ursus arctos horribilis
September 19th, 2019, 02:15 PM
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 -- Following a 27-24 overtime win by The Citadel at Georgia Tech on Sept. 14, there are now three FCS wins over FBS schools this year (Central Arkansas over Western Kentucky, 35-28; and Southern Illinois over UMass, 45-20). 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 were part of the 32 opening-day rosters for the NFL's 100th season. Add in 43 players that were 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, 22 of 25 ranked teams (STATS FCS poll) are in action. Two ranked teams face FBS opponents this week, and there are two games on the schedule that feature two ranked FCS teams.
#4 UC Davis (2-1) at #1 North Dakota State (3-0), 2:30 pm CT [NBC ND / ESPN+]
#18 Villanova (3-0) at #5 Towson (3-0), 5 pm CT [FloFootball.com]
STATS FCS National Players of the Week for Week 3 include North Carolina A&T's Jah-Maine Martin, Jacksonville State's Marlon Bridges, Houston Baptist's Gamar Girdy Brito and Lafayette's Keegan Shoemaker.
Houston Baptist was named the STATS FCS Team of the Week after knocking South Dakota, 53-52. The Huskies (2-1) ended a 20-game losing streak against Division I competition. HONORABLE MENTION: Alabama A&M (31-24 win over North Alabama); The Citadel (27-24 OT win over Georgia Tech); North Dakota (27-23 win over No. 23 Sam Houston State); No. 8 Towson (45-23 win over No. 7 Maine); VMI (31-24 OT win over ETSU)
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 -- Last week, third-string quarterback and true freshman Tommy Schuster of North Dakota came on after an injury to Andrew Zimmerman and helped engineer UND's ninth win over a nationally-ranked team since joining the FCS ranks in 2008. Schuster, who has dressed for each game but wearing a different uniform number in each, settled into a rhythm and found an familiar weapon in senior Noah Wanzek (9 catches, 108 yards) to pull out yet another Potato Bowl win for UND (42-12 all-time).
BIG SKY -- A trio of weeks have passed, and the Big Sky has had some eye-opening games so far. Five Big Sky-Missouri Valley Challenge games are slated for Saturday. The Big Sky heads into the weekend with a 3-1 advantage. Bragging rights are on the line as five of the 10 teams are ranked. Four of the five matchups will be road games for the good guys.
There was a shakeup in the polls, but the Big Sky Football still has five teams ranked in the Top 20. UC Davis leads the way at the No. 4 spot in both polls. Between the STATS FCS and FCS AFCA Coaches' Top 25 polls, the Big Sky has eight different teams ranked or receiving votes.
The Big Sky has a new channel lineup for Pluto TV this season. Make sure to go to www.Pluto.TV (http://www.Pluto.TV) to check out games all season long.
BIG SOUTH -- Kennesaw State fifth-year head coach BRIAN BOHANNON (39-13) will have his first attempt at 40 career coaching wins this weekend, and if he is successful, he will become the second-fastest Big South coach to win 40 games in league history at 53 contests. The record is 51 games (Coastal Carolina's JOE MOGLIA), followed by 56 games (Liberty's DANNY ROCCO). Bohannon would also become the seventh overall Big South coach with 40 victories should the Owls defeat Missouri State on Saturday.
Monmouth RB PETE GUERRIERO has rushed for a Big South-leading 393 yards through the first three games of the season -- the Big South's highest rushing total after the first three games since 2015 (Coastal Carolina RB DE'ANGELO HENDERSON - 396. Guerriero has been consistent out of the gate each season of his career, as he gained 354 in his first three games as a freshman in 2017, and 353 in the same span last year as a sophomore. Guerriero's 131.0 rushing yards per game average is currently the third-highest single-season clip in Big South history.
Hampton WR JADAKIS BONDS leads the Big South with five touchdown receptions -- on just seven total catches -- and has caught a TD pass in every game thus far in 2019. He needs a TD grab in his next game to tie the league record for most consecutive games with a touchdown catch to start a season. Kennesaw State's JUSTIN SUMPTER set the record of four to open the 2016 campaign. Bonds is averaging 30.8 yards on his TD catches, as 154 of his 173 total receiving yards have gone for scores.
