FCS Football Insider: 5 Predictions For Week 9 Of The 2026 Season

Only in the Ivy League, with its long history, rich traditions and timeless rivalries, will you find two teams represented by colors stealing the spotlight.

Oct 30, 2026 by Matt Cannizzaro

D1R 246 ft. Nathen Choute, Landon Dillon & James Odom1:17:32

In the spirit of Halloween and dressing up, I’ve come up with a completely off-the-wall tangent to turn this week’s predictions from another story that should be about 1,200 words into a 3,000-word odyssey that gives us more quality time together.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a fan of college football and familiar with the variety of mascots and costumes used to represent schools and teams. While some are playful embellishments of the real thing, others are perplexing, but deep-rooted in the long history of the institutions and make sense with the proper context.

What are some of the unique mascots out there? What are some of this week’s mascot matchups?

What would a pregame or halftime showdown between the two for an additional prize or bonus points look like?

Of course, you have your usual suspects from the animal kingdom – tigers, bobcats, wildcats, bison, jackrabbits, sharks, coyotes, bears, panthers, etc.

Then, come the alpha/songbirds – eagles, falcons, owls, gamecocks, mockingbirds, penguins, cardinals and a variety of hawks (sky, fighting, mountain, sea, red, river).

And the ones that are small in size but big in spirit (and maybe venom) – yellow jackets, bees, hornets, spiders, rattlesnakes and even adorable little terriers.

Next, enter the humans and supernatural beings – colonels, pirates, vikings, braves, pioneers, crusaders, bullfighters, spartans, buccaneers, cowboys, lumberjacks, devils, demons, wizards – and the ones that might be better in a card game or a duel than a contact sport, including a hatmaker, duke, governor and professor.

Then, the headscratchers – the Indiana State Sycamores and the Presbyterian Blue Hose, though the latter offers a distinctive nod to the school’s Scottish heritage and the blue stockings worn by athletes over a century ago. So, high-five for the sentimentality.

As we proceed into this week’s predictions, we’re still going to look at some of the most compelling and relevant contests on the schedule, but we’ll also look at what would happen in a sideline tussle between the two mascots.

Here are our featured games and picks for Week 9 of the 2026 season:

No. 15 Campbell (7-1, 4-0 CAA) at No. 25 UAlbany (5-3, 3-1 CAA)

Campbell is 7-1 overall and 4-0 in Coastal Athletic Association action and trying to stay in stride with front-runner Monmouth, which is 5-0 at the top of the CAA standings.

Should they both remain on their current pace, the conference title wouldn’t be decided until their head-to-head matchup Nov. 21, the final week of the regular season.

But there also are some other surprise contenders this year that could sneak in and really complicate things. Heading into Week 9, Bryant, Stony Brook and UAlbany all are 3-1 in CAA games and in position to shake things up as early as this weekend.

One of the early games to watch will be Campbell and UAlbany at noon Eastern. An hour later, Bryant and Monmouth will take the field.

Also, newcomer Sacred Heart has won three consecutive conference games to improve to 3-2 and join the mix. The Pioneers will travel to Stony Brook this week to try to add to the potential chaos.

Will there be any undefeated CAA teams come November? A log jam of one-loss contenders?

Tune in to FloCollege and the FloSports app to find out, as all CAA games are being broadcast live once again this season.

The Campbell-UAlbany showdown, the Camels vs. the Great Danes, will feature the leagues top passer, Campbell’s senior quarterback Kamden Sixkiller, who threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns last week against Maine.

Killa’ Kam leads the CAA in pass attempts (281), completions (188), passing yards (2,349), touchdowns (18) and passing yards per game (293.6), but he also has thrown the most interceptions with seven, so he’s not invincible.

Campbell has the No. 1 passing offense in the CAA with 302.3 yards per game, but also ranks last (13th) in passing defense, allowing 275.9 yards per contest.

So, the strategy should be pretty clear, right? Keep the ball in the air against the Camels, and figure out a way to get to Sixkiller – ignoring the fact that he always seems to be a step ahead of the defense.

Unfortunately for UAlbany, the Great Danes have the worst passing offense in the CAA and have managed just 167.9 passing yards per game this season. They’re No. 2 in rushing however, on the back of junior RB Rahshan La Mons, who is third in the conference with 83.8 rushing yards per game.

