In recent weeks, several conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision altered their schedules to conference-only formats in an effort to forge ahead with a season during the continued COVID-19 pandemic.
Their counterparts at the Football Championship Subdivision, however, are moving in a different direction.
The first conference to announce such a move was the Big Sky Conference, home to teams as Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State. In a statement from one of the conference’s athletic directors, Darren Dunn from Northern Colorado framed the decision in terms of health and safety:
We have worked tirelessly with the Big Sky staff, our staff, coaches, medical experts and local and state health officials over the past months to determine a safe and feasible path forward. We feel, for the sport of football, it is best to play the Big Sky Conference schedule in the Spring. Statement from University Northern Colorado Head Football Coach Ed McCaffrey: While I am deeply disappointed for our guys and coaches, I understand and applaud our leadership for making the difficult decision to put the health and safety of our student-athletes first. There are still a lot of unknowns but we will use this time to further player development within the program and will be ready when we get the opportunity to play.
Perhaps more notable is the decision from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, home to the North Dakota State Bison, winners of three-straight FCS titles. Their decision to move to the spring was first reported on Friday morning by Ross Uglem of 247sports:
Sources: the MVFC will announce this afternoon that they're canceling their fall season, but will attempt to move to the spring. Details at @BisonReport: https://t.co/N4kxnICWE9
— Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) August 7, 2020
Then the conference confirmed this news late on Friday.
With NDSU facing a spring schedule, two players have massive decisions to make: quarterback Trey Lance and offensive tackle Dillon Radunz.
Both players are viewed as potential first-round selections. Lance has become a darling of the draft media world, starting during this past season and reaching a fever pitch when ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. immediately named him as one of the top quarterbacks to watch in the aftermath of the 2020 NFL Draft. For more on what Lance brings to the table as a prospect, be sure to read this film breakdown on the NDSU passer. A rising redshirt sophomore, Lance was not a lock to even enter the draft, despite the lofty expectations in front of him. He could decide to simply play in the spring and look to the 2022 Draft, opt-out and enter, or potentially look to transfer to a school and play this fall, although time is running short.
Then there is Radnuz. The left tackle and rising redshirt senior might not be the household name that his quarterback is, but is viewed quite favorably in the scouting world. In their preseason Big Board, The Draft Network has Radunz ranked as third-best offensive tackle, and the 30th player overall TDN had this to say about the NDSU starting left tackle over the past two season:
Dillon aligns at LT for the Bison spread offense. He is a sufficient athlete with regards to his agility and fluidity in his movements. He has good body control and balance and is rarely on the ground. In the run game, he’s got sufficient initial quickness out of his stance. Radunz is physical and tough and plays with good block temperament as he finishes. He’s sufficient at getting on moving defenders at the second level. In the passing game, he is proficient and wins with good technique, competitiveness and toughness. He is good in his pass set and his lateral agility allows him to redirect on a cross face or counter move by the defender. His technique with regards to hand placement is good. His punch is sufficient and plays with sufficient length on the perimeter. His short set anchor is sufficient but his competitiveness and toughness shine to allow him to successfully handle bull rushers who have gotten under his pads.
With the constant need for starting tackles in the NFL, Radunz could have solidified a first-round position – and an early one at that – with a solid fall. Now he faces a difficult decision with this move by the MVC.