Haley, Herder Outline Key FCS Offseason Storylines in Strategic Briefing

Sam Herder and Craig Haley staged what HERO Sports called a discussion that "reads like a strategic-state-of-the-subdivision briefing for the offseason," laying out seven concrete priorities for FCS stakeholders. The March 4, 2026 episode named FCS championship future, private equity in the playoffs, Penn hiring Rick Santos, Yale hiring Kevin Cahill, future realignment, where the subdivision has improved or weakened under Haley’s coverage, and parity in the FCS among its topics of focus.

The episode, presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM, is available on the HERO Sports site and across major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Spreaker, and Podbean. HERO Sports’ episode page carries the subscription call-to-action "SUBSCRIBE: FCS Football Talk" and the program is listed alongside related content such as an FCS Spotlight on Youngstown State QB Beau Brungard and WCC basketball previews. The presentation partner BetMGM is reflected in promotional copy and the episode’s hosting pages include responsible-gambling resources, with helplines listed: Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) for New York, 1-800-327-5050 for Massachusetts, 1-800-BETS-OFF for Iowa, and 1-800-981-0023 for Puerto Rico.

Herder framed the guest appropriately: Craig Haley is identified as the FCS Senior Editor for StatsPerform/The Analyst, bringing media and analytical authority to offseason policy and business questions. The episode’s structure fits FCS Football Talk’s offseason pattern, where Sam Herder hosts year-round and invites guests in the offseason while Zach McKinnell joins as a co-host during the season. That format showed in the show’s lineup: adjacent episodes on the series have tackled consequential institutional moves, from NDSU going to the FBS to Bobby Hauck’s retirement and return and Travis Johansen’s move from South Dakota to a Rutgers defensive coordinator role.

The topics Haley and Herder prioritized push the conversation past roster moves into governance and finance. The program copy even includes the fragment "The episode goes beyond single-game recaps and instead tackl," underscoring an editorial intent to address systemic issues such as private equity entering playoff-workstreams and how championship structure might evolve. The episode also flagged coaching changes with names attached: Rick Santos at Penn and Kevin Cahill at Yale, items that carry recruiting, scheduling, and competitive implications for Ivy League programs and the broader playoff picture.

Taken together, the Haley interview signals the offseason agenda will be decided as much by boardrooms and conference offices as by transfer portals and spring practices. With the 2026 season horizon, Herder and Haley set expectations that debates over realignment, championship format, and outside investment will shape next season’s schedule-making and competitive equity across FCS rosters and conferences.