FCS INSIDER -- WEEKLY NOTEBOOK (Sept. 8)

**ursus arctos horribilis** · September 8th, 2022, 04:27 PM

School SIDs – please forward to your football media. Thank you!

Here is a link to the first fan/media video of the year (courtesy NCAA staff) -- Click Here

FCS ALL-IN AIRS FRIDAY ON ESPN+ AT 7 PM ET -- Click To Learn More
The 2023 FCS championship game will be played on Sunday, Jan. 8, and will air on ABC starting at 2 p.m. ET. -- Read

The last time the game was held on a Sunday was at the end of the 2021 spring season which saw Sam Houston defeat South Dakota St. 23-21.

CRAIG HALEY OF STATS PERFORM PREVIEWS THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS -- Read
FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week -- Click Here
Big Sky-Missouri Valley Football Conference Challenge Series Features 2 Games This Week – Read More

South Dakota at Montana; UC Davis at South Dakota State

North Dakota has the nation’s longest active winning streak in home openers (35 games) – UND hosts UNI on Saturday
FCS ROUNDUP (Conference Headlines) – Read below
There are 36 Games This Week Featuring FCS-FBS Matchups -- #FearTheFCS

FBS WINS OVER FBS PROGRAMS – THE FCS HAD 12 SUCH VICTORIES IN 2021 (two this year)


DATE	FCS TEAM	SCORE	FBS TEAM
Sept. 2	William & Mary	41-24	Charlotte
Sept. 3	Delaware	14-7	Navy

FCS INSIDER – AROUND THE FCS

ASUN

Kennesaw State and North Alabama are both seeking their first wins as members of the ASUN Conference, while Eastern Kentucky and Central Arkansas both hope to get into the win column for the first time in 2022. The Owls, one of the most successful FCS programs over the past five seasons, continues its season-opening road stretch with a game against a solid Cincinnati team that was a CFP semifinalist last season. Both squads are looking to bounce back after opening weekend losses
Jacksonville State looks to improve to 3-0 on the year; UCA, EKU and KSU all hope to earn just the second win in ASUN Football history against an FBS opponent
Colonel quarterback Parker McKinney enters this week's game needing just five pass completions to become EKU's all-time career leader

BIG SKY

Big Sky-MVFC Football Challenge -- The 2022 edition of the Big Sky-MVFC Football Challenge kicks off this weekend with a pair of games. Montana hosts South Dakota, while UC Davis travels to South Dakota State this Saturday.
UC Davis Picked as FCS ALL-IN’s Game of the Week -- UC Davis and South Dakota State were selected as FCS ALL-IN’s “Game of the Week” as the two squads face off in Brookings for a 2021 FCS Playoffs rematch this Saturday. FCS ALL-IN airs each Friday at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
Griz Defense Pitches a Shutout to Open Season -- Montana defeated Northwestern State 47-0 to open the 2022 season, as the Griz held the Demons to just 19 rushing yards and 212 yards of total offense while allowing the visitors to cross into Montana territory just three times.

BIG SOUTH

Campbell is 1-0 for the first time since 2018 and is looking to start 2-0 for the first time since that season. Gardner-Webb is 1-0 for the second time under third-year head coach Tre Lamb and is seeking its first 2-0 start since the abbreviated 2021 spring campaign.
The Week 2 Big South schedule features three games against nationally ranked FCS programs, and three contests at FBS opponents. North Carolina A&T travels to No. 1/1 North Dakota State, while Campbell visits No. 20/22 William & Mary. Bryant, coming off a 1-point overtime loss at FBS member FIU, hosts No. 22/20 Rhode Island. The slate vs. FBS features Charleston Southern at N.C. State, Gardner-Webb at former Big South rival Coastal Carolina, and Robert Morris at Miami (Ohio).
As mentioned above, North Carolina A&T will play No. 1/1 North Dakota State Saturday in Fargo. It will mark the 13th official time a Big South member will face the nation’s No. 1-ranked FCS program (fifth during the non-conference regular-season), and the first time since 2016 (Charleston Southern at NDSU in Week 0). The league is 2-10 all-time against the subdivision’s top-rated team, as Coastal Carolina defeated James Madison in 2005 (31-27) and Liberty knocked off Coastal Carolina in 2014 (15-14). Four of the 10 defeats have been by a touchdown or less.

