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Underdog Dynasty

An unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football blog

Latest Entries

Bobcats Exorcise 41 Years Worth of Demons in Dramatic Title Game Win

When Montana State placekicker Myles Sanstead walked out for his overtime extra point attempt on Monday night in Nashville he had more pressure resting on his shoulders… or more apt his right leg… than any football player in America did in that moment. Sanstead, who has surely kicked hundreds of PATs in his life, lined […]

Rice’s option offense adds UCF transfer QB Jacurri Brown

In 2025 under first-year head coach Scott Abell, the Rice Owls installed a new shotgun-based option offense, dubbed as the “Rice gun choice.” The Rice gun choice may have found its conductor for 2026 season, as the Owls landed UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown in the transfer portal — a mobile quarterback willing to operate Rice’s […]

SMU lands South Florida CB Jarvis Lee in portal

The SMU Mustangs have been significant players in the transfer portal throughout the 2020s decade, landing All-ACC talents like Jordan Hudson, Brashard Smith, Elijah Roberts, Jared Harrison-Hunte, Jakai Clark, and Kobe Wilson from the portal. Rhett Lashlee and Co. hope the 2026 cycle continues the trend, and SMU is off to a strong start. After […]

Former Memphis 4-star QB AJ Hill transfers to Arkansas

The Memphis Tigers’ former quarterback of the future is now taking his talents to Arkansas. AJ Hill, a 4-star recruit from Houston County High School (GA) ranked 11th in the class of 2025 by 247Sports and 7th among pocket passers by ESPN, committed to the Razorbacks for the 2026 season. Hill follows former Memphis head […]

How Illinois State’s Miraculous Run Ended in Immense Heartbreak

The Illinois State Redbirds knew their season was coming to an end one way or another on Monday evening, an honor that Brock Spack’s team awarded itself for an unbelievable playoff run. Winners of four straight road contests in the postseason, ISU earned its way into the FCS championship game where it faced off with […]

UTSA adds WKU’s Rick Bowie as offensive coordinator

The UTSA Roadrunners’ offense will be under new direction in 2026. Head coach Jeff Traylor hired Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Rick Bowie to the same position in San Antonio. Bowie replaces Justin Burke, who was an inaugural member on Traylor’s staff in 2020 and spent the last three seasons as offensive coordinator. With Burke off […]

Cotton Bowl hero Alex Bauman solidifies legacy in Arlington

Alex Bauman woke up the morning of Jan. 2, 2023 knowing it was a day of opportunity. The lightly-recruited true freshman spent the majority of the 2022 campaign as Tulane’s third-string tight end. Despite a lack of significant playing time, he was a member of a special run for the program. Bauman corralled five receptions […]

East Carolina QB Katin Houser transfers to Illinois

East Carolina Katin Houser announced his intent to enter the transfer portal back in December. On Sunday, Jan. 4, his whereabouts for the 2026 season were confirmed. Houser is heading back to the Big Ten, officially committing to Illinois. Houser originally launched his college career at Michigan State where he took a redshirt in 2022 […]

James Madison QB Alonza Barnett III commits to UCF

The 2025 James Madison Dukes made history. In just their fourth year of FBS membership, they won 12 games, claimed their first-ever Sun Belt Conference championship, and crashed the College Football Playoff party — becoming the first Sun Belt team to qualify in the event’s 12-year history. The quarterback that spearheaded that run is now […]

Former Tulane stars Makhi Hughes and Shadre Hurst commit to Houston

Willie Fritz may be entering year three with the Houston Cougars, but his connections from his old stomping grounds are still strong. On Sunday, two days after the transfer portal opened, Houston landed two former Tulane stars that played under Fritz in New Orleans — running back Makhi Hughes and guard Shadre Hurst. Both Hughes […]

Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor transfers to Iowa State

Arkansas State’s three-year starting quarterback will play his final season of college football elsewhere. Jaylen Raynor transferred to Iowa State, as first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Raynor joins an Iowa State program undergoing its first head coaching change in a decade. With Matt Campbell off to Penn State, Raynor joins a Cyclone squad fronted […]

Old Dominion QB Colton Joseph transfers to Wisconsin

Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph has signed a deal to transfer to Wisconsin. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Joseph won Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors, as a key component of Old Dominion’s best season as a member of the FBS. The dual-threat quarterback fired for 2,624 passing yards, […]

Navy reaches 11th win in 35-13 Liberty Bowl dismantling of Cincinnati

From Roger Staubach to Keenan Reynolds, Navy football owns extremely proud history and tradition. The program is home to a plethora of iconic moments, yet one moment for the ages transpired as recently as Saturday evening in Memphis, TN. By pummeling former American Conference foe Cincinnati 35-13 in the Liberty Bowl, Navy tied a program […]

Rice safety Daveon Hook leaves Armed Forces Bowl with scary injury

Rice senior safety Daveon Hook woke up Friday morning preparing for his final collegiate game to solidify a four-year run with his university. But with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter of the Owls’ 41-10 loss to Texas State in the Armed Forces Bowl, a terrifying moment unfolded. Hook collided with a Texas State blocker […]

2025 Liberty Bowl Preview: Navy Midshipmen vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

Game notes Setting the scene Old American Conference rivals meet again in an American Conference venue. The Navy Midshipmen (10-2, 7-1 American) and Cincinnati Bearcats (7-5, 5-4 Big 12) reunite in Memphis, concluding their seasons in one of the few post-New Year’s bowl games. Navy can seal its third 11-win season in program history, putting […]

2025 Armed Forces Bowl Preview: Rice Owls vs. Texas State Bobcats

Game notes Setting the scene And so we meet again. The Rice Owls and Texas State Bobcats collided for the first time as FBS opponents in the 2023 First Responder Bowl. Texas State waltzed away with a 45-21 victory to secure its first-ever bowl win in its first-ever bowl appearance. Two years later, the rematch […]

2025 Holiday Bowl Preview: Arizona Wildcats vs. SMU Mustangs

Game notes Setting the scene The 2025 college football season is coming to a close. When the Holiday Bowl is complete Friday night, there are only three games left on the docket. So it’s time to cherish our waning moments of this great sport until August 2026 rolls around. And the 2025 Holiday Bowl presents […]

North Texas trio Mestemaker, Hawkins, Young announce portal entry

The North Texas Mean Green wrapped up their best season in program history, shattering a school record in wins during a 12-2 campaign. North Texas qualified for the American Conference championship, stood one win away from the College Football Playoff, prevailed in the New Mexico Bowl, and will likely draw a season-ending ranking in the […]

Daniel Sobkowicz Looks to be Superman One Last Time for Redbirds in Championship

There has never been a postseason run in the FCS quite like the one Illinois State has strung together over the last month. One of the last four teams into this year’s tournament, the Redbirds have handled business over seeded opponents on the road four times to reach the championship game in Nashville next Monday […]