Underdog Dynasty
An unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football blog
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Oklahoma State snaps 21-game FBS skid by stunning No. 6 Oregon
371 days ago, Oklahoma State was nothing more than a punching bag to Oregon. Perhaps the Cowboys’ 69-3 shellacking in Eugene was the nadir of their 21-game losing streak to FBS opponents, a reign of terror which extended from Week 4 of 2024 through Week 1 of 2026. Oklahoma State was coming off a stunning […]
UTSA recaptures I-35 Rivalry on late drive, beats Texas State, 31-26
Most college football rivalries were established decades ago. Some date back more than a century. But UTSA and Texas State — two programs that rose to FBS status together in 2012 — prove a rivalry doesn’t need decades of history to become bitter. The I-35 Rivalry began in 2012 between the two Central Texas programs, […]
Gardner-Webb’s Upset Bid at Liberty Falls Just Short
Few teams in college football have gone through the turmoil that Gardner-Webb has in recent weeks. Former head coach Kris McCullough was let go after just one game in the wake of off-field allegations after the Runnin’ Bulldogs Week 0 loss to Austin Peay. Assistant Pete Bennett had to take over as interim HC and […]
Week 2 in Big 12: Rivalries, top-10 upset bids, and conference play commences
The Big 12 opened the 2026 season with a 13-3 record. Things were off to a rocky start when TCU fell victim to an upset in Ireland, but Colorado allowed the conference to bounce back with an upset road win at Georgia Tech. In most other Week 1 matchups, the Big 12 played outmatched opponents. […]
Three things to watch in Week 2’s East Carolina vs. App State matchup
When two teams from the state of North Carolina meet on the gridiron, we’re usually in for a treat. East Carolina and NC State delivered two instant classics in the past two years. North Carolina and Appalachian State gave us three barnburners since 2019, including the memorable 63-61 opener in 2022. Four-straight Duke vs. North […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: South Florida Bulls @ Army Black Knights
Game notes Setting the scene Army and South Florida have never met as American Conference opponents. Yet, they met twice as conference opponents in 2003 and 2004. There was an extremely brief period of time where the Black Knights and Bulls shared Conference USA. Over two decades later, Army and South Florida reconverge with their […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: UCF Knights @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Game notes Setting the scene On Sept. 21, 2019, one of college football’s most impressive streaks ended in the Steel City. The UCF Knights won 25 consecutive regular season matchups heading into a Week 4 bout with the Pittsburgh Panthers. And the streak looked ready to extend to 26 when UCF piled on 24 unanswered […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: Tulsa Golden Hurricane @ Sam Houston Bearkats
Game notes Setting the scene The 652-day wait is over. The Sam Houston Bearkats are finally home. Last season, the Bearkats didn’t have the luxury of a single home game. Instead, they played their “home” games 70 miles south in downtown Houston, competing in a relatively empty Shell Energy Stadium deprived of a true student section, […]
Georgia Southern vs. Clemson: Previewing the Tigers with Shakin the Southland
This Saturday night in Death Valley, Georgia Southern and Clemson will clash for the first time since 2018. That was a memorable year for the Eagles and Tigers alike, which both produced their best records as FBS programs. Georgia Southern finished 10-3 in head coach Chad Lunsford’s first full year at the helm, capping a […]
FCS Week 2 Game of the Week – William & Mary Tribe @ Lehigh Mountain Hawks: How to Watch, Preview, Predictions
Date: Saturday September 12, 2026 Time: 2:00 PM (ET) TV: ESPN+ The Quick Hits It may only be Week 2 but both William & Mary (2-0) and Lehigh (2-0) already have conference wins under their belt. The Tribe, perhaps to the surprise of some, are off to an undefeated start after a stunning come-from-behind win […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: Memphis Tigers @ Boise State Broncos
Game notes Setting the scene Not many non-conference matchups have more significant stakes than Saturday evening’s showdown on the blue turf in Boise. Both the Boise State Broncos (0-1, 0-0 Pac-12) and Memphis Tigers (2-0, 0-0 American) are on the fringe of the AP Poll. Their winning percentages are polar opposites, but the Broncos and […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: UTSA Roadrunners @ Texas State Bobcats
Game notes Setting the scene The Iron Skillet between SMU and TCU is no more. The Bayou Bucket between Houston and Rice also was wiped off the schedule this year. Annual non-conference rivalries, including several in the state of Texas, are fading from college football. But the I-35 Rivalry is the solution. It’s a refreshing […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: South Alabama Jaguars @ Tulane Green Wave