CAA FOOTBALL -- The Week 4 schedule is highlighted by a matchup of two nationally ranked unbeaten squads as No. 18 Villanova visits No. 5 Towson. The Wildcats have won their three games by an average of 27.6 ppg, while the Tigers' three victories have come by an average of 22.7 ppg. New Hampshire hosts Rhode Island in the other CAA contest this week.
The road team has won the first three conference matchups of the season. Delaware pulled out a 36-33 triple OT win at Rhode Island on Sept. 7, while Elon won 42-20 at Richmond and Towson topped Maine, 45-23, last week as the Tigers ended the Black Bears' six-game home win streak.
Several CAA players lead the nation in various statistical categories. Maine's Chris Ferguson is No. 1 in passing (370.0 ypg), Stony Brook's Tyquell Fields is No. 1 in yards per completion (19.3), Rhode Island's Aaron Parker is No. 1 in receptions (10.5) and receiving yards (185.5 ypg) per game, Villanova's Justin Covington is No. 1 in yards per carry (10.7), W&M's Bronson Yoder is No. 1 in kickoff return average (40.4) and Towson's Coby Tippett and URI's Momodou Mbye are tied for first in interceptions per game (1.0).
IVY LEAGUE -- Fourteen Ivies saw the field for their respective teams during Week 2 of the 2019 National Football League (NFL) season, including seven that earned starts. Defensively, second-year linebacker Foye Oluokun out of Yale accounted for three tackles for the Atlanta Falcons—running his career-opening streak to 18-straight games with a tackle.
The 2019 season promises to be memorable for the Ancient Eight. As college football celebrates its 150th anniversary, the Ivies will be right smack in the middle of it considering Princeton played in the first game in 1869. The Tigers will help mark the anniversary with a game against Dartmouth on Nov. 9 at Yankee Stadium.
Only two Ivy teams will play at home Saturday, Yale against Holy Cross (1-1) and Princeton against Butler (1-2). Coach Bob Surace's Tigers went 10-0 last year for their first unbeaten season since 1964. Ivy teams opening on the road are Penn at No. 20 Delaware (2-1), Dartmouth at Jacksonville (1-1), Brown at Bryant (0-3), Columbia at Saint Francis (2-1), Cornell at Marist (1-1) and Harvard at San Diego (0-2). James Perry will make his Brown head coaching debut against the Bryant program he guided the last two seasons.
MEAC -- The first conference game of the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football season kicks off in Dover, Del., this weekend – as do five other non-conference contests.
Howard faces Delaware State on Saturday. This will be the first game of the conference schedule, as well as Delaware State's Homecoming. The Hornets had 47 carries for 245 yards and three scores, with nine different players carrying the ball in a 58-12 win over Lincoln (Pa.) last week. Freshman quarterback Tylik Bethea was named MEAC Rookie of the Week after throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. The two teams have split the last eight meetings, with Howard winning the last three.
One other key non-conference matchup involves Norfolk State and nationally ranked Montana State. Coming off a frustrating 46-7 loss to Coastal Carolina, the Spartans look to regroup against Montana State, which is ranked eighth in the country. This will be the first meeting between the two schools. Linebacker Nigel Chavis had 11 tackles and a forced fumble to pace the Spartans in the loss.
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. Below is a list of MVFC wins against FBS programs in the past nine seasons. The Conference has 46 FBS wins in its history. There are nine MVFC-FBS games on the schedule this year, including the final one this week (Southern Illinois at Arkansas State). The league is 1-7 against FBS programs so far this season. Only one MVFC school (Indiana State in 1987) has recorded two FBS wins in the same season.
Two-time defending national champ North Dakota State headlines a list of seven MVFC teams receiving votes in the polls this week. In the Massey Ratings, the MVFC and Big Sky each has 5 teams in the Top 20, followed by CAA Football (4) and the Ivy League (3), which has yet to play a game. Among conferences, the MVFC is the top-rated league in the FCS (Sagarin), and three MVFC schools are in the Top 5.
North Dakota State extended its current winning streak to an FCS-best 24 games after beating Delaware on Sept. 14. The Bison set a league and FCS record with a 33-game win streak from 2012-14.
