Underdog Dynasty
An unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football blog
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2026 Week 1 Preview: Marshall Thundering Herd @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Game notes Setting the scene The United States was in the early stages of the Great Depression the last time Penn State and Marshall shared a football field. A crowd of 5,000 spectators gathered at New Beaver Field in State College that day, watching the Nittany Lions handle the Thundering Herd in a 65-0 shutout. […]
2026 Week 1 Preview: UAB Blazers @ Illinois Fighting Illini
Game notes Setting the scene A fresh start sounds a little different when it comes with 62 new names on the roster and a Thursday night assignment in Big Ten country. That is the introduction awaiting UAB, which opens its first full season under Alex Mortensen against an Illinois program that has made winning considerably […]
2026 Week 1 Preview: Tulane Green Wave @ Duke Blue Devils
Game notes Setting the scene There is only one Week 1 matchup pitting two reigning conference champions against one another. American Conference champion Tulane travels to ACC champion Duke for a rematch of one of 2025’s most pivotal non-conference matchups. The Green Wave avenged former quarterback Darian Mensah and ousted the Blue Devils, 34-27, in […]
2026 Week 1 Preview: East Carolina Pirates @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Game notes Setting the scene Shaun Alexander and David Garrard were among the stars at Bryant-Denny Stadium when Alabama and East Carolina last crossed paths in 1998. The Crimson Tide survived 22-2 East Carolina second half rally to hang on by one point. Much has changed in the three decades since, with Alabama adding six […]
2026 Week 1 Preview: North Texas Mean Green @ Indiana Hoosiers
Game notes Setting the scene Perhaps the most stunning development in the modern college football landscape is Indiana football. The longtime doormat program transformed into a national powerhouse overnight the instant Curt Cignetti arrived on campus. Cignetti finished his first season at 11-2 with a College Football Playoff appearance and then took the next step, […]
Jax State overwhelmed by North Dakota State, 33-7, in Bison’s FBS debut
Jacksonville State had been accustomed to slow starts in the previous two seasons, but the Gamecocks eventually righted the ship both times. In 2024 and 2025, they switched starting quarterbacks after non-conference struggles and ultimately hosted the Conference USA Championship Game. This year, Jax State entered with an established starting quarterback in Caden Creel. The […]
“4th quarter program”: How Memphis’ Navy SEAL-like training won the UNLV game
The Memphis Tigers made a statement to open the Charles Huff era. With a new coach and an entirely new roster, Memphis stormed into Las Vegas and knocked off a UNLV team with College Football Playoff aspirations, 27-21. The Tigers never led until the final minute of the third quarter, but their resilience and physicality […]
New Mexico State hangs around, but falls 34-17 at Florida State
1964 was the last time Florida State and New Mexico State shared a football field. New Mexico State has been to three bowl games since the programs’ last meeting. Meanwhile, Florida State has won three national championships since. With a stark contrast in histories, Florida State entered as 30.5-point home favorites over the Aggies in […]
FCS Week 0 Recap: Chaos Reigns
The first weekend of FCS action has come to a close and what a weekend it was. Week 0 was one the most drama-filled single slates of football that fans in the subdivision saw in quite sometime… maybe ever for an opening weekend. From crazy comebacks to surprising upsets, the first three days had it […]
Memphis outlasts UNLV 27-21 in Huff’s debut, makes ‘national statement’
The Memphis Tigers football program enjoyed a prosperous golden era from 2014 through 2025. A fixture in the rankings. Annual bowl appearances. Regular wins over SEC programs. But 2026 entered with a wave of uncertainty following unprecedented turnover throughout the program. Head coach Charles Huff arrived from Southern Miss in December, bringing in a new […]
William & Mary Rallies in Final Seconds, Stuns Villanova at the Buzzer in Opener
The Patriot League debut for William & Mary couldn’t have gone much better. For #8-ranked Villanova it couldn’t have gone much worse. Despite leading by ten points with under a minute to play, the Wildcats collapsed and lost their season opener at home to their league mates that followed them over form the Patriot League. […]
2026 MEAC/SWAC Challenge – Alabama A&M Bulldogs vs. Howard Bison: How to Watch, Preview, Predictions
Date: Saturday August 29, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM (ET) TV: ABC The Quick Hits A new HBCU season begins on Saturday night in the same city last year’s ended. Alabama A&M will square off with Howard in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge game in Atlanta and, amid all the pomp and pageantry that comes with this […]
Delaware lands 4-star QB commit Julian Reese II
