FCS HEADLINES
All year long FCS conferences and institutions will join the rest of the nation in celebrating the 150th anniversary of college football. Schools will be wearing a CFB150 patch or helmet decal this year. Schools and conferences should use the hashtag #FCS_CFB150 for all FCS social media posts.
#FCSonGameDay — got a suggestion for an FCS matchup or content for College GameDay — tweet it.
#FearTheFCS — Central Arkansas recorded the first FCS win over an FBS program this year, knocking off Western Kentucky in Week 1. Southern Illinois beat UMass in Week 2, 45-20, for the second FCS win vs. an FBS school this season. In 2018, FCS teams recorded seven wins against FBS schools. Since 1978, FCS schools have recorded double-digit win totals against the FBS six times, most recently in 2016 (10 that year). The FCS set a record in 2013 with 16 wins against FBS schools. There are 114 matchups this year between FBS and FCS schools.
This year, a whopping 167 players from current FCS schools are part of the 32 opening-day rosters for the NFL’s 100th season, which kicks off Thursday night. Add in 43 players currently signed to practice squads (which go through frequent changes) and the FCS haul in the NFL is 210 (data courtesy Craig Haley of STATS). Notably, there are 39 inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who represent current FCS institutions.
This week, 24 of 25 ranked teams (STATS FCS poll) are in action. Five ranked teams face FBS opponents this week, and there are three games on the schedule that feature two ranked FCS teams.
#1 North Dakota State (2-0) at #18 Delaware (2-0), 12 pm CT [NBC ND/FloFootball.com]
#4 Eastern Washington (1-1) at #17 Jacksonville State (1-1), 3 pm CT [ESPN+]
#8 Towson (2-0) at #7 Maine (1-1), 6 pm CT [FloFootball.com]
STATS FCS National Players of the Week for Week 2 include Eastern Washington’s Dre’ Sonte Dorton, Elon’s Marcus Willoughby, Central Connecticut State’s Francis Cole and Furman’s Darren Grainger.
Dayton was named the STATS FCS Team of the Week after knocking off No. 14 Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind., last week. Dayton trailed for less than 3½ minutes in its win, twice building two-touchdown leads. HONORABLE MENTION: Holy Cross (13-10 win over New Hampshire); Montana State (38-17 win over Southeast Missouri); North Dakota State (38-7 win over North Dakota); and Southern Illinois (45-20 win over Massachusetts).
FCS CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION (42nd Season — first year was in 1978)
- TEAM COMPOSITION — (24 TOTAL TEAMS) There are 10 conferences with automatic bids and the selection committee makes 14 at-large selections.
- DATES — Selection Sunday is on Sunday, Nov. 24. First-round games take place Saturday, Nov. 30. The top eight seeds receive a first-round bye. The title game will take place Saturday, Jan. 11, in Frisco, Texas.
- SITE — In January 2019, the NCAA announced it agreed to a five-year extension with Frisco, Texas, and Toyota Stadium will host the championship through 2025 (for the 2024 season) with an option for the 2026 championship.
- ESPN provides coverage for all 23 games, and the championship game has aired on ESPN2 since 2002.
- North Dakota State is the two-time defending champion. NDSU has won 7 of the past 8 titles (James Madison is the other.) Last year, NDSU beat Eastern Washington in the title game.
- Conferences with the most titles: Missouri Valley (9), Southern (8), Big Sky (6), CAA Football (6).
INDEPENDENTS — North Dakota returns home for the 54th annual Potato Bowl USA game on Saturday afternoon against No. 24/21 Sam Houston State. This will be only the second meeting between the Fighting Hawks and Bearkats, with UND claiming last season’s thrilling, 24-23 matchup at Bowers Stadium to snap the FCS’ longest home winning streak at 21 games. The fifth-ranked Kats were the highest-ranked team that North Dakota has defeated in its Division I history.
After a showdown with the top team in the nation last Saturday, the schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Fighting Hawks the rest of the way. UND does not play a team that is currently unranked or not receiving any votes in either the STATS or Coaches poll until Nov. 16 vs. Northern Colorado, including four currently sitting inside the top-10.
