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.
College football is such an incredible spectacle, each week it seems to take on an identity of its own. In this column each week expect quick, concise primers for the games, most of which will air on ESPN+. Let’s get started with previews for all games involving OVC-Big South Association teams.
Davidson at Tennessee Tech (12pm CT, ESPN+)
Tennessee Tech is undefeated following their 45-17 dismantling of Chattanooga last Saturday. Although its Week 3 for the Golden Eagles, the casual fan will still need a roster card to help identify this team, which finished in a three-way tie for the Conference Championship last season but did not make the FCS Playoffs. This Bobby Wilder team could be very special, and bears watching once conference play begins. Tech is very balanced on offense, with nearly identical totals in rushing and passing yards through two games. On defense, Tech’s depth was evident as they 30 different players saw time against Chattanooga. Some of those new names to watch is transfer QB Kekoa Visperas (490 yards passing, 5 TD passes), WR Q’Daryius Jennings (3 TD catches), LB Theron Gaines (15 tackles, 2 TFL’s, and a sack), along with returnees Aaron Swafford and Tim Coutras. Seven-straight OVC-Big South Association games lie ahead for the Golden Eagles. They need to take care of their business against a team they should control.
Southern Illinois at UT Martin (6pm CT, ESPN+)
One of the best matchups in FCS this week takes place in Martin, Tennessee when UT Martin opens its home schedule when they host Southern Illinois. Talk about a home field advantage: The Skyhawks sport an 18-3 record at home over the past four seasons. Southern Illinois is ranked this week, led by QB DJ Williams who has thrown for 429 yards in two games. His UT Martin QB counterpart is Jase Bauer, a redshirt senior who threw for 273 yards last week in a loss at UTEP. Bauer’s top targets are Bryce Bailey and Phaizon Wilson. SIU has scored 66 in their first two games, a win over Thomas More and a 34-17 loss at Big 10 foe Purdue. Lots of new faces for Skyhawk fans to meet Saturday night. This is one of those early season OVC-Big South vs. Missouri Valley Football games that will be impactful when it comes to the FCS Playoff Committee considerations at season's end.
Valparaiso at Western Illinois (6pm CT, ESPN+)
Following completion of their two-game schedule of Big Ten opponents, Western Illinois will open their 2025 home season by hosting Valparaiso. Yes, its very early in the season to start matching stats between teams but this one does stand out -- Valpo has scored 74 points through its first two games and WIU has managed just 10 points so far this season. Three Leatherneck defenders have double-digit tackles totals so far, led by Justin Richardson’s eleven. Western Illinois got hot offensively in mid-season 2024 but lost 70 percent plus of that production to graduation. Saturday’s game provides a starting point to get cranked up in 2025 before conference play begins.
Southeast Missouri at #1 North Dakota State, 2:30pm CT, ESPN+)
For the last decade SEMO seems to land a transfer quarterback that is a difference maker. Meet Jax Leatherwood who arrives at Cape this season from San Diego Mesa College. The 6'8" Leatherwood (the reigning OVC-Big South Offensive Player of the Week) led the Redhawks to a victory over North Alabama by throwing for 225 yards and accounting for hree touchdowns. Defense has always been a hallmark of Tom Matukewicz’s teams so that brings our first cliché of the season “defense travels well.” It’s a must-bring travel item for the Redhawks on Saturday. NDSU has scored 97 points in its first two games, led by WR Bryce Lance who had 75 catches in 2024, and seven so far in 2025. And then there is the Brown brother matchup in Fargo when SEMO RB Payton Brown and NDSU QB Preston Brown will play each other for the first time in college.
Alabama A&M at Tennessee State (3:30pm CT, ESPN+)
After hosting No. 1 North Dakota State last week, Tennessee State turns its attention to Alabama A&M at Nissan Stadium in the inaugural "Legacy Series" game. This series was established in February and will alternate between Nashville and Huntsville through 2028. A&M comes to Nashville after a win over Alcorn State and has a head coach with arguably one of the best names in the business - Sam Shade. First year TSU coach Reggie Barlow and the Tigers are hoping that running back Kendric Rhymes can return to his Week 1 form when he rushed for 170 yards and two scores.
Citadel at Gardner Webb (7pm ET, ESPN+)
The Military College of South Carolina heads to meet the Runnin’ Bulldogs Saturday at Spangler Stadium in Boiling Springs North Carolina. Gardner-Webb opened the season with an historic win over Western Carolina and fell to Georgia Tech last week. Speaking of “Runnin’, GWU is led by three rushers with other 100 + yards (Quasean Holmes, Nate Hampton, Carson Gresock). QB1 Hampton has also thrown for over 300 yards in the first two contests. Despite their relative proximity, the two institutions have only played two other times, with The Citadel winning both games.
Illinois State at Eastern Illinois (2pm CT, ESPN+)
After winning the Jon Gruden Bowl in Week One, Eastern Illinois fell to regional rival Indiana State last Saturday. Up next, is in-state opponent Illinois State, who comes to O’Brien Field for the 113th Mid-America Classic. EIU’s offense is led by several new faces on offense, among them Redshirt freshman quarterback Connor Wolf, Akron transfer Charles Kellom at running back, and two redshirt freshman on the offensive line in Kwan Johnson and Rahfeeq Katumbusi. Scoring points will be a tall order versus FCS Top 5 Illinois State, who already has two defensive scores in the early 2025 season.
Lindenwood at Charleston Southern, 4pm ET, ESPN+)
Lindenwood took FBS Appalachian State to the wire last week before falling 20-13 while Charleston Southern fell on the road at Coastal Carolina. The two meet up Saturday in Charleston in the OVC-Big South Association opening game. CSU Coach Gabe Giardina put Saturday’s game plan in perspective at his weekly presser -- “we need to play better on first and second down and try and contain their quarterback (Nate Glantz)" who he described as 'Houdini'. For Lindenwood, coming in at 0-2, they will rely on Glantz and a young receiving corps led by Rico Bond and Drew Krobath who each have had 100+ yard receiving games to start the season. In an odd schedule twist, Charleston Southern will play two-straight non-conference games following this tilt, while Lindenwood will play four of their next five games at home.