North Dakota State (2nd/316.3 ypg) and Youngstown State (3rd/309.3 ypg) rank among the national leaders in rushing yards per game. National leader Kennesaw State averages 388.7 yards per game and visits MVFC member Missouri State this weekend.
NORTHEAST -- Sacred Heart and LIU will officially kick off the NEC schedule by battling in Brookville Saturday. SHU enters off back-to-back wins over Patriot League members while LIU has played only once during the season's first three weeks. The NEC lid-lifter will be available for live viewing at NECFrontRow.com and the NEC On The Run app.
SHU quarterback Logan Marchi, who accounted for the NEC's first 300-yard passing performance this season during a Week 2 win, eclipsed the 400-yard mark at Lafayette. The Temple transfer has logged 723 pass yards and nine touchdowns the past two weeks.
Robert Morris senior Matthew Gonzalez went for 124 receiving yards against Dayton – the most by a NEC tight end thus far this season.
Central Connecticut, which faces a FBS program for the third straight year, puts its 3-0 record on the line at MAC member Eastern Michigan. CCSU averages a FCS-leading 7.4 yards per rush attempt.
Wagner, which dropped a 24-21 decision at UConn in Week 1, faces its second FBS opponent, traveling to Florida Atlantic. Saint Francis (Columbia) and Bryant (Brown) both host Ivy League members. Duquesne, which has won the last three meetings in the annual rivalry series, visit PFL member Dayton.
OHIO VALLEY -- Trailing 28-7 after one quarter, Jacksonville State outscored No. 4 ranked Eastern Washington 42-17 the rest of the way to win 49-45. It marked the highest ranked opponent JSU has beaten since 2002 (No. 2 Northwestern State) and was the biggest comeback for the team since 2010 when they came from 21 down to beat FBS foe Ole Miss. With the win Jacksonville State jumped back to No. 10 in the STATS Top 25 poll, marking the 72nd time in the past 77 weeks the team has been ranked in the Top 10.
In a 45-0 loss to Toledo on September 14, Murray State failed to score for the first time in 156 games dating back to a loss at Illinois State on September 24, 2005. The 156-game scoring streak was the ninth-longest in FCS history.
Tennessee Tech is off to a 2-1 start, its best start to a season since 2013. The two wins match the team's win total for the past two years combined.
Austin Peay junior DB Kordell Jackson became the first player in school history (and first OVC player since 2017) to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game in his team's 48-34 win at Mercer. The win was the Governors first non-conference road win over a scholarship program since 2007.
Player: QB Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State | Defense: DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay | Specialist: RS/WR Chris Rowland, Tennessee State | Newcomer: RS/WR Metrius Fleming, Tennessee Tech
PATRIOT -- Lafayette freshman quarterback Keegan Shoemaker received the STATS FCS National Rookie of the Week accolades following his record-breaking performance in the Leopards' loss vs. Sacred Heart on Saturday. Shoemaker, who was also named the Patriot League Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, became the first quarterback in League history to throw for more than 400 yards and rush for more than 100 yards in a single game. His 545 yards of total offense also broke a single-game Lafayette program record.
Colgate senior DL Nick Wheeler leads the FCS in total sacks (25.5) and sacks per game (0.77) while Fordham junior LB Glenn Cunningham is the FCS active leader in tackles for loss per game (1.40). Lehigh senior LB Keith Woetzel leads the classification in solo tackles per game (5.80). Bucknell fifth-year punter Alex Pechin's career punting average of 44.3 yards per punt leads the nation.
The Hoyas have scored 112 points over its past two games, defeating Marist, 43-3, and Catholic, 69-0. The two-game stretch is Georgetown's most explosive output since scoring 114 points in two games in 1921 when they defeated Ursinus, 48-6 and Westminster, 66-0. .
PIONEER -- Davidson LB George Hatalowich was named to the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Sept. 12. As the founder and current president of Davidson Football Uplifting Athletes, George has been responsible for raising more than $25,000 to benefit the rare disease community. George has also taken the Davidson Chapter a step further to engage with local patients, families and caregivers through the Uplifting Athletes Bowling event, which allows the families the opportunity to bowl alongside the football team.