BIG SKY — Two teams remain undefeated – Montana and Idaho State. The Big Sky leads the Big Sky-Missouri Valley Challenge Series, 2-1, with wins over Missouri State and South Dakota.
The Big Sky has a new channel lineup for Pluto TV this season. Make sure to go to www.Pluto.TV to check out games all season long.
The Big Sky is rolling into Week 3 with four teams in the Top 10 and all five teams in the top 20 of this week’s FCS polls. Between the STATS FCS and FCS AFCA Coaches’ Top 25 polls, the Big Sky has 10 different teams ranked or receiving votes. The Big Sky Conference has five student-athletes on the Walter Payton Award Watch List and one student-athlete on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.
Eastern Washington wide receiver Dre’Sonte Dorton was named the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Week, the organization announced Monday. In Eastern Washington’s 59-31 win over Lindenwood, the senior tallied 15 receptions for 289 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns. The receiving yards set a new Eagle single-game record, previously held by Cooper Kupp. Dorton finished the game with touchdown receptions of 78, 18 and 59 yards.
BIG SOUTH — Campbell’s HAJJ-MALIK WILLIAMS is the first freshman quarterback in Big South history to throw two touchdown passes in each of his team’s first two games of a season. His four TD strikes this year have gone for an average of 25.25 yards, with two going for 30. Williams currently leads the Big South in passing efficiency rating at 165.1, which is pacing as the third-highest single-season clip in league history, as well as way ahead of the Big South-freshman record of 137.24 set by JOSH WOODRUM in 2012.
North Alabama WR CORTEZ HALL is the second player in Big South history to record a touchdown catch of at least 75 yards in consecutive games. He had a 75-yarder in Week 1 against Western Illinois, and duplicated the distance this past Saturday at Montana. Stony Brook’s KEVIN NORRELL was the first with this accomplishment during the 2012 season (Sept. 1 and Sept. 8). Meanwhile, Hall is just the 10th player overall in league annals with two TD grabs of 75-plus yards, and seventh with two in a single-season.
Kennesaw State fell in overtime at Kent State this past Saturday, 26-23, just missing its first FBS win and the Big South’s seventh overall. The Owls suffered a 4-point last year to Georgia State, and is the first Big South member to score at least 20 points in back-to-back games against FBS foes since Gardner-Webb from 2015-16. Kennesaw State’s effort marked the Big South’s 10th loss to a Football Bowl Subdivision squad by one possession — and fifth by a field goal or less.
CAA FOOTBALL — The Week 3 slate is filled with big games, including a pair of Top 25 matchups. No. 7/9 Towson travels to No. 8/8 Maine and Richmond entertains No. 25 Elon in the CAA opener for all four squads. The non-conference schedule is highlighted by No. 18 Delaware hosting top-ranked and defending national champion North Dakota State.
The opening CAA Football game of the 2019 season was a thriller as Delaware edged Rhode Island, 44-36, in triple overtime last Saturday. It was the longest conference game since Oct. 8, 2015 when Richmond got past UAlbany, 36-30, in 3ot. An overflow crowd of 8,511 was on hand at Meade Stadium for the first game since 1972 to be played under the lights.
Last Saturday’s action featured a 200-yard rushing performance and a 200-yard receiving effort. UAlbany junior Alex James ran for 229 yards on only 12 carries in a win over Bryant. It was the most rushing yards in FCS this season. Rhode Island senior Aaron Parker set career-highs with 12 receptions for 227 yards against Delaware. It was the second-most receiving yards by an FCS player in 2019.
All 13 CAA Football teams that have posted victories in the first two weeks have scored at least 28 points, with 12 tallying 30 or more points.
