ursus arctos horribilis
October 24th, 2019, 01:50 PM
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.
* College GameDay will be headed to Brookings, SD, for the Dakota Marker game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State this Saturday. It marks the ninth time the iconic ESPN show has traveled to an FCS site -- the third time it has visited an MVFC school.
It marks the third time the featured site/game will involve two ranked FCS schools, but it's the first time both FCS schools are ranked in the Top 10 in the polls.
Nov. 16, 2002: Harvard at Penn
Nov. 26, 2005: Southern vs. Grambling State
Nov. 15, 2008: Hampton at Florida A&M
Sept. 21, 2013: Delaware State at #1 NDSU
Sept. 13, 2014: Incarnate Word at #1 NDSU
Nov. 22, 2014: Yale at #14 Harvard
Oct. 24, 2015: #11 Richmond at #4 James Madison
Oct. 14, 2017: #11 Villanova at #1 James Madison
Oct. 26, 2019: #1 NDSU at #3 SDSU
* The D.C. Defenders (XFL) selected James Madison WR Rashard Davis as the first overall pick in the XFL Draft in mid-October. Davis was undrafted in 2017 but had a spot on the practice squad with the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl season. A total of 85 players were drafted from FCS programs. The season begins Saturday, Feb. 9, 2020.
* 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.
#FearTheFCS -- There have been three FCS wins at FBS sites this year:
The Citadel 27, at Georgia Tech 24 (ot) | Central Arkansas 35, at Western Kentucky 28 | Southern Illinois 45, at UMass 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.
* This week, all 25 ranked teams are in action, and there are four games on the schedule that feature two ranked FCS teams:
#1/1 North Dakota State at #3/3 South Dakota State, 2 pm CT [ESPN+ / Midco Sports Network / NBC ND]
#16/17 Towson at #2/2 James Madison, 3:30 pm ET [MASN2 / SNY]
#21/25 Sam Houston State at #12/10 Central Arkansas, 6:00 pm CT [ESPN+]
#4/5 Weber State at #22/22 UC Davis, 4:00 pm PT [Eleven/Pluto TV Ch. 545]
* North Dakota State has extended its winning streak to 28 games, the second-longest in FCS history. NDSU holds the FCS record with a 33-game winning streak (2012-14). NDSU travels to South Dakota State on Saturday. SDSU was the last team to beat the Bison.
* Sacramento State's Kevin Thomson, Lehigh's Keith Woetzel, Merrimack's Corey Resendes and Chattanooga's Ailym Ford were named Monday as the STATS FCS National Players of the Week
* The STATS FCS Team of the Week was Sam Houston State, which shut out Nicholls last week. HONORABLE MENTION: Merrimack (30-21 win over Delaware State); No. 15 Sacramento State (49-22 win over No. 5 Montana); Southeast Missouri (24-21 win over No. 16 Jacksonville State); Tennessee State (26-24 win over No. 20 Austin Peay); The Citadel (27-10 win over No. 8 Furman).
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 -- Through seven games, UND has only played three halves this season decided by one possession (14-14 1st half vs. Sam Houston, 13-9 (UND) 2nd half vs. Sam Houston, and 13-7 (UND) 2nd half at Eastern Washington). The other 11 halves of football have been separated by multiple scores, including a trio by 20-or-more. UND hosts #9 Montana State this weekend.
BIG SKY -- The buzz in the Big Sky is getting louder with five teams in the Top 25 to lead all FCS conferences, in addition to five teams with five wins. Weber State and Sacramento State are the two lone teams left with an undefeated conference record. Four more teams have one loss, as there's plenty of football still left to play.
Weber State's Josh Davis ran the length of the football field three times and then some, as he collected 328 yards on the ground - the most in a single game in the nation this season and the fifth best in league history.
Sacramento State's Kevin Thomson was named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a pair of touchdowns and completing four touchdown passes against Montana. It's the sixth STATS national honor for a Big Sky player this season.