La Mons has run the ball 122 times for 670 yards and eight touchdowns, but also is a receiving threat. He has caught seven passes for another 81 yards and a touchdown.

Both teams are red-hot and on the rise. Campbell finally seems comfortable in the CAA, and UAlbany has rallied from disappointing conference performances of 2-6 and 1-7 since winning a share of the title in 2023 at 7-1.

A win for either would be a huge statement and a big push toward possible playoff inclusion, regardless of who wins the CAA title and automatic bid to the FCS Championship.

For the Campbell-UAlbany mascot battle:

Camel racing is popular in the Middle East. They can reach speeds of up to 40mph, and modern races feature robot jockeys controlled remotely by someone in a car on a parallel road.

Great Danes don’t race as formally, but they’re known for size and athleticism. If they can keep up with the deep and speedy Campbell receiving corps and reel in Sixkiller, who might actually be a robot gunslinger, this could be a tight fight in both arenas.

Oh, and this will be the first meeting in history between the two teams, so there’s no precedent. Cheers to the beginning of a new rivalry!

*This game will be broadcast live on FloCollege on Saturday at noon Eastern.

Prediction: Campbell 28, UAlbany 21

Camel vs. Great Dane: The Camels will be faster on foot and scrappier in a rumble. Camel wins.

UPCOMING

2026 Campbell vs UAlbany

Tomorrow · 4:00 PM UTC

WATCH

No. 6 South Dakota (7-2, 4-1 MVFC) at No. 5 South Dakota State (6-2, 3-1 MVFC)

No matter what you call it – the DakotaDome Showdown (when it’s there), the Interstate Series or the Battle for the Little Brown Jug, this game has it all – a long history, an in-state rivalry and huge implications in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, as well as in the national picture.

South Dakota State and South Dakota first met on the gridiron in 1889, and they’ve played 119 times, with SDSU leading the series 58-54-7, and each team winning three of the last six meetings.

South Dakota won last year, 24-17, to deny SDSU a fourth consecutive victory. The Coyotes also won the two times before that Jackrabbits winning streak, which ended a run of 10 straight victories for South Dakota State from 2001-2018.

This time, the fight will be choreographed by SDSU’s second-year head coach Dan Jackson and South Dakota’s Matt Vitzthum, who’s in his first year at South Dakota.

Heading into Week 9, both teams are ranked among the top six teams in the latest American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches Poll and probably not at risk of missing the playoffs, barring a monumental collapse for either, but in the MVFC race, things have gotten complicated.

South Dakota is 4-1, with a loss to Youngstown State. YSU is 4-1 with a loss to SDSU. SDSU is a little behind at 3-1 following an Oct. 17 loss to North Dakota, which is lurking close behind at 3-2.

The scenario probably could’ve been similar in recent seasons if it weren’t for the domination of North Dakota State, which now plays at the FBS level. But with the Bison gone, the opportunity is there for chaos and a new MVCF dynasty.

For this week, South Dakota is making the 55-mile journey to Brookings, South Dakota, with momentum from an emotional 26-23 win over top-10 North Dakota last week, while the Jackrabbits are home for the second straight week and coming off a 42-9 rebound win against Murray State.

Prediction: SDSU 42, South Dakota 33

Coyote vs. Jackrabbit: There’s not contest here. Jackrabbits are quick and have a fighting chance to escape in an open field, but once caught, the coyote has all the physical advantage and a natural taste for rabbits and other small animals. Coyote wins.

No. 1 Tarleton State (8-0, 3-0 UAC) vs. Eastern Kentucky (3-5, 2-1 UAC)

Tarleton State is the top-ranked team in the FCS and would like to stay there, and so far, the Texans have handled the spotlight and remained perfect on the season at 8-0.

They’ll now return home to Stephenville, Texas, for a pair of conference games against Eastern Kentucky and Abilene Christian, which just jumped back into the AFCA top 25.

Tarleton State and ACU both are 3-0 in the United Athletic Conference, despite the latter being 4-4 overall this year.