IVY LEAGUE — Fifteen Ivies saw game action during Week 1 of the 2019 National Football League (NFL) season, including eight that started for their respective teams. In his first start for the Miami Dolphins, Harvard alumnus Ryan Fitzpatrick became the first player to start, throw a pass and throw a touchdown pass for eight different NFL teams—one quarter of the league. The elder statesman among the Ivies in the NFL was 14-for-29 passing in the first game of his 15th NFL season, but did account for 193 yards of total offense in Week 1.
The 2019 Ivy League football season kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 21, with seven games to appear on ESPN linear networks throughout the season. The Ivy League is coming off a 2018 campaign in which it led the FCS in non-conference winning percentage (.750) and NFL representation (24 players) for the second-straight season.
MEAC — Howard and Hampton reignite the Battle of the Real HU in the Chicago Football Classic. The Bison lost the last meeting between the two schools, 20-17, in 2017 and have lost the last three in the series. The Bison are coming off their second loss of the season, 54-28 to Youngstown State on Saturday. After struggling against Maryland, junior quarterback Caylin Newton bounced back by throwing for 266 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Youngstown State. Kyle Anthony had 10 catches for 146 yards and three scores.
The South Carolina State Bulldogs dominated the MEAC weekly awards yet again. For the second straight week, senior offensive lineman Alex Taylor was named Offensive Lineman of the Week, while redshirt junior defensive lineman Roderick Perry was named Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore kicker Dillon Bredesen was named Specialist of the Week. The Bulldogs racked up 390 yards of total offense against Lane on Saturday. The defense limited Lane to under 180 yards of offense and forced three fumbles. Senior linebacker Johnell Brown led the way on defense, logging seven tackles (one TFL), one sack, and one forced fumble, which resulted in a touchdown. Head coach Buddy Pough is in pursuit of history, needing two wins to become the all-time winningest coach in South Carolina State history. He is currently 127-71 at his alma mater.
Bethune-Cookman travels to Coral Gables, Fla., to take on Miami. The two Florida schools will meet for the just the fifth time ever. Miami has won all five meetings, including the last one, 41-13, in 2017. After last week’s game against Southeastern Louisiana was canceled due to Hurricane Dorian, the Wildcats will look to regroup and build off the momentum from their win in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge over Jackson State on Sept. 1.
MISSOURI VALLEY — Thanks to Southern Illinois’ 45-20 win at UMass on Sept. 7, 2019, the Conference has had at least one FBS win in each of the last 10 seasons. The MVFC recorded a 1-7 mark vs. the FBS last year. The Conference has 46 FBS wins in its history. There are nine MVFC-FBS games on the schedule this year, including one this week. The league is 1-6 against FBS programs so far this season.
SIU racked up 45 points and outgained UMass, 502-321 in total yards. The 45 points are tied for third-best against an FBS school in MVFC history. The margin of victory (25) points is third-most of the league’s total 46 wins vs. FBS schools.
North Dakota State extended its current winning streak to an FCS-best 23 games after beating North Dakota on Sept. 7. The Bison set a league and FCS record with a 33-game win streak from 2012-14.
Two MVFC schools rank among the national leaders for rushing after two weeks of play. Youngstown State leads the FCS, averaging 365.5 yards per game on the ground; North Dakota State is 3rd (327.0 ypg). Youngstown State (3rd, 49.5 ppg) and NDSU (5th, 47.5 ppg) also lead the league and rank among the FCS leaders in scoring offense, ranking 3rd and 5th in the FCS, respectively.
NORTHEAST — Walter Payton Award hopeful AJ Hines kicked off his senior campaign by logging his 21st career 100-yard rushing performance in limited action as Duquesne out-classed Division II member Walsh. Hines and the Dukes begin a three-game road swing with a Week 3 date at Youngstown State.
Central Connecticut, which has won back-to-back games on last-second field goals, takes aim at its first 3-0 season start since 1973 as it visits PFL member Valparaiso.
Sacred Heart and Bryant have a chance to continue the NEC’s success against the Patriot League (3-0). SHU, which posted a Week 2 victory over Bucknell, looks to continue its four-game series win streak at Lafayette. Bryant lifts the lid off its home schedule against Fordham in a game that can be seen live at NECFrontRow.com (NEC On The Run App).
