FCS vs FBS

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

In the wake of yet another bowl game embarrassment by the Hawkeyes, some are explaining that Iowa was just plain outmanned. Iowa cannot compete with the talent of folks like Stanford. And that led to me wonder how top FCS teams like UNI, Illinois State, and North Dakota State manage to compete with and sometimes beat FBS teams. And yet they do, year in and year out.

As we all know, one of Iowa's most talented Ferentz teams nipped UNI 17-16 on two blocked FGs to end the game. Iowa had all kinds of future NFL talent on that 2010 team. But UNI wasn't awed by Kinnick Stadium. And UNI nearly knocked off a Wisky team in Madison that would go on to the Rose Bowl. And we all know about ND State. Those teams aren't run out of major D-1 stadiums like Iowa was run out of the Rose Bowl. Not even close.

FWIW.

 

[awBison]

There is a big difference between the top 4 or 5 FCS teams and the rest of the FCS teams just like there is a big difference in the top FBS teams vs the rest of the field. The top two or three FCS teams would probably be pretty competitive at the FBS level. I think they could be mid pack or better in some of the major conferences. NDSU and UNI have had quite a few players that moved into the NFL and were very competitive even at that level. The big difference is that they don't typically have the depth that many of the better FBS teams have and they have more weak areas. Just are not as solid all around.

Long story short, there are always a few teams at each level that really step it up and success builds upon success. What teams do you think the best players are going to want to play for? A program that is known to consistently win and develop their players to the highest level possible or a mediocre team that usually sputters when it matters most?

 

[KFsdisciple]

Sure it happens that they compete here and there... 95 out of 100 look like the Rose Bowl, 3 are closer than one might expect and 1-2 you actually get an upset.

 

[awBison]

Sure it happens that they compete here and there... 95 out of 100 look like the Rose Bowl, 3 are closer than one might expect and 1-2 you actually get an upset.

I wouldn't go that far. NDSU has won 5 straight FBS games and three of those five were not even close. Kansas State was the Big 12 champion the year before NDSU beat them. They were even beating FBS teams when they were a DII team. Pretty impressive when you consider NDSU is a school of 15,000 students and they are winning against 50,000+ size schools.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota_State_Bison_football#Record_against_FBS_competition

 

[MepoDawg#]

Everyone acts like Iowa is 0-13 in bowl games under Ferentz and hasn't beaten any good teams.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

I'm just wondering how top FCS schools manage to compete, and sometimes beat, good FBS teams but Iowa is supposedly outmatched, outmanned when it plays the likes of Stanford and Tennessee. That's all.

 

[Hawks_Rock_12]

Everyone acts like Iowa is 0-13 in bowl games under Ferentz and hasn't beaten any good teams.

More like 6-7 with four straight loses and two straight blow outs.

 

[Hans81]

awBison - Hawks will rip NDSU next season. Hell, didn't Montana State beat NDSU this year?

 

[theIowaHawk]

I wouldn't go that far. NDSU has won 5 straight FBS games and three of those five were not even close. Kansas State was the Big 12 champion the year before NDSU beat them. They were even beating FBS teams when they were a DII team. Pretty impressive when you consider NDSU is a school of 15,000 students and they are regularly shutting down 70,000+ size schools.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota_State_Bison_football#Record_against_FBS_competition

Holy smokes! 70,000 plus attended schools? Which ones are those?

Congrats on winning at your level, planning to move up like Boise State?

 

[awBison]

I'm just wondering how top FCS schools manage to compete, and sometimes beat, good FBS teams but Iowa is supposedly outmatched, outmanned when it plays the likes of Stanford and Tennessee. That's all.

Holy smokes! 70,000 plus attended schools? Which ones are those?


Congrats on winning at your level, planning to move up like Boise State?

U of Minnesota. Upon checking I guess my estimate was a bit off. Main campus is around 51,800. Duluth campus is close to 10,000. They have a few other smaller campuses that probably put overall attendance around 64,000 or so.

Thanks. No plans that I've heard of. There is talk among fans and others but moving up involves a lot more than football.

 

[awBison]

awBison - Hawks will rip NDSU next season. Hell, didn't Montana State beat NDSU this year?

