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All in all, Big South squads are 9-2 against fellow FCS programs, the best start in league history. That includes a 3-1 mark against the SoCon and 1-1 against the Colonial Athletic Association.

“I’m impressed, but I’m not surprised,” said first-year Charleston Southern coach Jamey Chadwell, whose 3-0 Bucs are at Norfolk State on Saturday with a chance to beef up the league’s non-conference record. “I know the commitment the schools in our league have made, and what we’ve been trying to do. Recognition for our conference is long overdue,” said Chadwell, who spent six previous seasons in the Big South as an assistant to former CSU coach Jay Mills. “It’s continuing what we started last year, and I think you’ll continue to see the rise of our conference.”

The Big South surge comes at an uncertain time for the SoCon. Indeed, the two leagues might be on their way to swapping places in the FCS hierarchy.

Losing struggling VMI to the SoCon might be a net-plus for the Big South; the Keydets have not posted a winning season since 1981 and are 1-2 this season after a 37-24 loss to Division II North Greenville.

“Most of our teams are in the SoCon footprint, so anytime we can play those guys and win a couple of games, it gives us some recognition,” he (CSU Head Coach, Jamey Chadwell) said. “The SoCon traditionally is one of the top two or three FCS leagues in the country. Those wins speak volumes and show people on the playoff committee that our conference is a tough league to win. Those wins help justify us as a two-bid league, with the type of schedule we play and the teams we are beating.”

“It’s been great to see,” (Coastal Carolina Head Coach, Joe) Moglia said of the Big South’s fast start. “Individual teams in the league are beating teams from the SoCon and the Colonial, and FCS teams are doing a good job against FBS teams. I think the FCS looks really good this year, and the Big South does, too.”