The Hornets defeated their third Top 25 program in as many weeks rising up the polls. The Big Sky has a total of five teams ranked this week in the STATS FCS and AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 polls. Weber State leads the way at No. 4/5, followed by Sacramento State making its first appearance in the top 10 at No. 7/8. Montana State was voted No. 9 and Montana was slotted No. 10/11. UC Davis rounded out the five teams at No. 22, while Portland State and Eastern Washington are receiving votes.
BIG SOUTH -- Three Big South wide receivers completed a pass in Week 8 -- with two being touchdown throws. Presbyterian WR KEITH PEARSON first threw a 35-yard TD pass to DOHNTE MEYERS against Kennesaw State. It was Pearson's second career touchdown pass, making him one of eight non-quarterbacks in Big South history with multiple TD strikes. Later in the day, Campbell's WR CALEB SNEAD connected on a 23-yard scoring pass to QB HAJJ-MALIK WILLIAMS against Hampton -- making Williams the first Big South QB to catch a touchdown since Monmouth's BRANDON HILL in 2014 against Columbia. The last wide receiver pass completion on Saturday was Charleston Southern's KAMERON BROWN's 32-yard pass play to fellow wideout GARRIS SCHWARTING during the Bucs' first touchdown drive at North Alabama.
Kennesaw State QB TOMMY BRYANT was responsible for five TDs in Week 8 at Presbyterian, as he threw three TD passes and rushed for another two. He is the sixth player in Big South history with 3 TD passes and 2 TD rushes in a game, but just the third to achieve it in a conference game and first in a league contest since 2010 (Liberty's MIKE BROWN vs. Charleston Southern on Oct. 9, 2010).
Campbell LB COLBY CAMPBELL is the 11th different player in Big South history to record 20 tackles in a game, as he finished the Kennesaw State contest in Week 8 with 20 stops (six solo, 14 assisted). He is the first Big South player to reach the 20-tackle threshold in a game since Monmouth's MIKE BASILE in 2017, and first in a league match-up since Monmouth's BRENDON WHARTON in 2016. Campbell is the first Blue Hose player on the Big South's 20-tackle game list.
CAA FOOTBALL -- Twelve of the 21 CAA games played this season have been decided by eight points or less, including three overtime contests. On Oct. 7, JMU edged Stony Brook, 45-38 in overtime after the Seawolves kicked a game-tying field goal with five seconds left. On Sept. 29, Stony Brook edged Rhode Island, 31-27, on Tyquell Fields' 50-yard TD run with 11 seconds to play. On Sept. 21, Villanova edged Towson, 52-45 in overtime, and New Hampshire got past Rhode Island, 27-24, on a field goal as time expired. Delaware pulled out a 36-33 triple OT win at Rhode Island on Sept. 7.
Road teams have had a lot of success in CAA play this season. Through 21 games, visiting teams have a 12-9 record.
Towson quarterback Tom Flacco and receiver Shane Leatherbury set school records in last week's 56-7 win over Bucknell. Flacco set a new TU mark by throwing six TD passes, while Leatherbury tied TU and CAA records with five TD receptions. Even more impressively, the duo set the marks while only playing in the first half.
Maine freshman QB Joe Fagnano received the Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers Association as the top weekly performer among New England's Division I football programs. Making his first collegiate start at FBS foe Liberty, Fagnano completed 25-of-37 passes for 445 yards and 5 touchdowns. The 445 passing yards were the most by a Maine QB since 2009.
IVY LEAGUE -- The Ivy League is home to 2-of-3 remaining unbeaten teams in the FCS, with Dartmouth (5-0) and Princeton (5-0) joining North Dakota State (7-0). Princeton boasts a 15-game winning streak, second only to the two-time defending national champion Bison's 28-game stretch.
The Ivy League's seven-game national television package, featuring all eight Ivy League programs, continues on Friday, Oct. 25, when Dartmouth hosts Columbia at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
The Ivy League has posted back-to-back FCS-leading .750 non-conference marks in 2017 and 2018, and teams have combined for a 16-8 (.667) non-league mark this year.