If TSU can get past EKU, and Abilene Christian can handle last-place West Georgia, next week’s game could decide things in the UAC. But either team thinking that far ahead could lead to disaster.

In their three recent meetings, Eastern Kentucky has a 2-1 advantage over Tarleton State, including a 41-35 double-overtime win 2023, but TSU dominated last year’s game in Kentucky, 31-7.

The Texans should be able to handle 3-5 EKU on Saturday, and absolutely has to in order to remain a legitimate title contender – conference and national.

It also helps that Tarleton State leads the FCS in total offense at 506 yards per game – over 20 yards more than the next closest teams.

Prediction: Tarleton State 42, Eastern Kentucky 21

Colonel vs. Texan: While Tarleton State should have a clear advantage for the football portion of this game, some combat between a colonel and a cowboy could be a more even fight.

The downside for EKU fans, however, is that their colonel looks to be well on in years and more inclined for a whiskey and a rocking chair, rather than a midfield fistfight. Texan wins.

Houston Christian (4-4, 3-2, SLC) at No. 2 Stephen F. Austin (8-0, 5-0 SLC)

If you’re going to keep an eye on the No. 1 team in the country, you probably want to keep tabs on who’s at No. 2 – or the No. 1 team in waiting. In theory.

Stephen F. Austin has settled into the second spot behind neighbor Tarleton State, and the Lumberjacks’ record is nearly identical.

SFA is 8-0 this season and holds a slight advantage over Lamar in the Southland Conference. The Lumberjacks are 5-0, and Lamar is 4-1. They’re scheduled to meet next week on Lamar’s home turf.

Houston Christian also plays in the SLC and certainly still is in the conversation about the conference race, but anything less than a win Saturday against Stephen F. Austin, and that dream is over.

Since 2014, however, the Huskies are 1-6 against SFA, with the lone win coming in 2016.

The Lumberjacks enter this week having won the last four meetings between the two programs, including lopsided wins in 2024 and 2025. In those contests, SFA outscored HCU 105-9, winning 55-6 and 50-3, respectively.

It’s likely we’ll see more of the same this time around, though the Huskies did register a massive 88-0 win over Arkansas Baptist in September, so they definitely have the potential to put up some numbers.

Prediction: Stephen F. Austin 35, Houston Christian 21

Husky vs. Lumberjack: Sans weapons, this is an easy, primal win for the Husky. Either way, this feels more like a scene from a horror movie, rather than fun halftime entertainment. Let’s leave it at that. Husky wins.

No. 16 Harvard (6-0, 3-0, Ivy) at Dartmouth (3-3, 2-1 Ivy)

We haven’t talked too much about the Ivy League this year, so let’s take a peek at what’s happening up in the Northeast, where they actually start the season later and play fewer games.

Harvard heads over to Dartmouth this week at 6-0, with an opportunity to keep its unbeaten season going in a key Ivy League matchup.

The Crimson top the league standings at 3-0, but Princeton and Dartmouth both are 2-1 and would be glad to take control.

Harvard handled Princeton last week, and Dartmouth will travel to New Jersey to face the Tigers on Nov. 7.

Obviously, what happens between Harvard and the Big Green on Saturday is extraordinarily important, especially with the Ivy League now taking part in the FCS Playoffs. Big enough that the clash will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU on Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Dartmouth owns the most Ivy League championships with 22 and has won at least a share of the title in four of the past six seasons. Harvard is second with 20.

The two were picked second and third in the Ivy League’s preseason poll behind Yale, which shared the trophy last year with Harvard.

Prediction: Harvard 21, Dartmouth 17

Crimson vs. Big Green: Only in the Ivy League, with its long history, rich traditions and timeless rivalries, will you find two teams represented simply by colors stealing the spotlight on a cool Friday evening.

Dartmouth claimed green as a school color in the 1860s, and it quickly became the nickname for the sports teams.

Harvard followed a similar route a decade later, and the students chose crimson, by vote, as the official color in 1875.

So, red or green? Crimson wins.

All FCS Games On FloCollege This Week

All Times Eastern

Saturday, Oct. 31

If you haven’t yet subscribed to FloCollege, what are you waiting for? Things are really starting to get exciting.

Also, make sure to find FloCollege or FloFootball on social media to share your own thoughts and predictions.

