FCS Round-Up: Week 2, 2026

Welcome to our FCS Roundup, our weekly article which highlights all of the lower-level programs in action against the Mid-American Conference in one place.

We're through the first week of the non-conference season, and alas, the MAC did not get through unscathed. The only school to collect a win against an FBS team– incredibly– was UMass over Rutgers, while the conference went 3-10 overall. (The Western game was a win in our hearts, but is unfortunately a loss in the record books.)

If you've paid attention, you'll notice that's only two wins over FCS team in the conference. Alas, that's because Bowling Green fell to Tarleton State despite a late rally.

That puts the MAC at 2-1 against the lower levels so far, with Sacramento State taking a blowout win over Mississippi Valley State and Buffalo squeaking by UAlbany in the waning moments in their contrasts with FCS teams.

This Saturday seems to be the one many MAC teams ordained as "FCS Day", with an incredible eight games on the schedule. We'll be covering seven of those games below, with Akron vs. Robert Morris being covered separately due to the unique circumstances surrounding it.

We preview each team below in appearance order:

Wofford Terriers

• Who are they playing? Kent State, on Saturday, Sept. 12 at noon Eastern time
• Odds: Kent State (-13.5), over/under 46.5, per Covers.

Wofford comes in on a bit of a hot streak, starting 2-0 and winning eight of their last nine games dating back to 2025. They're "#26" in the FCS Coaches Poll as well; a good showing here would go a long way to being ranked.

The Terriers blew out the Citadel 42-14 in Week 0 thanks to all three phases dominating the game, with a special teams touchdown, two interceptions and five offensive scores.

Against a Gardner-Webb with an interim coach, however, the Terriers struggled. Wofford was limited to 208 total yards of offense while giving up 438 on defense, and managed to survive thanks in part to a kickoff-return touchdown and an interception in the final minutes of the game after an extended weather delay.

In ideal conditions, the Terriers want to maintain balance in both the run and pass; they average 125 rush yards and 150 passing yards per game so far this season, an improvement from last season's averages of 108 and 183, respectively.

Surprisingly, Wofford has struggled defensively despite keeping opponents to a net average of 13.5 points per game. In both prior games, they've been outgained by nearly 100 net yards, allowed teams to hold the ball over 12 minutes longer and allowed over 40 percent of third-down conversions. They've really leaned on strong special teams and aggressive ball-hawking to kill drives and keep pace.

Preseason second-team all-SoCon halfback Gerald Modest Jr. is the team's leading rusher and will be depended upon often; he's responsible for 194 yards and three scores on 39 carries. Eli Campbell, a first-team SoCon defensive back in 2025, is the defender to keep an eye on here. On special teams, Ivory Aitkens and Davis Penn each have a return touchdown, while the punt block unit has also scored once.

Colgate Raiders

• Who are they playing? Central Michigan, on Saturday, Sept. 13th, at 1 p.m. Eastern time
• Odds: Central Michigan (-25.5), over/under 49.5-50.5 depending on book, per Covers.

The Raiders are on the outside looking in for the FCS Coaches Poll Top 25, sitting at "#30" in the received votes section. Colgate has gone 2-0 to start the year with rousing victories over Fordham and Holy Cross to take control of the Patriot League standings.

Central Michigan head coach Matt Drinkall does not underestimate Colgate despite the sportsbooks believing this is a clear win for the Chippewas. He's familiar with second-year head coach Curt Fizpatrick from their shared time in the lower divisions and one of his former assistants at St. Ambrose, Pat Rotchford, is now Colgate's O-line coach.

"The meat of their program is right in the middle," Drinkall said. "... They don't ever run bad plays. They don't ever hurt themselves, they don't hit you with explosions. They are just methodical. They execute really, really well."

Indeed, the team is set up for success in the run game offensively, with Danny Shaban sitting at 308 yards and three touchdowns in his first two games as a starter. Shaban won Patriot League Player of the Week in Week 0 for collecting 231 total yards and two touchdowns against Fordham, and was six yards short of a second-straight 100-yard game on the ground vs. Holy Cross.

Wide receiver Matt Fogler has three of the team's four receiving touchdowns and leads passcatchers in receptions (10) and yards (198), while QB Jake Stearney (438 yards, four touchdowns, three INTs) handles the offense.

The Colgate defense was one of the most aggressive in FCS last year, sitting atop their conference in interceptions (15), and hasn't lost steam, averaging 12 points allowed per game, under 33 percent on third-down conversions and 519 total yards of offense.

Watch for linebacker Christian Magliacano (16 tackles, four TFLs, interception) and EDGE rusher Jordan Edgecomb, who collected two TFLs and a sack in his team debut last week.

