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Underdog Dynasty

An unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football blog

Latest Entries

Four things to watch in 2025 68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs. Delaware

Bowl Season resumes Wednesday night, featuring the second of five matchups between the Sun Belt and Conference USA. The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, AL houses the first-ever meeting between the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens. The matchup between 6-6 opponents fighting for a winning season kicks off at 8:30 p.m. […]

Montana, Montana State to Battle in a Brawl Unlike Any Other

It is well chronicled how intense and deeply personal the “Brawl of the Wild” rivalry between Montana and Montana State is. The top rivalry in the FCS is also arguably one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football as whole. A series that dates all the way back to the late 1800s has […]

2025 Gasparilla Bowl Preview: Memphis Tigers vs. NC State Wolfpack

Game notes Setting the scene Two of college football’s more under-the-radar stable programs meet for the first time ever in Tampa. NC State is bowling for the 13th time in 16 seasons. The Wolfpack receive an opportunity to claim an 8-win season for the seventh time in the last nine years under head coach Dave […]

2025 Xbox Bowl Preview: Missouri State Bears vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves

Game notes Setting the scene Achievement unlocked — new bowl game created. The Xbox Bowl debuts in Frisco, TX on Thursday night, serving as the effective replacement of the former Bahamas Bowl, which although fun for fans and viewers, was a logistical planning nightmare for ESPN Events. With Toyota Stadium under construction, this new bowl […]

Jax State wins close Salute to Veterans Bowl over Troy 17-13

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks won a second bowl game in their young FBS tenure as they overcome the Troy Trojans 17-13 in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl at Cramton Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. The game got going early with Jax State finding the end zone on their first possession, as Caden Creel found Brock […]

Ferrante, Villanova One Win Away from Historic Nashville Trip

Last Saturday head coach Mark Ferrante fought back tears in his on-field postgame interview after his Villanova team pulled off a 26-21 upset over #4 Tarleton State. The Wildcats needed a rally after falling behind 14-0 early but, after overcoming some early mistakes and weathering the storm, ’Nova prevailed. That win was the second of […]

2025 Cure Bowl Preview: Old Dominion Monarchs vs. South Florida Bulls

Game notes Setting the scene There is no history that connects South Florida and Old Dominion. But the two share one commonality — both teams’ last bowl games were extremely chaotic “you had to be there” moments, where any viewers knew their exact location watching the events unfold. Old Dominion squandered a 28-0 lead in […]

Maynard, Foster, Cook represent CUSA as AP All-Americans

Conference USA was well represented on the 2025 Associated Press All-American teams, generating three selections from three of the 12 member schools. Louisiana Tech strong safety Jakari Foster and Western Kentucky punter Cole Maynard earned AP First Team All-American honors, while Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook warranted a nod as an AP Third Team […]

Navy DT Landon Robinson earns 2025 AP First Team All-American honors

Only one player from the American Conference earned 2025 All-American honors from the Associated Press, and that’s No. 96 on the Navy Midshipmen. Defensive tackle Landon Robinson warranted a spot on the First Team as one of the best defensive players in the country. Robinson is no stranger to appearing as a First Team All-American, […]

FCS Quarterfinals Recap: Breaking the Bracket More

The FCS playoffs are down to its final four and, once again, things did not necessarily go how many people thought they might. While the Montana schools held serve at home and handled business, the other side of the bracket continued to spring chaos. Those two road teams won and advanced, making for a semifinal […]

Navy takes down Army 17-16 to secure CIC Trophy

The afternoon of the second Saturday of December is reserved for a historic rivalry. Army spends its entire season preparing to beat Navy, and Navy spend its entire season preparing to beat Army. But only one of those goals can be accomplished in each calendar year. The stage was set in Baltimore, MD with over […]

Tulane-Ole Miss rematch: What went wrong for Green Wave in September?

The old adage says, “It’s hard to beat a team twice,” and so far, that statement is holding up this year. There have been seven FBS rematches — including six on conference championship weekend — and the team that lost the first meeting won the rematch five times. We saw Virginia destroy Duke in mid-November, […]

2025 Army-Navy Game Preview

Game notes Army-Navy is beyond a football game. It’s a lifestyle. One Saturday afternoon is reserved every season for the two arch rivals, more associated with one another than any rivalry in college football. If you win the Army-Navy Game, your season is defined by it. If you don’t win, it’s a stain on your […]

Coastal Carolina hires Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard

Only two FBS head coaching vacancies remain as of the evening of Thursday, Dec. 11 — Michigan and Washington State. Coastal Carolina filled its opening Thursday by hiring Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard. Beard facilitated the Bears’ transition from the FCS to the FBS and posted a 7-5 record in the program’s debut season, […]

FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals Game of the Week – Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks @ Montana State Bobcats: How to Watch, Preview, Predictions

Date: Friday December 12, 2025 Time: 9:00 PM (ET) TV: ESPN The Quick Hits For the first time since 2009, Stephen F. Austin (11-2) finds itself in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. A hard-fought win over Abilene Christian last week sends the Southland champion Lumberjacks up north for a date with Montana State on […]

QB Byrum Brown opts out of South Florida’s postseason

The South Florida Bulls are closing in on their most successful season since 2017. USF controlled its own destiny for the College Football Playoff in the final month of the regular season, but a Nov. 15 at the hands of Navy prevented the Bulls from a path to the American Conference Championship Game. Still, it […]

How Rice landed a bowl bid at 5-7

Rice strolled off the field at Raymond James Stadium on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to wrap up an emotional night. The Owls were far from satisfied from their performance, getting decimated 52-3 by South Florida, as many of the 39 seniors honored one week prior at Rice Stadium completed their final college football game. Entering […]

Montana Hosts USD for Spot in Semis

One of the more eye opening results of last weekend’s second round was Montana’s 50-29 beatdown over South Dakota State. The Grizzlies and the Jackrabbits met in what many though might turn out to be an all timer of a game but it was UM that cruised out to a rather uninteresting victory. That has […]

Tulane hires assistant Will Hall as head coach

The Tulane Green Wave interviewed a multitude of candidates, but when the coaching search was complete, the team didn’t go beyond the walls of their facilities. Tulane hired Will Hall as its 2026 head coach. Hall served as the passing game coordinator for the 2025 season and previously operated as the program’s offensive coordinator in […]

Memphis hires Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff

The Memphis Tigers officially announced their head coaching vacancy on Monday, Dec. 8, just eight days after officially launching a search. Charles Huff will serve as the program’s 26th full-time head coach, leading the program for the 2026 season. Huff arrives with a 39-25 record as an FBS head coach after stints at Marshall (2021-24) […]

How Illinois State Beat NDSU and Sent the FCS Playoffs into Chaos

For the first time since 2016 the FCS championship will not feature someone with “Dakota State” as part of their moniker. That is, of course, because Illinois State pulled off one of the all time playoff stunners on Saturday afternoon when it knocked off #1 seed North Dakota State in the Fargodome at the same […]