Preview of Division II College Football's Opening Weekend

ByNick Pavelec

3 min read

Preview of Division II College Football's Opening Weekend

Labor day weekend is a weekend where we all rejoice, the football drought is over! After months of painstakingly waiting this Thursday marks the major return of College Football. Division 2 Colleges reopen college football after not having the entire 2020 season be cancelled due to COVID. With a whole year off, the question is, What's in store for this season?


#1 Ferris State Opens up Against a Tough Opponent

Ferris state is a team that has constantly just been on the outside. In 2018 they lost in the national championship game and in 2019 were beaten in the semifinal. With a whole year of preparation, Ferris State is looking to win their first national title. However, they play fierce opponent Finley. While Finley is not ranked in the top 25, they appear to be quite skilled in giving the Bulldogs trouble. In 2019 their season opener against each other was a dogfight, with Ferris State barely pulling off the win 24-23. Call it early season rust if you want, but if Ferris state wants to start their championship season on a high, they're gonna have to bring their A game Thursday.


#2 West Florida Has to Make a Statement

West Florida was the 2019 Division 2 National Champion, capturing the schools first title. At the helm of that offensive was Austin Reed, whom is returning as only a redshirt sophomore. With the same quarterback that won a national championship still on the roster, and 2 years to develop him, it appears that West Florida has all the tools to repeat. That is why it is critical for this team to set the tone in their home opener against Southwest Baptist. This school is ranked #133, and should be a piece of cake for the defending national champions. If they are as good as they should be, this blowout will further cement them as national title favorites.


Watch Out for #20 Lindenwood

call me a homer if you will. I grew up in St. Charles 4 minutes away from Lindenwood. I actually watched them win a NAIA national championship in Montana back in 2008. However since their move to Division 2 they've had a bit of a rough time, that was under Cade Brister came along. After his breakout season in 2019, the Lions went from a 4 win team to a 9 win team.

With him still a favorite to win the Harlon Hill award, and Lindenwood being ranked #2o, look for them to thrive in their home opener against Angelo State. As the season continues, don't be surprised if you see Lindenwood as a dark horse title contender.


Can Tyson Bagent lead Shepherd to the Promised Land?

the last time we saw division 2 football, Tyson Bagent dominated it. He was a fantastic quarterback, throwing for over 4000 yard in 2019. With him back at the helm of this high flying offense, the question is, can it produce wins? Shepherd's heir lack of defense kept them from seeing success in the playoffs especially. With a opener against Ohio Dominican, who is known for their defensive toughness, it'll be interesting to see how one of the best players can get his team started off on the right foot.

Are you an Athlete?

Create a free profile to access the largest network specifically designed to connect athletes to opportunities. Get started.

RELATED ARTICLES
2024 WNBA Draft Recap: Caitlin Clark Goes No. 1, Fever and Sparks Shine

2024 WNBA Draft Recap: Caitlin Clark Goes No. 1, Fever and Sparks Shine

The 2024 WNBA Draft saw the Indiana Fever select Caitlin Clark with the first overall pick, adding...

ByBen Gauthier | Tue Apr 16 2024
Sports Apps: The Future of Sports Engagement and Fan Interaction

Sports Apps: The Future of Sports Engagement and Fan Interaction

In the increasingly digital world we live in, it comes as no surprise that sports engagement and...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Aug 24 2023
Artificial Intelligence: A Game-Changer for the Sports Industry

Artificial Intelligence: A Game-Changer for the Sports Industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries across the board, revolutionizing the way...

ByTiffany Allen | Mon Aug 21 2023
USA Football: Two NFL Teams To Provide Coach Certification To Support Youth Football

USA Football: Two NFL Teams To Provide Coach Certification To Support Youth Football

The Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns have announced their support for USA Football's...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu May 04 2023
Ontario Volleyball Association: February/March - News and Updates

Ontario Volleyball Association: February/March - News and Updates

A new season means new events and opportunities for volleyball athletes across Canada. As the...

ByOVA Team Ontario | Thu Mar 30 2023
Athletes Who Earned Their USA Football Tryout Invite on GMTM

Athletes Who Earned Their USA Football Tryout Invite on GMTM

Does football season really end anymore? The day after the Super Bowl, which marks the end of the...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Mar 06 2023
When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

More than a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt Jr's injury during an amateur football game resulted in...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Mar 02 2023
Tackling Sports Industry Fragmentation by Creating Athlete-First Solutions

Tackling Sports Industry Fragmentation by Creating Athlete-First Solutions

The sports industry is undergoing rapid change, putting pressure on organizations to keep pace. To...

