Apparently filling late season games for independents is tough:

https://brobible.com/sports/article/oregon-state-paid-sam-houston-state-football-game-cw-network/

North Dakota reminds me of the 2019 Aggies, but a better version.

They're 6-4 but their four losses are by 3 to Kansas St, by 1 at Montana, by 5 at South Dakota and by 5 at home against North Dakota St. They still have a home game against South Dakota St to end the year. It seems like it would be a shame if they lose another close game and then get left out at 7-5 with 5 close losses.

A bit off thread, but does anyone know what the basis is for the appeal filed over Rex Conners eligibility ruling?

I believe both Porter and Rex filed appeal for medical redshirt. Original application was denied due to the NCAA considering the Mercer game a "game played" against their eligibility threshold of >30% of games played. Appeal makes the claim that Mercer "does not count" statistically therefore shouldn't also count against the players' eligibility threshold. Would be interesting to hear if anyone on Mercer is in the same boat..

Here's how I understand the situation: the NCAA is NOT counting the Mercer game towards the team's record. It went down as a NO CONTEST. However, in the case of eligibility, and specifically the eligibility of the Connors Bros., the NCAA currently IS counting the game against their games played in 2025. That would be the basis of the appeal in my opinion. This is only my semi-educated guess.

What davisguy52 said!

I recall Plough saId in one of his press conferences a few weeks back that Mercer was also appealing.

This, to me, seems like a slam dunk appeal. Especially as both teams are filing. If the game doesn't count, the game doesn't count.

The fact it even required appeal is moderately concerning..

This is the NCAA we're talking about... nothing should surprise you! Logic, common sense, fairness, none of that matters

True. Its like Davis and Mercer are being made to go through the motions on a technicality.

With this counts but doesn’t count gotcha, you might say it was 3/5 of a game.

I believe that there is a rule in administrative law that states that the ruling can not be arbitrary and capricious meaning that if the ruling was made without a fair consideration of the law and the evidence and was contrary to previous rulings, it is invalid. So if the Mercer game was a non game as determined by the NCCA then it is a non game for the eligibility issue with the conners brothers. Pretty much end of story. But I know, who knows what the NCAA will do. Backstory, why the hell punish a very respectable non big time FCS program with a very hairsplitting decision when the big time programs are getting everything they want? Better minds are invited in!

Does Mercer have impacted players too?

Check out this Mercer @ Western Carolina game from last week...down to the wire and Mercer escaped with a win, wow.

If it was a Montana school thebmedical red shirt would be approved. The NCAA definitely
Favors them

idk if the NCAA cares enough about FCS to have strong favorites. But certainly with Big Sky it is true. Pretty sure Bobby Houck sent the commissioner some Griz-branded kneepads and hairties.

I actually. Elieve the NCAA is about the $$$ and not about being fair. If a game does not count then nothing counts. If you take a look there are no paasees,no run plays, no tackles, no punts, no scoring plays, etc. Hence, no individual play ocvurred according to the stats. So, no stats, thete are no plays, in other words no game was played.

10-0 #5 Tennessee Tech falls to Kentucky.

Do they drop?

Have to.

Agreed. I don't think any of those 10 wins are noteable

Tennessee Tech SOS has been right around 100 (out of 129) all year. This loss helps that rating.
I don't think they drop on an FBS loss, but who knows.

Coaches Top-10 (notable SOS):

Lehigh #4 (SOS 97) Undefeated records are sexy
TTU #6 (SOS 99) Undefeated records are sexy

Mercer #8 (SOS 81)
Rhode Island #9 (SOS 69)

Davis #10 (SOS 20)
Harvard #11 (SOS 96) Undefeated records are sexy


https://masseyratings.com/cf2025/fcs/ratings

Weird score..1-8 Nevada beating 3-6 SJSU 48-3

We have the 20th toughest schedule in FCS?

Losing to an SEC school, even a mediocre one - should not hurt Tennessee Tech.

#10 Villanova 30 - 27
#12 Monmouth wins 63 - 19
#16 SDSU loses 35 - 21

I stand corrected.

SDSU may end the season with 5 straight losses. They play UND in Grand Forks - a tough place to play.

South Dakota beats Southern Illinois on the road 53-51 in 5 overtimes.