We'll see. I've heard the exact same bs 5 years in a row now so it is nothing new. Same story, same attitudes, same shocked fans in the fourth quarter year after year. The excuses the fans come up with are insane at all levels. But you couldn't handle our physicality (even though we have completely dominated them physically). But you had all year to plan for this game (like we have had any more days or hours in the year to prepare then they have). Excuse after excuse. I've noticed that even the announcers try to make up and search for excuses. Kinda funny really. Anything can happen. It is football.

Yes we did lose a couple games this year. I wouldn't say they were easy games as many games are pretty competitive at this level. We had a very young team and were rebuilding many areas with all the change. Still playing for the championship though so it could work out in the end. We are losing a few really good guys for next year but as young as the team was this year, I think we still should have a fairly solid team next year. Always tough to say with these things until the game/season is done.

 

[parker01]

I'm just wondering how top FCS schools manage to compete, and sometimes beat, good FBS teams but Iowa is supposedly outmatched, outmanned when it plays the likes of Stanford and Tennessee. That's all.

It's simple. The Rose Bowl was not simply a case of being outmanned. Neither was the Taxslayer. It was a matter of preparation, probably mostly mental. Something is being lost during bowl prep, and most likely bowl week. There are a lot of commitments, and it seems like the players haven't been adjusting to being taken out of their routine.

Iowa is not as good as Stanford, no doubt about it. But Iowa also managed to play their worst game of the season. They didn't have their legs, seemed lethargic and sluggish. Stanford is the better team, but if they had played in a regular season game I would bet almost anything it wouldn't have looked like the Rose Bowl.

Bowl prep needs to be analyzed and revamped. I don't know what is different, but something is going wrong in December. We haven't won a bowl game since Norm retired, I wonder what type of impact that has had in defensive preparation as well.

 

[awBison]

I'm just wondering how top FCS schools manage to compete, and sometimes beat, good FBS teams but Iowa is supposedly outmatched, outmanned when it plays the likes of Stanford and Tennessee. That's all.

There can only be one winner each game. Even the best teams lay an egg every now and then. I'd say Iowa's done really well this year. Enjoy it.

 

[BigHawk]

Most teams can gear up for one game........with the exception of Iowa in the rose bowl.....but I digress.

UNI..NDSU....can compete with the second tier teams in the BCC on a one game basis...maybe two.

They in no way can compete with Clemson, Bama ...OU......no way.

But they also couldn't handle a schedule that called for Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota ...on consecutive weeks.......NDSU lost to Montana and South Dakota this year so I'm not buying this juggernaut thing.

 

[awBison]

Define "juggernaut thing". Top FCS teams have matched up pretty strongly against mid level (maybe even upper level) FBS teams the last 5 or 10 years. If you don't believe that you haven't been paying attention and haven't watched FBS vs upper level FCS games. There are obviously differences in the various levels(pee-wee, high school, college D1, pro, etc.) of football. Everyone knows that, but the difference might not be nearly as big as you think it is. I bet the top two FBS teams would give most pro teams a run for their money and then some. Same concept applies.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Define "juggernaut thing". Top FCS teams have matched up pretty strongly against mid level (maybe even upper level) FBS teams the last 5 or 10 years. If you don't believe that you haven't been paying attention and haven't watched FBS vs upper level FCS games. There are obviously differences in the various levels(pee-wee, high school, college D1, pro, etc.) of football. Everyone knows that, but the difference might not be nearly as big as you think it is. I bet the top two FBS teams would give most pro teams a run for their money and then some. Same concept applies.

No, no, no, good for your winning ways but you are delusional.

FBS has like an 85% win rate against FCS historically. If the site I was looking at was correct, only 4 times has an FCS beaten a ranked FBS, one of those being a school that has been FBS for a decade now.

Even if you don't go back as far, FBS has won over 80% each year since 2000.

Seriously, congratulations on being the best FCS team and knocking off some mid-bad FBS teams, it is quite a run, and the reason it is quite a run is because it is improbable and unlikely to continue.

I know you want to hold on to the K State victories, and you should, but they have lost 7 times to FCS and are very much a year-to-year team bringing in JUCOs, so the year after/before a great year is entirely different, more so than many other programs.

