Bob Belvin has broadcast games across the Association for well over a decade, and served as host of league Media Day events. Each week this season he will share his thoughts matchups and happenings around the Association and FCS.
It will be all OVC-Big South Association games this week, with a bye for UT Martin probably coming at the worst time for them after throttling Gardner Webb on the road last week and then seeing head coach Jason Simpson and his family being featured repeatedly in ABC’s coverage of the Alabama/Tennessee game. Simpson was able to see his son, Alabama QB Ty Simpson, play in person for only the second time this season. Such momentum and press and the Skyhawks must sit and heal this Saturday. As for the title race, Tennessee Tech is clearly the leader, in the standings and in many statistical categories. They have two long road trips to make and a home date with UT Martin to end the regular season.
SEMO at Tennessee Tech (12:00pm CT, ESPN+)
SEMO meets Tennessee Tech Saturday at High Noon in Cookeville. Injury-riddled SEMO is on a slow path to return to its 2024 self, while Tech hasn’t lost a game in a calendar year. The Tech ground game is among the best in FCS, averaging 260 yards per game. Given the Tech rushing game stat, it is also important to note this game will also feature the top two passing offenses in the OVC-Big South (SEMO at 264 yards per game and Tech at 246). SEMO’s air yards have been amassed using three different quarterbacks, while Tech’s numbers rest squarely on transfer QB Kekoa Visperas. The true tale of the tape with these two teams is points allowed per game: Tech is first in FCS giving up just 14 per game, with SEMO over twice that number at 31.7.
Western Illinois at Tennessee State (1:30pm CT, ESPN+)
Western Illinois travels to Nashville to meet Tennessee State, its first-ever visit to Nissan Stadium. Following their Homecoming win over Howard, first-year TSU Coach Reggie Barlow was still in the reminiscing mood, referencing the 70’s band "Earth Wind & Fire" -- “We talked about some members of the band making their best music when they collab and that is what we talked about….lets have a good collaboration conversation on what we can do to put these guys on offense in the best situation to be successful.” QB1 Byron McNair responded with three touchdown passes and has been steadily improving on a team that is taking shape. WIU QB1 Cason Carswell has thrown for two touchdowns in each of the Leathernecks last four games, and this week was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, the award given to the top freshman in FCS. RB Markel Holman leads the Association with 586 yards rushing. Two bright spots on what has been a dim season so far for WIU. Will TSU begin a late season surge?
Gardner-Webb at Lindenwood (2:00pm CT, ESPN+)
Gardner-Webb returns to the road again this weekend, making the long trek to Lindenwood. While the Runnin’ Bulldogs will fly to nearby St. Louis, they will make sure to bring their running attack featuring Carson Gresock (488 yards) and Quasean Holmes (485 yards). Also worth noting in that group is Chris Lofton, the Association’s leading receiver through eight weeks. On the opposite side is Lindenwood’s Nate Glantz, the Association’s top passer and top receiver Jalen Smith. Also from the LU camp this week, freshman receiver Rico Bond has also been added to Jerry Rice Award Watch List. This one may be a high scoring affair. Look for weather to impact the game in St. Charles for a second-straight week.
Eastern Illinois at Charleston Southern (2:00pm ET, ESPN+)
Eastern Illinois makes its first-ever trip to Charleston Southern Saturday to take on the Buccaneers. CSU ended some very ugly streaks last week in its win at Western Illinois, while EIU fell to SEMO. This one is shaping up as a defensive struggle, despite CSU boasting both the Offensive and Co-Defensive Players of the Week following the win over Western Illinois. Zolten Osborne threw for a career-high four touchdowns in the win, but the story for CSU all season has been the play of linebacker Steve Zayachkowsky who tallied 16 tackles at WIU, now ranking him as the 12th-best tackler in the nation. Ten of those tackles were solo, and he singlehandedly destroyed WIU on the games final drive. Eastern QB1 Cole LaCrue amassed 99 rushing yards last time out against SEMO and is 14th in FCS rushing touchdowns with seven. And now the bad news: EIU turned the ball over six times against SEMO, having only turned it over seven times total in the first six games. This looks like a fourth quarter type game. It is also the third-straight Homecoming (including their own) that EIU has played in this season.