Saint Francis senior Da’Jon Lee has padded his resume against CAA opponents. The Buck Buchanan Award candidate made 3.5 tackles-for-loss in last week’s setback at James Madison. In his last three games against CAA members (JMU, Albany, Richmond), Lee has totaled 9.5 TFL. His 41.5 career TFL are first amongst active FCS leaders.
OHIO VALLEY — This week No. 16 Jacksonville State will host No. 4 Eastern Washington in only the second all-time matchups between the programs. EWU (90 wins) and JSU (86 wins) are the third and fourth-winningest teams in the FCS since 2010.
Tennessee State senior WR Chris Rowland caught 11 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns against FBS foe Middle Tennessee; he currently ranks first nationally in all-purpose yards (218.00), total receiving yards (374), receiving yards/game (187.0) and receptions/game (11.0) and third in receiving touchdowns (3).
Southeast Missouri kicker Kendrick Tiller connected on a 55-yard field goal at Montana State last week, marking the second-longest field goal in SEMO history; it is the longest field goal (by three yards) in the FCS this season.
Co-Offense: QB Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State; WR Chris Rowland, Tennessee State | Defense: DB Nigel Walton, Murray State
Specialist: K Logan Birchfield, Austin Peay | Newcomer: WR DaQuon Green, Murray State
PATRIOT — Georgetown sophomore defensive back Micah McNeil’s one-handed, pinned-to-the-helmet interception was No. 3 on this week’s NCAA.COM FCS Plays of the Week segment. Last week, Bucknell junior wide receiver Brandon Sanders claimed the top spot with a one-handed, 42-yard catch in the second quarter at Temple. He was joined atop the list by a fellow Patriot League pass-catcher Lehigh sophomore tight end Alex Snyder, who finished second with a one-handed catch in the fourth quarter against Saint Francis (Pa.). NCAA.com‘s FCS Plays of the Week are announced each week on Twitter at @NCAA_FCS.
The Patriot League boasts three of the top four FCS active leaders in tackles for loss per game, led by Fordham junior LB Glenn Cunningham. Cunningham led the Patriot League and placed fourth in the FCS with 21.5 tackles for loss in 2018 and leads all active FCS players with 1.48 TFL’s per game. The Glastonbury, Conn. native posted six games with 2.0 or more TFL’s in 2018, including 4.0 apiece against Lafayette and Holy Cross. Bucknell junior linebacker Simeon Page has 22.0 TFL’s in 18 career games to place second while preseason player of the year Nick Wheeler, a senior defensive lineman at Colgate, has 39.5 TFL’s in 32 games for the Raiders’ defense.
Wheeler leads active FCS defensive players with 0.77 sacks per game. In 32 career games, he has posted 24.5 sacks, which is the second-most among active FCS players. Page is second among active FCS players with 0.75 sacks per game. The Bison’s junior linebacker has recorded 13.5 sacks for a loss of 103 yards in 18 career games.
Bucknell two-time All-American punter Alex Pechin opened the 2019 season by averaging 51.6 yards on eight punts in the Bison loss at Temple and leads the League with a 50.1 punting average through two games. Pechin has been among the FCS’s best at shifting field position, leading all active FCS punters with a 44.1 yards per punt average during his career in Lewisburg, Pa.
PIONEER — The race for the 2019 PFL title gets a start in Week 3 when Stetson heads up the east coast to meet Marist, Saturday. The Red Foxes will play a pair of PFL home contests – hosting Drake in Week 5 – before the first full week of league play commences in Week 6.
PFL teams improved to 6-2 at home with a 4-2 record in Week 2. Five PFL teams will play at home in Week 3 with Marist and Valparaiso playing their home openers. Dayton and Jacksonville will wait until Week 4 to play its first home contest of 2019.
PFL teams enter Week 3 with just one win on the road (1-6), but that lone victory was Dayton’s upset of then-No. 14 Indiana State. Four PFL teams are on the road in Week 3, unbeaten Stetson making its first road trip of the season in the PFL opener.