Four games against Ivy League members highlight the Week 4 PFL schedule, with three of those contests at PFL home fields. Jacksonville hosts Dartmouth, Marist hosts Cornell and San Diego hosts Harvard while Butler travels to Princeton
PFL teams are now 8-4 at home after posting a 2-2 record in Week 3. Five PFL teams are at home this weekend with Dayton and Jacksonville playing their home openers this week
PFL teams enter Week 4 with a 3-8 record in road games as Dayton (2-0 on the road) won at Robert Morris while Jacksonville won at Presbyterian in Week 3. Davidson will play its first road game in Week 4 while Butler will play its first true road game (opened at Target Field against No. 1 North Dakota State).
SOUTHERN -- Seven games adorn the Southern Conference schedule this Saturday, with Mercer visiting No. 15/17 Furman in the lone league contest and six schools hosting non-conference tilts.
The Citadel downed Georgia Tech on Sept. 14, 27-24 in overtime, for its first win over an FBS team since 2015 and its ninth overall. Senior kicker Jacob Godek nailed the winning 37-yard field goal in OT, while quarterback Brandon Rainey ran for 70 yards and a score and threw a 30-yard TD pass in three quarters of work. With the win, the Bulldogs moved into the STATS FCS poll at No. 25 this week.
In a game that endured two weather delays and ended after 1 a.m., VMI outlasted defending SoCon tri-champion ETSU in overtime, 31-24. Reece Udinski hit Javeon Lara for a 21-yard touchdown in the first overtime and the Keydets got the stop they needed on fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line on the Bucs' ensuing possession to collect their first win in league play since 2016. VMI running back Alex Ramsey ran for 57 yards and a pair of touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 56 yards.
Samford picked up a big road win of its own, downing No. 22/21 Wofford, 21-14. The win was the Bulldogs' fifth straight over Wofford and snapped the Terriers' 18-game winning streak in home openers dating back to 2000.
SOUTHLAND -- In the fourth quarters of the UCA's three wins, the Bears have scored 57 of their 90 points, and sophomore wide receiver Lujuan Winningham has nine catches for 287 yards and five touchdowns.
Houston Baptist leads all FCS institutions in first downs (84), scoring offense (48.3), sacks per game (4.67) and total offense (544.3). Huskies' defensive end Andre Walker tallied a school-record four sacks in a win over South Dakota and paces the country in sacks per game (2.5) and tackles for loss per game (3.2).
HBU's Gamar Girdy Brito was named the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week after returning seven kickoffs for 249 yards, including a 76-yard return. He also caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Zappe, Walker and freshman safety Tra Fuellen (14 tackles, one interception) earned honorable mention national weekly honors from STATS, marking the first time a school has had a selection for all four awards.
SWAC -- Alabama A&M's Jordan Bentley and Armoni Holloway, along with Jackson State's Josh Littles and Tyson Alexander were all named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Football Players of the Week in week three of the season. Bentley accounted for 161 yards and three touchdowns as Alabama A&M overcame an 18-point halftime deficit to top North Alabama 31-24 in Florence -- AAMU's first win against UNA since 1988. The senior running back from Guntersville, Ala. rushed for 126 yards on 26 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, scoring on runs of three and six yards. Also caught three passes for 37 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown reception. All three of Bentley's touchdowns came in the second half.
The Celebration Bowl, in its fifth year, will be televised live on ABC for the fifth consecutive year, kicking off at noon ET, on Saturday, Dec. 21, from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Celebration Bowl, which showcases the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), features the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The MEAC leads the series 3-1 with all three wins coming from North Carolina A&T, who held off Alcorn State to win the 2018 Celebration Bowl 24-22.
The Tennessee Titans retired Steve McNair's No. 9 jersey when the team hosted the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 15. The Titans — then the Houston Oilers — drafted McNair out of Alcorn State with the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was named the league's co-MVP (with Peyton Manning) in 2003, earned three Pro Bowl nods (2000, 2003, 2005), and in 1999 led the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance. McNair spent the last two seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. In his 13-year NFL career, McNair threw for 31,304 yards and 174 touchdowns while completing 60.1 percent of his passes in his career. He played in 161 games. A four-year letterwinner at Alcorn, McNair became the school's all-time career passing leader (14,496), all-time career completions leader (958), and all-time career passing touchdowns leader (119).
