Back by absolutely no popular demand (and no unpopular demand)...here we are.
Check out the date on this screenshot I found a few days ago, looking for some pictures from a trip to Canada I took in 2017:
As listed, this game notably never happened: while Northwestern and Colorado DID play, they obviously did so in the Wildcats' final game at their temporary lakefront stadium.
Nor, though, did my planned attendance – the reason for taking this screenshot of an event that did indeed remain on my calendar for nine years – materialize. I'm sure 2017 me planned on starting a family with my then-fiancee, but two kids? Having just transitioned to a new tenure-track job with a commute? Juggling that and other life demands?
Probably not.
Thankfully, older and wiser 'Cat that I now am, I'm making plans to attend Northwestern's future road games. Here's how I'll make those work:
September 11, 2027: at Colorado
As part of a new book project and thanks to my double-sized research travel budget for the next two years, I'll have some research to do at CU on Wednesday through Friday – what are the chances?!
Bonus points if they want me to stop in and chat about my book and the Gary Hart Papers...but I don't want to be unreasonable.
TBA, 2029: at Rice
After seven years since I last taught there, I'll make my triumphant return to the Houston area when one of my former students (with whom I HAVE actually remained in touch) gets married that weekend.
September 6, 2031: at...UCF? really?!
Wildkit #1 will be 9.
Wildkit #2 will be 6.
...goddamnit.
We're going to Disney World, aren't we?
Table of Contents
- Thursday Evening
- Friday Evening
- Saturday Morning
- Saturday Afternoon
- Saturday Evening
- It's late and I'm drunk...
Thursday Evening
Don't Watch This
Albion Britons at Trine Theirbests [6pm, MIAA]
East Carolina Pirates (-4.5, O/U 47.5) at UAB Blazers [6:30pm, ESPN]
Georgia Southern Eagles (-3.5, O/U 47.5) at Old Dominion Monarchs [6:30pm, ESPN2]
East Central (OK) Tigers at Oklahoma Baptists [7pm, GACSN]
Southern Nazarene Magdalenes at Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs [7pm, Wright]
{NFL} whatever slop is on
Watch That
Colorado State Rams at Texas State Bobcats
7pm | CBSSN | Texas State -14.5 | O/U 71.5
Ah, to have one each of an American, Sun Belt, and Pac-12 game on Thursday night.
While you can probably suss out which one is the Pac-12 game, can you with 100% certainty tell me which of the ECU-UAB and GSU-ODU games is the Sun Belt and which is the American? Would you bet your mortgage on it?
James Madison – they of the 92-3 (approximate) record since making the jump to the FBS level a few years back – is moving from the Sun Belt (that's largely the Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Carolina/Georgia also-rans, plus Marshall and ODU) to the American by 2028. That brings the American to 15 members, leading CBSSN to speculate that Air Force could consider joining the AAC to be with sister institutions Army and Navy.
Frankly, I'm not entirely sure what makes the American more attractive at this point – who, if you can name the flagship AAC programs, would you say you're jonesing to play there? – beyond slightly tougher competition. The American is rapidly bifurcating into a Mid-Atlantic conference (JMU, Navy, Charlotte, ECU, Army, Temple), a Texas-ish conference (UNT, UTSA, Tulsa, Rice, Tulane), and whoever the fuck is left (Memphis, FAU, UAB, USF). I guess if you squint, it makes the American more competitive than the Sun Belt. Fewer Tuesday night games for the Dukes, too?
Anyway, Rams-Bobcats has an O/U of 71.5, and that beats the potential that these middling games (ECU-UAB and GSU-ODU) are any good. Head on a swivel, quad-box is your friend, etc.