How’d We Do With Our Predictions Last Week?

It was a banner week with a 4-for-5 performance and some close guesses on the scores.

Maybe my picker is warming up just in time for the conference runs and the playoffs.

Monmouth vs. Hampton

Prediction: Monmouth 42, Hampton 17
Result: Monmouth def. Hampton, 49-13

Tarleton State vs. West Georgia

Prediction: Tarleton State 33, West Georgia 13
Result: Tarleton State def. West Georgia, 49-6

Southern Utah vs. Idaho

Prediction: Idaho 24, Southern Utah 21
Result: Idaho def. Southern Utah, 31-28

Stephen F. Austin vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Prediction: Stephen F. Austin 45, Southeastern Louisiana 35
Result: Stephen F. Austin def. Southeastern Louisiana, 45-24

North Dakota vs. South Dakota

Prediction: North Dakota 17, South Dakota 10
Result: South Dakota def. North Dakota, 26-23 (OT)

AFCA FCS Rankings After Week 8 Of 2026

As of Oct. 24

Tarleton State (8-0) – 649 – Prev. 1
Stephen F. Austin (8-0) – 623 – Prev. 2
Montana State (7-1) – 591 – Prev. 3
Youngstown State (6-2) – 567 – Prev. 4
South Dakota State (6-2) – 543 – Prev. 5
South Dakota (7-2) – 520 – Prev. 6
Northern Arizona (6-2) – 482 – Prev. 7
Austin Peay (7-2) – 464 – Prev. 9
Illinois State (6-2) – 418 – Prev. 10
Tennessee Tech (7-1) – 406 – Prev. 11
North Dakota (6-3) – 374 – Prev. 8
Mercer (6-2) – 340 – Prev. 13
Lamar (6-2) – 319 – Prev. 15
Montana (5-3) – 317 – Prev. 14
Campbell (7-1) – 310 – Prev. 16
Harvard (6-0) – 276 – Prev. 17
Monmouth (6-2) – 231 – Prev. 18
East Tennessee State (6-2) – 194 – Prev. 20
Richmond (6-2) – 192 – Prev. 19
Lehigh (6-2) – 174 – Prev. 12
UC Davis (5-3) – 142 – Prev. 21
South Carolina State (6-2) – 90 – Prev. 25
Idaho State (5-3) – 58 – Prev. NR
Abilene Christian (4-4) – 34 – Prev. NR
UAlbany (5-3) – 32 – Prev. NR

Dropped Out: Jackson State (22), West Florida (23), Southeastern Louisiana (24)

Others Receiving Votes: Southeastern Louisiana, 16; Alabama A&M, 13; Southeast Missouri State, 13; Weber State, 12; Wofford, 10; Chattanooga, 8; Stony Brook, 8; Southern Illinois, 5; Bryant, 4; Central Connecticut State, 4; Colgate, 3; Jackson State, 3; Morgan State, 3; Princeton, 2.

