Week 2 of FCS ball is here, and when it gets underway, there’s something for everyone. From early conference battles to rematches of 2023 games and key non-conference games, this weekend’s slate of games will have far-reaching implications for various league races across the country.

The following is on the agenda this weekend:

UT Martin clashes with SEMO in the early conference phase

In recent years, both UT Martin (0-1) and Southeast Missouri State (1-1) have been in the thick of things when the Big South-OVC battle comes to a close. In fact, the 2022 edition of the conference title race was literally a coin toss, as the two never met on the field this season. This season, however, they will, in an early Week 2 clash that could have huge implications down the road.

The Redhawks will be back to starting wide receiver Paxton DeLaurent after he missed their win over North Alabama in Week 0 due to injury. However, DeLaurent played against New Mexico State last week and had a solid day, throwing for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Dorian Anderson will once again be DeLaurent’s main target after he caught six passes for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Aggies.

UT Martin, on the other hand, is looking to bounce back after a tough game against Kansas State. The Skyhawks scored just six points in their lopsided loss to the Wildcats, and quarterback Kinkead Dent was sacked three times and threw for just 87 yards on seven successful passes.

Elon, North Carolina Central, meets for the second round

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One of the better non-conference games Elon (0-1) played last year was the October game against North Carolina Central (1-0). The Eagles won that game 34-23, which undoubtedly earned them a playoff spot as the season came to a close. Now the Phoenix, with postseason hopes of their own, will be looking to get revenge against NCCU in Durham.

NCCU is coming off a hard-fought win over Alabama State last Sunday in the Orange Blossom Classic and is currently finding its way into the post-Davius ​​Richard era. Richard, who was a sensation as quarterback for the Eagles, has since graduated and now Walker Harris is the quarterback. Harris completed nine passes for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Hornets.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Elon DB Khalil Baker, who made 10 tackles against Duke last Saturday. Baker transferred from North Carolina Central in the offseason and is hoping for another big game against his old team. The Phoenix will need him, as the Eagles managed 378 total yards of offense when the two met last year.

Griz and Hawks compete in Grand Forks

#4 Montana (1-0) fought for survival at home against Missouri State last weekend, but ultimately prevailed. Now, however, the Grizzlies face #23 North Dakota (0-1) on the road, who held up pretty well against Iowa State last weekend. The Hawks, like UM, were a playoff team last season and will be looking to spring a big surprise to start the home season.

Montana is in the process of finding its next quarterback, and like last week, Keali’i Ah Yat and Logan Fife will likely share assignments during the game. Jerry Rice Award-winning defensive lineman Eli Gillman will continue to run the ball while the defense, which lost quite a bit of talent last year, is still trying to find its identity.

UND, like the Griz, will have to adjust to life with a new quarterback after Tommy Schuster left the club. Simon Romfo will be hoping to improve after his lackluster debut with the Hawks, where he threw for 121 yards and an interception. Luckily for him, receiver Bo Belquist is still there and catching passes. He could be just the spark North Dakota’s offense needs to get going. It could be a close game between these former Big Sky rivals.

#1 SDSU hosts #12 UIW in a key non-conference showdown

For the first time in a long time, #1 South Dakota State (0-1) enters a week of play after a loss, and that could spell trouble for #12 Incarnate Word (1-0), who must travel to Brookings on Saturday. The Jacks are seeking that always elusive third straight win this year, while UIW hopes to return to the playoffs after a surprise absence in 2023. This meeting should go a long way toward determining how good the Cardinals are and…maybe…how far above the field SDSU could still be.

The Jackrabbits have the usual suspects. Mark Gronowski will throw the ball to receivers like Griffin Wilde. Running backs Amar and Angel Johnson will be the main workhorses on the ground and SDSU’s defense will continue to be led by star linebacker Adam Bock and safety Tucker Large. All of these guys played a role in the team’s national championship run last season and if the Jacks return, they will surely play a major role again this year.

Beating South Dakota State on its home turf is no easy task, but if the Cardinals are going to do it, they’ll need a near-perfect performance from QB Zach Calzada and a big night from running back Dekalon Taylor, who scored two touchdowns last week. Calzada is entering his second season as UIW’s starting signal-caller, but he’s certainly never seen a defense as strong as the one he faced on Saturday.

