We’re going to preview the Division I Conferences based on the lesser-known players of all the Division I teams. Let’s have some fun and give some attention to the players you likely don’t know or talk about too much, unless something goes wrong or you say, "Hey, look at that number."

Basically, we’re going to give you each team’s (we hope their starting) Long Snapper, Punter and #69. Then we’ll give you their longest road trip of the season, last conference title, playoff appearance, and a simple Yes or No if they have a new Head Coach. I’m sure I’ll question my choice for doing season previews this way this year, but I’m limited on time due to a myriad of factors. I’ll keep dreaming of being able to do this full time. Maybe one day. If you know of any sponsors, please let us know.

Appalachian State Mountaineers

• Where: Boone, NC

• Last Year's Record: 5-6, 3-5 SBC. The second losing season in 31 years.

• Longsnapper: Gabe Simpkins (R-So) is a D2 transfer from UNC Pembroke, Jacob Poff (Fr) is a five-star rated long snapper

• Punter: AUSSIE Mitchell Lake has averaged 38.9 ypp but only played in two games last year; Ian Ratliff (R-So) was at Texas last season, signed with Marshall in the spring of ‘25, and is somehow now at App

• #69: Nobody wearing this number, but a #1 named Doopah Coleman

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): Oh my they’re going to Boise State (2,260 miles)

• Last Conference Title: Despite a regular season loss to Georgia Southern, the Mountaineers defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 45-38 to win the 2019 Sun Belt championship in their last game under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Won the 2023 Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl over Miami (OH), 13-9 (sorry WVU fans, hooray Pitt fans)

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): Yep - Dowell Loggains replaces Shawn Clark, they don’t take kindly to losing seasons.

Arkansas State Red Wolves

• Where: Jonesboro, AR

• Last Year's Record: 8-5, 5-3 Sun Belt

• Longsnapper: Kyle Nill (Fr)

• Punter: Jackson Waller (Fr transfer from SMU), Jaxson Dunn (R-Fr)

• #69: Nope

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): App State (618 miles)

• Last Conference Title: Shared the 2016 SBC crown with App (8-5 overall, 7-1 SBC, no tiebreak). Last outright title was the 2015 SBC Championship at 9-4 overall and 8-0 in the league.

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Won the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl 38-31 over Bowling Green

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): Nope. Still Butch Jones.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

• Where: Conway, SC - TEAL

• Last Year's Record: 6-7, 3-5 SBC

• Longsnapper: Nate Merchant (R-Jr) has been the back up for 2 years, Gavin Carrick (Fr)

• Punter: AUSSIE Emile Sebafundi (R-Sr) averaged 41.2 ypp last year and also threw a pick(!?), Haden Tessier (R-Jr transfer from Incarnate Word)

• #69: Somehow no. This feels wrong. Give to Chauncey the Chanticleer.

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): South Alabama (679 miles)

• Last Conference Title: The Chants shared the 2020 title because they got the ‘rona and couldn’t play the Cajuns in the SBC title game. They shared the Big South title in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, and 2005. Their only outright league titles were in five-team leagues in 2004 (10-1, 4-0 Big South, no playoff, loss on the road to Division II Newberry which didn’t bother them at ALL) and 2006 (9-3, 4-0 Big South).

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Lost the 2024 Myrtle Beach Bowl to UTSA on their home field, 44-15

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Georgia Southern Eagles

• Where: Beautiful Eagle Creek in Statesboro, GA

• Last Year's Record: 8-5, 6-2 SBC

• Longsnapper: Jackson Wheeler started every game last year and is listed as a 6th Year… Gaines Wood (R-Jr) and Gavin Kurpis (Fr) are also on the roster

• Punter: AUSSIE Alex Smith (Jr) was honorable mention all-SBC last year, leading the league in net average at 41.6 ypp

• #69: Nope

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): Going to California in consecutive weeks to open the season: Fresno State (2,513 miles) and Southern Cal (2,387 miles)

• Last Conference Title: Southern won the Sun Belt in its first season in the league at 9-3 overall and 8-0 in the conference, but were ineligible for the postseason.