Week 9 Schedule For FCS Top 25

*Based on latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll

All Times Eastern

No. 1 Tarleton State (8-0, 3-0 UAC) vs. Eastern Kentucky (3-5, 2-1 UAC), 7 p.m.
No. 2 Stephen F. Austin (8-0, 5-0 Southland) vs. Houston Christian (4-4, 3-2 Southland), 3 p.m.
No. 3 Montana State (7-1, 4-1 Big Sky) vs. Cal Poly (4-5, 3-3 Big Sky), 3 p.m.
No. 4 Youngstown State (6-2, 4-1 MVFC) vs. No. 11 North Dakota (6-3, 3-2 MVFC), noon
No. 5 South Dakota State (6-2, 3-1 MVFC) vs. No. 6 South Dakota (7-2, 4-1 MVFC), 4 p.m.
No. 7 Northern Arizona (6-2, 4-1 Big Sky) at Southern Utah (3-5, 2-3 Big Sky), 3 p.m.
No. 8 Austin Peay (7-2, 3-1 UAC) – Bye
No. 9 Illinois State (6-2, 1-2 MVFC) vs. Murray State (1-7, 0-4 MVFC), 2 p.m.
No. 10 Tennessee Tech (7-1, 4-0 OVC) at No. 18 East Tennessee State (6-2, 4-0 SoCon), 3:30 p.m.
No. 11 North Dakota (6-3, 3-2 MVFC) at No. 4 Youngstown State (6-2, 4-1 MVFC), noon
No. 12 Mercer (6-2, 3-1 SoCon) vs. The Citadel (3-5, 1-3 SoCon), 3 p.m.
No. 13 Lamar (6-2, 4-1 Southland) at UT Rio Grande Valley (4-4, 2-3 Southland), 8 p.m.
No. 14 Montana (5-3, 3-2 Big Sky) at Eastern Washington (2-6, 1-4 Big Sky), 4 p.m.
No. 15 Campbell (7-1, 4-0 CAA) at No. 25 UAlbany (5-3, 3-1 CAA), noon
No. 16 Harvard (6-0, 3-0 Ivy) at Dartmouth (3-3, 2-1 Ivy), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 17 Monmouth (6-2, 5-0 CAA) vs. Bryant (5-3, 3-1 CAA), noon
No. 18 East Tennessee State (6-2, 4-0 SoCon) vs. No. 10 Tennessee Tech (7-1, 4-0 OVC), 3:30 p.m.
No. 19 Richmond (6-2, 4-1 Patriot League) at Holy Cross (3-5, 3-2 Patriot League), 1 p.m.
No. 20 Lehigh (6-2, 4-1 Patriot League) vs. Bucknell (1-7, 0-5 Patriot League), noon
No. 21 UC Davis (5-3, 3-2 Big Sky) at Weber State (5-4, 4-2 Big Sky), 3 p.m.
No. 22 South Carolina State (6-2) at Morgan State (5-3), Thursday, 7 p.m.
No. 23 Idaho State (5-3, 2-3 Big Sky) at Utah Tech (1-7, 1-4 Big Sky), 3 p.m.
No. 24 Abilene Christian (4-4, 3-0 UAC) vs. West Georgia (1-7, 0-3 UAC), 4 p.m.
No. 25 UAlbany (5-3, 3-1 CAA) vs. No. 15 Campbell (7-1, 4-0 CAA), noon

Some Things To Know About FCS Football

The FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) is the second tier of NCAA Division I football, with the top tier being the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision).

While the FBS determines its national champion through a 12-team, committee-selected College Football Playoff, the FCS Championship includes 24 teams.

The FCS conference champions automatically qualify for the playoffs, and the remaining spots are filled via at-large selection.

This season, there will be 128 programs across 13 conferences. The regular season will begin in late August, and the playoffs will get underway at the end of November.

Who Won The Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?

Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14

When Do The 2026 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2026 NCAA FCS Playoffs will be Nov. 28.

The format includes 24 teams and five rounds of play – first round, second round, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship game. Everything through the semifinals will be played at the site of the participating schools.

Round 2 is set for Dec. 5, the quarterfinals will be held Dec. 11 (one game) and Dec. 12 (three games) and the semifinals will take place Dec. 19.

The 2026 FCS national championship will be determined Jan. 11, 2027, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Music City first hosted the title tilt in 2025 after 15 consecutive visits to Frisco, Texas.

Every game will be broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks.

How Do The FCS Playoffs Work?

The 24 FCS teams that advance to the playoffs are situated into a single-elimination bracket.

The top 16 teams are seeded, with the first eight earning byes into the second round. Seeds 9-16 must play in the opening round of action, but they get to play host, as do the higher seeds in each game through the semifinals.

The two semifinal winners then make the trip to Nashville to play for the national championship.

In 2025, Montana State defeated Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim the trophy.

Since 2011, North Dakota State had been dominating the FCS landscape, winning 10 national titles, but the Bison have now moved to a bigger pasture – the FBS level as part of the Mountain West Conference.

Hampton vs. Bryant Football Highlights | CAA Football Highlights 2026

Check out the highlights from the 2026 CAA meeting between Hampton and Bryant.

They met in Virginia on Sept. 12, and Bryant won the battle 31-3.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Watch The 2026 College Football Season On FloCollege

FloCollege is the home of the best FCS, Division II and Division III football action all season long.

Don’t miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games.

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