Again, congrats, but do you think a DIII team could beat you? Sure, once, but still improbable.

 

[hawkcub]

The Bison fan reminds me of the UNI fans whenever they play Iowa since 2009. They have had great success in their division. KSU was big but the others not so much. Even the KSU team was a mid level team. NDSU will be like UNI the last 2 times closer then we want but we'll win.

 

[BigHawk]

Come on ...Alabama could not beat the worst NFL team...this is an old, tired argument that doesn't need rehashing. it wouldn't even be close. Bama has a redshirt guard from Iowa, that while a good player...wouldn't be able to compete with a five year 1 or 3 technique in the pros.....not right now or even for several years. That is one important matchup that would be an obvious critical mismatch.

I will apologize...you guys are a juggernaut for your level. And I agree, there is not a huge gap between the mid majors and the elite of your level. But the grind of a schedule in division 1 is a lot different than your level. Again, you lost to Montana and USD....even playing Iowa's schedule would leave you with 6-7 losses....if you take NDSU right now and you have to play big ten teams every week....different results.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Come on ...Alabama could not beat the worst NFL team...this is an old, tired argument that doesn't need rehashing. it wouldn't even be close. Bama has a redshirt guard from Iowa, that while a good player...wouldn't be able to compete with a five year 1 or 3 technique in the pros.....not right now or even for several years. That is one important matchup that would be an obvious critical mismatch.

I will apologize...you guys are a juggernaut for your level. And I agree, there is not a huge gap between the mid majors and the elite of your level. But the grind of a schedule in division 1 is a lot different than your level. Again, you lost to Montana and USD....even playing Iowa's schedule would leave you with 6-7 losses....if you take NDSU right now and you have to play big ten teams every week....different results.

There is a huge difference between the mid majors and FCS: Depth, the thing that is often the biggest issue in a grueling season.

Seriously, if an FCS starting qb/RB, or even lineman goes down, who is stepping in? If the Bison stepped up to FBS they may compete in a few years, who knows, but not even the most deluded fan should think they could compete in the MAC/MW/AAC, whatever for a season.

 

[pwhawk]

I've always maintained that the difference between the two divisions is 20 pounds and 20 scholarships. FBS players are normally bigger (especially at the skill positions). The 20+ more scholarships mean more depth obviously. The games are played early in the year and injuries haven't eaten into,what little depth the FCS teams have. The 'superbowl' effect early in the year is there as well. The game is essentially the same, just played with a different caliber and number of players.

 

[ANYCHawk]

I'm just wondering how top FCS schools manage to compete, and sometimes beat, good FBS teams but Iowa is supposedly outmatched, outmanned when it plays the likes of Stanford and Tennessee. That's all.

They have decent teams and usually play week 1 giving them an offseason of prep for one game.

Just look at the fames Mich-App State game. Michigan lost week one to App (and again week 2) but finished 9-4 with a Capitol Bowl one win over #9 Florida.

App state did win the 1-AA national title but they also lost to the second and third place teams in their conference. It wasn't like they rolled through.

You're premise is inherently wrong that these FCS compete. They play well for a game, but it's still the vast majority loss that one game and most would get worked playing a full FBS schedule

 

[5Fan5]

In the wake of yet another bowl game embarrassment by the Hawkeyes, some are explaining that Iowa was just plain outmanned. Iowa cannot compete with the talent of folks like Stanford. And that led to me wonder how top FCS teams like UNI, Illinois State, and North Dakota State manage to compete with and sometimes beat FBS teams. And yet they do, year in and year out.

As we all know, one of Iowa's most talented Ferentz teams nipped UNI 17-16 on two blocked FGs to end the game. Iowa had all kinds of future NFL talent on that 2010 team. But UNI wasn't awed by Kinnick Stadium. And UNI nearly knocked off a Wisky team in Madison that would go on to the Rose Bowl. And we all know about ND State. Those teams aren't run out of major D-1 stadiums like Iowa was run out of the Rose Bowl. Not even close.

FWIW.

