Big South has big battle between 2 rising powers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The center of Football Championship Subdivision power in South Carolina is moving to the Big South Conference.

And the biggest small college game of the year in the state might be Saturday when Charleston Southern travels to Coastal Carolina.

The Buccaneers pulled off upset last year, putting a dent in the Chanticleers playoff seeding and leaving a lasting impression with a Coastal Carolina team trying to become a FCS power.

There is another big conference game in Orangeburg, where South Carolina State needs to beat preseason favorite Bethune-Cookman to stay in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference race.

In other games Saturday involving South Carolina’s FCS teams Presbyterian hosts Monmouth; Wofford hosts VMI; Furman hosts Samford; and The Citadel travels to Western Carolina.