Friday Evening
Don't Watch This
Memphis Tigers (-7, O/U 55.5) at Tulane Green Wave [6:30pm, ESPN]
Appalachian State Mountaineers (-1.5, O/U 50.5) at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers [7pm, ESPN2]
Watch That
Columbia Lions at Penn Quakers
6pm | ESPNU | Penn -6.5 | O/U 46.5
Washington Huskies at Purdue Boilermakers
7pm | FOX | Purdue -3.5 | O/U 52.5
You could also tell me that I have these designations exactly backwards, and I'd be hard-pressed to disagree. Tulane's not great under apple-cheeked Southern Miss reject Will Hall, though they've gone 2-1 in one-score games and only lost by 2 scores to K-State and Duke. Problem is, Memphis is more adjacent to "middling Big XII/ACC" levels of good than "average AAC".
I dunno why Columbia-Penn. The Lions – given that I saw their win over Marist last week – look like they have a vaguely fun offense. And Penn seems bad. But the Quakers are touchdown favorites, so what do I know?
Anyway, hey look, same vibes in Washington-Purdue! Could this be the week that Purdue turns back into a pumpkin? Could it turn out Elijah Brown was the answer all long at QB for Washington?
It'd warm my cold, dead heart if the answer was "yes".
Saturday Morning
Don't Watch This
Florida Gators at #7 Texas Longhorns (-10.5, O/U 52.5) [11am, ABC]
#16 CLANGA at #22 LSU Tigers (-14, O/U 58.5) [11am, ESPN]
Virginia Cavaliers at #24 SMU Cocaineponies (-9.5, O/U 52.5) [11am, The CW]
Florida Atlantic Fightin' Schnellies at Army Black Knights (-2.5, O/U 55.5) [11am, CBSSN]
Georgia State Panthers at James Madison Dukes (-12.5, O/U 58.5) [11am, ESPNU]
Balls Tate Robotbirds at Bowling Green Falcons (-6.5, O/U 47.5) [11am, ESPN+]
Pittsburgh Panthers (-6.5, O/U 43.5) at Boston College Eagles [11am, ESPN]
Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas State Wildcats (-4.5, O/U 55.5) [11am, FS1] – 🌻🌻🌻
Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Clemson Tigers (-43.5, O/U 58.5) [11am, ACCN]
Chicago State Cougars at North Carolina A&T Aggies [11am, Flo($)]
UMass Minutemen at Buffalo Bulls (-6.5, O/U 41.5) [12pm, ESPN+]
Charlotte 49ers at Temple Owls (-21.5, O/U 47.5) [12pm, ESPN+]
Western Michigan Broncos (-6.5, O/U 43.5) at Central Michigan Chippewas (-6.5, O/U 43.5) [12:30pm, ESPN+] – CANNON
Dear Jesus, Look at This Shit
Maine Maritime Mariners at U. of New England Nor'easters
11am | UNE feed | 0-6 at 0-5!!!
Since we last checked in with the Mariners ahead of Homecoming against Curry – MMU lost, 34-14, scoring its first 14 points of the year in its third game! – it...well, it hasn't really gotten any better, though QB Harris Stone is finally above .500 in both completion percentage (52.5%) and TD:INT (6:5).
The Nor'easters, comparatively (elite name), have lost three one-score games (by 1, 2, and 7) and have put up at least 21 points in every game. They should roll the Mariners by double-digits...but they might let Maine Maritime get above 10 ppg on the season (they're currently at 8.25).
Bluefield State Big Blue at Winston-Salem State Rams
12pm | CIAA Sports Network | 0-6 at 0-6!!!
OHHHHHHH YES.
In this battle of HBCUs, the Big Blue have collapsed upon getting into CIAA play, losing their last three games to Virginia Union, Lincoln, and Johnson C. Smith by a combined score of 113-7.
Yeah.
One-hundred and thirteen to seven.
Five different Big Bluey quarterbacks (and one kicker) have thrown passes in 2026. They are 66/144 for 5 TDs and 6 INTs. It's not much better on the ground, where they've run 225 times at 2.5 ypc.
Winston-Salem, meanwhile, has been shut out three times (out of six!) this season, including last weekend to Bowie State. They have scored 38 points total. If you thought the Bluefield passing stats were bad, the Rams have thrown 1 TD to 6 INTs.