Late to this party, so to speak, and many if not most issues with this OP have been duly addressed, but it bears mentioning that Mark Farley stated that there is no feasible way for a team such as UNI to compete against the likes of an Iowa and a Wisconsin in the same season. The physical toll on the Panther team that year was devastating. Yes, teams like NDSU, UNI, Illinois State can play the once a season game against FBS opposition and pull off an upset here or there, but there is no means for teams to compete week in and week out at that level.

Coach Farley has had Iowa in his sights for a long time now (as did several other UNI coaches before him). He is a fine coach and prepares his team well. The fact that many UNI players come from Iowa high school programs only lends itself to the on-field performance against Iowa.

As a NDSU fan you have every reason to be proud. There are some items you seem to omit though that bear notice. NDSU has played the 'one off' game against FBS opposition and competed very well. That said, beating Kansas and isu is really not worth bragging about (yes, the K-State win was/is impressive). Most anticipate a good challenge from NDSU on September 17th. We will all be able to see then how the game unfolds.

One advantage to a program like yours is the playoff system format. If I am not mistaken, NDSU has played the majority of its playoff games in its home venue. FBS teams, especially those domiciled in the upper midwest are not afforded that advantage. As well as NDSU has been known to travel to games, the Iowa game this fall has the potential to be a new and unique experience for Bison fans. Hopefully, you can be there to see for yourself what Iowa football is and how the Hawks compete against FCS teams.

 

[awBison]

Like I said, heard it all before. The whole physical toll thing is completely irrelevant IMO. We play football games all year just like any FBS team plays football games all year. Injuries happen on in both FBS and FCS. Show me some solid stats that show you more likely to get injured at the FBS level then you are at the FCS level and I might say that this has some miniscule level of validity. Until then I'm going to say it is complete BS. You're right we don't have the depth that the top FBS teams have and I'd say that is a major difference between the better FBS teams and the better FCS teams. However, if the guys don't get injured you don't need the depth. Just because you don't have depth that doesn't mean your team will necessarily have a bad season. I also fully agree that FBS teams overall are better than FCS teams. That should be obvious and that was never the point I was attempting to make. Especially when you're talking top 10 FBS teams vs mid level FCS there is a huge difference. No doubt they'd roll almost every game out of a million. I just think that it's not as far apart as many think it is overall. The really good FCS teams could beat a whole lot of FBS teams and rank pretty high overall. Lets face it, there are some really crappy FBS teams out there too.

Just for kicks I looked at the Jan. 6th 2014(end of the year) Sagarin ratings, NDSU was 17th and Iowa was 32nd. Even this year, Iowa is only ranked 23rd. So even with this year's great team Iowa is still 5 places behind where NDSU was with our 2013 team. This year our team finished out at 51st. We are a very young team with a rs freshman QB that has only played 8 games(our senior QB is out with a broken wrist) but has still done really well. More just inexperience than anything I think.

Then you have theIowaHawk stating that 85 some percent of FCS teams lose to FBS teams. True fact, but do you have any idea why or what is behind those numbers? If you do, you would realize that those numbers are very skewed and you certainly did not present a realistic view of what happens with these games. FBS teams are paying the FCS teams to play them and hand pick teams that they think they can demolish. Given that, I'd say the 15% of win just shows how competitive FCS really is. Even hand picking and paying crappy teams that they think they can demolish, they still get beaten around 15% of the time.
Imagine how bad the percentages would be if the better FCS teams hand picked their FBS teams and paid them a bunch of money to play. The results would certainly be a WHOLE lot different and it would be just as easy to get those percentages to go in the exact opposite directions just by picking and choosing which teams play each other.

In the end none of it really matters and it's all good either way; more just amusing than anything. Like I said, we'll definitely be the underdogs. That is how these games are designed. You guys have a great team and fan-base and should be even stronger next year. Good luck in the game. If everything aligns just right we might be able to make it 6 in a row. Hope it's a clean one with no injuries <fistbump>.

 

[awBison]

There is a huge difference between the mid majors and FCS: Depth, the thing that is often the biggest issue in a grueling season.

Seriously, if an FCS starting qb/RB, or even lineman goes down, who is stepping in? If the Bison stepped up to FBS they may compete in a few years, who knows, but not even the most deluded fan should think they could compete in the MAC/MW/AAC, whatever for a season.