The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens moved to the FBS in 2025, and one year later, they have their highest-rated recruit in history. Julian Reese II, a four-star quarterback prospect according to On3 Sports, announced his commitment to Delaware on Instagram on Thursday, Aug. 27. Reese is a class of 2027 prospect from Amarillo Palo Duro […]
Charlotte names Cole Gonzales starting QB
The Charlotte 49ers entered the 2026 season with three quarterbacks wielding substantial collegiate experience. They finally picked one as the starter. Cole Gonzales got the nod over incumbents Conner Harrell and Grayson Loftis, per Underdog Dynasty alum and Highway 49 Podcast host Hunter Bailey. Gonzales transferred from Pittsburgh this offseason after previously holding down a […]
SMU FS Ahmaad Moses granted fifth year of eligibility for 2026
Two days prior to the start of the 2026 college football season, a Dallas court granted an injunction/temporary restraining order (TRO) to 18 college football players who exhausted their eligibility after the 2025 season. This injunction follows the original Wisne v. NCAA ruling on Jul. 31, which granted a fifth year of eligibility to athletes […]
West Florida Bursts onto FCS Scene with Upset of #16 Southern Illinois
It was a night they won’t soon forget in Pensacola, Florida. The first ten years of the West Florida football program has been brimming with big wins. Perhaps save for their 2019 national championship, though, Thursday night’s might now be the biggest that Argos and their fans have ever witnessed. Making their Division I football […]
Report: East Carolina names Mitch Griffis starting QB
The East Carolina Pirates have settled their two-man quarterback competition. Mitch Griffis was named the Week 1 starter, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. However, Emory Williams is also expected to see action in the Sept. 5 opener at Alabama. Both Griffis and Williams transferred to ECU this offseason in hopes of filling the vacancy left by […]
There is always room for a fullback: Matt Adcock brings old-school muscle to Arkansas
Tim Cramsey arrived at Arkansas with his life packed into a car and the reflexes of a man who had spent most of his career carrying his own bags. That last part, it turned out, was no longer in the job description. Cramsey had driven over because Fayetteville was close enough to Memphis to make […]
FCS Week 0 Game of the Week – Prairie View A&M Panthers @ Tarleton State Texans: How to Watch, Preview, Predictions
Date: Saturday August 29, 2026 Time: 9:00 PM (ET) TV: ESPN2 The Quick Hits One of the biggest non-conference FCS matchups will hit the table right off the bat in Week 0 to get the 2026 season underway. Tarleton State opens its gates to last year’s SWAC champion Prairie View A&M in what shapes up […]
2026 Week 0 Preview: Jacksonville State Gamecocks @ North Dakota State Bison
Game notes Setting the scene Welcome to the FBS, North Dakota State. The FCS’s premier powerhouse finally makes the upgrade to the highest level of college football. The Bison won 10 national championships from 2011-24, but a crowded trophy case was not enough to satisfy the program. They wanted more. Now, as members of the […]
Mississippi State cancels future road games at Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane
With the SEC moving to a 9-game conference schedule, its teams are making adjustments to previously scheduled non-conference matchups. For Mississippi State, that involves removing road games of previously scheduled home-and-homes. The Bulldogs scheduled home-and-homes with Memphis, Southern Miss, and Tulane but recently canceled the road trips for all three series. Memphis Memphis and Mississippi […]
2026 Week 0 Preview: Memphis Tigers @ UNLV Rebels
Game notes Setting the scene The wait is finally over. Week 0 has arrived. The 2026 Week 0 slate is arguably the most loaded in college football history. It’s an all-day affair of eight FBS vs. FBS matchups, ranging from the TCU-North Carolina opener in Dublin to the Virginia-NC State ACC showdown to a late-night […]
Villanova, Amidst McQuaide Drama, Hosts William & Mary in Patriot League Debut on Friday
The 2026 college football season is descending upon us at breakneck speeds now and with kickoff just a day away now, perhaps this year more than ever, the first set of games is chock full of meaningful conference bouts from sea to shining sea. Over in the West Montana welcomes in an old Big Sky […]
2026 Week 0 Preview: New Mexico State Aggies @ Florida State Seminoles
Game notes Setting the scene Fire up the tailgates. Get your multiview screens ready. College football is back. The sport triumphantly returns Saturday with an eight-game Week 0 slate featuring 16 FBS teams from seven different conferences. One primetime matchup on the docket features a meeting between ACC and Conference USA opponents that haven’t squared […]
2026 Big 12 Football Season Preview
Welcome to the first-ever Big 12 season preview from Underdog Dynasty. Our site has traditionally covered the former American Conference teams Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF, which joined the Big 12 in 2023. However, only seven of the 16 Big 12 teams currently have active SB Nation sites. With Underdog Dynasty serving as SB Nation’s home […]
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