22 Ivies earned NFL roster spots entering the 2019 season, with 16 on 53-man active rosters, four on 10-man practice squads and three on reserve lists during Week 7. Nine appeared for their respective teams, led by Harvard alumnus and Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who became just the 46th player in NFL history to throw for 30,000 career passing yards.
MEAC -- Bethune-Cookman celebrates Homecoming in Week 9 with a tough test – South Carolina State coming to Daytona Beach, Fla. Elsewhere, the Aggies will hope to use their Homecoming to bounce back against Howard, while Florida A&M will hit the road to take on Morgan State. North Carolina Central will be home off its bye week, squaring off against Delaware State.
For the third time in 22 years, the Florida A&M Rattlers took down the No.1 HBCU team at Bragg Memorial Stadium with a 34-31 overtime win over North Carolina A&T State this past Sunday. Ryan Stanley continued to add to his school records, throwing for 220 yards and a pair of scores, while Xavier Smith had five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. The Rattlers have won three of the last four meetings against Morgan State, including 38-3 last season.
South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough made history with a 24-10 win over Morgan State on Saturday, winning his 129th game to become the winningest coach in Bulldogs' history. Wildcats QB Akevious Williams was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season for his performance in the Wildcats' 35-22 win over Norfolk State.
MISSOURI VALLEY -- It's No. 1 North Dakota State at No. 3 South Dakota State this Saturday. The last time two MVFC teams ranked in the Top 3 played one another was on Sept. 29, 2018 (also NDSU vs. SDSU). North Dakota State has been involved in all four games involving two MVFC teams ranked in the Top 3 playing one another, and NDSU has won the previous three games.
Three league schools are still perfect at home this season. North Dakota State (23) and South Dakota State (15) lead the FCS. Alabama's 30-game winning streak at home leads the FBS. UNI (4-0) at home this year has a current 8-game home winning streak.
Four MVFC student-athletes rank among the top 10 in the FCS in sacks per game this year. Elerson Smith of UNI leads the MVFC and ranks 3rd nationally with 1.21 per game. Derrek Tuszka of North Dakota State (7th at 1.08 per game); Justus Reed of Youngstown State (8th at 1.07 per game) and Romeo McKnight of Illinois State (10th at 1.00) also represent the league in the Top 10. Illinois State ranks 2nd as a team (4.71 per game), Southern Illinois is 7th (3.57) and South Dakota State ranks 8th (3.29).
NORTHEAST -- Robert Morris, which has won two straight conference games for the first time since 2013, will entertain Bryant in the #NECFB Game of the Week on ESPN3 at 12:00 pm ET Saturday.
After missing two games due to injury, Duquesne's Preseason All-American AJ Hines has hit the 140-yard rushing mark in back-to-back NEC games. Hines will go up against a Wagner defense that has held NEC opponents to 2.0 yards per carry. The game, which will kick off 1:00 pm ET Saturday at Rooney Field, can be seen at NECFrontRow.com
After picking up its sixth D-I win, Central Connecticut moved up two spots to No. 23 in the STATS Top 25 and cracked the Coaches Poll at No. 24. CSSU is the first NEC team to simultaneously occupy spots in both polls since Duquesne achieved the feat at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
CCSU QB Aaron Winchester, who ranks fifth overall amongst FCS leaders in passer efficiency rating (168.9), became the first athlete this decade to win three consecutive NEC Offensive Player of the Week awards.
Saint Francis, which hosts Sacred Heart Saturday at NECFrontRow.com, ranks first amongst FCS team leaders in pass defense efficiency (98.74) and second in third-down defense (24.0).
OHIO VALLEY -- Southeast Missouri ended Jacksonville State's 32-game regular season home winning streak with a 24-21 win last Saturday. It marked the second-straight season the Redhawks had topped the Gamecocks and was SEMO's first win in Jacksonville since 1964. It was the sixth win over a nationally-ranked opponent for Southeast under sixth-year head coach Tom Matukewicz; that is the most by any coach in school history.