You act like there is no depth at all. That is just not true and is ridiculous. Our QB (as well as other players) got injured this year. Another stepped in and we've rolled all wins since. Even our third string QB is really good. We've had numerous RB injuries and missed games too. Other fill in and win games. And on your other completely uninformed and ignorant statement, Sagarin put has put NDSU at the very top levels of all the conferences you've mentioned year after year and even in the upper levels of the better FBS conferences most years. Heck, our entire conference is pretty consistently rated near or above the conferences you listed and game results back that up. Making crap up, cherry picking numbers and insulting people doesn't change things, it just makes you look bad.

 

[hawkcub]

Like I said, heard it all before. The whole physical toll thing is completely irrelevant IMO. We play football games all year just like any FBS team plays football games all year. Injuries happen on in both FBS and FCS. Show me some solid stats that show you more likely to get injured at the FBS level then you are at the FCS level and I might say that this has some miniscule level of validity. Until then I'm going to say it is complete BS. You're right we don't have the depth that the top FBS teams have and I'd say that is a major difference between the better FBS teams and the better FCS teams. However, if the guys don't get injured you don't need the depth. Just because you don't have depth that doesn't mean your team will necessarily have a bad season. I also fully agree that FBS teams overall are better than FCS teams. That should be obvious and that was never the point I was attempting to make. Especially when you're talking top 10 FBS teams vs mid level FCS there is a huge difference. No doubt they'd roll almost every game out of a million. I just think that it's not as far apart as many think it is overall. The really good FCS teams could beat a whole lot of FBS teams and rank pretty high overall. Lets face it, there are some really crappy FBS teams out there too.

Just for kicks I looked at the Jan. 6th 2014(end of the year) Sagarin ratings, NDSU was 17th and Iowa was 32nd. Even this year, Iowa is only ranked 23rd. So even with this year's great team Iowa is still 5 places behind where NDSU was with our 2013 team. This year our team finished out at 51st. We are a very young team with a rs freshman QB that has only played 8 games(our senior QB is out with a broken wrist) but has still done really well. More just inexperience than anything I think.

Then you have theIowaHawk stating that 85 some percent of FCS teams lose to FBS teams. True fact, but do you have any idea why or what is behind those numbers? If you do, you would realize that those numbers are very skewed and you certainly did not present a realistic view of what happens with these games. FBS teams are paying the FCS teams to play them and hand pick teams that they think they can demolish. Given that, I'd say the 15% of win just shows how competitive FCS really is. Even hand picking and paying crappy teams that they think they can demolish, they still get beaten around 15% of the time.
Imagine how bad the percentages would be if the better FCS teams hand picked their FBS teams and paid them a bunch of money to play. The results would certainly be a WHOLE lot different and it would be just as easy to get those percentages to go in the exact opposite directions just by picking and choosing which teams play each other.

In the end none of it really matters and it's all good either way; more just amusing than anything. Like I said, we'll definitely be the underdogs. That is how these games are designed. You guys have a great team and fan-base and should be even stronger next year. Good luck in the game. If everything aligns just right we might be able to make it 6 in a row. Hope it's a clean one with no injuries <fistbump>.

And you sound like every UNI fan I know. At least UNI has that Iowa passed on many of these kids aspectacular to them. NDSU has had had great success and is solid. Probably will be like the UNI games since 2009 and Illinois state last year. Closer then we want but Iowa wins is by 10 to 14.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I'm just wondering how top FCS schools manage to compete, and sometimes beat, good FBS teams but Iowa is supposedly outmatched, outmanned when it plays the likes of Stanford and Tennessee. That's all.

Its their super bowl with a big game $$ check. That's what it is and seriously these teams have talent, but its only 1 game. They can go play lights out and pull out all the stops for this one game.

The transfer market has also been big for the FCS programs. Majority of the good teams have players who transferred from some FBS program and are playing in the FCS now.

