Welcome to the Sickos Committee’s Weather, Travel & Football Master Almanac Network aka the SCWTFMAN.

Here at the SCWTFMAN we will attempt to forecast the upcoming 2024 college football season by using our Sickos Committee alert system. We’re going to do this in the Famer’s Almanac style. If you don’t know what a Farmers' Almanac is, basically it provides long-range weather predictions for both the U.S. and Canada. We will be applying our forecast to all of Division I in the United States. We’re trying to predict what the upcoming season holds for all Division I teams in college football using our Sickos Committee Weather Alert System.

First we will preview the 129 FCS teams in a conference by conference breakdown over the next coming weeks. Then we will get to the FBS.

Will these previews be long winded and incredibly in depth? No. 

Will these previews be mostly based on “vibes” as assessed by the Sickos Committee weather forecasters? Yes. 

Basically, we’re going to try to assess the team as a Sickos Warning, Watch or Advisory, give you their record last year, provide a little blurb about the team and for the FCS version to possibly advise you of any of their games against the FBS and interesting schedule tidbits. This year we’re also adding a conference specific thing.

For the Big Sky, we’re providing you with the distance to the Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument from the University. Look at this map below, go vacationing and catch a Big Sky Game while you’re there!

The Big Sky Conference

Cal Poly Mustangs  

Where:  San Luis Obispo, California

Last Year's Record: 3-8 (1-7 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Head Coach Paul Wulff is in his second year and he was the Wazzu Head Coach of the infamous Sickos classic known as the Crapple Cup. Their last Big Sky Conference title was in 2012 and their last FCS playoff appearance was in 2016. They’ve got two new co-offensive coordinators. 

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - Their last season with more than 3 wins was in 2018 at 5-6. Their only Big Sky win came against winless Northern Colorado by 7. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They open the season at San Diego, at Stanford and back home to play Western Oregon. They’ve got a Big Sky Banger at Northern Colorado on September 28th and home against Idaho State on October 5th. Those two games will likely tell us how the Mustangs will fare. 

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 31.5 Miles from Los Padres National Forest

Eastern Washington

Where: Cheney, Washington

Last Year's Record:  4–7 (3–5 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Chants, RED FIELD! RED FIELD! RED FIELD! Eastern Washington was wild last year. Six one possession games. Nearly beat Fresno State in Double OT, had a wild heartbreaker against Idaho State where they gave up a 27 point lead but then missed a kick to win it. They’ve added a new Defensive Coordinator which could be related? Maybe.  

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - The Red Field is nearly an automatic warning and with all the one possession games last year. Yeah Warning. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They welcome Monmouth all the way from New Jersey to start the year and play at Nevada. A trip to the Kibbie Dome and can seek revenge with Idaho State coming to Roos Field. 

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 6.6 Miles from Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge

Idaho

Where: Moscow, Idaho

Last Year's Record: 9–4 (6–2 Big Sky), lost in FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal to Albany

Why Should You Care: Chants, KIBBIE DOME! KIBBIE DOME! KIBBIE DOME! The Vandals were a joy to watch last year. They crushed Nevada, hung with Cal, and upset Montana State. Head Coach Jason Eck is incredibly entertaining on social media and on the sidelines. Also, apparently we have an office in the Kibbie Dome. 

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - They’ve got a nice draw in the Big Sky and avoid Montana and Sacramento State. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They are on the road three out of their first four games. They are at Oregon, at Wyoming, home for potential revenge against Albany and then back out on the road to Abilene Christian. Their Big Sky road games are interesting and the one at Montana State is a certified Big Sky Banger™.

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 37 miles from Saint Joe National Forest 

Idaho State

Where: Pocatello, Idaho

Last Year's Record:  3–8 (3–5 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Chants, HOLT ARE-NA clap clap clap clap clap, HOLT ARE-NA clap clap clap clap clap! Head Coach Cody Hawkins has revitalized the program and they have their full backing from Athletic Director Pauline Thiros (she rules in the Commish’s humble opinion). Also, Commish went to a game there last year, paced the sidelines alongside the AD, and they rushed the field when they won. Read the story here My Pocatello Pilgrimage

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - This is a pivotal year for the Bengals. They’ve got six home games for the first time in a long time and if they can steal one or two on the road they could make some noise in the Big Sky. Also, they had some wild games last year, including a 27 point second half comeback over Eastern Washington. Keep an eye on the Bengals.

Potential Sickos Game(s): They are at Oregon State to open the season and I want the Orange and Black opposite color matchup so bad. October 19th at Northern Arizona seems like a good game to see in person…hmmmmm. Also orange on the red field in Eastern Washington on November 16th is great and maybe a potential snow game too.

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument:  3.3 Miles from (a part of) Caribou - Targhee National Forest, 55 Miles from Curlew National Grassland, 100 Miles from Craters of the Moon National Monument

Montana

Where: Missoula, Montana

Last Year's Record: 13–2 (7–1 Big Sky), lost in the FCS Championship game to South Dakota State

Why Should You Care: Let’s see, you got the mascot Monte, tons of snow games, incredible stadium and backdrop, awesome rivalry trophy with Montana State, the epitome of FCS football. 