This one could be first to 14 wins. I cannot wait.
Update: thanks to RossWB, distinguished Iowa blogger emeritus, for sharing this video that might just explain a little of WSSU's struggles
Winston Salem University grounds crew seen eyeballing the field yardage markers.
— Mr. RedDey (@UDCincyFan) October 12, 2026
Third down and ehhh pic.twitter.com/gcqTspTtrd
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Maryland Terrapins
11:30am | BTN | MD -6 | O/U 57.5
Y'know, now that I think about it, this might be a bridge too far for even me.
Watch That
#4 Ohio State Buckeyes at #5 Indiana Hoosiers
11am | FOX | OSU -3.5 | O/U 51.5
Cincinnati Bearcats at West Virginia Mountaineers
11am | TNT | WVU -1.5 | O/U 63.5
I'm sure these games might be good, too.
But MNW, what about...
#25 Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan State Spartans
11am | Le Coq | NU -7.5 | O/U 49.5
I won't, and you can't make me.
Saturday Afternoon
Don't Watch This
Auburn Tigers at #1 Georgia Bulldogs (-20.5, O/U 49.5) [2:30pm, ESPN]
#6 Alabama Crimson Tide (-8.5, O/U 52.5) at #14 Tennessee Volunteers [2:30pm, ABC]
Arizona State Sun Devils at #10 Texas Tech Red Raiders (-14.5, O/U 48.5) [2:30pm, FOX]
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Virginia Tech (-10, O/U 57.5) [2:30pm, ACCN]
Toledo Rockets (-6.5, O/U 53.5) at Eastern Michigan Eagles [2:30pm, ESPN+]
UNC Tar Heels at Duke Blue Devils (-3, O/U 47.5) [2:30pm, ESPN2]
Akron Zips at Miami Hydroxide RedHawks (-9.5, O/U 46.5) [2:30pm, ESPN+]
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (-4.5, O/U 46.5) at Rice Owls [3:30pm, ESPN+]
Troy Trojans at Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (-4.5, O/U 49.5) [4pm, ESPN+]
One More War Crime, as a Treat
Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Wolverines
2:30pm | CBS | Michigan -6.5 | O/U 42.5
NIU Huskies at Wyoming Cowboys
2:30pm | The CW | Wyo -7.5 | O/U 40.5
West Texas A&M Buffaloes at Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds
4pm | FloCollege | BATTLE FOR THE WAGON WHEEL | also 1-5 at 0-6
OK, three more war crimes.
The first two of these games are just...wow. Penn State and Michigan are disappointing for their own reasons, while the collapses of NIU and Wyoming football are just ugly. This season, with Jay Sawvel circling the drain, the Pokes have put up 13, 21 (against an FCS team), 10, 27, 0, and 16 – and they're somehow 3-3 (2-1 MWC). Northern, on the other hand, is 0-5 (0-1) and flagrantly non-competitive: they've been blown out not just by Iowa and Arizona, but by Georgia State and Air Force, as well as taken a home L to Illinois State, 28-24. Last week, in a 28-7 drubbing, Air Force attempted one pass. For their first season in the Mountain West, the Huskies' head coach, Rob Harley, is on a full-season interim appointment after Thomas Hammock NOPE'd outta there for the Seattle Seahawks RB gig. The DeKalb student newspaper has concluded "there is no light at the end of the tunnel."
Jesus.
I cannot wait to watch this slop on The CW.
That's only because I'm not shelling out money for FloCollege, which is where I'd be if I could for a couple games:
- #1 Ferris State at #13 Grand Valley State: the ANCHOR-BONE CLASSIC – one of the biggest and best in D-II, and
- West Texas A&M at Eastern New Mexico: the BATTLE FOR THE WAGON WHEEL!
