FCS Nation

Southern Illinois linebacker Chris Presto joins FCS Nation Radio as our first Honorary Captain of the Week in the fight against childhood cancer alongside Northwestern Mutual and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Now in his third season as an Honorary Captain, Presto talks about his leadership role with the Salukis, navigating the ups and downs of the season and preparing for Missouri Valley Football Conference play. He also shares why this cause hits close to home and how he’s using his platform to make an impact beyond the football field.

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Week 4 of the FCS season is here, and FCS Nation Radio has you covered.

Kevin Marshall and Stone Labanowitz recap a wild Week 3, including Southeastern Louisiana’s FBS win, Montana State surviving Central Connecticut State, South Dakota State taking care of Youngstown State, South Dakota’s battle with Boise State, Stony Brook’s statement win over Rhode Island and South Carolina State knocking off Furman.

Then, the guys break down the latest FCS Nation Top 25 and hand out their FCS Nation Players of the Week before turning the page to a loaded...

FCS Nation’s Kevin Marshall sits down with Furman head football coach Clay Hendrix following the Paladins’ road win over Mercer.

Hendrix breaks down Furman’s early-season progress, a defense that continues to set the tone and the development of quarterback Jake Garcia as the Paladins work toward becoming a more versatile offense. He also looks ahead to Furman’s matchup with South Carolina State and explains why getting regional FCS programs back on each other’s schedules just makes sense.

The conversation also dives into the changing landscape of the Southern Conference, including the addition o...

Week 3 of FCS Nation Radio is loadeddddddd.

We start by recapping another big weekend for the subdivision, including two more FBS scalps as No. 1 Montana State takes down Nevada and No. 8 Illinois State knocks off Northern Illinois. We also hit South Dakota State’s dominant win, Montana handling Utah Tech, Tarleton State surviving McNeese, Lehigh making a statement against William & Mary and Stephen F. Austin shutting down Abilene Christian.

Then it’s on to the latest FCS Nation Top 25 and our Players of the Week before looking ahead to a stacked Week 3 slate.

We p...

The FCS came for the FBS in a big way. Kevin Marshall and Stone Labanowitz break down three statement wins as Idaho State stunned Utah State, Tarleton State took down Bowling Green for its second straight FBS victory, and The Citadel survived Charlotte in a triple-overtime thriller.

The guys also react to South Dakota State’s loss at Northwestern, unveil the latest FCS Nation Top 25 and Players of the Week, and look ahead to a loaded Week 2 slate. No. 1 Montana State heads to Nevada as a road favorite, No. 8 Illinois State gets its own shot at an FB...

What started as an idea four years ago has grown into a nationwide movement across FCS football, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in the fight against childhood cancer and proving just how powerful these communities can be when competition meets a cause.

Chris Schenkel, Managing Partner of Northwestern Mutual’s Schenkel Network Office in Sioux Falls, joins FCS Nation Radio to tell the story behind the challenge and how an idea rooted in FCS football grew into something much bigger.

Chris takes us back to the beginning, explains why the FC...

Week 0 gave us blowouts, upsets, instant stars and one of the wildest finishes you’ll see all season, and now the FCS turns its attention to a loaded Week 1 slate.

On this episode of FCS Nation Radio, we break down everything we learned from opening weekend, including West Florida’s statement win over ranked Southern Illinois in its FCS debut, Montana State’s three-phase domination, South Dakota State’s offensive explosion and William & Mary’s unbelievable comeback against Villanova.

We also dive into the latest FCS Nation Top 25, debate the biggest movers and introduce the national P...

FCS football is officially BACK. 🏈

Stone Labanowitz and Kevin Marshall kick off the 2026 season with a loaded Week 0 edition of FCS Nation Radio, breaking down the games, storylines and teams ready to make the first statement of the year.

The guys unveil the FCS Nation Preseason Top 25 before turning their attention to a packed Week 0 slate.

WEEK 0 PREVIEW

Stone and Kevin break down:

The fight against childhood cancer is back for Season 4. 🏈🍋

FCS Nation’s Stone Labanowitz sits down with Liz Scott, co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and mother of Alex Scott, the little girl whose lemonade stand sparked a movement that has now raised more than $300 million for childhood cancer research and family support.

Liz has helped kick off this challenge every season, and this year, the conversation goes back to where it all began, with Alex.

Liz reflects on her daughter, the idea that started with one l...

Stone was joined this week by Montana State wide receiver Taco Dowler, who proudly represents Montana State in the nationwide fight to raise money and awareness for children and families battling cancer on behalf of Northwestern Mutual and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, along with Devin Coyle, District Director for Northwestern Mutual in Bozeman, Montana, for a special Honorary Captain of the Week episode of FCS Nation Radio.

