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FCS Football Talk

HERO Sports
Montana State
FCS Football
South Dakota State
North Dakota State
FCS Playoffs
Transfer Portal
Montana
FCS Championship
Illinois State
NCAA
FCS
Idaho
North Dakota State University
South Dakota
Mercer
Incarnate Word
Missouri Valley Football Conference
Big Sky Conference
UC Davis
South Dakota State University

FCS Football Talk is a weekly FCS podcast, presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Senior FCS Analyst Sam Herder hosts the show throughout the year. During the season, FCS Football Central Senior Editor Zach McKinnell joins as a co-host. In the offseason, Sam brings on guests from all around the FCS for in-depth conversations.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes412Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsFootball

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Latest Episodes

On this episode, Sam is joined by Southland Conference Commissioner Chris Grant. They discuss:

-Multiple Southland players as 2026 NFL Draft prospects

-Player retention and the transfer portal

-FCS playoff committee emphasizing D1 opponents

-FCS Kick... more

On this episode, Sam breaks down his top 30 returning FCS running backs. The ranking in article form can be found herosports.com/fcs-football-top-returning-2026-running-backs-bzbz/.

On this episode, Sam is joined by West Florida broadcaster Will Kennedy.

The two discuss UWF’s move to the FCS from D2, the football program’s rapid rise, the school’s investment in football, and more.

What are the biggest offseason questions for the Montana, Montana State, UND, USD, and SDSU football teams? We discuss one big-picture question for each program, and one on-field question for the 2026 season.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Will Kennedy
Voice of the Argos (West Florida)
University of West Florida
Episode: West Florida Broadcaster Will Kennedy Talks UWF’s DI Move
KC Smurthwaite
Writer for HERO Sports and college athletics consultant
HERO Sports
Episode: College Athletics Consultant KC Smurthwaite
Timothy Rosario
Co-host of The Bluebloods on FCS Football Central
FCS Football Central
Episode: Big-Picture Questions Ahead Of The 2026 FCS Season (w/ Timothy Rosario)
Craig Haley
FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform and The Analyst
Stats Perform, The Analyst
Episode: FCS Offseason Storylines (w/ Craig Haley)
Justin McMullen
Tennessee Tech football general manager and director of player personnel
Tennessee Tech
Episode: Tennessee Tech General Manager Justin McMullen
Jamie Williams
A voter for Stats Perform and memorable analyst in the FCS football community, associated with FCS Fans Nation.
FCS Fans Nation
Episode: FCS Surprises/Disappointments In 2025 (w/ Jamie Williams)
Jason Ross
Sacramento State Football play-by-play broadcaster
Sacramento State
Episode: PxP Announcer Jason Ross Discusses Sac State Football
Dan Jackson
Head Coach of South Dakota State Jackrabbits
South Dakota State University
Episode: MVFC Media Day Interviews
Kobe Clayborne
Player of South Dakota State Jackrabbits
South Dakota State University
Episode: MVFC Media Day Interviews

Hosts

Sam Herder
Senior FCS Analyst and Host of the FCS Football Talk.
Zach McKinnell
Co-host and Senior Editor with a focus on FCS coverage.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 187 ratings
  • Great podcast for the FCS fan

    Great content. The hosts are very knowledgeable for all teams in the FCS, not just a few teams or conferences. I enjoy listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RustyMT
    United States2 years ago
  • FCS Podcast—Sam

    Knowledgeable, unbiased. Great content. Like the passion. Fully invested in FCS football. I am interested in FCS recruiting also. Would like to see more players accept FCS scholarships over excess P5 PWO’s.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tessa-Savannah
    United States2 years ago
  • Great FCS coverage by Sam Herder.

    Sam does a great job covering the FCS. I especially enjoy the MVFC and Big Sky coverage.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FlyPixel
    United States3 years ago
  • The Finest Of The FCS

    Sam provides the best FCS content around.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gators2011
    United States4 years ago
  • Thank you for covering FCS Football!!

    Awesome pod! Great to have some FCS football coverage. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bkinzel99
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the hosts for their deep knowledge of FCS football, often stating that the analysis provides insights that enhance their understanding of college football.
Many enjoy the variety of content, noting that both in-depth interviews and game analyses keep them engaged throughout the season.
There's a slight critique about the hosts sometimes taking themselves too seriously, though this does not detract significantly from their informative approach.
The podcast is considered a critical resource for fans who seek comprehensive coverage of FCS football, with some asserting it as the best in its category.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#122
Singapore/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#236
Spain/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

West Florida Broadcaster Will Kennedy Talks UWF’s DI Move
Q: So how long has this been in the works as far as UWF making the move to Division I?
Kennedy describes the move as something discussed after their 2019 national championship, accelerated by recent conference realignments and the desire to position the program for long-term growth, with excitement about regional rivalries and stronger competition.
Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill
Q: With the FCS now allowed to fully play in week zero, your conference elected to play an extra conference game now, making it nine conference games. What played into that decision?
We made that decision based on the difficulty in securing home non-conference games and to better represent a champion through a greater number of conference games.
Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill
Q: What were your biggest questions that popped into your head while that pitch was happening?
There were concerns about the viability and terms of profit sharing, especially since college athletics has not operated in this space before.
Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill
Q: Where do things stand now as far as, you know, where that is?
It's still in an exploratory phase with some hurdles regarding the NCAA's media contract and interest from various parties.
Stone Cold FCS QB Conversation w/ Stone Labanowitz
Q: How does Chase Mason project as a pro quarterback?
Chase is predictable in his play style, which may affect his prospects in the NFL.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About FCS Football Talk

What is FCS Football Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides in-depth coverage and analysis of FCS football, focusing on the latest developments, key player performances, and team dynamics within the Football Championship Subdivision. Episodes feature hosts who are deeply knowledgeable about the nuances of the sport, engaging in discussions that span from game recaps to player spotlights, coaching strategies, and the implications of the transfer portal in college football. With an interactive format that includes guest interviews and expert insights, the content is tailored for dedicated fans eager to understand the intricacies of FCS teams and athletes throughout the season and offseason.

Where can I find podcast stats for FCS Football Talk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for FCS Football Talk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to FCS Football Talk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does FCS Football Talk get?

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What are the audience demographics for FCS Football Talk?

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How many subscribers and views does FCS Football Talk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers FCS Football Talk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to FCS Football Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with FCS Football Talk:

1. The FCS Edge
2. The Bluebloods
3. MonDak Football Show
4. Cat-Griz Insider
5. Big Sky Breakdown

How many episodes of FCS Football Talk are there?

FCS Football Talk launched 9 years ago and published 412 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact FCS Football Talk?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for FCS Football Talk?

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What guests have appeared on FCS Football Talk?

Recent guests on FCS Football Talk include:

1. Will Kennedy
2. KC Smurthwaite
3. Timothy Rosario
4. Craig Haley
5. Justin McMullen
6. Jamie Williams
7. Jason Ross
8. Dan Jackson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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