Tennessee State sophomore kicker Antonio Zita was 4-of-4 in field goal attempts in the Tigers win over No. 19 Austin Peay, the team's first win over a ranked opponent since 2013. The four field goals were tied for second-most in school history and tied for the most by a FCS player in a game this season. Zita's 17 made field goals this year is the most of any player at any level of NCAA football in 2019. Only a sophomore, Zita has 29 career field goals, which is third in TSU history.
UT Martin is now the lone undefeated team in OVC action at 4-0. UTM running back Peyton Logan has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. He is the only OVC running back with a 100-yard game in either of the past two weeks.
Offense: WR Kristian Wilkerson, SEMO | Co-Defense: DB Frank Sumpter, Eastern Kentucky | Co-Defense: LB Justin Swift, SEMO | Specialist: K Antonio Zita, Tennessee State | Newcomer: DB Josh Green, Tennessee State
PATRIOT -- Lehigh freshman running back Zaythan Hill's 94-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Fordham on Oct. 19 broke the Patriot League record for the longest run from scrimmage. The previous record of 92 yards was shared by Fordham's Carlton Koonce (2012) and Lehigh's Ronald Jean (1998) and Rabih Abdullah (1994).
Lehigh senior LB Keith Woetzel was named the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week for his 15-tackle, 4.0 sacks and one-interception performance against Fordham. He is the second League player to earn national weekly accolades, joining Lafayette freshman QB Keegan Shoemaker, the Week 3 rookie of the week. Woetzel is first in the League and third among FCS players in tackles (12.0 tpg). He also leads all active FCS players in career solo tackles per game (6.18) and second in career total tackles per game (8.93).
Patriot League football had five of its seven programs finish with a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score of more than 90 percent, including Georgetown (97), Holy Cross (97), Lafayette (97) Bucknell (91) and Colgate (91). Each of the League's seven programs posted Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) scores of more than 70 percent, including Georgetown (88), Holy Cross (84), Colgate (80), Bucknell (78), Lafayette (76), Fordham (74) and Lehigh (73). Overall, the Patriot League led all conferences in the FGR.
PFL -- All 10 PFL teams will be involved in league action this weekend and will be for each of the five weeks remaining in the regular season. Co-leader Drake returns to action after its off week with a pivotal road trip to a surging Morehead State that has won back-to-back games and sits only a game behind the co-leaders. San Diego, the league's other co-leader, treks cross country for its own key test at Dayton in a matchup of perennial PFL powers that pits a 3-0 Toreros side against a 2-1 Flyers squad. Davidson and Stetson, also sitting at 2-1 in league play, look to follow up big Week 8 wins while avoiding potential traps as the Wildcats host Marist while the Hatters travel to Valparaiso. Meanwhile, Jacksonville travels to Butler with both squads seeking their first PFL win.
There are few things that can challenge the longevity of Dayton's scoring streak, which stands at 482 games entering this weekend. However, Rick Chamberlin's tenure as a Flyer surpasses even that streak. When he takes up his position on the sideline against San Diego this weekend it will be his 500th appearance as a Flyer: 45 as a player (1975-78); 326 as an assistant coach (1979-2007); 129 as a head coach (2008-now).
With its win against Valparaiso in Week 8, San Diego's extended its PFL win streak to 32 games. It is the third longest conference win streak in FCS history. It trails a 39-game win streak by Duquesne in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Association (1999-06) and a 36-game win streak by Jacksonville State of the Ohio Valley Conference (2013-18).
SOUTHERN -- The Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week features league-leading Chattanooga visiting preseason SoCon favorite Wofford in a showdown crucial to both teams' title hopes. The Mocs sit alone atop the league standings at 3-0 after posting a 16-13 win over ETSU on Thursday, Oct. 17. Freshman running back Ailym Ford ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns, falling two yards shy of the school freshman rushing record. For his efforts, Ford was named the STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week.
Wofford won its fourth straight game Saturday, Oct. 19, downing Western Carolina 59-7 to move to 3-1 in SoCon play, just a half a game behind the Mocs in the standings. Terrier quarterback Joe Newman accounted for four touchdowns against the Catamounts, running and throwing for two each. Newman, Irvin Mulligan and Jacquez Allen all ran for more than 100 yards, while D'mauriae VanCleave caught four passes for 112 yards and a TD and returned a punt 87 yards for a score.