A Billings, Montana native and one of the most dynamic all-around players in the FCS, Dowler joins the show just days before stepping onto the biggest stage in...

The FCS National Championship has finally arrived, and FCS Nation Radio is on the ground in Nashville to preview the biggest night of the season. Stone and Kevin take a deep dive into how Illinois State and Montana State navigated one of the most unpredictable playoff paths in recent memory, starting with a breakdown of the semifinal matchups and the defining moments that punched each team’s ticket to the title game.

We examine Illinois State’s improbable postseason run, a team that refused to listen to projections, won four straight road games, and...

This week’s Honorary Captain of the Week is Jamal Mull, offensive lineman for Central Arkansas and one of the most impressive voices we’ve had on the show, on and off the field. An NFL-caliber talent, Jamal is preparing to move to Dallas ahead of the NFL Draft, but before taking that next step, he’s using his platform to fight for something bigger than football.

In this episode, Jamal joins us to talk about his journey with the Bears, competing in the Dream Bowl on January 11, and why giving back matters to him as a studen...

This week, FCS Nation welcomes Julian Fox, linebacker for the Mercer Bears, as our Honorary Captain of the Week! Julian joins John David Miller, financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual’s Macon (Goodwin-Wright Network Office), to discuss the impact of the Northwestern Mutual x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge, an initiative raising awareness and funds for children battling cancer.

From sharing his personal journey on and off the field to highlighting Mercer’s role in this nationwide effort, Julian shows how FCS athletes can stand for something bigger than the game. Learn how Northwestern Mutual supports youth, famili...

This week’s episode is all about championship momentum and semifinal stakes in the FCS.

We open with a full playoff replay, breaking down a dominant weekend across the bracket. Montana State powered past Stephen F. Austin behind a physical, fast-paced attack, while Montana overwhelmed South Dakota to set up a long-awaited rivalry clash with everything on the line. Villanova continued its postseason surge by knocking off Tarleton State with a resilient, come-from-behind performance, and Illinois State proved its road toughness with an impressive win at UC Davis. We also recap an instant classic in the CELEBRATION BO...

Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse joins the podcast fresh off one of the most shocking wins in FCS playoff history, a 29–28 road upset of No. 1 North Dakota State in the Fargodome.

Despite throwing five interceptions, Rittenhouse delivered when it mattered most, leading two late touchdown drives and completing the bold game-winning two-point conversion to silence one of the toughest environments in college football.

In this conversation, Tommy breaks down the week of preparation, the calm he felt in the middle of chaos, and the mindset behind the phrase, “You can’t score 14 in one drive.” He talks...

The bracket is shrinking, the drama is rising, and the road to the national championship just got a whole lot wilder.

This week, we rewind an unforgettable Second Round! Upsets, blowouts, thrillers, and statement wins across the board. Illinois State stunned the nation with a one-point takedown of top-seeded North Dakota State. Montana State held off Yale to keep their title hopes alive. Montana put on an offensive show against South Dakota State, and Tarleton State powered their way into the quarterfinals. Villanova pulled off a gritty win at Lehigh, South Dakota pitched a dominant...

Segment 1 – First Round Recap

Segment 2 – Ivy League Spotlight

Segment 3 – FCS Second Round Preview

Segment 4 – Honorary Captain of the Week

Stone Labanowitz sits down with South Dakota State Jackrabbits quarterback Chase Mason and Jess Jasso, Chief Development Officer at Northwestern Mutual in Sioux Falls, for an inside look at this year’s Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation x Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation Radio Challenge.

In this episode, they discuss Chase’s journey back from injury, last week’s dominant win over New Hampshire, and the Jackrabbits’ upcoming matchup in Missoula against the Montana Grizzlies. Chase also shares his personal fundraising efforts, he’s raised $32,057 so far toward the team’s total of $107,945, and what it means to compete bot...

In this episode, we break down the newly released FCS playoff bracket from top to bottom, starting with the full reveal of seeds 1 through 16. We react to the committee’s seeding decisions, highlight a few surprises, and dive into every first-round matchup, including:

This week on FCS Nation Radio, we break down another wild weekend across the subdivision as the playoff picture sharpens.

We open with a full recap of the biggest results: #1 North Dakota State stays unbeaten after rolling UNI, Montana and Montana State dominate to set up another massive Brawl of the Wild, Kentucky State shocks #4 Tennessee Tech, Lehigh moves to 11–0, Harvard survives Penn, and chaos hits the Valley with Illinois State, South Dakota, and Stephen F. Austin all grabbing key wins.

Then we hand out our Players of the Week and reset the Top 25, highlighting wh...

This week on FCS Nation Radio, we break down a wild slate across the subdivision as rivalry energy, playoff stakes, and conference titles collide.

