Yesterday, we looked at teams 31-40 of the FCS 40. Today, we move on to teams 21-30.

CAL POLY
2009 record: 4-7, 1-3 Great West, 5th
Last postseason appearance: 2008
Last postseason victory: 2005
Starters returning (offense/defense): 11/8
Players to watch: RB Jake Romanelli (492 yards, 2 TD), QB Tony Smith (51.1 comp%, 1,618 yards, 15 TD, 8 INT, 230 rush yards, 5 rush TD), WR Dominique Johnson (43 rec., 741 yards, 6 TD), LB Marty Mohamed (93 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 1/2 TFL, 3 PBU)
The skinny: Tim Walsh, the former Portland State head coach, took over last season for Rich Ellerson, who left to take the head coaching job at Army. The offensive scheme remained the same, but the defense changed to a 4-3. The Mustangs were 4-3 with losses to FBS Ohio and San Jose State but lost their last four games to finish in last in the Great West. Pretty much everyone who matters on offense is back and the defense should be much more accustomed to Walsh’s scheme. The Mustangs also get UC Davis and North Dakota to come to San Luis Obispo and finish with three of four at home. The Nov. 13 game against UC Davis could be for the Great West title.

COLGATE
2009 record: 9-2, 4-2 Patriot, t2nd
Last postseason appearance: 2008
Last postseason victory: 2003
Starters returning (offense/defense): 7/5
Players to watch: RB Nate Eachus (919 yards, 16 TD), QB Greg Sullivan (58.7 comp%, 1,952 yards, 18 TD, 5 INT), WR Doug Rosnick (29 rec., 396 yards), LB Zach Smith (43 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, 2 1/2 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 INT).
The skinny: Colgate has strung together two straight nine-win seasons and has had only one losing season since 2002. The Raiders return seven starters on an offense that scored 31.1 points per game last season, including an experienced quarterback in Sullivan. The Raiders have to replace top receiver Pat Simonds, who caught 66 passes for 1,012 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. The other question mark is on the defensive line, where only one starter returns. The top Patriot contenders—Lafayette and Holy Cross—both travel to Hamilton. The season will be decided in a three-week stretch starting with an Oct. 23 game against Holy Cross, followed by a trip to Lehigh and a visit from Lafayette.

FURMAN
2009 record: 6-5, 5-3 Southern, 3rd
Last postseason appearance: 2006
Last postseason victory: 2005
Starters returning (offense/defense): 6/6
Players to watch: QB Chris Forcier (UCLA transfer), RB Tersoo Uhaa (535 yards, 13 TD), WR Adam Mims (74 rec., 878 yards, 4 TD), LB Kadarron Anderson (123 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 PBU), CB Ryan Steed (59 tackles, 1 TFL, 11 PBU, 4 INT)
The skinny: Furman’s undoing last season was it’s defense, which allowed 431 yards and 31.5 points per game, a significant jump from 2008 when it allowed 346 ypg and 22.2 ppg. Six of the top seven tacklers from last year return, and if the defense improves, the Paladins could be a player in the SoCon race. “Furple” loses QB Jordan Sorrells, but Forcier has potential to be an impact player. Furman’s schedule is quite difficult, so the playoffs might not be a realistic possibility. The Paladins open with Colgate, travel to South Carolina and face Samford, Wofford, Appalachian State and Elon all on the road.

GRAMBLING
2009 record: 7-4, 5-2 SWAC West, t2nd
Last postseason appearance: 2008 (SWAC championship game)
Last postseason victory: 2008
Starters returning (offense/defense): 7/7
Players to watch: RB Frank Warren (926 yards, 7 TD), RB Cornelius Walker (645 yards, 7 TD), WR Kiare Thompson (28 rec., 287 yards, 1 TD), LB Cliff Exama (94 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, 8 1/2 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 INT)
The skinny: The Tigers were majorly disappointed by last year’s 7-4 finish, which included losses to SWAC champion Prairie View and Arkansas-Pine Bluff by a combined 10 points. Eight different receivers scored touchdowns for Grambling last season, and all eight return. Finding a QB will be key, as the Tigers lost Greg Dillon. The defense had held teams to fewer than 20 points per game in 2007 and 08, but opponents scored 26.6 ppg last year. The secondary should be stronger, which should help. Grambling faces Prairie View in Dallas and UAPB in Little Rock. Expect Grambling to be in the thick of the SWAC title hunt again.

ILLINOIS STATE
2009 record: 6-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley, t3rd
Last postseason appearance: 2006
Last postseason victory: 2006
Starters returning (offense/defense): 8/9
Players to watch: RB Clifton Gordon (542 yards, 7 TD), QB Matt Brown (64.2 comp%, 2,369 yards, 11 TD, 6 INT), WR Tyrone Walker (37 rec., 485 yards, 3 TD), SS Kelvyn Hemphill (71 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 1/2 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 INT), CB E.J. Jones (36 tackles, 3 1/2 TFL, 3 PBU, 6 INT)
The skinny: In 2009, the Redbirds recorded their first winning season since the 2006 playoff year. Brock Spack, who was Purdue’s defensive coordinator for 12 years under Joe Tiller, is back for his second year as head coach, and ISU is a darkhorse candidate to win the MVC title. Brown took over in the opener for injured starter Drew Kiel and put together a strong season as a freshman. The Redbirds were better defensively last season, holding opponents to 25.5 ppg after surrendering more than 30 ppg for two straight years. The toughest MVC games, against Northern Iowa and South Dakota State, are on the road.