CAA

CAA Football continued its success against FBS opponents as William & Mary beat Charlotte, 41-24, last Friday and Delaware downed Navy, 14-7, on Saturday. It was the Blue Hens' first FBS win since 2007 and the Tribe's first FBS victory since 2009. The CAA has posted 42 wins over FBS foes in its history and has won at least one game against an FBS team in 12 of the past 15 years. Since 2013, 10 different CAA teams have recorded at least one FBS victory and the CAA has earned multiple victories over FBS opponents five times since 2016.
CAA Football is once again well-represented on NFL roster as the season kicks off this week. There are 12 players from current CAA members on the active 53-man rosters for 10 different NFL sqauds, two on the reserve/injured list and four on practice squads.
CAA teams have been dominant against FCS non-conference opponents over the past five years, winning a remarkable 76% of those games. The league was a combined 22-7 in 2021, 8-3 in the shortened 2021 spring season, 30-9 in 2019, 22-9 in 2018 and 26-6 in 2017. The CAA got off to a 3-0 start against FCS foes in Week 1 and has 10 more games on the slate this week.

IVY

The race for the Ivy title is expected to be tight this season. Harvard and Dartmouth were tied for first place in the league’s preseason poll and Princeton was just three points behind for third place. The Crimson received eight first place votes, while the Big Green and Tigers garnered four each. The poll was voted on 16 media members that cover the league.
Over the past six seasons, 5-of-8 teams have captured an Ivy League title – Dartmouth (2015, 2019, 2021), Harvard (2015), Penn (2015, 2016), Princeton (2016, 2018, 2021) and Yale (2017, 2019).
The 2022 Ivy League football season kicks off on Friday, Sept. 16, with six games to appear on ESPN linear networks throughout the season. All Ivy League home games not appearing in the ESPN linear package will air on ESPN+ and select games will also simulcast on regional sports networks.

MEAC

This Saturday will see a new batch of six Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contests, with North Carolina Central coming home for the first time in 2022 and Delaware State taking on an in-state rival in search of its first-ever win in the series.
The First State rivalry ignites again this week, as Delaware State will head north on Route 1 to take on the Delaware Blue Hens. Delaware leads the all-time series 10-0, including a 34-14 win over the Hornets last season. Delaware State won its opener, 34-0 over Lincoln (Pa.) last week, as three different Hornets found the endzone on the ground.
Fresh off a 28-13 win over rival North Carolina A&T State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, North Carolina Central will have its 2022 home opener on Saturday in search of its first 2-0 start since 2006. The Eagles swept the MEAC weekly honors, including Offensive Player of the Week Davius Richard, who accounted for all four touchdowns against the Aggies (two throwing, two rushing).

MVFC

Open Season -- North Dakota hosts UNI in Grand Forks on Saturday, Sept. 10, in the league opener for both schools. It’s the earliest start for an MVFC game in more than 10 seasons. On Sept. 11, 2010, #13 UNI hosted and beat #21 NDSU in the UNI-Dome, 16-9. The Missouri Valley Football Conference is celebrating its 38th anniversary this fall. North Dakota State extended its active winning streak in MVFC season-opening games to 11 games with a 16-10 victory at North Dakota on Oct. 2. Notably, Southern Illinois and Missouri State played in the league’s first conference game on Sept. 7, 1985.
MVFC-Big Sky Challenge Renews This Weekend -- In an effort to publicize current matchups and promote future non-conference scheduling between two of the premier FCS conferences, the MVFC and the Big Sky Conference announced a Challenge Series between the two leagues before the 2017 season. (Only regular-season contests count in the series standings.) Two games highlight the series this weekend. There are six meetings this year.
3 Teams in the Top 5 -- NDSU (1), SDSU (2), and Missouri State (5) represent the Conference in the Top 5 of the Stats Perform Top 25 poll. The last time the league had 3 teams in the Top 5 was on March 8, 2021, when UND (3), UNI (4) and NDSU (5) represented the league. Prior to that, the Conference accomplished the feat on Sept. 25, 2017 with NDSU (2), SDSU (4), and Youngstown State (5). (Rankings noted are the highest rank in either the Stats Perform or AFCA Coaches polls.)
MVFC in the NFL -- A total of 26 former Missouri Valley Football Conference players made Opening Day rosters for NFL teams. NDSU leads all MVFC teams with 10. The 2021 season was capped by an incredible presence in the April 2022 NFL Draft. A total of nine MVFC players were drafted, setting an all-time high for the Conference (surpassing the previous-record total of five in 2021).

