The FCS football season is fast approaching, so we’re going inside each conference race. With Chattanooga and defending champion Furman leading the way, here’s our 2024 Southern Conference football preview.
Chattanooga’s preseason selection as the Southern Conference favorite surely isn’t just about the Mocs’ talented roster – it falls in line with a recent league trend.
There’s been a different champion in each of the last five seasons – Wofford in 2019, VMI in 2020, ETSU in 2021, Samford in 2022 and Furman last season.
Maybe it’s Chattanooga’s turn after its FCS playoff appearance last season.
The Mocs, though, haven’t claimed the SoCon title since they shared it with The Citadel in 2015, and that includes after being selected the preseason favorite in 2016, ‘21 and ‘22.
2024 Southern Conference Football Preview
Predicted Order of Finish
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
1. *Chattanooga (2023 Record: 8-5, 6-2; No. 9 national preseason ranking) – Last year’s two conference losses were by a combined five points, but they didn’t prevent coach Rusty Wright’s squad from reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Quarterback Chase Artopoeus (2,672 passing yards, 20 touchdowns) will look downfield to wide receivers Javin Whatley and Sam Phillips (a combined 115 receptions, 1,601 yards and 13 TDs). Marlon Taylor is among the FCS’ best nose tackles, and linebacker Alex Mitchell will build on a breakout campaign (team-high 78 tackles). The road schedule is daunting, including FBS trips to Tennessee and Georgia State to kick off the campaign.
2. *Furman (10-3, 7-1; No. 12 national preseason ranking) – The 2023 SoCon champs pushed Montana to overtime in the FCS quarterfinals, but that team was senior-laden, leaving just six returning starters this season. Tragically, standout defensive tackle Bryce Stanfield passed away after suffering a medical emergency during an offseason workout. The veteran defensive players include nose guard Xavier Stephens and linebackers Luke Clark (17.5 TFLs and 12 sacks in career) and Evan DiMaggio. Wide receiver Joshua Harris (116 career receptions) will no longer fly under the radar as QB Carson Jones targets him. Kicker Ian Williams has made 28 of 36 field-goal attempts over the last two seasons.
3. *Mercer (9-4, 6-2) – Mike Jacobs succeeded Drew Cronic as Lenoir-Rhyne’s head coach in 2019, and he’s done it again with Mercer. The Bears hope to turn last year’s first playoff bid into their first SoCon title this year. While the loss of wide receivers Ty James and Devron Harper Jr. is significant, the defense has its own dynamic duo with linebackers Ken Standley (team-high 97 tackles) and Isaac Dowling (294 career tackles). Running back Dwayne McGee (3,041 yards) and offensive tackle Xavier Jennings followed Jacobs with transfers from Lenoir-Rhyne.
4. Western Carolina (7-4, 5-3; No. 20 national preseason ranking) – Although the Catamounts came up short in a bid for their first playoff bid since 1983, they led the FCS in offensive yards per game (504.1) while setting program records with 5,545 total yards and 413 points. All-America QB Cole Gonzales (3,006 yards of total offense) has playmakers in RB Branson Adams and WRs AJ Colombo and Calvin Jones. Linebacker Antoine Williams seeks to keep the defense moving in the right direction.
5. Samford (6-5, 4-4) – It will be difficult to replace two-year QB Michael Hiers, but junior Quincy Crittendon started the Bulldogs’ playoff quarterfinal at North Dakota State in 2022. Running backs Damonta Witherspoon and Micah Kelly, a Toledo transfer, also will work behind experienced offensive linemen. Noah Martin led the SoCon with 109 tackles and fellow linebacker Jaden Mosley was second on the team with 61.
6. Wofford (2-9, 2-6) – The Terriers may be flying under the radar. Running back Ryan Ingram (150 carries, 832 yards, six TDs), tight end Jordan Davis, defensive lineman Brandon Maina, linebacker David Powers (team-high 102 tackles) and defensive back Maximus Pilley all made the All-SoCon preseason first team. Add in four second-team selections, and the nine marked the program’s highest total since 2019. Quarterback Pauly Seeley V made five starts.
7. ETSU (3-8, 2-6) – New coach Tre Lamb seeks success similar to what he enjoyed at Gardner-Webb with back-to-back conference titles and the program’s first two playoff appearances. He’s brought some key transfers with him: LB William McRainey (329 career tackles) and QB Jaylen King. Among returning players, defensive back Chris Hope led the team with 94 tackles.
8. VMI (5-6, 4-4) – In coach Danny Rocco’s first season, the Keydets made a big jump from 2022, when they finished 1-10 overall and 0-8 in the SoCon. Hunter Rice had a breakout season in rushing for 867 yards and 14 TDs, and is expected to have an even bigger senior campaign. Not a lot gets past defensive lineman Dorien Starnes, but when it happens, linebacker Eric Rankin (93 tackles) will scoop it up.
9. The Citadel (0-11, 0-8) – The Bulldogs were winless in coach Maurice Drayton’s first season. The wild card for making a big step forward is grad transfer QB Johnathan Bennett from Liberty (1,534 passing yards, 12 TDs in 2022). He should help WR Javonte Graves-Billips to a breakout season and get the running game going again. Punter James Platte was the team’s lone All-SoCon preseason pick (second team).
How the Conference Predicted the Race
Five Players to Know
Luke Clark, LB, Furman – A veteran of 43 career games with 26 starts, Clark anchors what the Paladins hope will remain the SoCon’s top defense.
Cole Gonzales, QB, Western Carolina (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – Set the Catamounts’ single-season record with 28 TD passes while earning the 2023 SoCon media offensive player of the year award.
Noah Martin, LB, Samford (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – The 2023 SoCon tackle leader (109) saved his highest totals for top opponents, including 19 against Mercer and 13 versus both Furman and Western Carolina.
Ken Standley, LB, Mercer (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – The Bears’ 2023 tackle leader (97) was strong against the run (15 TFLs) and the pass (two interceptions, five passes defended.)
Marlon Taylor, DL, Chattanooga – Taylor has played in the shadow of former D-linemates Devonnsha Maxwell and Jay Person, but SoCon rivals noticed him enough to make him the conference’s preseason defensive player of the year.
Five Must-See Matchups
1. Chattanooga at Furman (Oct. 12) – This is a rematch of Furman’s 26-7 win in the second round of the 2023 FCS playoffs. Three of the last four regular-season meetings have been decided by four or fewer points.
2. Mercer at Chattanooga (Sept. 14)
3. Western Carolina at Furman (Oct. 19)
4. Chattanooga at Western Carolina (Nov. 2)
5. The Citadel at VMI (Oct. 19)
Fast Fact
It’s been over 10 years since national powers Appalachian State and Georgia Southern rose to the FBS, but the SoCon still remains second among FCS conference in national championships (eight) and tied for second in title game appearances (16).
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