against their FCS opponents last week! Bad news: they nearly lost in two of them. But hey, wins count whether they’re by 1 or 100 points.
This week will once again see the MAC take on three teams from the lower division, with seven more games slated to be played over
the next few weeks. Our roundup this week brings in a team from the Coastal Athletic Conference, the Northeast Conference and a familiar foe to several MAC clubs which faces their FCS curtain-call.
We’ll list them in order of appearance below:
Bryant Bulldogs
- Who are they playing? UMass, on Saturday, September 6th at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, Massachusetts
- Viewing options: The game will be available only on ESPN+; a valid subscription is required for viewing
- Radio options: Jay Burnham (play-by-play) and Matt Goldstein (color) will provide the UMass call on WHMP 101.5 FM & the Varsity Network App
- All-time series: UMass leads 1-0, with a win in the two schools’ only meeting in 2008.
It would be unwise for UMass to write off Bryant after nearly losing to Central Connecticut State last year. Bryant’s defense looked stellar last week against New Mexico State, holding the Aggies to 305 yards of offense. Michael Otty was a problem in that contest with two sacks, and matches up well with UMass’ front at 292 pounds. He’ll look to be a defensive leader for Bryant. The Bulldogs also have Azarel Juste, who intercepted a pass and is a matchup problem at safety with his six-foot-two height. The Bulldogs defense should keep things close against UMass if last week was not a fluke.
For everything their defense did, the Bryant offense simply could not capitalize. The Bulldogs particularly struggled in the run game despite featuring three talented transfers in the backfield: Dylan Kedzior (Buffalo), Elijah Elliot (Montana State), and Grant Robinson (Furman). Quarterback Brennan Myer had solid moments against the Aggies and has two reliable targets in Aldrich Doe and Tristen Riley, who each had five catches last week. Myer and the Bulldogs could test the porous secondary early and often.
Another aspect works in the Bulldogs’ favor? Their hunger for an FBS win.
The Bulldogs have never beaten an FBS team, and has arguably their best chance in front of them against UMass. Add in a possible sizable traveling contingent from nearby Smithfield, Rhode Island and this could be a trap game for the Minutemen.
Although Bryant is a formidable opponent with more motivation than UMass, the Minutemen should handle business at home— albeit not be without struggle. If the Minutemen establish the run early, they should run away with the game even despite Bryant’s talented front seven. UMass should right the ship here and get in the win column before playing Iowa.
St. Francis [PA] Red Flash
- Who are they playing? Buffalo, on Saturday, September 6th at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: UB Stadium in Amherst, NY
- Viewing options: The game will be available only on ESPN+; a valid subscription is required for viewing
- Radio options: Paul Peck (play-by-play) and Scott Wilson (color) will have the UB call for 1520 AM in Buffalo and 1280 AM in Rochester.
- All-time series: First-ever meeting
St. Francis’ defense had a solid performance and did what they could despite the depth disadvantage they had against ULM last week. Linebacker Geno Calgaro led the defense with 12 tackles (including two tackles-for-loss) against the Warhawks. Calgaro is undersized at five-foot-10, 214 pounds, but makes up for it with excellent instinct and football IQ. Defensive lineman Zachary Betts wrecked havoc with eight tackles and 1.5 TFLs of his own as well vs. the Warhawks. Buffalo should take the Red Flash front seriously after struggling against Minnesota. At safety, Collin Douglas is also undersized at five-foot-nine, 165 pounds, but was a ballhawk against ULM, with a pair of pass breakups and a forced fumble.
The Bulls’ defensive line struggled to get penetration against Minnesota, but that might not be an issue against SFU; Raphael Ekechi led the Red Flash rushing attack with 38 yards on 11 carries. St. Francis also used diminutive receiver Jahmil Perryman in the run game on edge plays and he was efficient with 25 yards on three carries. Look for the Red Flash to depend on the run game to lighten the load off an inefficient passing game. Quarterbacks Nick Whitfield Jr. and Jeff Hoenstine must improve if the Red Flash are to have any chance. The pair combined for 50 passing yards on 12-of-20 attempts.
St. Francis’ defense should cause Buffalo problems early, but the Bulls enter this one motivated to enter the win column. Buffalo may take some time to get into a rhythm but will coast after pulling ahead.
This will be the last time SFU faces a MAC team after a history of close contests— including an overtime loss to Akron and a stunning upset of Kent State in recent years. The Red Flash are set to reclassify to Division III in 2026, effectively ending their ability to play FBS clubs.
Long Island Sharks
- Who are they playing? Eastern Michigan, on Saturday, September 6th at 7 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Viewing options: The game will be available only on ESPN+; a valid subscription is required for viewing
- Radio options: Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Rob Rubick (color) will provide the EMU call on WEMU-FM 89.1.
- All-time series: First-ever meeting
It’s been a tumultuous time at the FCS level for the Sharks; they made the jump from Division II to FCS in 2019, aligning with a merger of LIU-Brooklyn and LIU-Post. The former Post Pioneers and Brooklyn Blackbirds combined to form the Long Island Sharks, and finished 0-10 in their inaugural campaign under long-time head coach Bryan Collins. Collins resigned after 23 years of service in the 2020 season, making way for Jonathan Gill— who then resigned after a 2-8 tenure.
A familiar name to Eagles fans then took over in 2022, as Ron Cooper would man the helm, leading LIU to back-to-back 4-7 seasons. 2024 was a struggle to start the year, with the Sharks going 0-6 through their first six contests, but they rebounded effectively, rounding out the campaign at 4-8 thanks to winning four of the last six games.
LIU drew a pretty stiff assignment to start the season this year, traveling to Gainesville to play the Florida Gators, losing by a final margin of 55-0. Such a beatdown really prevents learning much about what it is this Sharks team actually looks like heading into this weekend, but what we do know is that LIU is expected to compete for the Northeast Conference (NEC) title, being tabbed in the preseason coaches poll to finish third in-conference by season’s end.
This season sees the return of all-NEC second-team quarterback Ethan Greenwood at the helm after transferring in from The Citadel in 2024. Greenwood was effective as a dual-threat signalcaller, with 921 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions while also leading the team in rushing with 913 yards and five touchdowns. Greenwood even had two receiving scores in 2024. The hope is he can improve on his 52 percent completion rating in 2025, but early results have been positive.
UCF transfer Kam Ingram is set to tote the rock for the Sharks in 2025, while all-NEC preseason receiver Cory Nichols (21 catches, 185 yards, one touchdown in ‘24) and Deion Richardson (38 yards vs. Florida) look to be leading targets in the pass game.
On defense, the Sharks have a few thumpers to look for. Linebacker Rafael Fasolino collected nine tackles— including a genuinely impressive four tackles-for-loss— against Florida last week and will once again man the center of the defense. Fayetteville State transfer Elijah Casey will be alongside Fasolino after collecting eight tackles and the team’s lone sack last week. On the defensive line, look for second-team all-NEC contributor DQ Watkins, who had 41 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, a fumble forced, a fumble recovered and an interception. Also of note for the Sharks is cornerback Todd Bowles Jr., the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles. The younger Bowles was a preseason all-NEC selection after a 2024 campaign which saw him pick up 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
