These Four Teams Are The Favourites For The FCS Football Championship in 2021, Here's Why
An exciting fall season awaits all FCA football fans. In recent years, it isn't easy to make predictions, as unaccustomed teams sometimes break the usual pattern. We decided to narrow the list of title contenders down to four and briefly describe what's going on with the teams before the new season.
Sam Houston
(10-0, 6-0 Southland)
In the last ten FCS seasons, North Dakota State has won the championship eight times. Only two teams have broken that tradition: James Madison and Sam Houston.
The latter kept most of the leaders, and even the proven favourites would struggle against such a squad. The defensive line looks almost impenetrable, as it consists of Jevon Leon, Trace Mascorro, Jahari Kay, and Joseph Wallace. Cornerback Zyon McCollum is also a unit with exceptional size (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) and fluidity that comes with it, as the player made ten career interceptions.
The star of a 23-21 win against South Dakota State, wide receiver/punt returner Jequez Ezzard is also ready for another season. His two touchdowns in that game cemented Sam Houston's victory.
Any fan who's deeply interested in sports needs to know how the players perform. That's why the stats are so critical these days. Bookmaker operators, such as Betadria, which review is available here https://bookmaker-ratings.com/review/betadria-bookmaker-review-rules-support-sign-up-free-bets-site/, provide analysis on their websites most of the time for anyone who wants to know more about their team.
K.C. Keeler, the first to win an FCS title while managing two different teams, remains as a team manager to solidify the school's leadership.
North Dakota State
(7-3, 5-2 Missouri Valley)
It's hard to call the previous season anything other than "disappointing" for the Bison, a team that collects titles every year but fails in the national quarterfinals. And the 7-3 record is clearly below expectations.
To avoid a failure this fall, the Bison decided to bolster the quarterback position. Quincy Patterson, an impressive 6-foot-3, 235-pounder, transferred from Virginia Tech. Cam Miller, who played last year, will compete with him for a spot in the lineup.
Either of them will find strong support in Christian Watson. A wide receiver who made the most receptions on the team (19) and one touchdown in ten games last year. The player is deservedly rated as a top 2022 NFL Draft prospect in the FCS.
All-MVFC honorees James Kaczor and Jackson Hankey still lead the defensive line. The team will be in even stronger shape for the fall.
James Madison
(7-1, 3-0 CAA)
JMU head coach Curt Cignetti has put together a lineup that continues the tradition of success for CAA Football teams. By comparison, since '15, CAA teams have had the best record of any conference: 11 of 12 have made the FCS playoffs.
For James Maddison, the conference path seems too easy. The team has 38 wins in its last 40 games, with 14 straight wins. Perhaps that has relaxed the team before the national playoffs. That's the only explanation for the 24-3 halftime lead Sam Houston had in the semifinals, which helped carry the game to a win.
Quarterback Cole Johnson and WR Antwane Wells Jr. are joined by defensive end Bryce Carter, who can serve as a playmaker. The latter will help him against one of the best at his position in the FCS, defensive end Mike Greene. Place-kicker Ethan Ratke is performing at a similar level: he is just three career field goals shy of the FCS record of 75 set by Dan Carpenter.
If Curt Cignetti's team can have an entire season at the same level as the CAA, they will be one of the biggest contenders for the FCS championship.
South Dakota State
(8-2, 5-1 Missouri Valley)
SDSU starting quarterback Mark Gronowski was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. This loss will be all the harder on coach John Stiegelmeier, as the QB will not play the entire fall 2021 season.
Trying to replace a key player is a significant concern for the team before the start of the season. Keaton Heide and Chris Oladokun are fighting for the vacated position.
Offensively, the team has no other challenges, and defence may even be the Jacks' more important point. Linebacker Logan Backhaus, defensive tackle Caleb Sanders, and cornerback Don Gardner are the starters who star and lead the defence at SDSU. All, by the way, are first-team All-MVFC selections.
Also, the Jacks have been helped a lot by the calendar, and the team will play its main conference rivals at home.