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Southern lost the 2024 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl to Sam Houston, 31-26

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No, Clay Helton returns to USC in Week 2

Georgia State Panthers

• Where: Atlanta, GA

• Last Year's Record: 3-9, 1-7 SBC

• Longsnapper: Joe Laterza (Sr transfer from TCU), Michael Fitzmeyer (Jr), Spencer Radnoti (R-Fr)

• Punter: Bo Gaines (Jr) hit a 72-yarder last year, Reed Chandley (So transfer from Houston Christian) hit a 73-yarder last year

• #69: OL Jeremiah McCrimmon (‘24 DNP, ‘23 Colorado, ‘22 Coahoma (MS) CC, ‘21 Mississippi State)

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): Old Dominion (567 miles)

• Last Conference Title: Since the SBC went to divisions, the Panthers have not finished better than a tie for 2nd

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: GSU beat Utah State 45-22 in the 2023 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

James Madison Dukes

• Where: Harrisonburg, VA - This is the 50th year of JMU football

• Last Year's Record: 9-4, 4-4 SBC

• Longsnapper: Logan Ketcham (Sr) was the long snapper all 13 games last year and he’s joined by Josiah Kennard (R-Sr) who was the primary long snapper at East Texas A&M for three years

• Punter: AUSSIE Patrick Rea (R-Jr) and Andrew Van Slyke (R-So), who is NOT the son or known relative of 13-year Major Leaguer, three-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glover, two-time Silver Slugger, and career 41.3 WAR centerfielder Andy Van Slyke

• #69: No

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): Texas State (1,424 miles)

• Last Conference Title: JMU won the SBC East in 2022 & 2023 but were ineligible to play in the conference championship game. The Dukes tied for the CAA title in fall 2021, won their COVID division in spring 2021, so because of just weirdness, their last solo title was in 2019, when they went 14-2 overall, 8-0 in the CAA, and lost to North Dakota State 28-20 in the national championship game.

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Won the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl 27-17 over Western Kentucky

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

• Where: Lafayette, Louisiana, huh Louisiana Lafayette has a nice ring to it

• Last Year's Record: 10-4 (7-1 SBC) SBC West champs lost to Marshall in SBC Championship game 31-3

• Longsnapper: 39 Carter Milliron (SR) and 48 Hunter Sims (R-SR)

• Punter: 92 Nathan Torney (SR), also he is an AUSSIE, why can’t we have a Cajun punter

• #69: N/A

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): Eastern Michigan (1,162 miles stadium to stadium);

• Last Conference Title: 2021

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2024 New Mexico Bowl L TCU 34-3

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Marshall Thundering Herd

• Where: Huntington, WV

• Last Year's Record: 10-3, 7-1 SBC

• Longsnapper: Brock Walters (R-So) is from the big island of Hawai’i but transferred from Old Dominion; Gavin Magorien (Fr)

• Punter: Nathan Totten (R-So) was primarily a kickoff specialist but is the only punter listed. He’s also an aviation major. Go planes.

• #69: Peyton Ellis (R-Jr), transfer from the aforementioned East Texas A&M

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): To the Cajuns (983 miles)

• Last Conference Title: In spite of the flat-out weird loss to Georgia Southern, the Herd went 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the league, beating the Ragin’ Cajuns 31-3 on the road for the Sun Belt title.

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Well? They were supposed to go to the known capital of the college football world at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, but when Charles Huff’s contract was not renewed, basically the entire roster to went to Hattiesburg with him, the Marshall administration smartly decided not to do go bowling. So instead, this is a 35-17 loss to UTSA in the 2023 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, attended by Sickos Committee administration.

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): VERY MUCH YES - Tony Gibson inherited this fun situation

Old Dominion Monarchs

• Where: Norfolk, VA

• Last Year's Record: 5-7, 4-4 SBC

• Longsnapper: Brendan Durkin (R-Jr transfer from New Mexico, where he played 24 games), Ashten Dunman (Fr)

• Punter: Ian Brandt (R-So) Career 37.0 ypp average, Mason Forte (Fr)

• #69: OL Logan Cox (R-So) transfers in from K-State

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): ULM MENTIONED!!! (1,067 miles)

• Last Conference Title: The Monarchs tied for the CUSA East title with Western Kentucky in 2016, but lost the head-to-head. They won the CAA in 2012 in just their fourth year of modern-era football at 11-2 overall and 7-1 in conference, advancing to the FCS quarterfinal before losing to Georgia Southern.

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Construction at Thomas Robinson Stadium screwed these boys out of a trip to the Bahamas - ODU was narrowly beaten 38-35 by Western Kentucky in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte.