Sickos Forecast:  Advisory - Montana is quite good. They lost a few in the transfer portal but Montana is always in the running for the Big Sky title and making noise in the FCS playoffs. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They go to North Dakota the second week of the year in a battle of two high seeded FCS playoff teams last year. They go to Montana State for the Brawl of the Wild Game on November 23rd and please Mother Nature give us so much snow for that one. 

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 15.9 Miles of hiking from Blue Mountain in Lolo National Forest, basically Missoula is completely surrounded by Lolo National Forest and Flathead National Forest. 

Montana State

Where: Bozeman, Montana

Last Year's Record: 8–4 (6–2 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Let’s see, you got the mascot Champ, tons of snow games, incredible stadium and backdrop, awesome rivalry trophy with Montana, the epitome of FCS football. Add in the Montana State rodeo team too. 

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - Had a down year by their standards but this schedule sets up nicely for a bounce back. They don’t really have a difficult road game. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They open the season at New Mexico and that could be an FCS over FBS upset. They host Montana for the Brawl of the Wild Game on November 23rd and please Mother Nature give us so much snow for that one. (yeah I know I said that twice but gimme snow please)

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 8.5 miles from Custer-Galletin National Forest.

Northern Arizona

Where: Flagstaff, Arizona

Last Year's Record: 5–6 (5–3 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Walkup Skydome is a clear-span timber dome and you know we love wooden domes. Who doesn’t love a Lumberjack mascot? You know we do. Also, their coach last year was named Christopher Farley Ball. They let him go last year and I hope he didn’t react like the Chris Farley SNL sketch being upset in a Hidden Camera Commercial 

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - They had a propensity for close games and upset Montana. Add in a new Head Coach and who knows what happens?

Potential Sickos Game(s): They have a brutal run of games at Incarnate Word, Sacramento State, at Idaho, at Montana but then a fun one home against Idaho State on October 19th. The final game on November 23rd against Eastern Washington could be another Big Sky Banger ™  

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: It’s kind of in Coconino National Forest anyway but 10.4 miles to Walnut Canyon National Monument, 86.4 miles to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Northern Colorado

Where: Greeley, Colorado

Last Year's Record: 0–11 (0–8 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Their home stadium is called Nottingham Field. Besides the ties to Robin Hood and Nottingham in the UK, it’s an awesome name for a field. Also, it’s named after a former student body president who spearheaded the efforts to raise the funds years after about 40 years after his graduation from the school and that’s awesome. Also, this is the Eastern most school in Conference which is a weird sentence to type.

Sickos Forecast:  Advisory - 2nd year head coach Ed Lamb has a lot of work to do to get Northern Colorado out of the cellar. Let’s hope they can win a game this year and they had four one possession games last year.

Potential Sickos Game(s): Homecoming against Cal Poly on 9/28. Cal Poly won just one game in the Big Sky last year, against Northern Colorado. Revenge match? 

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 54 Miles to Rocky Mountain National Park, 56.7 miles to Pawnee National Grassland

Portland State

Where: Portland, Oregon

Last Year's Record: 5-6 (4-4 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Portland State’s last trip to the FCS tourney was in 2015, where they reached as high as 10th in the FCS Coaches Poll. They’ve been floating around the middle of the pack in the Big Sky since then, but is this the year they break through?

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - they get some of the big teams of the Big Sky at home, so they have a chance to upset the order.

Potential Sickos Game(s): At Wazzu on August 31 on the CW. That’s all I need to say. 

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 63 miles Mount Hood and Mount Hood National Forest 

Sacramento State

Where: Sacramento, CA

Last Year's Record:  8-5, (4-4 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: While not as electric as 2023, the 2024 Hornets still put up big numbers and beat no. 12 North Dakota in round 1 of the FCS playoffs. 2nd year under head coach Andy Thompson should continue getting better.

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - Their Big Sky slate is favorable for another playoff run. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They head to both San Jose State and Fresno State back to back in Weeks 1 and 2. Might be a good bet on an FCS upset.

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 52.8 miles to El Dorado National Forest

UC Davis

Where: Davis, CA

Last Year's Record:  7-4 (5-3 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Coach Dan Hawkins stepped aside after 7 years with the Aggies, including two playoff runs. New head coach Tim Plough not only QB’d UC Davis in college, but also coached there in the late 2010s 

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - a new coach in the Big Sky is always something to pay attention to. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): at Cal, August 31. Tim Plough was TE coach at Cal before he moved to UC Davis, so he has the opportunity to do something really fun here. 

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 70.9 miles to El Dorado National Forest or 86.4 miles to Point Reyes National Seashore

Weber State

Where: Ogden, UT

Last Year's Record: 6-5 (4-4 Big Sky)

Why Should You Care: Weber St. pulled off one of the biggest Big Sky upsets last year, upending #4 Idaho at home 31-29 in mid-November. And their head coach is named Mickey Mental.

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - beyond their Big Sky schedule, they’re going to Lamar and Northwestern State in back-to-back weeks early in the season, and then hosting McNeese the next week. They’re trying to lay claim to the Southland.

Potential Sickos Game(s): September 14 at Lamar, September 21 at Northwestern State, September 28 vs. McNeese

Closest National Park/Forest/Refuge/Monument: 55.7 Miles to Golden Spike National Park. Also, they have so many ski resorts right next to campus.

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