Advertise on podcast: The FCS Edge

If you want a jam-packed episode of The FCS Edge, this could be the one for you. Following a weekend of upsets and a new No. 1 team, Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell analyze the FCS playoff committee’s Top 10 rankings. Also, our co-hosts discuss the freshman nominees on the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, Tennessee Tech football coach Bobby Wilder joins the show as a special guest, and the Week 8 Pick’em arrives with fingers crossed. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

The password is … chaos. Welcome to FCS football. On The FCS Edge, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell unwrap the twists, turns and, of course, upsets across the nation. They assess which recent results and upcoming schedules have the biggest impact on conference title races and the national championship picture. In addition, they predict key games in Week 7 to set up another big weekend ahead. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

There’s a new No. 1 team in FCS football and The FCS Edge goes right to it as South Dakota State coach Dan Jackson joins co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell to discuss the Jackrabbits. Of course, how the season got here and where it’s heading also are part of this week’s podcast. Plus, Week 6 predictions and answering the question of who’s best if unbeatens Tarleton State, Lehigh and Stephen F. Austin played in a round robin. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

It doesn’t get much better in FCS football than the action on the field. But off the field, there are many important topics behind the scenes. On The FCS Edge, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are joined by Big Sky Conference commissioner Tom Wistrcill to discuss the state of the Division I subdivision and its future, including the FCS championship game. Of course, we’re also looking toward Week 5 with predictions of key games and to what teams need to make bold statements. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

Following a week of many big developments in FCS football, this week’s storyline could be the shift to big conference matchups taking over the schedule. On The FCS Edge, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are breaking it all down. Plus, West Florida head coach Kaleb Nobles joins the show to discuss the Argonauts’ debut season in the FCS. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

The Ivy League is just getting started on it season, but the majority of FCS teams have played three games already, so there are plenty of data points and opinion to go around. On The FCS Edge, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are doing just that as they go around the nation and assess the highs and lows to date. Of course, they’re making predictions, too – and the Week 3 schedule offers competitive games. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

For every FCS win over an FBS program, there’s a high number of blowouts. With many more of those matchups this week, The FCS Edge co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell explore the big picture for whether it’s all worth it. Notably, FCS vs. FBS games are testing grounds for NFL hopefuls. Analyst and scout Gerald J. Huggins II joins the show to discuss FCS players who are on the NFL radar. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

Yes, it can get even better for FCS football after a thrilling opening week of action. In a schedule filled by games against FBS teams, The FCS Edge co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell break down the potential upsets. Norfolk State is playing in one of the FBS games, and head coach Michael Vick joins the show to talk about his Spartans program. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

It’s time to jump into the deep end of the FCS pool. On The FCS Edge, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are making predictions for both the 2026 season – from conference champions to season-ending individual awards to who’s playing in the final games – and the large Week 0 schedule. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

Three’s the best company and crowd when talking FCS football. On The FCS Edge, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell welcome in Sam Herder of HERO Sports as a special guest to form a preseason roundtable. The discussion runs the FCS gamut, from Top 25 analysis to hot takes to both on- and off-the-field issues. Our roundtable includes: Hot takes ahead of the 2026 season Sleeper teams entering the 2026 season Breakout quarterbacks and Eddie Robinson Award candidates Impact of new programs West Florida and Chicago State FCS playoff TV deals and future locations FCS-to-FBS logistics and long-term impact Being FCS commissioner for a day To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

The boys are back in town … The offseason is over, kickoff is nearing and The FCS Edge has returned with co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell. Not only do they review the Top 25 preseason poll and begin to set you up for the 2026 season, but their special guest is head coach Brent Vigen of defending national champion Montana State. Our interview with Brent Vigen includes: Dealing with the pressure of defending a national championship. How does Montana State approach player retention and transfer portal strategies? Offensive line and quarterback development at Montana State. Potential breakout players to watch for in 2026. The importance of leadership inside the locker room from returning players. The evolving college football landscape and potential FCS realignment. In addition, Craig and Zach discuss the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll and new national challengers: How deep does the FCS championship picture go? What can stop Montana State from repeating as national champion? Does NDSU's departure create a bigger group of national title contenders? Is the gap between the MVFC and Big Sky to other conferences getting bigger? Should FCS fans feel better about the transfer portal with the amount of returning talent across the subdivision? To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