#FCSonGameDay -- got a suggestion for an FCS matchup or content for College GameDay -- tweet it.
#FearTheFCS -- Following a 27-24 overtime win by The Citadel at Georgia Tech on Sept. 14, there are now three FCS wins over FBS schools this year (Central Arkansas over Western Kentucky, 35-28; and Southern Illinois over UMass, 45-20). 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 were part of the 32 opening-day rosters for the NFL's 100th season. Add in 43 players that were 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, 22 of 25 ranked teams (STATS FCS poll) are in action. Two ranked teams face FBS opponents this week, and there are two games on the schedule that feature two ranked FCS teams.
#4 UC Davis (2-1) at #1 North Dakota State (3-0), 2:30 pm CT [NBC ND / ESPN+]
#18 Villanova (3-0) at #5 Towson (3-0), 5 pm CT [FloFootball.com]
STATS FCS National Players of the Week for Week 3 include North Carolina A&T's Jah-Maine Martin, Jacksonville State's Marlon Bridges, Houston Baptist's Gamar Girdy Brito and Lafayette's Keegan Shoemaker.
Houston Baptist was named the STATS FCS Team of the Week after knocking South Dakota, 53-52. The Huskies (2-1) ended a 20-game losing streak against Division I competition. HONORABLE MENTION: Alabama A&M (31-24 win over North Alabama); The Citadel (27-24 OT win over Georgia Tech); North Dakota (27-23 win over No. 23 Sam Houston State); No. 8 Towson (45-23 win over No. 7 Maine); VMI (31-24 OT win over ETSU)
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 -- Last week, third-string quarterback and true freshman Tommy Schuster of North Dakota came on after an injury to Andrew Zimmerman and helped engineer UND's ninth win over a nationally-ranked team since joining the FCS ranks in 2008. Schuster, who has dressed for each game but wearing a different uniform number in each, settled into a rhythm and found an familiar weapon in senior Noah Wanzek (9 catches, 108 yards) to pull out yet another Potato Bowl win for UND (42-12 all-time).
BIG SKY -- A trio of weeks have passed, and the Big Sky has had some eye-opening games so far. Five Big Sky-Missouri Valley Challenge games are slated for Saturday. The Big Sky heads into the weekend with a 3-1 advantage. Bragging rights are on the line as five of the 10 teams are ranked. Four of the five matchups will be road games for the good guys.
There was a shakeup in the polls, but the Big Sky Football still has five teams ranked in the Top 20. UC Davis leads the way at the No. 4 spot in both polls. Between the STATS FCS and FCS AFCA Coaches' Top 25 polls, the Big Sky has eight different teams ranked or receiving votes.
The Big Sky has a new channel lineup for Pluto TV this season. Make sure to go to www.Pluto.TV (http://www.Pluto.TV) to check out games all season long.
BIG SOUTH -- Kennesaw State fifth-year head coach BRIAN BOHANNON (39-13) will have his first attempt at 40 career coaching wins this weekend, and if he is successful, he will become the second-fastest Big South coach to win 40 games in league history at 53 contests. The record is 51 games (Coastal Carolina's JOE MOGLIA), followed by 56 games (Liberty's DANNY ROCCO). Bohannon would also become the seventh overall Big South coach with 40 victories should the Owls defeat Missouri State on Saturday.
Monmouth RB PETE GUERRIERO has rushed for a Big South-leading 393 yards through the first three games of the season -- the Big South's highest rushing total after the first three games since 2015 (Coastal Carolina RB DE'ANGELO HENDERSON - 396. Guerriero has been consistent out of the gate each season of his career, as he gained 354 in his first three games as a freshman in 2017, and 353 in the same span last year as a sophomore. Guerriero's 131.0 rushing yards per game average is currently the third-highest single-season clip in Big South history.
Hampton WR JADAKIS BONDS leads the Big South with five touchdown receptions -- on just seven total catches -- and has caught a TD pass in every game thus far in 2019. He needs a TD grab in his next game to tie the league record for most consecutive games with a touchdown catch to start a season. Kennesaw State's JUSTIN SUMPTER set the record of four to open the 2016 campaign. Bonds is averaging 30.8 yards on his TD catches, as 154 of his 173 total receiving yards have gone for scores.
