The FCS season is quick approaching, so we’re going inside every convention race. With Montana and Montana State main the best way as two of six nationally ranked groups within the preseason, right here’s our 2024 Massive Sky soccer preview.
Montana broke by means of final season with its first Massive Sky championship since 2009. Will all the convention break by means of with an FCS nationwide title this season?
Jap Washington (2018 season), Montana State (2021) and Montana (final season) have every been a current nationwide runner-up, serving to the Massive Sky entrench itself because the second-strongest FCS convention behind the Missouri Valley.
With the defending champion Grizzlies main the best way, the Massive Sky is primed for an additional banner season, and it may lengthen to the ultimate night time of 2024 season motion on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.
2024 Massive Sky Soccer Preview
Predicted Order of End
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
1. *Montana (2023 File: 13-2, 7-1; No. 2 nationwide preseason rating) – The arrogance gained from final season’s breakthrough feels simply as necessary as the numerous returning expertise on coach Bobby Hauck’s squad. A brand new beginning quarterback – both redshirt freshman Keali’i Ah Yat or Fresno State switch Logan Fife – may have an abundance of offensive choices, led by vast receivers Junior Bergen and Keelan White and operating backs Eli Gillman and Nick Ostmo. The protection is retooling up entrance, however linebacker Riley Wilson and cornerback Trevin Gradney are of the Griz’s six Stats Carry out FCS Preseason All-People. Plus, a not-so-rugged schedule suggests a protracted string of wins forward.
2. *Montana State (8-4, 6-2; No. 4 nationwide preseason rating) – The Bobcats have ranked No. 2 within the FCS in speeding yards per recreation in every of the previous two seasons. Quarterback Tommy Mellott is once more on the offensive controls behind a superb line (Marcus Wehr and Justus Perkins are All-People). 4 returnees rushed for over four hundred and forty yards final season, though No. 1 operating again Julius Davis missed the beginning of coaching camp.
3. *Idaho (9-4, 6-2; No. 7 nationwide preseason rating) – The Vandals are vastly totally different within the offensive expertise positions, though QB Gevani McCoy’s switch to Oregon State is tempered by the return of Jack Layne, who handed for six touchdowns in his solely begin final season. Ten of the protection’s top-15 tacklers are again, with all 4 starters returning up entrance, led by Dallas Afalava inside and Keyshawn James-Newby on the sting.
4. *UC Davis (7-4, 5-3; No. 18 nationwide preseason rating) – Tim Plough has succeeded Dan Hawkins as head coach, inheriting a ready-to-order playoff workforce. Whereas QB Miles Hastings seeks to get again to his 2022 kind (3,048 yards, 20 TDs), Lan Larison is without doubt one of the FCS’ prime operating backs. The protection boasts standouts in security Rex Connors and defensive finish Zach Kennedy.
5. *Sacramento State (8-5, 4-4; No. 8 nationwide preseason rating) – The Hornets’ excellence continued in coach Andy Thompson’ first season. Kaiden Bennett fueled their playoff win at North Dakota, however Carson Conklin additionally returns as an achieved quarterback. The heavy lifting begins up entrance with a veteran O-line, led by two-time All-Massive Sky first-team decide Jackson Slater.
6. Weber State (6-5, 4-4; No. 22 nationwide preseason rating) – The momentum of a three-game successful streak to finish coach Mickey Psychological’s first season (together with in opposition to Idaho) carries into this 12 months, however the Wildcats are beneath the radar. Quarterback Richie Munoz established himself throughout the win streak, whereas defensive finish Brayden Wilson already was a standout.
7. Jap Washington (4-7, 3-5) – The Eagles search to keep away from a 3rd straight dropping season for the primary time since having 5 in a row from 1987-91. However there’s one other harmful passing combo on the crimson turf – Kekoa Visperas (2,754 passing yards, 19 TD passes final season) to Efton Chism III, the FCS’ lively receptions chief (226).
8. Portland State (5-6, 4-4) – Twin-threat QB Dante Chachere has handed for 35 touchdowns and run for 17 extra during the last two seasons. The schedule is gulp materials: two FBS opponents plus eight of 10 FCS opponents that completed with a successful report final 12 months.
9. Northern Arizona (5-6, 5-3) –New coach Brian Wright went 33-8 at Pittsburg State from 2019-23. Security Alex McLaughlin led the Lumberjacks in tackles (71), interceptions (4) and move breakups (10) as a freshman final season, and linebacker Tommy Ellis posted a breakout season.
10. Idaho State (3-8, 3-5) – Quarterbacks Jordan Cooke and Hunter Hays have flashed their means the final two seasons, however the Bengals threw probably the most interceptions within the FCS final 12 months (22) and during the last two seasons (38). Safeties Calvin Pitcher (87) and Mason Younger (75) ranked first and second, respectively, in tackles.
11. Cal Poly (3-8, 1-7) – Defensive finish Elijah Ponder has racked up 31 TFLs and 19.5 sacks in his profession (yeah, he scares everyone within the convention). Main move catcher Giancarlo Woods is again to assist redshirt sophomore QB Bo Kelly proceed his maturation.
12. Northern Colorado (0-11, 0-8) – The Bears have the FCS’ third-worst dropping share since 2019 (8-37, .178), however there’s optimism after the teaching rent of Ed Lamb, who guided former Massive Sky member Southern Utah to the 2015 convention title. Their prime participant is sophomore punter/kicker Hunter Inexperienced.
How the Convention Predicted the Race
5 Gamers to Know
Junior Bergen, WR/RS, Montana (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The elusive Bergen is tied for the Massive Sky profession report with 5 punt returns for touchdowns – all within the final two seasons.
Brody Grebe, DE, Montana State (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – The Massive Sky’s Preseason Defensive MVP seeks to construct off a junior season with 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
Lan Larison, UC Davis (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – Regardless of lacking three video games attributable to harm, Larison earned Massive Sky Offensive MVP with a mean of 162.4 scrimmage yards per recreation and 15 TDs.
Tommy Mellott, QB, Montana State (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The Bobcats have gone 32-9 over Mellott’s three seasons whereas he’s gained over 5,700 yards of complete offense and accounted for 53 TDs.
Elijah Ponder, DE, Cal Poly (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – Final season, Ponder tied this system report with 17 QB hurries, and his 10 sacks had been probably the most by a Mustang since 2015.
5 Should-See Matchups
1. Montana at Montana State (Nov. 23) – Final 12 months’s rivalry matchup was the primary when each groups entered with a top-five rating, however UM’s 37-7 win marked the fourth straight lopsided end result within the collection (a 2-2 cut up in that point).
2. Montana at Jap Washington (Sept. 28)
3. Idaho at UC Davis (Sept. 28)
4. UC Davis at Montana (Nov. 9)
5. UC Davis at Sacramento State (Nov. 23)
Quick Truth
Six Massive Sky faculties have mixed on seven wins over FBS opposition within the final three seasons, together with Sacramento State back-to-back in opposition to Colorado State (2022) and Stanford (final season).
The Hornets open the 2024 season at San Jose State, then journey to Fresno State.
Did you just like the 2024 Massive Sky soccer preview? Observe all of our FCS soccer protection, together with on X, Fb and Instagram.
