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Underdog Dynasty

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

Latest Entries

Coastal Carolina fires Tim Beck after three seasons

The Sun Belt experienced its first head coach firing of 2025 on the Sunday after the regular season finale. Coastal Carolina parted ways with Tim Beck after three seasons where he produced a 20-18 record. Beck attained bowl eligibility in all three years at the helm, faring 8-5 in 2023 (victory over San Jose State […]

Arkansas hires Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield

On Sunday morning, Memphis Tigers head coach Ryan Silverfield accepted the same position with the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was one of three American Conference head coaches to relocate to the SEC on the Sunday morning following the conclusion of the regular season. “It became clear during our conversations that Coach Silverfield shares our vision of […]

Auburn hires South Florida head coach Alex Golesh

On Sunday morning, three different American Conference head coaches were hired by SEC programs. Auburn agreed to terms with South Florida head coach Alex Golesh — two days before the Bulls defeated Rice 52-3 in their regular season finale. “He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three […]

FCS Playoffs First Round Recap: Eight Advance

The first round of the FCS playoffs is officially in the books and most of the usual suspects found themselves moving on when the dust had settled. It was a Saturday full of big performances, strong defensive showings and one miraculous comeback from a first-timer. Here’s went went down in the first weekend of the […]

2025 Week 14 Preview: SMU Mustangs @ California Golden Bears

Game notes Setting the scene The ACC is on the line. All SMU needs to do is win in Berkeley, and the Mustangs are berthed their second-straight ACC Championship Game appearance — despite only belonging to the conference for two seasons. SMU can still qualify with a loss, but the Mustangs can save their fanbase […]

Navy remains alive in American, defeats Memphis 28-17

For the second-straight season, college football’s Thanksgiving platter featured a standalone American Conference matchup, featuring two of the conference’s premier teams. And for the second-straight season, the road team won in double-digit upset fashion. Last year the Memphis Tigers were that road team, disrupting Tulane’s College Football Playoff hopes in New Orleans, but in 2025, […]

Lamar Seeks First Ever Playoff Victory at ACU

This fall has been one to remember for the Lamar Cardinals and, on Saturday, what has already been a landmark season for the program could turn into a historic one. Making just their second-ever postseason appearance, the Cardinals could be in line for their first playoff win when they square off with UAC champion Abilene […]

2025 Week 14 Preview: Houston Cougars @ Baylor Bears

Game notes Setting the scene After a long hiatus following the dissolve of the Southwest Conference, the Houston Cougars and Baylor Bears are regularly squaring off again. They meet for the third-straight year as Big 12 opponents, with the road team winning each of the two prior matchups in low-scoring fashion. Houston (8-3, 5-3 Big […]

2025 Week 14 Preview: Rice Owls @ South Florida Bulls

Game notes Setting the scene As of the Thanksgiving morning, Alex Golesh remains the head coach of the South Florida Bulls (8-3, 5-2 American). The third-year frontman is entangled in rumors at the moment, causing USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins to release a statement regarding the matter Tuesday night. Thus, South Florida proceeds as […]

Tennessee Tech Inks Wilder to Extension Before Playoff Run

It’s been a busy week on the campus of Tennessee Tech. Not only are the Golden Eagles preparing for an opening round playoff game this Saturday, but behind the scenes in the athletic department business is getting done as well. A major part of that business got accomplished on Wednesday morning when the school announced […]

Drake Gets Second Crack at South Dakota

Back on September 20 Drake took its second trip in as many weeks to South Dakota for a date with the Coyotes. After putting up a decent fight against South Dakota State, the Bulldogs took on USD in Vermillion just seven days later. Both of those of those games ended up being two of the […]

2025 Week 14 Preview: Temple Owls @ North Texas Mean Green

Game notes Setting the scene Everything changed for North Texas. The Mean Green were bracing for a College Football Playoff run, likely needing to win out to qualify for the 12-team bracket. The only blemish on North Texas’ résumé is an October loss to South Florida, but in late November, Oklahoma State handed the team […]

SMU makes first appearance in 2025 CFP rankings

The SMU Mustangs were a staple in the 2024 College Football Playoff rankings, earning one of seven at-large spots to become an 11-seed in the 12-team field. In 2025, it took until Nov. 25 for SMU to return to the CFP rankings, but it made its first appearance in the Tuesday night reveal, checking in […]

Oklahoma State hires North Texas head coach Eric Morris

The North Texas Mean Green are in the midst of their most successful season ever, sporting a 10-1 record with a realistic shot at the College Football Playoff. However, North Texas will lose its head coach in the process. Eric Morris is expected to accept the head coaching vacancy at Oklahoma State, as first reported […]

Every 2025 Conference USA Championship scenario

Entering the final week of the regular season, not a single conference championship race is settled. Conference USA is one of the more simpler races to follow. Heading into Week 14, there are still three contenders alive in the 12-team league — Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, and Kennesaw State — and only two games are […]

2025 Week 14 Thanksgiving Preview: Navy Midshipmen @ Memphis Tigers

Game notes Setting the scene Food, family, and football are the three ‘F’s of Thanksgiving Day. While the brand of football typically associated with the holiday is of the NFL variety, there is one collegiate game offered in the night slate. The Egg Bowl used to own the night, but the SEC on ABC contract […]

Making Sense of Monmouth’s Playoff Snub

By many measures, the Monmouth Hawks had a season to remember in 2025. The offense put up points and yards at a truly insane clip for much of the fall. The team was in the national polls all season long and, for the most part, they handled their business in the CAA. They strung together […]

CUSA Notebook: FIU bowl eligible, WKU defense shines, LA Tech storms back

You can argue no conference had a more eventful Week 13 than Conference USA, which saw five thrilling one-score finishes in seven total matchups. Jacksonville State dropped its first conference game and Middle Tennessee won its first. Kennesaw State and Missouri State found themselves in a thrilling offensive shootout. There was a 21-point comeback with […]

2025 FCS Playoffs: A Complete Look at the Field

The 2025 FCS regular season has officially come to a close and the playoff bracket is now out. This year the 24-team field is one of the more interesting that there’s been in quite some time. Now the Ivy League has decided to join in on the fun and they’ll be well-represented. The Missouri Valley […]

Portland State Fires HC Bruce Barnum after 11 Seasons

Late last night after Portland State’s 24-13 loss in the regular season finale against Norther Colorado, the school announced that head coach Bruce Barnum and his coaching staff would be relieved of their duties in the effort to make a wholesale change. Barnum, who has led the Vikings since 2015, finished his last campaign with […]