USATSI
You can smell the freshly cut natural grass and freshly painted field turf around the country. We’ve finally reached Week 0 of the college football season.
As usual, there was never a quiet or dull moment during the offseason in college football, even at the FCS level, so let’s get you up to speed, shall we?
Goodbye, Kennesaw State. The Owls are now out of the subdivision and playing as an FBS member this season in Conference USA. Also transitioning out of the FCS after this season are the Delaware Blue Hens, a blue-blood program, and Missouri State. Both teams will eventually move on to Conference USA as well, and as such they are ineligible for both their respective conference titles and the FCS playoffs this season.
It wasn’t all departures at the subdivision. Mercyhurst and West Georgia are stepping up from the Division II ranks to join the FCS. The Lakers are joining the Northeast Conference, while the Wolves will find a new pack amongst the United Athletic Conference.
And we’re not done with the rearranging of teams. Both Merrimack and Sacred Heart are leaving the Northeast Conference, opting to play as FCS Independents this season. Richmond also has decided to leave the CAA in 2025 to join the Patriot League.
There were also an eye-popping 30 new coaching hires as well.
Okay, you’re now caught up on all of the moving and shaking within the FCS. Let’s get to the football.
South Dakota State is your reigning Division I national champions, winning back-to-back titles and looking to make it three straight, which hasn’t been done since North Dakota State did it from…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-top-25-south-dakota-state-kicks-off-fcs-power-rankings-at-no-1-eyeing-three-peat/
Author : Emory Hunt
Publish date : 2024-08-21 19:59:28
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