The Citadel handed then-No. 8 Furman its first league loss of the season over the weekend, picking up a 27-10 decision to knock the Paladins to 3-1 in SoCon play and into a tie for second with Wofford in the standings. The Bulldogs showcased a suffocating defense in the win, holding the Paladins to just 216 yards of total offense, a season low.
Furman will play its 500th SoCon game in program history when it visits Western Carolina on Saturday. The Paladins are 274-214-11 all-time and trail just VMI (519) and The Citadel (516) in number of SoCon games played.
SOUTHLAND -- Abilene Christian running back Tracy James has the second-most touchdowns in all of FCS (16) after recording the first three-score performance of his career in an overtime win over Stephen F. Austin.
No. 25 UIW's 35-17 win over Lamar marked the first for the Cardinals as a ranked team in program history.
Sam Houston State's defense paces the nation in third-down conversion percentage (.234), fumbles recovered (13) and tackles for loss per game (11.6).
UIW's Jaylon Jimmerson, Lamar's Michael Lawson and Central Arkansas' Robert Rochell are all tied for third in the nation with four interceptions each. Led by Jimmerson, UIW leads all FCS squads in interceptions (15), turnover margin per game (+1.86) and turnovers gained (23).
SWAC -- Saturday marks a championship rematch where the Alcorn Braves defeated the Southern Jaguars 37-28 at Spinks-Casem Stadium in 2018. It was Alcorn's 16th conference championship, and the third in the last five years. Alcorn is 8-1 against Southern head coach Dawson Odums. It includes wins in the 2014 & 2018 SWAC Championships. The Braves are 38-27-2 all-time against the Jaguars The Braves have won six straight games against SWAC West Division opponents.
Arkansas Pine Bluff ends a four-game homestand with a Saturday game contest against SWAC West foe Grambling State. Both teams have won two games in a row and are coming off of bye weeks. UAPB's 5-2 start matches the best start since the 2012 season. UAPB has now surpassed the win totals from each of the previous six years (4 wins in 2014; 2 wins in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018; 1 win in 2016).
Southern's Glendon McDaniel, along with Jackson State's Keonte Hampton, Adrian Salazar, and Kymani Clarke were all named SWAC Football Players of the Week. McDaniel threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns during Southern's 28-21 win over Texas Southern in the State Fair Showdown in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday.
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.
* College GameDay will be headed to Brookings, SD, for the Dakota Marker game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State this Saturday. It marks the ninth time the iconic ESPN show has traveled to an FCS site -- the third time it has visited an MVFC school.
It marks the third time the featured site/game will involve two ranked FCS schools, but it's the first time both FCS schools are ranked in the Top 10 in the polls.
Nov. 16, 2002: Harvard at Penn
Nov. 26, 2005: Southern vs. Grambling State
Nov. 15, 2008: Hampton at Florida A&M
Sept. 21, 2013: Delaware State at #1 NDSU
Sept. 13, 2014: Incarnate Word at #1 NDSU
Nov. 22, 2014: Yale at #14 Harvard
Oct. 24, 2015: #11 Richmond at #4 James Madison
Oct. 14, 2017: #11 Villanova at #1 James Madison
Oct. 26, 2019: #1 NDSU at #3 SDSU
* The D.C. Defenders (XFL) selected James Madison WR Rashard Davis as the first overall pick in the XFL Draft in mid-October. Davis was undrafted in 2017 but had a spot on the practice squad with the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl season. A total of 85 players were drafted from FCS programs. The season begins Saturday, Feb. 9, 2020.
* 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.
#FearTheFCS -- There have been three FCS wins at FBS sites this year:
The Citadel 27, at Georgia Tech 24 (ot) | Central Arkansas 35, at Western Kentucky 28 | Southern Illinois 45, at UMass 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.