Game notes Setting the scene Mardi Gras isn’t always a party. Sometimes it’s a battle. This particular matchup is between two cities that claim Mardi Gras as theirs. Mobile, where South Alabama resides, is considered the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States, with celebrations dating back to 1703. Meanwhile, Tulane’s home of New […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: Penn State Nittany Lions @ Temple Owls
Game notes Setting the scene “We should play Penn State or Pitt every year.” These were words of Temple head coach K.C. Keeler, who envisions a regional future for his Owls. Penn State and Temple used to play regularly, meeting 21 out of 23 years from 1975 to 1997 and 10 out of 11 years […]
Two redemption arcs, one backfield: Sanford and Hughes recapture magic at Houston
When Re’Shaun Sanford II first arrived at fall camp at Houston in 2023, he was expected to play a significant role in the offense as a true freshman. But the Harker Heights, TX native never got the chance to see his anticipated true freshman season materialize. During fall camp, he suffered a torn ACL in […]
Every Former FCS Player on 2026 NFL Rosters
The NFL season starts tonight and all 32 teams have finalized their 53-man rosters for the upcoming season. A wide away of schools and conferences, as they always are, will be represented across the league this fall. That includes the FCS. In fact, there are 109 total players on NFL rosters (active or injured reserve/PUP […]
2026 Week 2 Preview: Rice Owls @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Game notes Setting the scene Notre Dame lived up to its ranking by dismantling Wisconsin in Week 1. As a result, it moved up one spot to No. 3 in the AP Poll. The Fighting Irish are expected to maintain that ranking this Saturday, entering Week 2 as 44.5-point favorites over Rice in their home […]
Tulane switches QBs for Week 2; names Kadin Semonza starter
The Tulane Green Wave have already made a quarterback change after one game. Following a 17-3 season opener loss at Duke, where the offense failed to reach the end zone for the first time since 2019, Tulane head coach Will Hall announced Kadin Semonza will start at quarterback Week 2 against South Alabama. Semonza replaces […]
SC State is the Best HBCU Team Out There and Second Might Not be Close
The reigning Celebration Bowl champs may only be two games into their 2026 season but they’ve also done a great job at showing why last year’s HBCU National Championship was no fluke. Chennis Berry has built a dominant program top-to-bottom over in Orangeburg; a team that doesn’t take losing well and doesn’t do a whole […]
Jennings lights up Florida State with 430 yards; SMU wins delayed game, 27-24
When the calendar shifted to Labor Day, 137 of the 138 FBS teams had already taken the field in the 2026 season. Then, there stood the SMU Mustangs, perched at No. 19 in the preseason AP Poll and patiently waiting to kick off a season of lofty expectations. But the anticipation on amplified as time […]
The best and worst of Week 1 in the American Conference
All 14 American Conference teams have now taken the field in the 2026 season. Eight of the 14 teams secured a victory in Week 1, with Memphis improving to a conference-best 2-0 after starting its season in Week 0. Here are the best and worst things that happened in the American in Week 1 of […]
Five takeaways from Week 1 of CUSA action
The 2026 season is underway for Conference USA. Jacksonville State and New Mexico State kicked off their respective seasons a week earlier in August, but all 10 teams took the field for Labor Day Weekend. In the 10-game slate, the conference captured five victories but has yet to upstage FBS competition this year. Here is […]
Louisiana Tech joins rare 80-point club in 2026 opener
Many teams are capable of scoring 80 points in their season openers. However, very few do. Teams will pull starters, pull second-stringers, throw in the scout team, and drain clock in effort to prevent the scoreboard from looking too ugly. Oftentimes, the scoring threshold teams to shoot for lies within the 70s. The 80s are […]
Tulane doomed by offense, penalties in 17-3 opener at Duke
Last September, Tulane vs. Duke later proved to be one of the most consequential non-conference results of the season. It ultimately determined a College Football Playoff spot. Had Duke upended the Green Wave in New Orleans, the Blue Devils would have secured a bid in the 12-team field. But Tulane defended home turf in 34-27 […]
Trench advantage lifts Cincinnati to 34-15 win over Boston College
Saturday afternoon in Nippert Stadium was the setting for a rematch of the 2019 Birmingham Bowl. In that postseason contest, the Cincinnati Bearcats overwhelmed the Boston College Eagles in the trenches en route to a 38-6 victory. Seven years later, not much changed. Cincinnati handled Boston College, 34-15, to win its 25th consecutive home opener. […]
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