NEC

All eight NEC teams were in action during Week One. Four teams traveled to FBS opponents: Saint Francis U (Akron), LIU (Toledo), CCSU (UConn) and Duquesne (Youngstown State). The Red Flash were on the brink of scoring the NEC’s second victory against a FBS opponent in as many seasons, but came up short in overtime. Merrimack also opened the season with a challenging matchup, facing then-ranked No. 16 Holy Cross.
For the second time in as many years, Duquesne has opened its slate against back-to-back FBS opponents, having faced Florida State in Week Zero action last month.
Stonehill, the newest member of the NEC, rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Bloomsburg in double overtime. Named the NEC Rookie of the Week, running back Jarel Washington closed the gap after hauling in a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ashur Carrara before he ended the game with an untouched two-yard touchdown scamper.
NEC play begins this weekend when Constitution State rivals Sacred Heart, the defending league champion, takes on Central Connecticut in New Britain, CT in a game to air on ESPN3. Wagner is slated to take on FBS opponent Rutgers this weekend, while LIU will host Villanova, which has held down the No. 6 spot in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 this season.

OVC

The first week of the season saw six games, four against FBS opponents and one against a nationally ranked FCS team; the other game featured defending OVC champion UT Martin knocking off unranked FCS opponent Western Illinois. This week UT Martin will play at Top 5 team Missouri State, a rematch of the first round of last year’s FCS Playoffs.
After not having a game last week, new OVC member Lindenwood will make its Division I debut this Saturday at Houston Baptist.
Tennessee State's Devon Starling rushed for 207 yards against Eastern Washington, the most yards against a Division I opponent (FBS or FCS) so far in this young season. He was one of 3 OVC players who rushed for more than 100 yards in Week 1.
Tennessee Tech will host first-team Division I program Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday. It marks the first meeting between the schools since the Tangerine Bowl on January 1, 1953.

PATRIOT

Patriot League teams went 4-3 during week one. It was the League’s best opening weekend since going 4-3 in 2016. All seven Patriot League teams are in action in week two, highlighted by the first League game of the season when Lehigh travels to Georgetown for a 5 p.m. matchup at Cooper Field.
Three-time defending champion Holy Cross moved up two spots to 16th in the FCS Coaches Poll, and one place to 15th in the Stats Perform FCS Poll after a 31-17 victory over Merrimack. Fordham is receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll for the second-straight week after a 48-31 win at Wagner last Thursday. Georgetown is also receiving votes in the coaches poll after a 43-12 win at Marist.
Two-time defending Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Tim DeMorat threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns in the Rams season-opening win against Wagner. The FCS active leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns (72) moved up to sixth place in the League record book in career passing yards after beginning the season in eighth place.

PFL

MARIST’S PARADY SEEKS 150TH FCS VICTORY -- Entering the 2022 season, Marist head coach James Parady needs just three wins to reach the 150-victory milestone. Since the FCS was created in 1978, only 13 head coaches have won 150 or more FCS games, including six active head coaches. In 14 seasons in the PFL the Red Foxes and Parady have amassed 51 victories.
DAYTON’S CHAMBERLIN NOTCHES 100TH CAREER WIN -- Dayton head coach Rick Chamberlin picked up his 100th career victory – all at Dayton – with the Flyers’ 22-20 victory at Robert Morris. This is Chamberlin's 14th season as the Flyer head coach, and his 47th as a part of the Dayton football program (four as a linebacker, 29 as an assistant coach, and 14 as the head coach). At the Division I level only two other coaches have won at least 100 games at the alma mater after playing for the school and immediately joining (and never leaving) the coaching staff – William A. Alexander, who succeeded John Heisman at Georgia Tech, and Knute Rockne.
EIGHT IS GREAT FOR TOREROS -- With their season-opening victory against La Verne, San Diego stretched its win streak to eight games – the longest active win streak among FCS programs. North Dakota State owns a seven game win streak while Dayton is among a group of five teams with four-game win streaks after the season’s opening week.

