<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1UPXZM_0w9X238D00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1UPXZM_0w9X238D00" width="750" height="375" ></figure>Welcome to the FCS Football Talk podcast.On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:-Week 7 Three Game Balls and A Flag-Montana State gets a statement win, while North Alabama, Northern Colorado, and SFA pull off upset wins-Week 8 previews:<ul><li>An in-depth preview of No. 1 SDSU at No. 2 NDSU</li><li>No. 16 Rhode Island at No. 24 New Hampshire implications</li><li>Is Weber State at Sac State already a playoff elimination game?</li><li>Is Mercer at Samford a trap game? </li><li>Importance of McNeese at UIW in the Southland playoff race</li></ul>You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and Spreaker.​​SUBSCRIBE: FCS Football Talk<h2>3 Game Balls and a Flag</h2>Each week of the 2024 FCS football season, the FCS Football Talk podcast will award three game balls and a flag from the previous weekend’s action.The game balls are awarded to three standout teams or individual players, while the flag is thrown after a disappointing performance or questionable coaching decision.Below are the three game balls and a flag from Week 7.Zach’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag<ul><li>Game Ball: North Alabama</li></ul><ul><li>North Alabama stunned No. 10 Abilene Christian in a 47-34 upset victory</li><li>It was the Lions’ first win over a ranked opponent at the FCS level</li><li>The Lions have now won three consecutive conference matchups, moving to 3-1 in UAC play</li><li>The Lions generated over 500 yards of total offense and averaged 8.2 yards per play</li><li>QB TJ Smith: 17-of-24, 220 passing yards, 94 rushing yards, six total TDs</li><li>Wide receiver Kobe Warden: 9 receptions for 112 receiving yards &amp; 2 TDs</li><li>Freshman running back Jalen Fletcher led the Lions with 123 rushing yards (12.3 YPC) and one TD</li><li>The defense held Abilene Christian to only 101 total yards on their final five drives, including a game-sealing interception from Gregory Reddick</li><li>Reddick led the Lions with 12 total tackles </li><li>Jackson Bratton: 5 total tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery, &amp; 2 QBHs</li></ul><ul><li>Game Ball: Incarnate Word</li></ul><ul><li>Incarnate Word dominated Nicholls in a 55-10 victory, avenging last season’s loss to the Colonels</li><li>First time since 2022 that the Cardinals have scored 50 or more points in back-to-back games</li><li>The Cardinals suffocated the Nicholls’ offense, holding the Colonels to only 3.6 yards per play</li><li>UIW allowed only 260 total yards and forced four turnovers</li><li>Ten players recorded at least 0.5 tackles for loss or more</li><li>Mister Williams: 11 total tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 forced fumble</li><li>Linebacker Dune Smith had a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown</li><li>Quarterback Zach Calzada led the Cardinals with 270 passing yards and five touchdowns</li><li>Wide receiver Jalen Walthall: 4 receptions for 80 receiving yards and 2 TDs</li></ul><ul><li>Game Ball: Northern Colorado</li><li>Northern Colorado shocked No. 20 Weber State with a 21-17 upset victory</li><li>The first win over a ranked opponent since 2016</li><li>It was also the first win for the Bears since Nov. 12, 2022, and the first win under head coach Ed Lamb</li><li>The Bears finished the game with over 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns</li><li>David Afari led the Bears with 74 rushing yards, while Caden Meis recorded 60 rushing yards and one touchdown</li><li>Quarterback Kai’I Keone: 14-of-28, 118 passing yards</li><li>Keone led a 17-play, 98-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter, winning the game for the Bears</li><li>Northern Colorado’s defense forced four turnovers, including a game-sealing interception from Cam Chapa</li></ul><ul><li>Flag: Weber State</li></ul><ul><li>No. 20 Weber State collapsed against Northern Colorado in a shocking upset loss</li><li>The Wildcats fall to 3-4 (2-1 Big Sky) and may need to win all their remaining games to make the FCS Playoffs</li><li>It was a disappointing performance following last weekend’s upset victory over Montana</li><li>The Wildcats generated over 400 yards of total offense, but four turnovers were the difference in this game</li><li>Weber State fumbled twice inside the 2-yard line in the first quarter, allowing Northern Colorado to avoid a 21-0 deficit early in this game</li><li>Damon Bankston: 108 rushing yards (6.8 YPC)</li><li>Weber State faces a must-win game against Sacramento State next weekend before traveling to Northern Arizona in another potential elimination game for the FCS Playoffs</li></ul>Sam’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag<ul><li>Game Ball: Montana State </li><li>No. 3 Montana State beats No. 7 Idaho 38-7</li><li>MSU rushed for 360 yards while Tommy Mellott has put himself in the conversation for the Walter Payton Award.</li><li>Idaho is battling another QB injury when Saturday’s starter Nick Josifek went down with a broken collarbone, the same injury to Week 1 starter Jack Layne</li><li>MSU is now 7-0 with an FBS win and a ranked win</li><li>Idaho is 4-3 overall with 2 FCS losses, 3 ranked wins, and an FBS win</li></ul><ul><li>Game Ball: SFA </li><li>SFA beats No. 22 Lamar 27-20</li><li>SFA has won three straight, improving to 4-2 overall</li><li>Sam Vidlak throws for 329 yards in the win. This fall, he is completing 66.47% of his passes for 1,565 yards, 17 touchdowns, and two interceptions</li><li>SFA could be that No. 2 team in the Southland in the hunt for a playoff bid</li><li>Other teams, besides SFA, to watch behind UIW are McNeese, Lamar, and Southeastern</li></ul><ul><li>Game Ball: New Hampshire DE Josiah Silver </li><li>The three-time All-CAA selection and multi-time All-American is at it again</li><li>He had 5 TFLs and 4 sacks in a win at Elon. </li><li>This fall, he has 33 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks</li><li>In 2021, Silver recorded 80 tackles, 20.5 TFLs, and 12.5 sacks. In 2022, he had 55 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks. Last year, he totaled 45 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 5 sacks.</li></ul><ul><li>Flag: Sac State</li></ul><ul><li>After being preseason ranked No. 8, Sac State is now 2-4 overall and 2-2 vs. the FCS, dropping back-to-back games to unranked FCS teams</li><li>On Saturday, No. 18 Sac State lost 35-28 at home to Eastern Washington, who was 1-4 entering the game</li><li>EWU rushed for 289 yards and four touchdowns</li><li>Sac State likely has to win out to make the playoffs at 8-4</li><li>It hosts Weber State this weekend, who is in the same position with four losses. The Hornets still need to travel to Montana State and host UC Davis</li></ul></div></body>

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FCS Podcast: The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Showdown Is Here

Welcome to the FCS Football Talk podcast. On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:. -Montana State gets a statement win, while North Alabama, Northern Colorado, and SFA pull off upset wins. -Week 8 previews:. An in-depth preview of No. 1 SDSU at No. 2 NDSU. No. 16 Rhode...

FCS Podcast: The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Showdown Is Here

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