ByJoey Grant | Mon Feb 06 2023
New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

In just under a month, the XFL will be taking yet another crack at creating a competing...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Jan 20 2023
Do They Have High School Sports In European Countries?

Do They Have High School Sports In European Countries?

Unlike the United States, European countries do not have high school athletics. It is a completely...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 22 2022
Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

They’re one of the most crucial aspects to a college sports viewing experience. The players?...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Nov 21 2022
How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

It is no secret that it is often a young football athlete's dream to play their favorite sport at...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Nov 14 2022
Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Being a Division II collegiate athlete was one of the best experiences of my entire life. Having...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 08 2022
Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Part two of some of the best division 1 college football game day traditions throughout the United...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

One of the best parts about college football are the traditions that have been around for decades....

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
What are College Football’s New Overtime Rules?

What are College Football’s New Overtime Rules?

In the 21st century, major sports have had to walk an interesting tightrope. They’ve had to balance...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Oct 24 2022
Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

On the 15th of October, 2018 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) introduced a...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 19 2022
Three NFL Players Drafted From Division-II College Football Teams

Three NFL Players Drafted From Division-II College Football Teams

Every year the NFL draft is filled with a lot of hype and news coverage around a small class of...

ByJamison White | Sun Oct 16 2022
Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

Some of college football’s most daunting homefield advantages come to mind pretty quickly. The Big...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Oct 11 2022
How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

Generally speaking playing at a mid-major Division I school means not having to worry about seeing...

ByJamison White | Sun Oct 09 2022
Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Playing college football is a dream for many high schoolers but the recruiting process can be...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Oct 06 2022
College Football's "Dead Money": Why Fired Coaches Keep Getting Paid

College Football's "Dead Money": Why Fired Coaches Keep Getting Paid

We’re at the point in the college football calendar where teams are assessing whether they’d like...

ByAndrew Pistone | Wed Sep 28 2022
What are "Guarantee Games" in College Football?

What are "Guarantee Games" in College Football?

As the 2022 college football season gets underway, there are many behemoth matchups on the calendar...

ByAndrew Pistone | Sun Sep 25 2022
College Football: Five Stars Who Could Have Benefitted Most from NIL Ruling

College Football: Five Stars Who Could Have Benefitted Most from NIL Ruling

The NCAA's Division I Board of Directors announced a new...

ByBryan Armetta | Sat Sep 24 2022
College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

Picking the right college can be a tough task for any high school senior, but it can be a unique...

ByAlexis Peltzer-Harding | Fri Sep 23 2022
What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

Any athlete with a love for competition hates sitting on the sideline, but once he or she gets to...

ByCorey Roepken | Mon Sep 19 2022
EA Sports To Create College Football Video Game With These Updates

EA Sports To Create College Football Video Game With These Updates

After FOX Sports released a documentary on Christmas Day chronicling the life and career of the...

ByAndrew Pistone | Sat Sep 17 2022
What CFB Programs Are Developing The Most NFL Talent At Each Position

What CFB Programs Are Developing The Most NFL Talent At Each Position

More than most sports, the fundamentals of Football change greatly depending on which position you...

ByAria Modirmassihai | Fri Sep 16 2022
College Football: Three Power 5 Quarterback Competitions to Keep Watching This Fall

College Football: Three Power 5 Quarterback Competitions to Keep Watching This Fall

Spring practice is underway for the nation's top college football programs, and that can only mean...

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Sep 08 2022
2022 College Football Cheat Sheet: Who Will Finish On Top In The Big Ten

2022 College Football Cheat Sheet: Who Will Finish On Top In The Big Ten

It's not the flashiest conference, nor is it the most talented, but Big Ten football offers...

ByBryan Armetta | Mon Sep 05 2022
College Football: Why Head Coach Salaries At Top Schools Keep Going Up

College Football: Why Head Coach Salaries At Top Schools Keep Going Up

What does one normally associate with the position of college football head coach? Leaders of men....

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Sep 04 2022
College Football: Are Spencer Rattler and South Carolina SEC East Contenders?

College Football: Are Spencer Rattler and South Carolina SEC East Contenders?