LAFAYETTE
2009 record: 8-3, 4-2 Patriot, t2nd
Last postseason appearance: 2006
Last postseason victory: None
Starters returning (offense/defense): 5/5
Players to watch: WR Mark Layton (65 rec., 838 yards, 11 TD), LB Michael Schmidlein (100 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 INT), K Davis Rodriguez (8-16 FG, 37-40 XP).
The skinny: The Leopards are perennial Patriot contenders, but they have some major work to do on offense, where they lose QB Rob Curley and tailbacks Maurice White and DeAndre’ Morrow. Lafayette also loses a number of key defensive contributors. Rodriguez was considered one of the nation’s best kickers before last year, but he struggled during an awful season in which he missed half of his field-goal attempts. Lafayette opens at home against Georgetown, so there will be time for the offense to develop some chemistry. The toughest conference games are in November, when LC plays at Colgate (Nov. 6) and hosts Holy Cross (Nov. 13). The Leopards haven’t had a losing season since 2003. Going 6-5 is a realistic goal for a rebuilding team that is at least a year away from contending for the conference title.

MONTANA STATE
2009 record: 7-4, 5-3 Big Sky, 4th
Last postseason appearance: 2006
Last postseason victory: 2006
Starters returning (offense/defense): 8/8
Players to watch: RB C.J. Palmer (510 yards, 5 TD), QB Cody Kempt (57.8 comp%, 1,108 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT), WR Everette Gilbert (46 rec., 556 yards, 6 TD), FS Michael Rider (71 tackles, 5 1/2 TFL, 2 PBU, 4 INT)
The skinny: The Bobcats seem to always be in the playoff conversation late in the season, and this year should be no different. With eight starters returning on both sides of the ball and Weber State, Montana and Eastern Washington in semi-rebuilding mode, this year may be a prime chance for the Bobcats to make a move. The schedule is favorable for a hot start, as the Bobcats open with three of four at home before heading to Sacramento State. The road game during that opening run is at Washington State, one of the country’s worst FBS teams. One area MSU can improve in is turnover margin. The Bobcats were -6 last season.

SAMFORD
2009 record: 5-6, 3-5 Southern, 6th
Last postseason appearance: None
Last postseason victory: None
Starters returning (offense/defense): 8/7
Players to watch: RB Chris Evans (1,152 yards, 7 TD), QB Dustin Taliaferro (59.2 comp%, 1,692 yards, 9 TD, 9 INT), WR Riley Hawkins (34 rec., 638 yards, 4 TD), LB Bryce Smith (102 tackles, 11 TFL, 5 PBU, 4 INT).
The skinny: Some thought that the SoCon was getting a patsy when Samford moved over from the Ohio Valley Conference. But the Bulldogs have been competitive the last two seasons against even the best teams in the league. The Bulldogs, who are coached by former Auburn QB Pat Sullivan, have been outstanding defensively the last two seasons and allowed just 17.5 ppg last year. The offense must improve if Samford wants to make a move in the SoCon standings. Evans is going for his fourth straight 1,000-yard season on the ground and could be an All-American candidate. The SoCon schedule is favorable, as Appalachian State, Furman and Wofford all visit Birmingham.

TEXAS STATE
2009 record: 7-4, 5-2 Southland, 3rd
Last postseason appearance: 2008
Last postseason victory: 2005
Starters returning (offense/defense): 4/7
Players to watch: WR Da’Marcus Griggs (80 rec., 969 yards, 8 TD), LB Marcus Clark (95 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 INT).
The skinny: The Bobcats must replace QB Bradley George, who threw for 3,121 yards and 23 TDs last season and brought the Bobcats to the brink of earning a playoff berth. A late loss to McNeese State at home proved costly in that regard. UTEP transfer Andy McCloud will be in the mix to replace George. With the offense rebuilding, the onus will be on the defense to carry the Bobcats through the early part of the schedule, which features winnable home games against Southern Arkansas, Cal Poly and Southern Utah. The toughest Southland games are at the end. Texas State probably won’t compete for the Southland title this season, but a third straight winning season is within reach.

WEBER STATE
2009 record: 7-5, 6-2 Big Sky, t2nd
Last postseason appearance: 2009
Last postseason victory: 2008
Starters returning (offense/defense): 7/6
Players to watch: QB Cameron Higgins (63.7 comp%, 3,326 yards, 30 TD, 20 INT), WR Mike Phillips (39 rec., 704 yards, 6 TD), LB Taylor Sedillo (100 tackles, 5 1/2 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 INT)
The skinny: Ron McBride has rebuilt the Wildcat program into a perennial Big Sky and playoff contender, but getting to the playoffs for a third straight year will be a very difficult task. Higgins is back, but his top receiver—Tim Toone, Mr. Irrelevant in this year’s NFL draft—is gone, as is top rusher Trevyn Smith, who ran for 1,001 yards and seven TDs. The Wildcats will need to get off to a good start because the ending stretch is as difficult as any in the FCS. The Wildcats finish with a home game against league power Montana before making three straight road trips to Montana State, Northern Arizona and Texas Tech. The Wildcats open against Boston College.