CAA FOOTBALL -- The Week 4 schedule is highlighted by a matchup of two nationally ranked unbeaten squads as No. 18 Villanova visits No. 5 Towson. The Wildcats have won their three games by an average of 27.6 ppg, while the Tigers' three victories have come by an average of 22.7 ppg. New Hampshire hosts Rhode Island in the other CAA contest this week.
The road team has won the first three conference matchups of the season. Delaware pulled out a 36-33 triple OT win at Rhode Island on Sept. 7, while Elon won 42-20 at Richmond and Towson topped Maine, 45-23, last week as the Tigers ended the Black Bears' six-game home win streak.
Several CAA players lead the nation in various statistical categories. Maine's Chris Ferguson is No. 1 in passing (370.0 ypg), Stony Brook's Tyquell Fields is No. 1 in yards per completion (19.3), Rhode Island's Aaron Parker is No. 1 in receptions (10.5) and receiving yards (185.5 ypg) per game, Villanova's Justin Covington is No. 1 in yards per carry (10.7), W&M's Bronson Yoder is No. 1 in kickoff return average (40.4) and Towson's Coby Tippett and URI's Momodou Mbye are tied for first in interceptions per game (1.0).
IVY LEAGUE -- Fourteen Ivies saw the field for their respective teams during Week 2 of the 2019 National Football League (NFL) season, including seven that earned starts. Defensively, second-year linebacker Foye Oluokun out of Yale accounted for three tackles for the Atlanta Falcons—running his career-opening streak to 18-straight games with a tackle.
The 2019 season promises to be memorable for the Ancient Eight. As college football celebrates its 150th anniversary, the Ivies will be right smack in the middle of it considering Princeton played in the first game in 1869. The Tigers will help mark the anniversary with a game against Dartmouth on Nov. 9 at Yankee Stadium.
Only two Ivy teams will play at home Saturday, Yale against Holy Cross (1-1) and Princeton against Butler (1-2). Coach Bob Surace's Tigers went 10-0 last year for their first unbeaten season since 1964. Ivy teams opening on the road are Penn at No. 20 Delaware (2-1), Dartmouth at Jacksonville (1-1), Brown at Bryant (0-3), Columbia at Saint Francis (2-1), Cornell at Marist (1-1) and Harvard at San Diego (0-2). James Perry will make his Brown head coaching debut against the Bryant program he guided the last two seasons.
MEAC -- The first conference game of the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football season kicks off in Dover, Del., this weekend – as do five other non-conference contests.
Howard faces Delaware State on Saturday. This will be the first game of the conference schedule, as well as Delaware State's Homecoming. The Hornets had 47 carries for 245 yards and three scores, with nine different players carrying the ball in a 58-12 win over Lincoln (Pa.) last week. Freshman quarterback Tylik Bethea was named MEAC Rookie of the Week after throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. The two teams have split the last eight meetings, with Howard winning the last three.
One other key non-conference matchup involves Norfolk State and nationally ranked Montana State. Coming off a frustrating 46-7 loss to Coastal Carolina, the Spartans look to regroup against Montana State, which is ranked eighth in the country. This will be the first meeting between the two schools. Linebacker Nigel Chavis had 11 tackles and a forced fumble to pace the Spartans in the loss.
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. Below is a list of MVFC wins against FBS programs in the past nine seasons. The Conference has 46 FBS wins in its history. There are nine MVFC-FBS games on the schedule this year, including the final one this week (Southern Illinois at Arkansas State). The league is 1-7 against FBS programs so far this season. Only one MVFC school (Indiana State in 1987) has recorded two FBS wins in the same season.
Two-time defending national champ North Dakota State headlines a list of seven MVFC teams receiving votes in the polls this week. In the Massey Ratings, the MVFC and Big Sky each has 5 teams in the Top 20, followed by CAA Football (4) and the Ivy League (3), which has yet to play a game. Among conferences, the MVFC is the top-rated league in the FCS (Sagarin), and three MVFC schools are in the Top 5.
North Dakota State extended its current winning streak to an FCS-best 24 games after beating Delaware on Sept. 14. The Bison set a league and FCS record with a 33-game win streak from 2012-14.
