Nichols student, faculty present sport management research at national conference

As fans of NCAA Division I college football have seen, a matchup between a smaller program and a national “powerhouse” may look lopsided on the scoreboard. Now Nichols College student Fionn O’Rahilly is looking beyond the final score to ask a bigger question: how do those games impact what comes next?

O’Rahilly and Nichols College Assistant Professor of Sport Management David Hodge presented their research, “Impact of Playing an FBS Opponent on the Short-Term Success of FCS Programs,” at the Collegiate Sport Research Institute Conference in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 26.

The project began as a research paper O’Rahilly developed last fall in Hodge’s SMGT 480 Sport Seminar course, which combined his interest in sports and data analytics. Seeing the potential in the project and a learning opportunity for O’Rahilly, Hodge approached him about expanding on the paper with Hodge’s guidance. O’Rahilly jumped at the offer and continued the project this spring as Hodge’s Research Assistant Intern to build the idea into a fully realized research project.

The research examines matchups between teams of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), which is the second-highest level of Division I college football in the U.S., and teams of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), comprised of the most prominent teams, during the 2023 and 2024 seasons to better understand whether playing an FBS opponent (i.e., a larger or more powerful program) affects an FCS team’s performance in its next game. The study found that teams were more likely to win that next game if they entered the matchup with a stronger ranking, kept the score relatively close and had a strong defensive performance against their FBS opponent.

For O’Rahilly, the conference offered a chance not only to share the work, but also to take part in the full research process as an undergraduate student preparing for graduate study in sport management. Hodge said the experience helped O’Rahilly deepen his understanding of how to perform scholarly research and how to turn an idea into a conference presentation and, potentially, a publishable paper.

“Fionn approached this project with real curiosity and follow-through. He didn’t just complete an assignment. He kept building on the work, asked strong questions and did a great job presenting the research in the professional setting of the conference.”

At the conference, O’Rahilly was also able to connect with industry professionals, sport management faculty members from across the world and other students in the field, according to Hodge, who said the presentation was well received.

The final part of O’Rahilly’s research internship this semester is collecting more data to make the paper ready for submission.

“This project has given me more confidence in where I’m headed professionally, connecting directly to what I want to do long-term,” O’Rahilly said. “I’m really focused on building a career in college athletics, and this gave me a chance to apply analytics in a way that feels real. It helped me see how data can support decision-making for teams, whether that’s scheduling, preparation or performance analysis.”

Hodge said the experience reflects the kind of applied learning Nichols strives to provide. “This project gave Fionn the opportunity to move from classroom research to professional-level scholarly work,” Hodge said. “That progression is exactly what we hope students experience as they prepare for graduate study or careers.”

(Pictured in story photo, L-R: Nichols College Assistant Professor of Sport Management David Hodge and Fionn O’Rahilly at the Collegiate Sport Research Institute Conference in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 26.)

About Nichols College

Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth – combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage – equipping students to exceed their own expectations. www.nichols.edu

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Denise Kelley
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