#24 Weber State welcomes Portland State to kick off Big Sky action

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It may only be Week 2, but fans are in for a real Big Sky contest this weekend when #24 Weber State (0-1) opens its doors to Portland State (0-1) on Saturday. Both the Wildcats and Vikings just lost to the big boys from the Evergreen State last weekend, but both still hope to make a splash in the West this year. The winner here will gain an early advantage in the always deep Big Sky.

PSU was in the playoff race through the end of last season and will hope that Dante Chachere can get them off to a good start again this year. The dual-threat QB rushed for over 200 yards and three touchdowns against Washington State last weekend. He and running back Delon Thompson will look to break down Weber State’s defense, which allowed UW nearly 500 yards of total offense.

The Wildcats will rely on their own running back, Damon Bankston. Bankston rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries in the opening game. For an offense that, like so many others, is trying out a new quarterback in Richie Munoz, Bankston could be the key to stability on that side of the ball. With WSU playing at home, it should have a slight advantage, but if its offense doesn’t get back on track, Portland State could lose.

All FCS games this weekend (ranked teams in bold)

FRIDAY – Western Illinois @ Indiana

SATURDAY – Rhode Island @ Minnesota, Merrimack @ Connecticut, South Carolina State @ The Citadel, Wagner @ Lehigh, Georgetown @ Marist, McNeese @ Texas A&M, Campbell @ #17 West Carolina, #19 Lafayette @ Monmouth, St. Anselm @ Sacred Heart, Bucknell @ VMI, Tennessee Tech @ Georgia, New Hampshire @ Holy Cross, Missouri State @ Ball State, Valparaiso @ #25 Youngstown StateNorthern Iowa @ St. Thomas, St. Francis @ Kent State, Utah Tech @ UNLV, Mercer @ Bethune-Cookman, #6 South Dakota @ Wisconsin, Wofford @ #14 RichmondStonehill @ Stony Brook, Tennessee State @ #2 State of North DakotaDuquesne @ Boston College, #7 Idaho @Wyoming, Franklin Pierce @Bryant, Virginia State @Norfolk State, Central Washington @San Diego, UVA Wise @East Tennessee State, Florida A&M @Miami, #16 UAlbany @ West Virginia, Elon @ North Carolina Central, Morgan State @ Towson, #5 Villanova @ Colgate, Virginia Union @ Hampton, Miles College @ Alabama State, Gardner-Webb @ James Madison, Fordham @ Central Connecticut, Edinboro @ Robert Morris, Charleston Southern @ #15 FurmanWestern Oregon @ Idaho State, Kentucky Christian @ Morehead State, Warner @ Stetson, Samford @ Florida, #13 William & Mary @ Coastal Carolina, Winston-Salem @ North Carolina A&T, Eastern Kentucky @ Western Kentucky, #9 Central Arkansas @Lindenwood, #10 Southern Illinois @ Austin Peay, #11 Chattanooga @ Georgia State, UT Martin @ Southeast Missouri State, #21 State of Illinois @ North Alabama, Indiana State @ Eastern Illinois, Butler @ Murray State, #4 Montana @ #23 North Dakota, #12 Word Incarnate @ #1 South Dakota StateKentucky State @ Alabama A&M, Cal Poly @ Stanford, Tuskegee @ Grambling State, Lane @ Jackson State, Northern Colorado @ Colorado State, Southeast Louisiana @ Southern Mississippi, Texas Southern @ Rice, Savannah State @ Southern, Prairie View A&M @ Northwestern State, Mississippi Valley State @ Lamar, #20 Tarleton State @ Houston Christian, Drake @ Eastern Washington, Catawba @ Davidson, Presbyterian @ Erskine, Mercyhurst @ Howard, #22 Nicholls @ LSU, Alcorn State @ Vanderbilt, Stephen F. Austin @ North Texas, West Georgia @ Abilene Christian, Arkansas Baptist @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff, LIU @ TCU, Maine @ #3 State of MontanaPortland State @ #24 Weber StateSouthern Utah @ UTEP, Northern Arizona @ Arizona, #8 Sacramento State @ Fresno State, Texas A&M-Commerce @ #18 UC Davis