FCS Nation

This week on FCS Nation Radio , we’re talking all things Ivy League football with none other than Tom Barton, the Ivy League correspondent you need to know. Tom breaks down the league as we head into Week 6 of the FCS season: why he’s high on Harvard, why Dartmouth is a real contender this year, and why he’s not quite buying Yale the way Kevin is. We also dive into the groundbreaking news that the...

🍋 HONORARY CAPTAIN OF THE WEEK: Noah Bennee, Tight End, Weber State University 🍋 On FCS Nation, Stone Labanowitz sits down with Weber State tight end Noah Bennee , our latest Honorary Captain of the Week, as part of the 2025 Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge. Joined by Sawyere Monson , Managing Director of the Grabner Network Office of Northwestern Mut...

This week on FCS Nation, Stone Labanowitz sits down with Southern Illinois’ starting quarterback, DJ Williams , for an inside look at the Salukis’ 3-1 start and the leader behind it. DJ’s journey from Harvey, Illinois, to becoming the face of SIU football is one built on resilience, adversity, and a chip on his shoulder that fuels his game. In this conversation, he opens up about: Overcoming hand...

It was a wild week in FCS football, and we’ve got you covered from top to bottom. Kevin & Stone break down big-time wins and upsets, highlights standout players, and looks ahead to a stacked slate of matchups. In this episode: Recap: #3 Montana State shuts out Mercyhurst, #4 Tarleton State stays perfect, #5 Montana rolls Indiana State, #7 Illinois State survives in double OT, #8 SIU takes back...

This week on the podcast, we’re diving deep into the biggest stories from FCS football. In Segment 1 , we recap all the action, from dominant blowouts like #2 South Dakota State’s 37-21 win over Drake to last-second thrillers like Montana’s 24-23 upset of #11 North Dakota. In Segment 2 , we highlight the Player of the Week and the latest Top 25 rankings, breaking down who’s rising and who’s fallin...

Presbyterian football is off to a historic 3-0 start, and at the center of it all is quarterback Collin Hurst . From rallying the Blue Hose back from a 21-point deficit in an overtime thriller against Furman to slinging touchdowns all over the field, Hurst has quickly established himself as the leader of this undefeated squad. In this episode, Collin opens up about his resiliency coming out of hig...

This week’s episode takes us to Carbondale, where Southern Illinois linebacker Chris Presto has quickly become more than just a defensive leader for the Salukis, he’s stepped into a much bigger role as our latest Honorary Captain of the Week in the Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge. Presto opens up about why the fight against childhood cancer is deeply p...

🎙️ This Week on FCS Nation Radio We’ve got a jam-packed show recapping all the action from Week 2 in the FCS. Segment 1 (10 min) – We start with the biggest storylines: Bryant and LIU both notch stunning FBS upsets, while North Dakota State and South Dakota State roll in very different ways. The Jacks’ double-overtime thriller over Montana State could already be the game of the year. We’ll also hi...

This week on FCS Nation Radio , Richmond Spiders defensive lineman TJ Baldwin joins us ahead of the Spiders’ matchup with Wofford on Saturday, September 6 at 6 PM ET . In this candid conversation, TJ opens up about life after injury, his role as a leader for Richmond, and what it means to return as an Honorary Captain for the second year in the Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade St...

Week 1 of the 2025 college football season is officially in the books, and what a start it was. We kick things off recapping two big FBS scalps: Tarleton State’s dramatic 2OT upset of Army and Austin Peay’s win over Middle Tennessee. We also break down statement performances from the FCS powers, including North Dakota State’s shutout at The Citadel, South Dakota State’s defensive showcase against...

South Dakota quarterback Aidan Bouman is back on the mic with us, and back for one more season in Vermillion. Bouman, who’s been part of this Challenge since it launched in 2023, joins Northwestern Mutual Managing Partner Chris Schenkel to talk about leadership, legacy, and using his platform for something bigger than football. Since stepping on the field for the Coyotes, Bouman has etched his nam...