North Dakota State (2nd/316.3 ypg) and Youngstown State (3rd/309.3 ypg) rank among the national leaders in rushing yards per game. National leader Kennesaw State averages 388.7 yards per game and visits MVFC member Missouri State this weekend.
NORTHEAST -- Sacred Heart and LIU will officially kick off the NEC schedule by battling in Brookville Saturday. SHU enters off back-to-back wins over Patriot League members while LIU has played only once during the season's first three weeks. The NEC lid-lifter will be available for live viewing at NECFrontRow.com and the NEC On The Run app.
SHU quarterback Logan Marchi, who accounted for the NEC's first 300-yard passing performance this season during a Week 2 win, eclipsed the 400-yard mark at Lafayette. The Temple transfer has logged 723 pass yards and nine touchdowns the past two weeks.
Robert Morris senior Matthew Gonzalez went for 124 receiving yards against Dayton – the most by a NEC tight end thus far this season.
Central Connecticut, which faces a FBS program for the third straight year, puts its 3-0 record on the line at MAC member Eastern Michigan. CCSU averages a FCS-leading 7.4 yards per rush attempt.
Wagner, which dropped a 24-21 decision at UConn in Week 1, faces its second FBS opponent, traveling to Florida Atlantic. Saint Francis (Columbia) and Bryant (Brown) both host Ivy League members. Duquesne, which has won the last three meetings in the annual rivalry series, visit PFL member Dayton.
OHIO VALLEY -- Trailing 28-7 after one quarter, Jacksonville State outscored No. 4 ranked Eastern Washington 42-17 the rest of the way to win 49-45. It marked the highest ranked opponent JSU has beaten since 2002 (No. 2 Northwestern State) and was the biggest comeback for the team since 2010 when they came from 21 down to beat FBS foe Ole Miss. With the win Jacksonville State jumped back to No. 10 in the STATS Top 25 poll, marking the 72nd time in the past 77 weeks the team has been ranked in the Top 10.
In a 45-0 loss to Toledo on September 14, Murray State failed to score for the first time in 156 games dating back to a loss at Illinois State on September 24, 2005. The 156-game scoring streak was the ninth-longest in FCS history.
Tennessee Tech is off to a 2-1 start, its best start to a season since 2013. The two wins match the team's win total for the past two years combined.
Austin Peay junior DB Kordell Jackson became the first player in school history (and first OVC player since 2017) to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game in his team's 48-34 win at Mercer. The win was the Governors first non-conference road win over a scholarship program since 2007.
Player: QB Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State | Defense: DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay | Specialist: RS/WR Chris Rowland, Tennessee State | Newcomer: RS/WR Metrius Fleming, Tennessee Tech
PATRIOT -- Lafayette freshman quarterback Keegan Shoemaker received the STATS FCS National Rookie of the Week accolades following his record-breaking performance in the Leopards' loss vs. Sacred Heart on Saturday. Shoemaker, who was also named the Patriot League Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, became the first quarterback in League history to throw for more than 400 yards and rush for more than 100 yards in a single game. His 545 yards of total offense also broke a single-game Lafayette program record.
Colgate senior DL Nick Wheeler leads the FCS in total sacks (25.5) and sacks per game (0.77) while Fordham junior LB Glenn Cunningham is the FCS active leader in tackles for loss per game (1.40). Lehigh senior LB Keith Woetzel leads the classification in solo tackles per game (5.80). Bucknell fifth-year punter Alex Pechin's career punting average of 44.3 yards per punt leads the nation.
The Hoyas have scored 112 points over its past two games, defeating Marist, 43-3, and Catholic, 69-0. The two-game stretch is Georgetown's most explosive output since scoring 114 points in two games in 1921 when they defeated Ursinus, 48-6 and Westminster, 66-0. .
PIONEER -- Davidson LB George Hatalowich was named to the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Sept. 12. As the founder and current president of Davidson Football Uplifting Athletes, George has been responsible for raising more than $25,000 to benefit the rare disease community. George has also taken the Davidson Chapter a step further to engage with local patients, families and caregivers through the Uplifting Athletes Bowling event, which allows the families the opportunity to bowl alongside the football team.