The latter...[/chefkiss]. The Buffs have lost a pair of close games the last two weeks, to the Javelinas of TAMU-Kingsville and #23 UT-Permian Basin. The Hounds, on the other hand, appear to play as little defense as possible, allowing 35, 42, 56, 56, 56, and 61(!) en route to, shockingly, an 0-6 start. That includes, though, two one-score losses. On paper, the Buffaloes should walk out winners. But when the WAGON WHEEL is on the line, you THROW OUT THE RECORD BOOKS.
Watch That
[1] South Dakota State Jackrabbits at [11] North Dakota "Don't Look in Uncle Ralph's Secret Cabinets"
1pm | Midco+ | SDSU -12.5 | O/U 56.5
#13 Mizzou Tigers at #9 Ole Miss Rebels
2:30pm | SECN | Miss -6 | O/U 59.5
UNLV Rebels at Air Force Falcons
2:30pm | CBSSN | UNLV -1.5 | O/U 48.5
Many of you have commented on the ways in which the two Division I schools in North Dakota are presented on this weekly* feature.
My response: please look up "Ralph Englestad," then go to North Dakota and tell me if you think it should be framed any more gently than it currently in.
Anyway. The header for this article – "Could YOU win the FCS title this season?" is a statement on what I think is the imminent collapse of that league's flagship conferences, the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Big Sky Conference.
The former, home to three of the four Dakota schools (less NDSU, which has jumped to the Mountain West), will likely be down another Dakota within the next five years, when SDSU makes the jump to FBS. There are ambitions in Brookings and frustrations around fan interest with no more Dakota Marker games against the Bizon on the schedule. Beyond that, the Jackrabbits – close enough loss at Northwestern aside – have looked mortal in 2026: quarterback Chase Mason has been hurt, and while backup Josh Holst has stepped into the role adequately enough, teams do not yet have to respect his arm, keying to stop RB Josiah Johnson. The Jacks have gotten away with slow starts against Youngstown State, Eastern Illinois, and Illinois State; they are somehow a near-consensus #1 in FCS (52 votes to Tarleton State's 5), and their remaining ranked opponents – #11 UND, #9 South Dakota, and #19 Northern Iowa – do little to strike fear into any hearts.
Any normal season, that would mean it was going to fall to the Big Sky Conference, dominated by the Montanas for the last four years (and absent past winners Sacramento State, now getting dump-trucked in the fucking MAC of all places).
Well, the Cats and Griz are going through it right now.
Montana HC Bobby Hauck retired after last year, un-retired to become the Illinois defensive coordinator, and has been fired after five games. In his wake, delightful – but flawed – QB Keali'i Ah Yat has put up numbers for the Griz...but they've also lost some of their old defensive identity, the latest breakdown coming in a 49-44 loss to Northern Arizona in Flagstaff last weekend when Lumberjacks QB Ty Pennington (no, really) threw for a touchdown, ran for four touchdowns, and caught a touchdown on a trick play.
Yes, that's correct, one passing, one receiving, and four running...for the quarterback.
Hilarity.
Joining the Griz with a Big Sky loss was Montana State, who absolutely shit their pants in the Kibbie Dome – they called a timeout with :01 left, allowing Idaho to run a final play, which they converted for a long touchdown, then followed up with a game-winning two-point conversion. It was as dumb as you'd think.
The Griz now languish in 7th, with the Bobcats in 5th, looking up at #4 Lehigh (6-0), #3 Stephen F. Austin (6-0), and #2 Tarleton State (6-0). The Texans play absolutely fucking nobody (their best win came last week, 40-32, over #12 Austin Peay, and it'll be their only ranked win of the year unless Abilene or West Florida claw to a Top 25 spot); SFA barely survived unranked Incarnate Word and will only play one ranked team, Lamar, on 11/7; and Lehigh plays in the Patriot League, a conference less relevant than an STD clinic at the University of Chicago.
So: do YOU want to win the FCS Championship this year?
Give it a run! It's wide-open.