 

[5Fan5]

Like I said, heard it all before. The whole physical toll thing is completely irrelevant IMO. We play football games all year just like any FBS team plays football games all year. Injuries happen on in both FBS and FCS. Show me some solid stats that show you more likely to get injured at the FBS level then you are at the FCS level and I might say that this has some miniscule level of validity. Until then I'm going to say it is complete BS. You're right we don't have the depth that the top FBS teams have and I'd say that is a major difference between the better FBS teams and the better FCS teams. However, if the guys don't get injured you don't need the depth. Just because you don't have depth that doesn't mean your team will necessarily have a bad season. I also fully agree that FBS teams overall are better than FCS teams. That should be obvious and that was never the point I was attempting to make. Especially when you're talking top 10 FBS teams vs mid level FCS there is a huge difference. No doubt they'd roll almost every game out of a million. I just think that it's not as far apart as many think it is overall. The really good FCS teams could beat a whole lot of FBS teams and rank pretty high overall. Lets face it, there are some really crappy FBS teams out there too.

Just for kicks I looked at the Jan. 6th 2014(end of the year) Sagarin ratings, NDSU was 17th and Iowa was 32nd. Even this year, Iowa is only ranked 23rd. So even with this year's great team Iowa is still 5 places behind where NDSU was with our 2013 team. This year our team finished out at 51st. We are a very young team with a rs freshman QB that has only played 8 games(our senior QB is out with a broken wrist) but has still done really well. More just inexperience than anything I think.

Then you have theIowaHawk stating that 85 some percent of FCS teams lose to FBS teams. True fact, but do you have any idea why or what is behind those numbers? If you do, you would realize that those numbers are very skewed and you certainly did not present a realistic view of what happens with these games. FBS teams are paying the FCS teams to play them and hand pick teams that they think they can demolish. Given that, I'd say the 15% of win just shows how competitive FCS really is. Even hand picking and paying crappy teams that they think they can demolish, they still get beaten around 15% of the time.
Imagine how bad the percentages would be if the better FCS teams hand picked their FBS teams and paid them a bunch of money to play. The results would certainly be a WHOLE lot different and it would be just as easy to get those percentages to go in the exact opposite directions just by picking and choosing which teams play each other.

In the end none of it really matters and it's all good either way; more just amusing than anything. Like I said, we'll definitely be the underdogs. That is how these games are designed. You guys have a great team and fan-base and should be even stronger next year. Good luck in the game. If everything aligns just right we might be able to make it 6 in a row. Hope it's a clean one with no injuries <fistbump>.

Your first sentence is quite apt... the truth is that you only think you have heard every thing when really you only hear/read what you want to believe.

The 'whole physical toll' thing is very relevant. In 2012, UNI opened the season at Wisconsin and then played Iowa two weeks later. Yes, UNI was able to compete to a degree, but it came at a high cost. The Panthers finished the year 5-6 which was one of only two seasons out of twelve to that point (now fifteen) that a Mark Farley coached UNI team has finished below 0.500. Note that the year prior (2011), UNI was 10-3 and Missouri Valley Conference champions. Oh, and the Panthers were 7-5 in 2013. Farley is on record stating that the toll of playing two FBS teams in one season was more than a D-1AA/FCS team could manage and still remain competitive in the conference portion of the year. You wishing to ignore this will not make it go away. (In other words, I will take the word of an actual coach over an anonymous message board poster every day.)

Sagarin? Really? As of just one month ago right now, Jeff Sagarin had Oklahoma as the second best team in all the land and Ohio State as the fourth best. Are you saying that you agree that those are accurate rankings? The Sagarin model is a regression analysis that has its own biases and flaws. The model begins with certain assumptions (i.e. Michigan was only deemed 38th beginning 2015 and Kansas State was ten spots better at 18th.) Do you think those were correct assumptions or were they off the mark somewhat?

Here is the down and dirty of it all. Iowa is 50-5-0 all time versus D-1AA/FCS competition. That equates to a 0.90909 winning percentage. Against the MVC, the Hawks stand at 28-1-0 (0.96552) overall. (Iowa lost to UNI in '98 - as in 1898. The four other defeats came at the hands of Colgate in 1938 and to Drake in 1896, 1908 and 1909. Conversely, NDSU has an overall record of 14-26-2 (0.35714) against D-1A/FBS teams. When playing Big Ten teams, NDSU is 2-13-0 (0.13333). (Yes the Bison beat a 1-11 Minnesota team by six points in 2007 and then had the magical thirteen point win over the 3-9 Gophers in 2011... congratulations on those wins!)

