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 Missouri Valley Football conference, we decided to give you a distance to the Missouri River. Let’s make the Missouri Valley Football Conference look like some ripples in water too.

Missouri Valley Football Conference

Illinois State Redbirds

Where: Normal, Illinois

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

Why Should You Care: Head Coach Brock Spack was a former DC at Purdue before joining Illinois State in 2009. He is currently the winningest-coach in Illinois State History. So you could say BROCK SPACK BACK!

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - Illinois State had a middling record, going .500 in conference, but they played most of their games close. Aside from the game against the eventual #1 team, South Dakota State, Illinois State kept their losses within a field goal or less. There are plenty of opportunities for coin-flip games to go their way.

Potential Sickos Game(s): At Iowa on August 31, could the Redbirds catch the Hawkeyes off guard as they’re getting used to an offense without Brian Ferentz and a defense without Cooper DeJean? Eastern Illinois on September 21 - The Mid-America Classic is the oldest rivalry in Illinois, dating back to 1901. This game is the week before they host North Dakota State. Emotions will be high for a rivalry, but hopefully the Redbirds aren’t overlooking them in preparation for the Bison.

Distance to the Missouri River: 130.6 miles

Indiana State Sycamores

Where: Terre Haute, Indiana

Last Year's Record: 1-10 (1-7 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: It’s no secret that the “Sickomores” are a beloved team of the Sickos Committee. Also, their stadium is just one side, and you don’t see that too often. No stands at all!

Sickos Forecast:  Advisory - The winner of the “Something’s Gotta Give” game against Western Illinois last year, can the Sycamores recover from their recent slump and get back to a record close to .500? 

Potential Sickos Game(s): Murray State on October 12 - Both teams went 1-7 in conference last year. This game could end up being the only win for either team but we hope not.

Distance to the Missouri River: 154.35 miles

Missouri State Bears

Where: Springfield, Missouri

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

Why Should You Care: This is Missouri State’s last year in the FCS, as they will join the FBS Conference USA in 2025. Due to this, they are ineligible for the FCS Playoffs. Let’s hope they go crazy this year and just go for broke since they are ineligible. Nothing but trick plays, fake punts and going for 2! Also, Head Coach Ryan Beard is Bobby Petrino’s son-in law.

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - Missouri State opens their season at Montana and finishes their season with back-to-back games against North Dakota State and South Dakota State. It’s going to be a tough year for the Bears.

Potential Sickos Game(s): At Ball State on September 7.

Distance to the Missouri River: 113.10 miles

Murray State Racers

Where: Murray, Kentucky

Last Year's Record: 2-9 (1-7 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: This is head coach Jody Wright’s first year as a head coach….ever. Let’s see what he can accomplish!

Sickos Forecast:  Advisory - The first year for a new head coach and two SEC games on their schedule? We could be in for a surprise.

Potential Sickos Game(s): At Missouri on August 29 and At Kentucky on November 16. Two SEC games at the beginning and near the end of the schedule. It’s college football, anything could happen!

Distance to the Missouri River: 180.8 miles

North Dakota Fighting Hawks

Where: Grand Forks, North Dakota

Last Year's Record: 7-5 (5-3 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: The #16 FCS team will be looking to return to the FCS playoffs this year after a first-round loss to Sacramento State in 2023.

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - The Fighting Hawks open the season against Iowa State, and they play Montana, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and South Dakota this year. If you watch, you’re in for some high quality, high-fun FCS football! They were wild last year and could pull a few upsets again.

Potential Sickos Game(s): At Iowa State on August 31 and then four straight home games against Montana, Idaho State, San Diego and Murray State. Rough start or could get rolling early?

Distance to the Missouri River: 185 miles

North Dakota State Bison

Where: Fargo, North Dakota

Last Year's Record: 11-4 (5-3 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: Former head coach, Matt Entz, left North Dakota State to go to USC. Can Tim Polasek carry the torch and continue leading a strong program? Also, THE FARGOOOOOOOODOMEEEEE!!!!