* This week, all 25 ranked teams are in action, and there are four games on the schedule that feature two ranked FCS teams:
#1/1 North Dakota State at #3/3 South Dakota State, 2 pm CT [ESPN+ / Midco Sports Network / NBC ND]
#16/17 Towson at #2/2 James Madison, 3:30 pm ET [MASN2 / SNY]
#21/25 Sam Houston State at #12/10 Central Arkansas, 6:00 pm CT [ESPN+]
#4/5 Weber State at #22/22 UC Davis, 4:00 pm PT [Eleven/Pluto TV Ch. 545]
* North Dakota State has extended its winning streak to 28 games, the second-longest in FCS history. NDSU holds the FCS record with a 33-game winning streak (2012-14). NDSU travels to South Dakota State on Saturday. SDSU was the last team to beat the Bison.
* Sacramento State's Kevin Thomson, Lehigh's Keith Woetzel, Merrimack's Corey Resendes and Chattanooga's Ailym Ford were named Monday as the STATS FCS National Players of the Week
* The STATS FCS Team of the Week was Sam Houston State, which shut out Nicholls last week. HONORABLE MENTION: Merrimack (30-21 win over Delaware State); No. 15 Sacramento State (49-22 win over No. 5 Montana); Southeast Missouri (24-21 win over No. 16 Jacksonville State); Tennessee State (26-24 win over No. 20 Austin Peay); The Citadel (27-10 win over No. 8 Furman).
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 -- Through seven games, UND has only played three halves this season decided by one possession (14-14 1st half vs. Sam Houston, 13-9 (UND) 2nd half vs. Sam Houston, and 13-7 (UND) 2nd half at Eastern Washington). The other 11 halves of football have been separated by multiple scores, including a trio by 20-or-more. UND hosts #9 Montana State this weekend.
BIG SKY -- The buzz in the Big Sky is getting louder with five teams in the Top 25 to lead all FCS conferences, in addition to five teams with five wins. Weber State and Sacramento State are the two lone teams left with an undefeated conference record. Four more teams have one loss, as there's plenty of football still left to play.
Weber State's Josh Davis ran the length of the football field three times and then some, as he collected 328 yards on the ground - the most in a single game in the nation this season and the fifth best in league history.
Sacramento State's Kevin Thomson was named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a pair of touchdowns and completing four touchdown passes against Montana. It's the sixth STATS national honor for a Big Sky player this season.
The Hornets defeated their third Top 25 program in as many weeks rising up the polls. The Big Sky has a total of five teams ranked this week in the STATS FCS and AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 polls. Weber State leads the way at No. 4/5, followed by Sacramento State making its first appearance in the top 10 at No. 7/8. Montana State was voted No. 9 and Montana was slotted No. 10/11. UC Davis rounded out the five teams at No. 22, while Portland State and Eastern Washington are receiving votes.
BIG SOUTH -- Three Big South wide receivers completed a pass in Week 8 -- with two being touchdown throws. Presbyterian WR KEITH PEARSON first threw a 35-yard TD pass to DOHNTE MEYERS against Kennesaw State. It was Pearson's second career touchdown pass, making him one of eight non-quarterbacks in Big South history with multiple TD strikes. Later in the day, Campbell's WR CALEB SNEAD connected on a 23-yard scoring pass to QB HAJJ-MALIK WILLIAMS against Hampton -- making Williams the first Big South QB to catch a touchdown since Monmouth's BRANDON HILL in 2014 against Columbia. The last wide receiver pass completion on Saturday was Charleston Southern's KAMERON BROWN's 32-yard pass play to fellow wideout GARRIS SCHWARTING during the Bucs' first touchdown drive at North Alabama.
Kennesaw State QB TOMMY BRYANT was responsible for five TDs in Week 8 at Presbyterian, as he threw three TD passes and rushed for another two. He is the sixth player in Big South history with 3 TD passes and 2 TD rushes in a game, but just the third to achieve it in a conference game and first in a league contest since 2010 (Liberty's MIKE BROWN vs. Charleston Southern on Oct. 9, 2010).