Saturday Evening
Don't Watch This
Washington State Cougars at Oregon State Beavers (-18.5, O/U 52.5) [5pm, USA]
Florida State Seminoles at #3 Miami Fluoride Hurricanes (-21, O/U 55.5) [6pm, ESPN]
Arkansas Razorbacks at Vanderbilt Commodores (-6.5, O/U 50.5) [6pm, ESPN2]
TCU Horned Frogs at Baylor Bears (-6.5, O/U 48.5) [6pm, FS1]
Kent State Golden Flashes at South Florida Brahman Bulls (-20.5, O/U 45.5) [6pm, ESPN+]
Arkansas State Red Wolves (-7, O/U 62.5) at Southern Miss Golden Iggles [6pm, ESPN+]
Nevada Wolf Pack at North Dakota State Remedial Ass-Wiping School for the Criminally Diarrhetic Bizon (-14.5, O/U 44) [6pm, CBSSN]
#2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-10, O/U 47.5) at #8 BYU Cougars [6:30pm, ABC]
#15 Kentucky Wildcats at Oklahoma Sooners (-7, O/U 43.5) [6:30pm, SECN]
Lhvl Crdnls (-14.5, O/U 56.5) at Syracuse Orange [6:30pm, ACCN]
Elon Phoenix at Stanford Cardinal (-32.5, O/U 52.5) [6:30pm, ACCNX]
Navy Midshipmen at UTSA Roadrunners (-6.5, O/U 56.5) [7pm, ESPNU]
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (-15.5, O/U 56.5) at UL Monroe Warhawks [7pm, ESPN+]
Watch That
wisconsin badgers at #12 UCLA Bruins
6:30pm | NBC | UCLA -2.5 | O/U 44.5
#18 Oklahoma State Cowboys at #20 Houston Cougars
6:30pm | FOX | Houston -4.5 | O/U 62.5
Black Hills State Yellow Jackets at South Dakota Mines Hardrockers
7pm | RMAC Network ($) | 141st BLACK HILLS BRAWL
Looking through the BLACK HILLS BRAWL previews got me interested when I noticed that fellow RMAC member Colorado School of Mines (go Orediggers!) sat at a record of 3-2-1.
A TIE! In THIS economy!
Back on September 5, the Orediggers took on the Washburn Ichabods in some good, old-fashioned non-conference play.
The game kicked off at 9am, as there were triple-digit temperatures in the forecast, but it wasn't enough – when the thermometer hit a wet bulb temperature of 92.1 (with a heat index of 107) in the fourth quarter and the forecast calling for extreme heat past sunset, the two teams called it as they headed into overtime.
It's late and I'm drunk...
Don't Watch This
San Jose State Spartans (-7.5, O/U 46.5) at UTEP Miners [8pm, MW+]
Ohio Bobcats (-14.5, O/U 48.5) at Sacramento State Hornets [9pm, ESPN+]
#11 Utah Utes (-15.5, O/U 49.5) at Colorado Buffaloes [9:15pm, ESPN]
New Mexico Lobos (-14.5, O/U 45.5) at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors [9:30pm, FS1]
Fresno State Bulldogs (-7.5, O/U 46.5) at San Diego State Aztecs [9:30pm, CBSSN]
Watch That
#21 Wake Forest Demon Deacons at California Golden Bears
9:30pm | ESPN2 | Wake -9.5 | O/U 53.5
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Oregon Ducks
10pm | FOX | Oregon -7.5 | O/U 52.5
Seven late games, six home dogs. Woooooooof. But also...
THE RAIOLA BOWLA!
Can't wait for the Huskers to come back home, though, where...
Der Viener Schlinger, the world’s first handheld hot dog launcher, can now fire a 2.67-ounce Fairbury Tomboy at 90 mph from Tom Osborne Field over the 165-foot-high skyboxes. The machine has come a long way, in part thanks to 170 UNL engineering students. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/RUjRedg
— Flatwater Free Press (@flatwaterfreep.bsky.social) 2026-10-14T18:07:15.743Z
DER VIENER SCHLINGER.
God bless a land grant university.
Congratulations to you on your imminent FCS title. Enjoy the games.