Week 1 is here! We kick things off with a Week 0 recap, including Nicholls’ upset over UIW, Tarleton’s shutout win, and more. Then, we dive into early QB storylines before previewing a loaded slate of Week 1 matchups across FCS and FBS. Plus, a special conversation with South Dakota QB Aidan Bouman and Northwestern Mutual’s Chris Schenkel on the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Challenge, and of course, our...

In this powerful episode of FCS Nation Radio , Stone Labanowitz sits down with Liz Scott , Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and mother of Alex Scott, the little girl who inspired a movement that has now raised more than $300 million for childhood cancer research and family support. Together, they dive into the story behind Alex’s mission, from that very first front yard lemon...

There are college football fans… and then there’s Michael Barker . Known as the Ambassador of College Football , Michael has already done what no one else his age has, he’s the youngest person in the world to see a game at every FBS stadium (136/136) . And he’s not stopping there. With 93 of 129 FCS stadiums already checked off his list, Barker spends each football season crisscrossing the country...

College football is BACK, and so is FCS Nation Radio ! Kevin and Stone kick off the new season with a jam-packed Week 0 episode you won’t want to miss. First up, we’re joined by the one and only Michael Barker (@CFBCampusTour) , the craziest man in all of college athletics. Michael has already checked off 136/136 FBS stadiums and 93/129 FCS stadiums , and he’s nowhere near done. He gives us the in...

The Lemon Trophy Champion – Mark Gronowski Join us for an unforgettable interview with Mark Gronowski, winner of the prestigious 2024-2025 Lemon Trophy, awarded to the top FCS athlete who raised the most money in the fight against childhood cancer. Representing South Dakota State University, Mark rallied the incredible support of #JackrabbitNation, raising over $30,000 for Northwestern Mutual and...

The stage is set for an epic showdown in Frisco, Texas, as the top-seeded Montana State Bobcats (15-0) take on the powerhouse North Dakota State Bison (13-2) in the FCS National Championship! In this special episode, Kevin and Stone gear up for the big game, breaking down all the key storylines and sharing their journey to Frisco. Hear audio of Montana State Head Coach Brent Vigen and star quarter...

Kevin Marshall caught up with Eric Schmidt on FCS Nation Radio to talk about his return to the University of North Dakota as the new head coach of the Fighting Hawks. Eric’s coaching journey has taken him to some big programs—San Diego State, Washington, Fresno State, but UND has always held a special place in his heart. During his time at SDSU and Washington, Eric helped build defenses that were...

RECAP of the SEMIFINAL ROUND FCS COACHING CAROUSEL ERIC SCHMIDT -- UND HEAD COACH INTERVIEW GREY ZABEL | Honorary Captain of the Week Championship Preview

QUARTERFINAL RECAP JUCO RULING + NEW HEAD COACHING HIRES HONORARY CAPTAINS = South Dakota Coyote Quarterback Aidan Bouman and Northwestern Mutual's Chris Schenkel PREVIEW SEGMENT PICKS SEGMENT

In this episode, we sit down with Aidan Bouman, quarterback for the South Dakota Coyotes, who has led his team to the FCS semifinals. Aidan shares his inspiring journey this season, dedicating his play to the fight against childhood cancer. He takes us behind the scenes of the Coyote locker room and reveals what it took to reach this pivotal point in the season. Also joining the conversation is Ch...

PLAYOFFS?! Yep ... WE COVER IT ALL!

This week, we’re thrilled to spotlight Bo Belquist , standout wide receiver for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, as our honorary captain of the week! Thanks to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Northwestern Mutual, Bo is leading the charge in the fight against childhood cancer, showing leadership far beyond the field. Tune in to hear how Bo’s impact in this national fundraising challenge is hel...

This week, we’re honored to highlight North Dakota State’s standout offensive tackle, Grey Zabel, as our honorary captain of the week, thanks to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Northwestern Mutual. Grey has dedicated his season to supporting the fight against childhood cancer, showing that leadership extends far beyond the football field. Bison fans, you know the standard Grey and his team up...

RECAP EKU GOT ROBBED + FCS COACHING CAROUSEL PREVIEWING ROUND 2 PICKS SEGMENT ALEXS LEMONADE STAND HONORARY CAPTAIN OF THE WEEK