Holy Cross Crusaders

• Who are they playing? Miami, on Saturday, Sept. 13th, at 1 p.m. Eastern time
• Odds: Miami (-33.5), over/under 50.5-51.5 depending on book, per Covers.

Holy Cross has historically been the bane of several FBS programs over the years as one of the best teams at the FCS level. They narrowly lost to old rival Boston College back in 2023 and NIU in 2025, but did manage to beat Buffalo on a Hail Mary in 2022.

However, the 2026 version of the Holy Cross team does not look particularly promising as far as upset candidates go. They're 0-2 heading into their game against Miami, taking near-identical 35-10 losses to conference foes in #11 Lehigh and Colgate.

In both contests, Holy Cross fell behind by three scores early, with a 21-0 gap to Lehigh by the end of the first quarter and 21-3 to Colgate deep into the second quarter, and could never find their way back into the game.

Their major glitch has been in redzone offense; the Crusaders have had eight visits into the opposing redzone and come away with only 21 points (two touchdowns, two extra points, two field goals). They also have a horribly untidy five interceptions (compared to one for opponents), which has kept them from being competitive.

Former Pitt QB David Lynch is under center for HC, and has been a roller-coaster; he has 577 yards passing and 13.1 yards per completion– but also has five interceptions to one touchdown and a 58 percent completion rate.

When the passes are on target, he has a pair of very capable receivers in Georgia State transfer Myles Abernathy and former Ball Stater Ty Curran, who each have 10 receptions– with a catch. Nine of Abernathy's 10 snags were against Lehigh, while seven of Curren's were against Colgate. The team averages 2.5 yards per rush at present, though it could be due to their brutal strength of schedule at the start.

Defensively, they've been behind the eight-ball due to the offense's woes, giving up 35 points per game. They've also give up an average of 216 yards rushing and 203 yards through the air per game to this point and have only one turnover forced and one sack.

Stony Brook Seawolves

• Who are they playing? Ball State, on Saturday, Sept. 13th at 2 p.m. Eastern time
• Odds: Ball State (-16.5), over/under 56.5, per Covers.

The Seawolves are off to a 1-1 start to their 2026 campaign so far, with two very entertaining contests under their belt.

Stony Brook got blitzed by a resurgent Delaware State team to the tune of a 24-6 deficit early in their Week 0 matchup before going on an 18-7 scoring run to tie the game in the fourth quarter, ultimately giving up a touchdown to lose the game with 1:54 remaining.

Week 1 saw a return home for the Seawolves to take on Lindenwood, where once again, they found themselves down 22-7 in the first half before putting together a second-half rally to snatch a 36-32 victory from the jaws of defeat.

They're able to make these rallies thanks in part to a productive passing game; in the win over Lindenwood, nine different passcatchers notched at least one reception. QB Quinn Boyd has done yeoman's work since ascending to the starter spot midway through 2025, with 2,078 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and just one pick (vs. Delaware State) on 66 percent completion. Merrimack transfer Seth Sweitzer is the leading receiver so far, with 17 catches for 238 yards and two scores already in the young seasaon, while redshirt freshman Keiden Guttierez (10 catches, 102 yards, two TDs) has kept pace and scored in both contests.

Former Western Michigan and UMass halfback CJ Hester leads the halfback room after a gap year with Michigan; he has 186 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the team has made their by limiting teams through the air. The Seawolves have only given up one passing touchdown all season and average eight yards allowed per attempt. However, their rushing defense could use work, giving up seven scores and nearly five yards per carry on average in two games.

EDGE rusher Khalid Bueno (six-foot-three, 215 lbs.) has paced the defensive line with 5.5 TFLs,2.5 sacks and three QB hurries on the season, while linebacker Joseph Garcia has collected 21 takcles and 3.5 TFLs.

Ball State can't afford to underestimate Stony Brook here given the tenacity the team has shown so far this season.

Sacred Heart Pioneers

• Who are they playing? UMass, on Saturday, Sept. 13th, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
• Odds: UMass (-24.5), over/under 53.5-54.5 depending on book, per Covers.

UMass follows up its program-defining win against Rutgers with its home opener against Sacred Heart. The Pioneers made their Coastal Athletic Association debut last week, with a 31-24 loss to Monmouth, who narrowly missed the FCS Playoffs last season.

The Pioneers’ quarterback Poochie Snyder was electric in his first start last week. Snyder threw for 191 yards and a trio of touchdowns while adding 67 yards on the ground. Dean Hangey could give the Minutemen trouble in the secondary. Hangey caught five passes for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Despite intercepting three passes, the UMass secondary had trouble containing KJ Duff last Thursday. Duff had nine receptions for 196 yards last week.