Four games against Ivy League members highlight the Week 4 PFL schedule, with three of those contests at PFL home fields. Jacksonville hosts Dartmouth, Marist hosts Cornell and San Diego hosts Harvard while Butler travels to Princeton
PFL teams are now 8-4 at home after posting a 2-2 record in Week 3. Five PFL teams are at home this weekend with Dayton and Jacksonville playing their home openers this week
PFL teams enter Week 4 with a 3-8 record in road games as Dayton (2-0 on the road) won at Robert Morris while Jacksonville won at Presbyterian in Week 3. Davidson will play its first road game in Week 4 while Butler will play its first true road game (opened at Target Field against No. 1 North Dakota State).
SOUTHERN -- Seven games adorn the Southern Conference schedule this Saturday, with Mercer visiting No. 15/17 Furman in the lone league contest and six schools hosting non-conference tilts.
The Citadel downed Georgia Tech on Sept. 14, 27-24 in overtime, for its first win over an FBS team since 2015 and its ninth overall. Senior kicker Jacob Godek nailed the winning 37-yard field goal in OT, while quarterback Brandon Rainey ran for 70 yards and a score and threw a 30-yard TD pass in three quarters of work. With the win, the Bulldogs moved into the STATS FCS poll at No. 25 this week.
In a game that endured two weather delays and ended after 1 a.m., VMI outlasted defending SoCon tri-champion ETSU in overtime, 31-24. Reece Udinski hit Javeon Lara for a 21-yard touchdown in the first overtime and the Keydets got the stop they needed on fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line on the Bucs' ensuing possession to collect their first win in league play since 2016. VMI running back Alex Ramsey ran for 57 yards and a pair of touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 56 yards.
Samford picked up a big road win of its own, downing No. 22/21 Wofford, 21-14. The win was the Bulldogs' fifth straight over Wofford and snapped the Terriers' 18-game winning streak in home openers dating back to 2000.
SOUTHLAND -- In the fourth quarters of the UCA's three wins, the Bears have scored 57 of their 90 points, and sophomore wide receiver Lujuan Winningham has nine catches for 287 yards and five touchdowns.
Houston Baptist leads all FCS institutions in first downs (84), scoring offense (48.3), sacks per game (4.67) and total offense (544.3). Huskies' defensive end Andre Walker tallied a school-record four sacks in a win over South Dakota and paces the country in sacks per game (2.5) and tackles for loss per game (3.2).
HBU's Gamar Girdy Brito was named the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week after returning seven kickoffs for 249 yards, including a 76-yard return. He also caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Zappe, Walker and freshman safety Tra Fuellen (14 tackles, one interception) earned honorable mention national weekly honors from STATS, marking the first time a school has had a selection for all four awards.
SWAC -- Alabama A&M's Jordan Bentley and Armoni Holloway, along with Jackson State's Josh Littles and Tyson Alexander were all named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Football Players of the Week in week three of the season. Bentley accounted for 161 yards and three touchdowns as Alabama A&M overcame an 18-point halftime deficit to top North Alabama 31-24 in Florence -- AAMU's first win against UNA since 1988. The senior running back from Guntersville, Ala. rushed for 126 yards on 26 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, scoring on runs of three and six yards. Also caught three passes for 37 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown reception. All three of Bentley's touchdowns came in the second half.
The Celebration Bowl, in its fifth year, will be televised live on ABC for the fifth consecutive year, kicking off at noon ET, on Saturday, Dec. 21, from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Celebration Bowl, which showcases the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), features the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The MEAC leads the series 3-1 with all three wins coming from North Carolina A&T, who held off Alcorn State to win the 2018 Celebration Bowl 24-22.
The Tennessee Titans retired Steve McNair's No. 9 jersey when the team hosted the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 15. The Titans — then the Houston Oilers — drafted McNair out of Alcorn State with the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was named the league's co-MVP (with Peyton Manning) in 2003, earned three Pro Bowl nods (2000, 2003, 2005), and in 1999 led the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance. McNair spent the last two seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. In his 13-year NFL career, McNair threw for 31,304 yards and 174 touchdowns while completing 60.1 percent of his passes in his career. He played in 161 games. A four-year letterwinner at Alcorn, McNair became the school's all-time career passing leader (14,496), all-time career completions leader (958), and all-time career passing touchdowns leader (119).