Competing in the SEC is not for everybody. Lost in the shuffle of the annual arms race between...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Sep 04 2022
College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College is an exciting transition to go through for any student, athlete or not. And there is no...

ByJacob Rimmer | Thu Sep 01 2022
How Parents Can Help You Get Recruited To Play College Football

How Parents Can Help You Get Recruited To Play College Football

While performance and execution are a fundamental necessity for the child when it comes to getting...

ByDJ Cadden | Tue Aug 30 2022
College Football: Three Transfer Portal Players to Watch in 2022

College Football: Three Transfer Portal Players to Watch in 2022

It's not even four years old, but it's hard to even remember what college football was like before...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Aug 28 2022
'Am I Good Enough To Play College Sports?': Here's A Few Ways To Find Out

'Am I Good Enough To Play College Sports?': Here's A Few Ways To Find Out

Do you ever struggle with feeling good enough to play a collegiate sport? Sitting there just...

ByGrace White | Thu Aug 25 2022
College Football: Four Of The Best College Towns In Division-I

College Football: Four Of The Best College Towns In Division-I

What makes a college sports town great? It certainly helps to eat, live and breathe the experience...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Aug 22 2022
How Does Recruiting Work in Today's CFB Landscape?

How Does Recruiting Work in Today's CFB Landscape?

Recruiting is an art that takes college football's elite programs years to truly perfect. Building...

ByBryan Armetta | Mon Aug 22 2022
Five Mediocre College Quarterbacks Who Had Great NFL Careers

Five Mediocre College Quarterbacks Who Had Great NFL Careers

We hear all the time about busts, especially at the quarterback position. These are the guys that...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Aug 21 2022
How College Athletics Work At A Liberal Arts School

How College Athletics Work At A Liberal Arts School

Athletes have unique abilities that go well beyond the classroom and their respective playing...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Aug 16 2022
Division-II Sports: How do D2 athletics compare to NCAA Division-I?

Division-II Sports: How do D2 athletics compare to NCAA Division-I?

NCAA Division-II sports are at the intermediate level of competition in the National Collegiate...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Aug 11 2022
Ranking the Five Best Division II Football Conferences

Ranking the Five Best Division II Football Conferences

While most fans are familiar with the prestigious football schools of the NCAA's Division I, the...

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Jul 28 2022
A GMTM Athlete’s Path to Success: Jordan McCray

A GMTM Athlete’s Path to Success: Jordan McCray

It’s a little unusual for a successful football player to only start playing the sport once they...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Jul 28 2022
Football Coaches on Why You Should Not Add Music To Your Recruiting Highlights

Football Coaches on Why You Should Not Add Music To Your Recruiting Highlights

Coaches almost always head straight to the volume and shut it off when if it is on a recruits...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Jul 12 2022
Women's Gymnastics Development Program: How To Get Started With Team USA

Women's Gymnastics Development Program: How To Get Started With Team USA

If you are a part of the gymnastics world, people often ask questions like, " Exactly how wide is...

ByTiana Schoney | Thu Jul 07 2022
2022 College Football Conference Preview: Which Pac 12 Team Will End On Top

2022 College Football Conference Preview: Which Pac 12 Team Will End On Top

The Pac-12 hasn't seen a team reach the College Football Playoff since Washington in 2016. It's a...

ByBryan Armetta | Mon Jun 27 2022
Is USC Football Finally Back? Recapping Lincoln Riley's First Spring As Trojans Head Coach

Is USC Football Finally Back? Recapping Lincoln Riley's First Spring As Trojans Head Coach

We hear about 'culture changes' in college football all the time; one-season turnarounds ushered in...

ByBryan Armetta | Fri Jun 17 2022
Where to find the most Division III football championships

Where to find the most Division III football championships

At nearly 500 miles apart, two small Midwestern cities play host to a pair of college campuses. At...

ByBrice Odel | Thu Jun 16 2022
College Football: Are the Houston Cougar's This Season's Cincinnati?

College Football: Are the Houston Cougar's This Season's Cincinnati?

Prior to 2021, the thought of a non-Power 5 program reaching the College Football Playoff was...

ByBryan Armetta | Mon Jun 13 2022
2022 College Football Conference Preview: Who The Favorites Are In The SEC

2022 College Football Conference Preview: Who The Favorites Are In The SEC

S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C! It's a chant embraced by the South and universally reviled everywhere else....

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Jun 09 2022