North Carolina’s seven football schools that compete at the FCS level are fanned out among five conferences.
Elon, Campbell and North Carolina A&T play together in the CAA. But Western Carolina (Southern), Gardner-Webb (Big South/OVC), North Carolina Central (MEAC) and Davidson (Pioneer) each call another league home.
It’s a shame we can’t have an FCS version of Conference Carolinas and put most or all of these schools together in one loop. It would be a fierce and fun division for sure — and easy road trips for fans across the state.
Thankfully, the 2024 schedule does feature a number of head-to-head match-ups. And, there IS one place where we can put these seven teams together in a competitive framework — our annual All-North Carolina FCS Power Rankings (insert dramatic music here).
Throughout the season, North Carolina Football News will chart how we believe teams from this septet shape up against each other.
Rankings like these are an imperfect science for sure, but they will spark conversation and debate, shine light on an often overlooked strength of our state’s football landscape and instill a sense of bragging rights for the schools at the top of the list. (Feel free to join the conversation here on Twitter/X).
The Defending Champs: North Carolina Central
The Eagles finished a top our 2023 rankings, claiming nine wins and earning a spot in the FCS playoffs. Gardner-Webb repeated as conference champs and made their own FCS post-season run to claim second place in our statewide power poll.
Western Carolina (3), Elon (4) and Davidson (5) all remained in conference championship conversations until November, while Campbell (6) made a solid showing in its CAA debut, a 4-4 league mark. North Carolina A&T (7) had an atypical season for its proud program, winning just once.
NCCU was the standard-bearer in our state through most of the season, jumping into the top 10 in FCS national polls for a stretch. Western Carolina also won Top 25 voters’ hearts, and Elon insisted on playing giant-killer in big conference games, taking out two top-10 ranked squads visiting Rhodes Stadium.
The 2024 preseason brings a bit of shuffling to the deck. But as a collective, this group looks stronger than in 2023. It’s not a stretch to say all seven of our teams could contend for above-.500 finishes. But how will they finish in our All-North Carolina rankings? Stay tuned. The race begins next weekend.
2024 Preseason FCS All-North Carolina Rankings
1. Western Carolina (7-4, 5-3 SoCon)
The Catamounts broke school records and led the nation in total offense a year ago. Quarterback Cole Gonzales returns (preseason SoCon offensive MVP), as does much of the offensive line and several playmakers.
New defensive coordinator Jerry Odom comes over from Tusculum with more than 30 years of coaching experience. He will have 11 players back who saw action in at least 250 snaps a year ago. If the offense can match similar production and the defensive takes strides forward WCU could at last break a four-decades long playoff drought.
2. Elon (6-5, 6-2 CAA)
As we wrote earlier this month, coach Tony Trisciani has navigated the new world of the transfer portal and NIL well. Despite several losses to FBS programs in the off-season, Elon will return an experienced roster — including its quarterback (Matthew Downing), an All-American defensive back (Caleb Curtain) and an explosive receiver/all-purpose player (Chandler Brayboy).
Holes have been filled with veteran transfers. The stage is set for the Phoenix to contend in a tough conference and return to the playoffs after missing out in 2023.
3. North Carolina Central (9-3, 4-1 MEAC)
We’ll start the Eagles here because of some monumental losses — two-time MEAC player of the year Davius Richard (quarterback) being the biggest. Defensive back/kick returner Brandon Codrington (currently on a preseason roster with the New York Jets) being another.
Walker Harris looks ready to assume command of the offense, and MEAC voters think the Eagles will be the team to beat in that league once again.
NCCU will get its shot at Elon on Sept. 7, while Western Carolina will visit Elon the following weekend. Our top three pecking order could change quickly.
4. Gardner-Webb (7-5, 5-1 Big South/OVC)
Things looked bleak for the Runnin’ Bulldogs late last fall. Coach Tre Lamb left for East Tennessee State and brought a large chunk of the roster with him. But Cris Reisert, who has had success at D2 Tiffin, took over the program and has steadied the ship.
Reisert and company have mined the transfer portal well in their own right and have been winning on the recruiting trail for GWU’s Class of 2025.
Big South/OVC voters pegged the Bulldogs fifth in the nine-team league. But this team may have a few surprises in store for the doubters.
5. Davidson (7-4, 6-2 PFL)
The Wildcats may be the most unique program in our state. They play in the only Division I non-scholarship league. They maintain superior academic standards. They’ve built a solid identity and culture under coach Scott Abell, and recruit to that very well.
And they win — a lot.
The Wildcats have led FCS for several years in total rushing. This season looks to be more of the same with runners Mari Adams and Mason Sheron back to power the potent shotgun triple-option assault. Davidson also returns its quarterback (Coulter Cleland), but must fill a few holes on the all-important offensive line.
6. Campbell (5-6, 4-4 CAA)
The Camels also underwent a head coaching change in the off-season. They brought in a familiar face, Braxton Harris, who had recruited a number of current players during an earlier stint in Buies Creek.
Harris faces initial uphill climbs in his new job. The Camels play in a top-heavy, 16-team conference with four teams ranked in the preseason coaches Top 25 (and one more, Delaware, that would be if the Blue Hens weren’t moving up to FBS next season).
Harris is taking a long-term approach to his new post and believes Campbell can be among the CAA powerhouses in the future (“This is a sleeping giant that is about to wake up and be able to be competitive in the best conference in college football.”). This season could be a big first step. Another group that could surprise if overlooked.
7. North Carolina A&T (1-10, 0-8 CAA)
No fan base went through more angst than the proud Aggies did a year ago (OK, well maybe ECU). This is a group that is used to competing for HBCU national championships (four since 2015) and conference titles (five since 2014). While the defense had its moments, the offense sputtered.
Second-year coach Vincent Brown has done much in the off-season to address the problems. He brought in a new OC, David Marsh from Texas Christian. He restocked the quarterback room, with transfers Justin Fomby (Houston Christian) and Noah Sanders (Delaware), and prep signee Braxton Thomas (Sarasota, Fla.) joining returning starter Kevin White.
The whole mindset of the program seems different, more resolved to let 2023 be an aberration, not the new normal as the school adjusts to the more stringent CAA.
If there is a Breakout Team of the Year candidate in our state, keep your eyes on East Greensboro.