On defense, Sacred Heart had its own trouble defending the pass. The Pioneers allowed 237 passing yards and three touchdowns against Monmouth. The Pioneers were not bad against the run, but they were also not great. Monmouth ran for a respectable 123 yards on 25 carries. Ryan Palmieri and Myles Hamilton led the defense after each making nine tackles last week.

On special teams, Poochie Snyder handles punts and kickoffs for the Pioneers. Talk about versatility.

-- Omar-Rashon Borja

Central Connecticut State Blue Devils

• Who are they playing? Toledo, on Saturday, Sept. 13th, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
• Odds: Toledo (-35.5), over/under 53.-54.5 depending on book, per Covers.

The Blue Devils have look red hot in conference play in recent years, winning two consecutive NEC titles on the strength of an 11-2 NEC record.

They've done so despite living life on the margins with a lot of upperclassman talent; CCSU was decent in total offense (43rd) and defense (63rd) last season, but won six of their 11 games by one score or less (3-3 record) and both non-conference wins against lower-level teams (D-II American International and Saint Francis [PA] in their last season before reclassification to D-III.)

The tale of the tape has generally been when they meet better teams, they lose– though a one-possession loss to Dartmouth is commendable.

The Blue Devils suffered a 59-20 loss to #12 South Dakota last week, giving up eight touchdowns on defense (six passing, two rushing) to start the year 0-1.

CCSU lost seven first-team all-NEC players during the offseason, and look at a re-construction year. They're currently using a two-quarterback system with Connor Kenyon and rushing specialist Brett Griffis trying to replace the value of the now-departed Brady Olsen (formerly of UMass.) The two combined had 105 passing yards and a passing score vs. South Dakota, while Griffis led in rushing yards (43.) Issac Stopke (26 yards, TD) looks to replace the departed NEC OPOY Elijah Howard (1,138 yards, 11 TDs in '25.) Michael Trovarelli returns as the team's most reliable receiver after leading in receptions (44), yards (493) and touchdowns (six) in 2025.

NEC DPOY linebacker Jack Stoll and first-team running mate Malachai Wright are also gone defensively, leaving a big vacancy in the middle. First-team all-NEC DB Chris Jean does return to the fold, as does second-team D-lineman Wayne Coleman (41 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5.5 TFLs in '25).

Monmouth Hawks

• Who are they playing? Western Michigan, on Saturday, Sept. 13th at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time
• Odds: Western Michigan (-27.5), over/under 53.0-53.5 depending on book, per Covers.

Monmouth is in a time of transition, with former head coach Kevin Callahan retiring after 33 years on the job. Callahan personified Monmouth football; he was hired upon the team's founding in 1993, and led them through independence and multiple conference realignments before walking away with a 197-151 career record, three NCAA Playoff appearances, five postseason appearances and three end-of-season rankings.

Enter first-year head coach Jeff Gallo, a former offensive lineman at Monmouth who would eventually rise to offensive coordinator in 2019 under Callahan after 14 years of service as an assistant. He's 1-1 after a loss to #15 Tennessee Tech and a win over Sacred Heart.

Gallo's offense was the #1 unit at the FCS level in 2025, posting 498 total yards and 40 points per game in a season, led primarily by a fast-paced passing attack, averaging 322.5 passing yards and 176.5 rushing yards per contest.

New gunslinger Frankie Weaver has big shoes to fill after Derek Robinson's departure, but in five games in relief last year, Weaver finished 103-of-156 for 1,355 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Redshirt senior Gavin Nelson has led the receivers so far (13 rec., 129 yards, TD), while fellow returnee Tre Neal has caught seven TDs each of the last two years. Former West Virginia tight end Greg Genross (six-foot-seven, 235 lbs.) could be a matchup problem.

Rodney Nelson, last season's leading rusher, joined the Miami RedHawks this offseason, and will be replaced by a rotation of backs, including homegrown prospects Elijah Jennings and Kenny Smith Jr., who have collected three TDs so far this year.

The defense will be game for a challenge; they return All-American linebacker Jaeden Jones (118 tackles in '25), as well as Ryan Russo, Spencer Kishbaugh and
Charlie Sasso (combined 168 tackles) in the middle of the field, and could match up well against WMU's aggressive running offense.

The unit last year was average by FCS standards but had improved immensely from the season before. The staff also brought in several FBS transfers to inject size and speed into the mix, including former UMass linebacker Donovan Dyson. The Hawks could be bound for improvement.

Western will be on a mission in this one after the crazy week that was following the fallout from the Bail Mary Game.