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

South Alabama Jaguars

• Where: Mobile, AL

• Last Year's Record: 7-6, 4-4 SBC

• Longsnapper: Anthony Zaccaro (R-Sr) snapped in all 13 games last year, after two years off. He snapped in every game for ODU in 2022.. Baxter Turner (R-So) snapped in six games and Grant Rountree (R-Fr) redshirted last year.

• Punter: FINNISH PUNTERRRRR! Aleksi Pulkkinen (Jr) averaged 41.3 ypp last year, he’s joined by local boy Blayne Munson (Fr)

• #69: Returning starting left guard Kenton Jerido (R-Jr)

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): 618 to Denton, TX

• Last Conference Title: Never - The 2010 outlaw season kinda ruled though - 10-0 with wins over Nicholls, Lamar, UC Davis, and Georgia State in year 2 of the program

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: Won the 2024 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl 30-23 over Western Michigan at the Craaaaamton Bowl

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Southern Miss Golden Eagles

• Where: Hattiesburg, MS

• Last Year's Record: 1-11, 0-8 SBC

• Longsnapper: If you have four long snappers, do you have a long snapper? Luke Beard (R-So) transferred from Mississippi State, and USM hosts the Bulldogs in Week 1, so big revenge long snapping game for this guy. Three freshman compete as well - Andrew Tate (not that one), Fred Nicholson, and Colin Kapilovic

• Punter: Logan Gregory (Sr) averaged 44.2 ypp at Division II West Florida last year and 40.7 ypp in ‘23. He started his career at NAIA Southeastern (FL) - Joined by AUSSIE Jack Murley (Fr)

• #69: Nope

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): Georgia Southern (536 miles)

• Last Conference Title: 2011 CUSA Champs - Beat Houston on the road 49-28 in the conference championship game

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2022, won the LendingTree Bowl 38-24 over Rice

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): Yes, Charles Huff from Marshall

Texas State Bobcats

• Where: San Marcos, TX

• Last Year's Record: 8-5, 5-3 SBC

• Longsnapper: Austin Turner (R-Sr) was Austin Peay’s primary long snapper last year after being the primary snapper at Liberty in ‘23. Darian Snell (R-Fr) is also listed

• Punter: David Nunez (R-Sr) averaged 38.3 ypp last year, but the Bobcats have also brought in an AUSSIE transfer from FAU, Nick Salmon (Jr)

• #69: how does this place not have one!?

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): Marshall (1,226 miles)

• Last Conference Title: Won the 2005 Southland championship under David Bailiff and made it to the FCS Semis - Prior to that were four Lone Star Conference titles from 1980-83 in their only four years in NCAA Division II

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2024, won the First Responder Bowl 30-28 over North Texas - This was their second straight year winning this bowl, drinking the stadium dry (in Highland Park!) in 2023

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Troy Trojans

• Where: Troy, AL

• Last Year's Record: 4-8, 3-5 SBC

• Longsnapper: Colton Walls (So) snapped all punts last year, joined by Austin Lewis (Fr)

• Punter: Evan Crenshaw (R-Jr) punted a bunch at Coastal in ‘22 & ‘23, then only punted twice last year at Troy - one appropriately at Iowa, and one blocked by Coastal

• #69: The rare defensive 69er, Defensive Tackle Jermaine Paramore (R-Fr)

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): 1,034 miles to Buffalo,NY

• Last Conference Title: Won the 2023 Sun Belt title with a 11-3 overall and 7-1 league record, beating App State 49-23 at home in the SBC Championship Game

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2023, lost the 76 Birmingham Bowl 10-17 to Duke

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

ULM Warhawks

• Where: Monroe, LA

• Last Year's Record: 5-7

• Longsnapper: Nolan Wilson (RS-Jr.), transfer from Grambling

• Punter: Makenzie Ryan (So.) (enjoy the Aussie punter in Monroe mic’d up last year)

• #69: NA

• Longest Road Trip (Miles): 919 Miles to El Paso, TX

• Last Conference Title: 2005, a 3 way tie and finishing 5-6

• Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2012, lost the Independence Bowl 14-45 to Ohio

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

OH MY ONE MORE CONFERENCE TO GO, I AM SO TIRED, THANK YOU FOR READING.

Also, click the line pretty please 🙂 

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