Campbell LB COLBY CAMPBELL is the 11th different player in Big South history to record 20 tackles in a game, as he finished the Kennesaw State contest in Week 8 with 20 stops (six solo, 14 assisted). He is the first Big South player to reach the 20-tackle threshold in a game since Monmouth's MIKE BASILE in 2017, and first in a league match-up since Monmouth's BRENDON WHARTON in 2016. Campbell is the first Blue Hose player on the Big South's 20-tackle game list.
CAA FOOTBALL -- Twelve of the 21 CAA games played this season have been decided by eight points or less, including three overtime contests. On Oct. 7, JMU edged Stony Brook, 45-38 in overtime after the Seawolves kicked a game-tying field goal with five seconds left. On Sept. 29, Stony Brook edged Rhode Island, 31-27, on Tyquell Fields' 50-yard TD run with 11 seconds to play. On Sept. 21, Villanova edged Towson, 52-45 in overtime, and New Hampshire got past Rhode Island, 27-24, on a field goal as time expired. Delaware pulled out a 36-33 triple OT win at Rhode Island on Sept. 7.
Road teams have had a lot of success in CAA play this season. Through 21 games, visiting teams have a 12-9 record.
Towson quarterback Tom Flacco and receiver Shane Leatherbury set school records in last week's 56-7 win over Bucknell. Flacco set a new TU mark by throwing six TD passes, while Leatherbury tied TU and CAA records with five TD receptions. Even more impressively, the duo set the marks while only playing in the first half.
Maine freshman QB Joe Fagnano received the Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers Association as the top weekly performer among New England's Division I football programs. Making his first collegiate start at FBS foe Liberty, Fagnano completed 25-of-37 passes for 445 yards and 5 touchdowns. The 445 passing yards were the most by a Maine QB since 2009.
IVY LEAGUE -- The Ivy League is home to 2-of-3 remaining unbeaten teams in the FCS, with Dartmouth (5-0) and Princeton (5-0) joining North Dakota State (7-0). Princeton boasts a 15-game winning streak, second only to the two-time defending national champion Bison's 28-game stretch.
The Ivy League's seven-game national television package, featuring all eight Ivy League programs, continues on Friday, Oct. 25, when Dartmouth hosts Columbia at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
The Ivy League has posted back-to-back FCS-leading .750 non-conference marks in 2017 and 2018, and teams have combined for a 16-8 (.667) non-league mark this year.
22 Ivies earned NFL roster spots entering the 2019 season, with 16 on 53-man active rosters, four on 10-man practice squads and three on reserve lists during Week 7. Nine appeared for their respective teams, led by Harvard alumnus and Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who became just the 46th player in NFL history to throw for 30,000 career passing yards.
MEAC -- Bethune-Cookman celebrates Homecoming in Week 9 with a tough test – South Carolina State coming to Daytona Beach, Fla. Elsewhere, the Aggies will hope to use their Homecoming to bounce back against Howard, while Florida A&M will hit the road to take on Morgan State. North Carolina Central will be home off its bye week, squaring off against Delaware State.
For the third time in 22 years, the Florida A&M Rattlers took down the No.1 HBCU team at Bragg Memorial Stadium with a 34-31 overtime win over North Carolina A&T State this past Sunday. Ryan Stanley continued to add to his school records, throwing for 220 yards and a pair of scores, while Xavier Smith had five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. The Rattlers have won three of the last four meetings against Morgan State, including 38-3 last season.
South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough made history with a 24-10 win over Morgan State on Saturday, winning his 129th game to become the winningest coach in Bulldogs' history. Wildcats QB Akevious Williams was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season for his performance in the Wildcats' 35-22 win over Norfolk State.
MISSOURI VALLEY -- It's No. 1 North Dakota State at No. 3 South Dakota State this Saturday. The last time two MVFC teams ranked in the Top 3 played one another was on Sept. 29, 2018 (also NDSU vs. SDSU). North Dakota State has been involved in all four games involving two MVFC teams ranked in the Top 3 playing one another, and NDSU has won the previous three games.