NDSU and Iowa have met up twice thus far. Iowa has won both games and those games were not close in score. Next fall is a whole new opportunity and the result certainly could be much, much different, but anything we say now is pure speculation.

Sure the numbers are skewed. The FBS schools determine who and when games against lower level opposition occur, not the other way around. The primary reason UNI played both Iowa and Wisconsin in 2012 was for the paychecks received. In a cost/benefit analyses, it was decided to play both Big Ten teams in a single year... funny how you do not see that happen very often at all. Why do you think that is?

Iowa opens the 2016 season with a game against Miami (Ohio) on September 3rd. That will be the focus of the team first and foremost. There is no need to look any further ahead until that game is completed. The NDSU game comes two weeks later and will be the game of importance beginning late Sunday, September 11th. It is fully understandable how the Iowa game is paramount in your interest as a Bison fan, just as it is flattering that you opened a HR account for the purpose of this single point of discussion. It will all sort itself out in due time. The question is will you be able to deal with the waiting?

 

[FranklinHawk]

Define "juggernaut thing". Top FCS teams have matched up pretty strongly against mid level (maybe even upper level) FBS teams the last 5 or 10 years. If you don't believe that you haven't been paying attention and haven't watched FBS vs upper level FCS games. There are obviously differences in the various levels(pee-wee, high school, college D1, pro, etc.) of football. Everyone knows that, but the difference might not be nearly as big as you think it is. I bet the top two FBS teams would give most pro teams a run for their money and then some. Same concept applies.

I'd be willing to take that bet.

 

[theIowaHawk]

You act like there is no depth at all. That is just not true and is ridiculous. Our QB (as well as other players) got injured this year. Another stepped in and we've rolled all wins since. Even our third string QB is really good. We've had numerous RB injuries and missed games too. Other fill in and win games. And on your other completely uninformed and ignorant statement, Sagarin put has put NDSU at the very top levels of all the conferences you've mentioned year after year and even in the upper levels of the better FBS conferences most years. Heck, our entire conference is pretty consistently rated near or above the conferences you listed and game results back that up. Making crap up, cherry picking numbers and insulting people doesn't change things, it just makes you look bad.

Rolled all wins since. Yes, against FCS. I get it, you love your team and are proud of them, good for you, enjoy it. Congratulations on misunderstanding Sagarin and your 135th ranked schedule, per Sagarin. Again, congrats, you get a lot of credit for how well you do, be proud of it. You ignore how Sagarin works and how they derive their numbers, you win against your competition, midmajors lose against theirs and they have opposite effects. Obviously if a team faces tougher competition week in/out, like a midmajor does over you, their statistics won't be as good, where yours can shine.

Everyone will admit, you are the best of the best of FCS. If you want to move up and join the big boys to pound your chest and prove your worth, be our guest, you wouldn't be the first team to do so. Strive to be Boise State.

Your starting QB is who, Carson Wentz? Second string is Stick? Looks like at least one writer thinks Wentz is as good as advertised: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...kota-state-qb-wentz-deserves-firstround-grade

Your backup? Looks like Iowa took a look at him, even got offered by Rutgers, so looks like a great FCS nab there. If you'd like, I'll gladly pretend that there is no fall off between your starters and backups ... even with so many less scholarships.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Illinois State was one of the golden FCS teams that so many wanted to pick over Iowa. Illinois State had under 100 yards total going in to garbage time. If you watched the game, like many of us did, it showed how completely mismatched the players were.

 

[parker01]

How about a top ranked Montana team playing against a hugely disappointing 2006 Iowa team? That was one of the biggest blowouts in Kinnick in recent memory.

FCS teams compete from time to time due to the "Super Bowl effect". Their players are highly motivated, not just on game day, but during game week. They watch more film, study tendencies harder, and prepare more enthusiastically. Sounds stupid, but it's true. Motivation manifests itself during prep, not on game day itself.