We kick things off with a full recap of the weekend’s biggest results: North Dakota State’s gritty win over UND to claim the Valley crown, Montana surviving a late push from Eastern Washington, Montana State hanging 66 on Weber State, Tennessee Tech staying hot, New Hampshire shocking Monmouth, Lehigh rolling to its 10th straight, and Mercer edging Western Carolina in a shootout. Plus, South Dakota stuns SDSU in another Top-25 shakeup.

We...

This week on FCS Nation Radio, we’re headed to Fargo, home of champions, as North Dakota State linebacker Donovan Woolen joins Stone Labanowitz as our Honorary Captain of the Week in the Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge.

Alongside Donovan is Noah Sanders, Financial Advisor and College Unit Director in the Fargo office of Northwestern Mutual. They both share what it means to wear the Bison jersey, and how it's a symbol of toughness, tradition, and brotherhood, and how they're channeling that same strength into the fight against childhood cancer.

Another wild week in the FCS delivered shakeups, upsets, and statement wins, and we’re breaking it all down.

In Segment 1, we recap the biggest results from Week 10, including NDSU’s 38-30 win over Youngstown State, Montana’s continued dominance, Mercer’s statement win against Furman, and Indiana State’s stunning upset of South Dakota State.

Segment 2 spotlights this week’s Players of the Week and runs through the latest Top 25 rankings, who’s rising, who’s falling, and who’s holding strong.

Then in Segment 3, we look ahead to Week 11’s can’t-miss matchups, from...

🍋 HONORARY CAPTAIN OF THE WEEK: Bradlee Jones, Defensive Back, THE Citadel Bulldogs 🍋

On this episode of FCS Nation, Kevin Marshall sits down with Bradlee Jones, standout defensive back for THE Citadel Bulldogs and this week’s Honorary Captain of the 2025 Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge.

Joined by Richard Worrell, Managing Partner at Northwestern Mutual, Bradlee shares what it means to represent THE Citadel, a program built on discipline, leadership, and heart, both on and off the field.

From blocking kicks and breaking up passes to inspiring others thr...

Another wild week in the FCS delivered shakeups, upsets, and statement wins, and we’re breaking it all down.

In Segment 1, we recap the biggest results from Week 10, including NDSU’s 38-30 win over Youngstown State, Montana’s continued dominance, Mercer’s statement win against Furman, and Indiana State’s stunning upset of South Dakota State.

Segment 2 spotlights this week’s Players of the Week and runs through the latest Top 25 rankings, who’s rising, who’s falling, and who’s holding strong.

Then in Segment 3, we look ahead to Week 11’s can’t-miss matchups, from...

This week on FCS Nation Radio, we’re joined by Furman Tight End and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Honorary Captain of the Week, Jackson Pryor, who’s playing this season with purpose. Jackson sits down with us to talk all things Paladins football, from Furman’s playoff push to life on and off the field and shares the powerful story behind dedicating his 2025 season to raising awareness for childhood cancer.

As part of the Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge, Jackson represents what this movement is all about: using the platform of college...

This week’s episode kicks off with a look back at an action-packed weekend in FCS football, highlighted by North Dakota State’s dominant win over South Dakota State, Montana’s high-powered victory over Sacramento State, and statement performances from UND, Montana State, and Tarleton State.

We recognize our Players of the Week and break down the latest Top 25 shakeups before turning our attention to a loaded preview slate, including #17 Youngstown State at #1 North Dakota State, #2 Montana at Weber State, and the historic rivalry VMI vs. The Citadel in “The Military Classic of the South.”

This week on FCS Nation Radio, Kevin was joined by Furman Tight End and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Honorary Captain of the Week, Jackson Pryor, who’s playing this season with purpose. Jackson sits down with us to talk all things Paladins football, from Furman’s playoff push to life on and off the field and shares the powerful story behind dedicating his 2025 season to raising awareness for childhood cancer.

As part of the Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge, Jackson represents what this movement is all about: using the platform of colle...

This week’s episode kicks off with a look back at an action-packed weekend in FCS football, highlighted by North Dakota State’s dominant win over South Dakota State, Montana’s high-powered victory over Sacramento State, and statement performances from UND, Montana State, and Tarleton State.

We recognize our Players of the Week and break down the latest Top 25 shakeups before turning our attention to a loaded preview slate, including #17 Youngstown State at #1 North Dakota State, #2 Montana at Weber State, and the historic rivalry VMI vs. The Citadel in “The Military Classic of the South.”

It’s rivalry week and there’s no bigger stage than the Dakota Marker. This week on FCS Nation Radio, we break down everything from a wild Week 8 to the biggest matchups ahead in Week 9.