SOCON

Furman, Samford and Western Carolina visit Power 5 conference opponents and The Citadel hosts defending Southern Conference champion ETSU in the Ingles SoCon Game of the Week on select Nexstar affiliates in the only league game on the schedule to highlight the week-two slate.
Two-thirds of the SoCon’s nine squads are either ranked or receiving votes in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25. ETSU leads the way at No. 8, followed by Chattanooga at No. 10 and Mercer at No. 23. Samford is the first squad out of the rankings, while Furman and VMI also received votes.
Samford did enter the national rankings in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, riding a 27-17 win over then-No. 8 Kennesaw State to the No. 25 position this week. ETSU is No. 9, UTC is No. 11 and Mercer is No. 23 in the poll, while Furman is receiving votes.
ETSU earned the first win of the George Quarles era on Sept. 1, downing Mars Hill, 44-7. Bucs quarterback Tyler Riddell went 14-for-19 for 197 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while running back Jacob Saylors had two rushing TDs and a receiving TD, all in the first quarter.

SOUTHLAND

MAHDI NAMED NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK -- HBU running back Ismail Mahdi – a true freshman from Murphy, Texas, and Plano East Senior HS – also won Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors in his first game as a collegian. Mahdi rushed 21 times for 177 yards, the most in school history by a running back, which included a 78-yard touchdown. He also added two catches for 79 yards, which included a 74-yard touchdown reception.
UIW NAMED NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK -- UIW was ranked No. 14 in the nation at the time of the Cardinals’ 64-29 victory over then-No. 9 Southern Illinois. A weather delay and stadium power outage didn’t slow UIW in the season’s first matchup of nationally ranked teams. Quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. – who was also honorably mentioned for National Player of the Week - accounted for seven touchdowns (six passing, one rushing) and G.J. Kinne won his coaching debut. When No. 9 SIU pulled within 29-19 in third quarter, the 14th-ranked Cardinals responded with three touchdowns in under six minutes. UIW moved to No. 8 nationally in the Stats Perform rankings following the win.

SWAC

Last week, Jackson State QB Shedeur Sanders completed his first 17 passes in throwing more touchdown passes than interceptions as the Tigers dominated Florida A&M 59-3 at the Orange Blossom Classic. Sanders threw a career-high five touchdown passes with only four incompletions in throwing for 323 yards in completing 29-of-33 passes.
Alabama State got another stingy defensive effort to earn a 21-13 win over Miles College in the 2022 Labor Day Classic at ASU Stadium last Saturday. This week, Alabama State travels to Pasadena, Calif., for a showdown with UCLA at 4 p.m. (CT) in Rose Bowl Stadium. The game will be televised on the PAC 12 Network.
The SWAC named Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders, Grambling State’s Lewis Matthews, Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Maurice Lloyd and Alcorn State’s Jarveon Howard its SWAC Football Players of the Week for their outstanding performances during games played this past week of competition.

WAC

THREE TEAMS CLOSE WEEK ONE UNDEFEATED -- Three teams representing the WAC earned wins during the official opening week of the 2022 college football season. Southern Utah blasted St. Thomas (Minn.) 44-13, Tarleton bested Mississippi Valley State 29-13 and Abilene Christian outlasted Lamar 28-14 on Sept. 1 to kick off the new year.
NO. 10 SFA ERASES 10-POINT HALFTIME DEFICIT TO DOWN ALCORN -- No. 10 Stephen F. Austin trailed host Alcorn State by a 24-10 score heading into the halftime break, but the Lumberjacks scored three touchdowns in the second half to stun the Braves 31-27 on Sept. 3. Moe Wedman scored from 11 yards out on a touchdown pass from Trae Self with 2:22 to play to give SFA its first lead since early in the second quarter and put the Lumberjacks in front for good.
Following a second lengthy inclement weather delay in as many games, SFA became the first opponent to win at Alcorn State’s Jack Spinks–Marino Casem Stadium since Oct. 6, 2018 (a 28-25 ASU loss in overtime against Alabama State).
SOUTHERN UTAH RACKS UP THE OFFENSE IN WIN VERSUS ST. THOMAS (MINN.) -- Southern Utah lit up both the scoreboard and the stat sheet against St. Thomas (Minn.) to give head coach DeLane Fitzgerald a 44-13 victory in his debut at the Division I level. The Thunderbirds outgained the Tommies 489-462 in total offense and finished each quarter with 10 or more points scored. Justin Miller shined under center for Southern Utah, completing 23-of-35 passes for 364 yards through the air and three touchdowns. Isaiah Wooden hauled in five receptions for 142 yards and two scores for the Thunderbirds in the win.

Mike Kern
Associate Commissioner