Drake will become the fifth PFL team to face a ranked FCS opponent in 2019 when it travels to No. 3 South Dakota State, Saturday. After the two Week 1 outings went decidedly toward the ranked foe, the PFL fought back in Week 2 with Dayton knocking off No. 14 Indiana State with a late touchdown while San Diego saw No. 4 UC Davis escape courtesy a late touchdown in a three-point decision.
SOUTHERN — All nine Southern Conference teams will be in action on the same day for the first time this season with Saturday’s full slate. Two league contests highlight the schedule, with Wofford hosting Samford and ETSU welcoming VMI.
Three SoCon squads visit Power 5 opponents this week, with Furman at Virginia Tech, Chattanooga at Tennessee and The Citadel at Georgia Tech.
Mercer continued its impressive offensive play early this season with a 45-7 win at Presbyterian on Sept. 7. Quarterback Robert Riddle threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns, while wide receiver Tucker Cannon had a school-record 144 yards receiving and a TD. Cannon’s big day came on just seven catches, as he averaged 20.6 yards per catch.
VMI and ETSU rolled in their home openers over non-Division I opponents. The Keydets rolled up 571 yards of total offense in a 63-21 win over Mars Hill, while the Bucs notched 491 yards of total offense in their 48-10 win over Shorter.
Furman gave FBS Georgia State all it could handle in an eventual 48-42 loss, jumping out to a 20-3 lead early in the second half before succumbing to the squad that shocked Tennessee in week one of the season. Redshirt freshman quarterback Darren Grainger piled up 376 yards of total offense en route to earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week and STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week honors.
SOUTHLAND — Four Southland schools appeared in the STATS FCS Top 25 as Nicholls dropped to 12th, Central Arkansas rose to No. 14, Southeastern Louisiana stayed at No. 23 and Sam Houston State came in at No. 24.
The top three FCS squads in total offensive yards per game hail from the Southland as Abilene Christian paces the nation with 579.5 per game, followed by Sam Houston State (568.5) and Lamar (547.5).
Central Arkansas is seeking its first 3-0 start since the 2010 season after pulling out another comeback victory on the road, this time over Austin Peay. In the fourth quarters of the Bears’ two wins, sophomore wide receiver Lujuan Winningham has five catches for 196 yards and four touchdowns.
McNeese ranks first among all FCS institutions with seven fumbles recovered. Senior defensive back Calum Foster leads the way with a pair of recoveries, which is tied for the FCS lead.
SWAC — Alabama State’s Micheal Jefferson, Mississippi Valley State’s Tracy Thompkins, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Zack Piwniczka and Harry Ballard III were all named the SWAC Football Players of the Week in week two of the season for their outstanding play. Jefferson had a career day for Alabama State in a 38-31 victory over Tuskegee. He grabbed five receptions for 174 yards, including three TDs. The sophomore caught TD passes of 19, 43 and the game-winning 82-yard reception in the fourth quarter. For his efforts, Jefferson was rewarded with a helmet sticker on College Football Live.
Alcorn and McNeese will meet for the second time in three years. In 2017, the Cowboys grabbed a tight 34-27 decision after scoring with 26 seconds left in the game. Former quarterback Lenorris Footman threw for 424 yards and three touchdowns in the defeat. Senior Solomon Muhammad wrapped up eight tackles. The Braves are going for their first non-conference win over a Division I opponent since 2004 when they beat North Carolina A&T 16-13. Alcorn’s last win over a Southland Conference opponent came in the year prior in 2003 when it topped Southeastern Louisiana 27-24. Alcorn will look to break-up McNeese’s 13-0 record all-time against the SWAC. The Cowboys opened the season this year with a 34-28 win over Southern.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will play its home opener against the Langston Lions of the NAIA’s Sooner Athletic Conference. UAPB will look to improve to 2-1 for the first time since 2012. UAPB won its SWAC opener with a 52-34 win at Alabama A&M.