In Segment 1, we recap the top headlines across the country:

This week on the FCS Nation x Northwestern Mutual x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge, we’re spotlighting one of the top defensive forces, and culture-setters in the country: Kaden Vig, edge rusher for the No. 4 North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Fresh off a dominant win over Stone’s alma mater, Southern Illinois, Kaden joins us to talk about what’s driving UND’s rise, how the team’s identity has evolved under Head Coach Eric Schmidt, and what it means to represent the program in this season’s Challenge.

More than just an athlete, Kaden embodies...

This week on FCS Nation Radio, we spotlight a leader on and off the field, Villanova running back David Avit, joined by Grant Price, Managing Director at Northwestern Mutual’s Radnor Network Office, as part of our Honorary Captain of the Week series presented by Northwestern Mutual x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

https://villanova.com/sports/football/roster/david-avit/15238

Together, we dive into the mission behind A Season With Purpose, a nationwide initiative uniting FCS athletes and local Northwestern Mutual offices to raise awareness and funds in the figh...

Week 8 brought fireworks across the FCS, and the top teams made big statements. North Dakota State forced turnovers early and often in a 45–17 rout of Southern Illinois, while South Dakota State’s defense put on a Hobo Day masterclass, holding UNI to just a field goal. Montana’s second-half surge kept the Griz rolling past Cal Poly, and Tarleton State’s James Paige went off in a 41–23 win over Utah Tech. (Presented by GameStrat)

Montana State looked every bit the contender with a 48–14 blowout of Idaho State, Tennessee Tech stayed hot with a win over Charleston S...

The best stay the best, and you know who they are.

This week on FCS Nation Radio, we’re diving headfirst into another stacked weekend of FCS football. From the Dakota Dome to the desert, it’s all gas, no brakes.

SEG 1 – Recap: We break down another wild weekend where the rich got richer. North Dakota State took care of business on the road, South Dakota State showed championship grit, and Montana needed every bit of late-game magic to stay perfect. Plus, Tarleton State and Tennessee Tech keep proving they belong in the...

This week’s Honorary Captain of the Week is Illinois State wide receiver Eddie Kasper (#8), a bright spot on a top 10 Redbirds team and now, a powerful voice in the fight against childhood cancer. 🍋

Through the Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge, Eddie is dedicating his season to kids across the country battling cancer, raising funds and awareness through his play, his platform, and his heart.

In this episode, Eddie takes us inside Redbird Nation as the team gears up to face Murray State, giving fans a...

This one is special. The Great Dane Cam Stodghill not only causes problems for opposing offenses, but he does for the other 28 athletes competing for the Lemon Trophy.

This initiative hits a little closer to home for him, and it does for his running mate Alessandro Tronco, Managing Partner in the Tronco Network Office up there in Albany New York!

Both of these two take the stage to highlight what it is that made Cam an honorary Captain this season and why it is he dedicated his season to the cause...

Conference play is here and the stakes just got real. From North Dakota State rolling into Illinois State to South Dakota State’s trip to Youngstown, Montana heading to Idaho State, and a massive showdown between Yale and Lehigh, conference games galore are on deck.

This week, Kevin and Stone recap a wild Week 5, break down the Players of the Week, and dive deep into the biggest previews across the FCS Top 25. Will the top dogs get tested as league play heats up, or will the heavyweights keep cruising?

This week on FCS Nation Radio, we’re talking all things Ivy League football with none other than Tom Barton, the Ivy League correspondent you need to know. Tom breaks down the league as we head into Week 6 of the FCS season: why he’s high on Harvard, why Dartmouth is a real contender this year, and why he’s not quite buying Yale the way Kevin is.

We also dive into the groundbreaking news that the Ivy League will be in the FCS playoffs for the first time ever. Tom explains how it all came about, why th...

🍋 HONORARY CAPTAIN OF THE WEEK: Noah Bennee, Tight End, Weber State University 🍋

On FCS Nation, Stone Labanowitz sits down with Weber State tight end Noah Bennee, our latest Honorary Captain of the Week, as part of the 2025 Northwestern Mutual x FCS Nation x Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Challenge.

Joined by Sawyere Monson, Managing Director of the Grabner Network Office of Northwestern Mutual in Northern Utah, Noah opens up about his journey on and off the field, and why this year’s challenge carries such personal meaning. Both Noah and Sawyere share powerful stories about how cancer...

This week on FCS Nation, Stone Labanowitz sits down with Southern Illinois’ starting quarterback, DJ Williams, for an inside look at the Salukis’ 3-1 start and the leader behind it.

DJ’s journey from Harvey, Illinois, to becoming the face of SIU football is one built on resilience, adversity, and a chip on his shoulder that fuels his game. In this conversation, he opens up about: