The FCS Edge

The Jerry Rice Award has a strong history of recipients since its inception in 2011, but during the 2020s decade, five of the first six standouts to be named FCS national freshman player of the year have made a transfer to the FBS level – all but Montana All-America running back Eli Gillman. On The FCS Edge , the 2023 Rice recipient joins host Craig Haley to discuss why he’s stayed in Missoul...

After Youngstown State’s Beau Brungard became just the third FCS quarterback to have both 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season, he seeks to become just the third to win the Walter Payton Award for a second time in 2026. On The FCS Edge , host Craig Haley discusses that challenge with Brungard, how he was destined to lead the Penguins squad, and how good the upcoming...

NFL Draft expert Eric Galko is on the clock. Our guest on The FCS Edge – from the East-West Shrine Bowl and Optimum Scouting – gives host Craig Haley an inside look at top FCS prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. Eric also discusses who’s under the radar, the evaluation process, draft leader NDSU’s move from the FCS, and much more. Here's what you can look forward to in our conversation with NFL Draf...

Sometimes fantasy football is real life. Just ask Chicago State football coach Bobby Rome II, who’s been building his FCS start-up program from the ground up and toward an inaugural season in 2026. Taking a break from the preparation, Rome joins The FCS Edge and host Craig Haley to discuss the process and what to expect from the Cougars in their debut. Here's what you can look forward to in our co...

FCS football is coming of a successful championship game in Nashville, Tennessee, but key decisions are on the way. The date for the final game of the 2026 season may change, and the host city beyond then is still to be determined. To put you more in the know, The FCS Edge with host Craig Haley welcomes back Ty Halpin of the NCAA to discuss the future of the FCS championship game and its host city...

Montana State’s overtime win over Illinois State in the FCS championship game was off-the-charts thrilling, and Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell break it down in The FCS Edge , episode 20. As part of the 2025 season’s final episode, our co-hosts also review many of the top memories. Here's what you can look forward to hearing in our season finale : Montana State's victory was a culmination of years...

FCS fans, take a bow, we’ve arrived in FCS championship week. The Montana State vs. Illinois State matchup is incredible, and Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell will get you ready for it in The FCS Edge, episode 19. From keys to the game to players to watch to predictions, our co-hosts break it all down. The Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show also will be held this week, highlighted by the announc...

Tighten your seat belt even more - FCS football is not for the faint of heart. One of its biggest rivalries and two party crashers fill the playoff semifinals just one week after the Celebration Bowl had its wildest finish. In The FCS Edge , episode 18, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell try to bring clarity to it all. Emphasis on “try” because their heads are spinning, too - but they’re read...

FCS college football is giving you a chance to sleep after Friday night’s quarterfinal, but set the alarm because this weekend’s schedule is can’t-miss with one big game after another. In The FCS Edge , episode 17, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell get you ready for all the action. How did we get to the Elite Eight of the playoffs as well as the Celebration Bowl? What are the keys to the gam...

You’re not still eating turkey leftovers, are you? No, no, no, throw it away and take a bite out of The FCS Edge , episode 16, where co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are serving up the fresh menu of the FCS postseason. OK, so they look back to the turkeys of the playoff first round (the winners, too). But they also preview and predict this week’s second-round games, and they make different...

Archimedes, Pythagoras and all the great mathematicians took a pass on trying to figure out the FCS postseason tiebreakers and chaos, but the good doctors are in the house to decipher it for you. In The FCS Edge , episode 15, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell dive into the big games and possibilities of the final weekend of the regular season leading into Selection Sunday. Here are some of t...

Before all the chaos on Saturday, relax, take a deep breath and embrace the playoff possibilities with The FCS Edge . No wait, In episode 14, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are bursting bubbles, discussing the wild scenarios, and predicting key games. Yeah, chaos rules. Craig and Zach also welcome in special guests Chris Grant, the Southland Conference commissioner, and Jef...

With Selection Sunday fast approaching, The FCS Edge has gone right to the source. In episode 13, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell welcome in special guests Mark Wharton, the chair of the FCS playoff selection committee, and Ty Halpin of the NCAA for an informative conservation on how the 24-team field is being built. Also, Craig and Zach preview and predict key games, pondering if the Week...