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - The opening game against Colorado is carrying a lot of weight in this forecast up front but it’ll likely drop to a Watch or Advisory after the Colorado game. Add games against the other three Dakota schools, and you’ll have a wild season.

Potential Sickos Game(s): At Colorado on August 29 - All eyes will be on this game. While it’s not the NDSU of the 2010s, folks will still want to see what they can do against Deion and the Colorado Buffaloes. Can’t forget the Dakota marker game against South Dakota State on October 19th.

Distance to the Missouri River: 178.5 Miles

Northern Iowa Panthers

Where: Cedar Falls, Iowa

Last Year's Record: 6-5 (5-3 MVFC)

Why Should You Care:  UNI DOME!!!!! Football, Softball and more? This dome does it all! Also, you know we love weird domes!

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - Despite being 4.5 hours apart, this is the first meeting between Northern Iowa and Nebraska. Mark Farley and the UNI Panthers have beaten three FBS opponents previously – Iowa State in 2007, 2013, and 2016 – and are eager to add another win to their list. Immediately after this game, the Panthers are hopping on a plane to fly to Hawaii and take on the Rainbow Warriors

Potential Sickos Game(s): At St. Thomas on September 7 - in 2021, St. Thomas became the first school to jump from Division III to Division I FCS) at Nebraska on September 14 and at Hawaii on September 21

Distance to the Missouri River: 190.5 miles

South Dakota Coyotes

Where: Vermillion, South Dakota

Last Year's Record:  10-3 (7-1 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: The #4 team in 2023 is bringing back their head coach, OC, and DC, and hoping for another run at the FCS Playoffs. Also the DAKOTA DOME!!!

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - Three of their last Four games are against the other three Dakota schools.  A strong and exciting end to their season.

Potential Sickos Game(s): at Wisconsin on September 7, at South Dakota State on October 26 (rivalry game) and at North Dakota on November 16 (another rivalry game)

Distance to the Missouri River: 2.90 miles (the Conference winner!)

South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Where: Brookings, South Dakota

Last Year's Record: 15-0 (8-0 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: The returning champions have their head coach and DC in their 2nd year and two first-year Co-OCs. Also the only Dakota school to play outdoors. No dome for the Jackrabbits!

Sickos Forecast:  Advisory - The Jackrabbits open their season against Oklahoma State and then it should be pretty smooth sailing on the way to the playoffs.

Potential Sickos Game(s): at Oklahoma State on August 31, at North Dakota State on October 19 (Dakota Marker - pic below) and versus South Dakota on October 26 (rivalry game).

Distance to the Missouri River: 104 miles

Southern Illinois Salukis

Where: Carbondale, Illinois

Last Year's Record: 8-5 (4-4 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: Prior to being head coach of the Salukis, Nick Hill was signed to both the Chicago Bears and The Green Bay Packers and played for four Arena Football teams as well.

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - An opening game against BYU to start the season followed by a standard non-conference schedule and conference schedule. The Salukis look like they’ll continue to stay middle of the conference pack.

Potential Sickos Game(s): At BYU on August 31, then at Austin Peay, then they welcome in Incarnate Word. An interesting first three weeks to say the least.

Distance to the Missouri River: 90.85 miles

Youngstown State Penguins

Where: Youngstown, Ohio

Last Year's Record: 8-5 (5-3 MVFC)

Why Should You Care: A team in Ohio with a penguin mascot…is that not enough for you? The school was also originally founded by the YMCA as a school of law in 1908.

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - The Penguins are replacing a lot of talent on both sides of the ball but could still be an FCS playoff team again.

Potential Sickos Game(s): The Penguins open their season with a rematch against Villanova who defeated them in the 2nd round of the 2023 playoffs and then two weeks later they match up against Duquesne, who the Penguins defeated in the 1st round of the 2023 playoffs. Also, at Pitt on September 21.

Distance to the Missouri River: 525.66 miles

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