The FCS football season is fast approaching, so we’re going inside each conference race. With UT Martin and Eastern Illinois leading the way, here’s our 2024 Big South-OVC football preview.
Knock, knock … motivated teams in the Big South-OVC Football Association are at the door.
UT Martin, which earned a share of the conference title, and Eastern Illinois – also an 8-3 squad – were two of the final four FCS teams to fall shy of an at-large playoff bid last season, according to the 2023 selection committee. One, if not both teams appear primed to step forward as the best teams in the Big South-OVC this season.
Southeast Missouri seeks to bounce back from a subpar campaign, while Gardner-Webb, which earned the conference’s automatic playoff bid a year ago, is expected to step backward, but can’t be counted out after two straight seasons of reaching the FCS playoffs.
Despite having just one 2023 playoff qualifier, the Big South-OVC had a strong inaugural season, with its teams going 20-14 against out-of-conference FCS opponents during the regular season (also, 4-0 against sub-FCS).
2024 Big South-OVC Football Preview
Predicted Order of Finish
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
1. *UT Martin (2023 Record: 8-3, 5-1) – The Skyhawks have claimed at least a share of three straight conference titles and are 15-2 against conference opponents in that time, but also with just one playoff bid. Coach Jason Simpson’s program is excellent at retooling after losing key players, which this offseason included running back Sam Franklin and defensive end Daylan Dotson to FBS transfers. Quarterback Kinkead Dent (2,525 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes) is using an extra year of eligibility to keep targeting wide receiver DeVonte Tanksley (54 receptions, 698 yards, four TDs). Linebackers Jaylen Sharpe, Tevin Shipp and Chris Hunter Jr. were all top-five on the defense in tackles, and Oshae Baker is one of the FCS’ top defensive backs.
(UT Martin, Eastern Illinois land just outside the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll)
2. Eastern Illinois (8-3, 4-2) – The Panthers made playing close games a habit during their bounce-back season under coach Chris Wilkerson. They’ll turn heads this year with a big three in the offensive skills positions of QB Pierce Holley, the Big South-OVC preseason offensive player of the year, RB MJ Flowers (854 rushing yards, two 200+ performances as a freshman) and WR Eli Mirza. But a point of emphasis: They must cut down on the conference-high 35 sacks allowed. Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert transferred out and back into the program to front the defense, which added transfer Kaleb Lyons following his six-interception season at Morehead State.
3. Southeast Missouri (4-7, 3-3) – SEMO lost three straight games in which it held a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, so last year could have gone so differently. Indeed, it will feel different without Geno Hess running the ball, but the offense returns four starting linemen, led by All-American Zack Gieg, and quarterback Paxton DeLaurent, who was set back by injury last season after passing for 2,684 yards and 19 TDs in 2022 (redshirt freshman Carter Hensley enters the season at No. 2). The defense also has a leader in Big South-OVC preseason defensive player of the year Bryce Norman, who’s joined at linebacker by Northwestern State transfer Jared Pedraza.
4. Gardner-Webb (7-5, 5-1) – Cris Reisert (40-11 record at Tiffin) was hired as G-W’s coach to keep the momentum (two straight conference titles and playoff appearances) going after Tre Lamb’s departure for ETSU in the Southern Conference. The Runnin’ Bulldogs have gone heavy on transfers, including QB Ren Hefley, who three seasons ago at Presbyterian set the FCS single-game record for TD passes (10 against an NAIA opponent). In fact, nine of the 13 G-W players on the conference’s players to watch lists are newcomers. The top returnee is cornerback Raequan Ousley.
5. Tennessee Tech (4-7, 2-4) – New coach Bobby Wilder went 77-56 from 2009-19 while taking Old Dominion from an FCS startup program up to the FBS level. He seeks to lift the Golden Eagles behind a defense that was No. 1-ranked in the conference, anchored by Daniel Rickert (49 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, nine sacks) up front and Tim Coutras (55 tackles, four interceptions) in the secondary. The offensive skills positions gained influential transfers, including quarterback Dylan Liable from Missouri.
6. Tennessee State (6-5, 2-4) – Wins over Gardner-Webb and Kennesaw State helped clinch the Tigers’ first winning season since 2017, but an 0-3 mark in November left them wanting more. Buck Buchanan Award recipient Terrell Allen left via a transfer, leaving fellow defensive lineman Eriq George, linebacker Ahmad Nelson and a healthier Jalen McClendon in the secondary as the defensive leaders. The offense should be improved by the return of QB Draylen Ellis (6,778 passing yards, 47 TD passes in college career) and RB Jordan Gant.
7. Lindenwood (3-7, 1-5) – This is the Lions’ third FCS season. A new quarterback will have his choice of offensive weapons: wide receiver Jeff Caldwell’s four TD catches against Western Illinois indicate his explosiveness and running back Robert Giamo had 552 yards and five TDs from scrimmage in the first five games before being lost to injury. Defensive end Kobe McClendon (6.5 sacks) and linebacker Ethan Stuhsatz (70 tackles) disrupt opposing offenses.
8. Charleston Southern (4-7, 2-4) – The Gabe Giardina coaching era opened with a 4-2 home record, so the next step is for the Buccaneers is to add road wins. They hope to build around sophomore QB Zolten Osborne, who’s tasked with improving the conference’s worst offense last season (Sacred Heart transfer Rob McCoy is on the roster as well). On defense, safety Trayson Fowler is coming off a breakout season, and D-lineman Joshua Hill had an excellent campaign after transferring into the program.
9. Western Illinois (0-11, 0-8 MVFC) – The Leathernecks have lost 24 straight games since 2021 as they join the Big South-OVC, but they also boast a new coach, Joe Davis, whose past assistant positions include as Eastern Illinois’ offensive coordinator the last two years. Quarterback Nate Lamb seeks to surprise in his first season as a starter. The defense returns its top three tacklers in safety Bradyn Smith and linebackers Ryan Crandall and Juan Delacruz.
How the Conference Predicted the Race
Five Players to Know
Oshae Baker, DB, UT Martin (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – Enters his senior season with six interceptions and 32 passes defended in his career. He’s also a standout returner.
Draylen Ellis, QB, Tennessee State – Ellis was more productive in two seasons at Austin Peay than in his first two at TSU. For the Tigers to break through in the Big South-OVC, they need a higher level.
Zack Gieg, OL, Southeast Missouri (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The 2022 Rimington Award recipient as the top FCS center, Gieg has earned three first-team all-conference honors already.
Pierce Holley, QB, Eastern Illinois (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The 240 completions, 2,741 passing yards and 17 TD passes in Holley’s first season at EIU weren’t surprising. A year earlier at Georgetown, the numbers were even higher.
Bryce Norman, LB, Southeast Missouri (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – A disruptive force, Norman has led the Redhawks in tackles each of the past two seasons. He has 272 overall stops in his career.
Five Must-See Matchups
1. Eastern Illinois at UT Martin (Oct. 26) – It may be hard to match the thrilling end to UTM’s 28-27, overtime win last season. The Skyhawks blocked a field goal on the final play of regulation to force the extra session, then denied EIU of a win again on an OT-ending two-point attempt.
2. UT Martin at Southeast Missouri (Sept. 7)
3. Gardner-Webb at UT Martin (Oct. 5)
4. Southeast Missouri at Eastern Illinois (Oct. 5)
5. UT Martin at Tennessee State (Nov. 2)
Fast Fact
The OVC provides seven of the nine programs in the Big South-OVC. Last than eight months after the end of the joint conference’s first season, the presidents and chancellors announced an enhanced agreement to extend the original four-year term via a “look-in” provision to continue though 2030.
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