Even the Bison – OK, Bizon! – want to be the GOAT. On episode 12 of The FCS Edge , living legend Jerry Rice – the GOAT – joins co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell for a lively conservation on his FCS roots and national freshman player of the year award. Here's some of the highlights from our chat with Jerry Rice Jerry acknowledges the greatness of his peers in the NFL. He believes in the power...

The 2025 FCS season’s biggest regular-season showdown is here – No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 2 South Dakota State, the Dakota Marker Game – and The FCS Edge is all over it in episode 11. Co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell break down the keys to the game and the significance of the matchup before making their predictions. And like all Montana fans, they’re boarding the Panda Express in ant...

Have you caught your breath yet from Jackson State’s thrilling win over Alabama State? On The FCS Edge , co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are still trying, like many of us, so in episode 10, they brought in the right person to put it in perspective – Tigers head coach T.C. Taylor, who joins as a special guest. Here are the highlights from our chat with T.C. Taylor The recent win against Ala...

There have been special guests on The FCS Edge this season, but in episode 9, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell welcome in perhaps the greatest Buck Buchanan Award recipient, Jared Allen. The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee reflects on his playing career, compares the FCS between then and now, and, of course, shares his love of the sport of curling. Here are the highlights from our i...

Catch them if you can. In The FCS Edge , episode 8, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are exploring who’s sprinted out of the starting block of the 2025 season, from the Montana Grizzlies to the key MVFC powers with big matchups this week to players out in front of the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan award conversations. There aren’t many teams that have had a faster start than Tennessee Tec...

The FCS football schedule is shifting more into conference matchups, and, oh, is it about to get more heated (and downright wacky). In The FCS Edge , episode 7, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell break down the best teams and races. NFL teams aren’t just looking at the key games, they’re looking at the best FCS prospects in the leadup to the 2026 NFL Draft. Craig and Zach are here to pinpoint...

There’s enough early season data for The FCS Edge co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell to pinpoint where teams stand. Mostly, that is as some teams remain a puzzle in our "FCS Stock Report." But in episode 6, Craig and Zach look across FCS nation to help identify the contenders and the pretenders. Monmouth is one of the impressive teams. Hawks coach Kevin Callahan joins the show as a special gu...

Some teams look like they’re in midseason form, others are trying to resist hitting the panic button. In “ The FCS Edge, ” episode 5, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are assessing the way different teams have made a start to the FCS season. One team that only knows success to date is UTRGV. Coach Travis Bush joins the show as a special guest to discuss the Vaqueros’ fast start and the buil...

Whether it’s the good, bad or ugly, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell are all over the Top 25 rankings rumblings in “ The FCS Edge, ” episode 4. That No. 2 South Dakota State and No. 3 Montana State are meeting in a playoff-like showdown is a highlight, but the breakdown goes much deeper this week. Who’s too high and who’s too low? Also, CAA Football commissioner Joe D’Antonio joins the show...

They filled up pretty well on the appetizers when the 2025 FCS football season kicked off last weekend. But in “ The FCS Edge, ” episode 3, co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell go all in with the full course of Week 1 action. The schedule of games is delicious, including potential FCS vs. FBS upsets. Plus, Stan Becton from NCAA.com visits as a special guest to continue our preview and predictio...

No build-up is necessary, “ The FCS Edge ” has gone straight to the top at the start of the 2025 college football season. Coach Tim Polasek of reigning national champion North Dakota State joins co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell as a guest in episode 2 to discuss the Bison and the season ahead, including: North Dakota State is focused on continuous improvement this season. Managing expectati...

Get the popcorn ready, it’s the 2025 season debut of “The FCS Edge” podcast. The new season brings a new podcast name, as co-hosts Craig Haley and Zach McKinnell take you inside the Division I subdivision with their bold takes. In “The FCS Edge,” episode 1, they’ll review the Top 25 poll, make conference title predictions and analyze preseason watchlists. OK, make that two buckets of popcorn as th...