Week 2 of the 2024 FCS season features two ranked matchups along with several other intriguing games.
Let’s predict some scores.
Predictions Record:
2024 Record: 7-1
2023 Record: 96-42
Week 2
UT Martin at SEMO
The Big South-OVC should be an interesting race. Eastern Illinois returns most of its starting lineup after a breakout season. SEMO has veteran leaders like QB Paxton DeLaurent, OL Zack Gieg, and LB Bryce Norman. Tennessee State is on the rise. And Gardner-Webb looks to stay atop the standings. But it was UT Martin who got the No. 1 slot in the preseason poll.
It’ll be a fun QB battle on Saturday between UT Martin’s Kinkead Dent and SEMO’s DeLaurent. Dent threw for 2,295 yards, 25 TDs, and eight interceptions last fall after he transferred in from Ole Miss. He’s a big reason why the Skyhawks are preseason No. 1. In the season-opener last week, Dent went 7/14 for 87 yards in a 41-6 loss at Kansas State.
DeLaurent, meanwhile, looks to replicate his 2022 season when he threw for 2,684 yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He missed half of last season with a shoulder injury.
SEMO is 1-1 but should be 2-0 with an FBS win. The Redhawks led 16-10 in the fourth quarter before New Mexico State came back to win 23-16. DeLaurent went 27/45 for 295 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the loss. A positive was he returned after leaving the Week 0 game (a win over North Alabama) with a shoulder injury. He was 14/17 passing for 96 yards and a touchdown in that matchup.
SEMO had a tough time closing out close games last year. It happened again last week. Fortune flips this week at home and the Redhawks pull out a nail-biting win.
Prediction: SEMO 34-31
Campbell at No. 17 Western Carolina
Two teams that battled FBS opponents tough last week. Campbell lost to Liberty 41-24, while WCU lost 38-21 at FBS No. 24 NC State in a game it led 21-17 entering the fourth quarter.
WCU’s Cole Gonzales looked the part of a top quarterback in the FCS. He went 22/35 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns and had 75 rushing yards on six carries.
Campbell has a talented roster, but its defense will have a hard time slowing down the Catamounts at home.
Prediction: Western Carolina 34-21
Elon at NC Central
I have Elon ranked No. 16 while NC Central is just outside of my Top 25. Last year, NC Central beat Elon 34-23.
Elon has a good nucleus back from its 6-5 squad. Its safety tandem is elite with Caleb Curtain and Khalil Baker, who is a transfer from NC Central.
NC Central lost its standout quarterback Davius Richard as he pursued the NFL. But the Eagles like who they have behind center in Walker Harris. He’ll have to be more efficient than 9/18 for 119 yards and a touchdown in a 31-24 win over Alabama State to find success against a good Elon defense.
Prediction: Elon 28-24
No. 10 Southern Illinois at Austin Peay
Austin Peay has consistently been in the playoff picture in recent years. But there are some unknowns about its 2024 roster. The Govs lost a lot of players to graduation or the transfer portal. Nearly 30 D1 transfers were brought in to replenish the roster. Their 62-0 season-opening loss at Louisville doesn’t give us many answers.
SIU is also coming off of an FBS loss, 41-13 at BYU. The Salukis have some rebuilding to do as well with a new starting QB and production to replace on defense. DJ Williams, a transfer from Murray State, finished 10/20 passing for 98 yards and an interception while rushing for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Its rush defense held up well, led by LB Colin Bohanek (12 tackles), limiting BYU to 3.8 yards per carry (47 attempts for 149 yards).
Expect Austin Peay to try and attack SIU through the air. But the Salukis should be able to control the trenches to earn a road win.
Prediction: SIU 31-21
No. 12 UIW at No. 1 South Dakota State
SDSU didn’t compete as well as some expected last week in its 44-20 loss at FBS No. 17 Oklahoma State. UIW looked OK in a 28-7 home win over a struggling Northern Colorado program.
Week 2 will tell us a lot more about both teams.
Is SDSU still the juggernaut that overmatches 95% of the FCS?
Is the No. 12 ranking for UIW deserved after it didn’t impress well enough to get into the 2023 playoff bracket with an 8-2 record (seven D1 wins)?
UIW won’t be able to beat SDSU at its own game. The Cardinals will have to try and go around the Jackrabbits and not through them, spreading them out and letting the talented arm of Zach Calzada do some damage. SDSU did allow 245 passing yards last week. But that was a Big 12 offense. Keep in mind that the Jackrabbits return a mostly same-look secondary as last year’s team that ranked No. 8 in FCS passing defense (167.6 YPG).
UIW also played solid defense last year relative to its strength of schedule that ranked in the 80s.
I expect UIW to hit on some big plays offensively while its defense gives SDSU’s offense a stiff test. At least in the first half. Eventually, in the final two quarters, SDSU’s physicality will wear on UIW and the Jacks will pull away for a win.
Prediction: SDSU 38-21
No. 4 Montana at No. 23 North Dakota
UND has won 25 of its last 28 games inside the Alerus Center. The Fighting Hawks are 10-3 at home against ranked opponents since 2019. Montana hasn’t lost an FCS non-conference game since 2018.
It’s a great early test for a Montana squad eyeing a return to the national championship game. The Grizzlies were slow out of the gate in 2023 before peaking at the right time. Montana beat Missouri State 29-24 last week, a closer game than some expected and perhaps a sign that a slow start could occur again. Notably, the Grizzlies were without three All-American-level players: wide receiver/returner Junior Bergen, linebacker Riley Wilson, and tight end Cole Grossman. Their statuses for Saturday are unknown.
Similar to 2023, the Griz have a two-QB system to begin the year. Redshirt freshman Keali’i Ah Yat got the start last week before Fresno State transfer Logan Fife came in during the second half.
Montana can’t afford a choppy non-conference like last fall. UND, despite losing 21-3 at Iowa State, showed plenty of positives. The Hawks will be in the playoff hunt again, and they are a very tough team to beat at home. Montana also hosts ranked WCU in a couple of weeks. Dropping a non-conference game puts the pressure on the Griz to go 8-0 in Big Sky play to earn a Top 2 playoff seed and coveted home-field advantage.
Last week, Missouri State’s run-pass balance found success on Montana’s defense. I’m not sure if UND has that offensive balance yet. Its running game looked solid at Iowa State. The o-line, with four new starters, got a decent push. Gaven Ziebarth and Isaiah Smith are two great backs. But Montana’s rush defense should force enough third downs to give the Griz a chance to get off the field.
UND QB Simon Romfo will be in his second career start, and he’ll need to show some progression in the throwing game. An inexperienced QB and an o-line still gelling in pass protection going up against a pressure-heavy Montana defense results in the Grizzlies getting off the field on third downs while their offense hits on enough explosive plays for a hard-fought win.
Prediction: Montana 28-24
Tennessee State at No. 2 North Dakota State
The Bison should win this game. How they win will be most intriguing.
NDSU’s secondary got picked apart last week at Colorado, allowing nearly 450 passing yards. A part of that was Colorado just being that good. But there were also some holes, defensive breakdowns, bad tackling, bad angles, and missed assignments.
Tennessee State looks to contend for a playoff spot out of the Big South-OVC. The Tigers will test that NDSU secondary after veteran QB Draylen Ellis threw for 350+ yards in a 41-21 Week 1 win over Mississippi Valley State. Holding up in the trenches will be the challenge, though. NDSU’s d-line should be among the best in the FCS. And expect the Bison rushing attack to get rolling after an up-and-down game at Colorado.
Prediction: NDSU 41-21