National championship-winning programs tend to move up to the FBS, not across the FCS, but the Villanova Wildcats – 2009 national champions and semifinalists last season – have moved into Patriot League football – with the success (double figure wins in four of the last five seasons) expected to continue in Mark Ferrante’s 10th season as head coach and 40th on the Wildcats staff. Ferrante joins host Craig Haley on The FCS Edge for a revealing look into the switch in conferences, his program and old school/modern hybrid of a coaching style, and the 2026 season ahead.  Here's what you can look forward to in our conversation with Mark Ferrante: Villanova's transition from CAA Football to Patriot League Challenges of conference realignment in college football Strategies for team development and player growth Impact of travel and league structure on team performance Adapting coaching philosophy to modern college football To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

The Jerry Rice Award has a strong history of recipients since its inception in 2011, but during the 2020s decade, five of the first six standouts to be named FCS national freshman player of the year have made a transfer to the FBS level – all but Montana All-America running back Eli Gillman. On The FCS Edge, the 2023 Rice recipient joins host Craig Haley to discuss why he’s stayed in Missoula. Gillman also looks ahead to Montana being a national title contender, how he’s nearing the school’s all-time rushing yardage record, and why he’s a Grizzly and not a Bison. Here's what you can look forward to in our conversation with Eli Gillman: Eli feels time has flown by during his college years. The off-season training has been going well with new teammates. Coach Bobby Kennedy maintains the Montana football brand while adding his own style. Eli values team success over individual records. Improvement in understanding the pace of the game has been key for Eli. Managing the physical toll of the season is crucial for longevity. Eli believes he has an underrated elusiveness on the field. Winning the Jerry Rice Award boosted Eli's confidence and goals. Eli prioritizes loyalty to Montana over potential financial gains from transferring. Family support has been a significant factor in Eli's success. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram. Jump to your favorite part of our interview with Eli Gillman by using the chapter links below: 00:00 – Introduction 01:43 – Eli's journey: Reflecting on college football 03:03 – Coaching change: The impact on team dynamics 06:00 – Personal goals: Chasing records and team success 09:03 – The pressure of transferring and staying true to roots 12:00 – Family and support: The foundation of success 14:55 – The rivalry: Montana vs. Montana State 18:02 – Looking ahead: Goals for the senior year

After Youngstown State’s Beau Brungard became just the third FCS quarterback to have both 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season, he seeks to become just the third to win the Walter Payton Award for a second time in 2026. On The FCS Edge, host Craig Haley discusses that challenge with Brungard, how he was destined to lead the Penguins squad, and how good the upcoming season can be for both of them.  Here's what you can look forward to in our conversation with 2025 Walter Payton Award Winner Beau Brungard: Beau reflects on winning the 2025 Walter Payton Award and staying hungry after the honor. He looks back on his rare 3,000-yard passing, 1,000-yard rushing season. Beau explains what he enjoys most about being a true dual-threat quarterback. He breaks down his memorable 50-yard touchdown reception. He discusses how Youngstown State’s offense fits his skill set. Beau talks about lessons from the 2025 playoff loss to Yale. He shares why Youngstown State means so much to him and his family. He explains why he and other key Penguins stayed despite NIL and transfer interest. To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram. Jump to your favorite part of our interview with Beau Brungard by using the chapter links below: 00:10 Welcome to FCS Edge 02:00 Spring semester reflections and achievements 04:55 Significance of the Walter Payton Award 07:54 Quarterback training and development 10:43 Team dynamics and learning from past seasons 13:54 Looking ahead: The 2026 season 16:53 Personal life and future aspirations 20:01 NIL and team commitment

NFL Draft expert Eric Galko is on the clock. Our guest on The FCS Edge – from the East-West Shrine Bowl and Optimum Scouting – gives host Craig Haley an inside look at top FCS prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. Eric also discusses who’s under the radar, the evaluation process, draft leader NDSU’s move from the FCS, and much more. Here's what you can look forward to in our conversation with NFL Draft expert Eric Galko: FCS prospects in the NFL Draft Impact of transfers from FCS to FBS Scouting strategies for small school players Top FCS players in the 2026 draft class Role of the East-West Shrine Bowl in player evaluation To catch every episode, subscribe now and get The FCS Edge delivered straight to your podcast feed, or watch the show on YouTube. For all the latest FCS football news, head over to The Analyst. And follow us across social media on X, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.