Three league schools are still perfect at home this season. North Dakota State (23) and South Dakota State (15) lead the FCS. Alabama's 30-game winning streak at home leads the FBS. UNI (4-0) at home this year has a current 8-game home winning streak.
Four MVFC student-athletes rank among the top 10 in the FCS in sacks per game this year. Elerson Smith of UNI leads the MVFC and ranks 3rd nationally with 1.21 per game. Derrek Tuszka of North Dakota State (7th at 1.08 per game); Justus Reed of Youngstown State (8th at 1.07 per game) and Romeo McKnight of Illinois State (10th at 1.00) also represent the league in the Top 10. Illinois State ranks 2nd as a team (4.71 per game), Southern Illinois is 7th (3.57) and South Dakota State ranks 8th (3.29).
NORTHEAST -- Robert Morris, which has won two straight conference games for the first time since 2013, will entertain Bryant in the #NECFB Game of the Week on ESPN3 at 12:00 pm ET Saturday.
After missing two games due to injury, Duquesne's Preseason All-American AJ Hines has hit the 140-yard rushing mark in back-to-back NEC games. Hines will go up against a Wagner defense that has held NEC opponents to 2.0 yards per carry. The game, which will kick off 1:00 pm ET Saturday at Rooney Field, can be seen at NECFrontRow.com
After picking up its sixth D-I win, Central Connecticut moved up two spots to No. 23 in the STATS Top 25 and cracked the Coaches Poll at No. 24. CSSU is the first NEC team to simultaneously occupy spots in both polls since Duquesne achieved the feat at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
CCSU QB Aaron Winchester, who ranks fifth overall amongst FCS leaders in passer efficiency rating (168.9), became the first athlete this decade to win three consecutive NEC Offensive Player of the Week awards.
Saint Francis, which hosts Sacred Heart Saturday at NECFrontRow.com, ranks first amongst FCS team leaders in pass defense efficiency (98.74) and second in third-down defense (24.0).
OHIO VALLEY -- Southeast Missouri ended Jacksonville State's 32-game regular season home winning streak with a 24-21 win last Saturday. It marked the second-straight season the Redhawks had topped the Gamecocks and was SEMO's first win in Jacksonville since 1964. It was the sixth win over a nationally-ranked opponent for Southeast under sixth-year head coach Tom Matukewicz; that is the most by any coach in school history.
Tennessee State sophomore kicker Antonio Zita was 4-of-4 in field goal attempts in the Tigers win over No. 19 Austin Peay, the team's first win over a ranked opponent since 2013. The four field goals were tied for second-most in school history and tied for the most by a FCS player in a game this season. Zita's 17 made field goals this year is the most of any player at any level of NCAA football in 2019. Only a sophomore, Zita has 29 career field goals, which is third in TSU history.
UT Martin is now the lone undefeated team in OVC action at 4-0. UTM running back Peyton Logan has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. He is the only OVC running back with a 100-yard game in either of the past two weeks.
Offense: WR Kristian Wilkerson, SEMO | Co-Defense: DB Frank Sumpter, Eastern Kentucky | Co-Defense: LB Justin Swift, SEMO | Specialist: K Antonio Zita, Tennessee State | Newcomer: DB Josh Green, Tennessee State
PATRIOT -- Lehigh freshman running back Zaythan Hill's 94-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Fordham on Oct. 19 broke the Patriot League record for the longest run from scrimmage. The previous record of 92 yards was shared by Fordham's Carlton Koonce (2012) and Lehigh's Ronald Jean (1998) and Rabih Abdullah (1994).
Lehigh senior LB Keith Woetzel was named the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week for his 15-tackle, 4.0 sacks and one-interception performance against Fordham. He is the second League player to earn national weekly accolades, joining Lafayette freshman QB Keegan Shoemaker, the Week 3 rookie of the week. Woetzel is first in the League and third among FCS players in tackles (12.0 tpg). He also leads all active FCS players in career solo tackles per game (6.18) and second in career total tackles per game (8.93).
Patriot League football had five of its seven programs finish with a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score of more than 90 percent, including Georgetown (97), Holy Cross (97), Lafayette (97) Bucknell (91) and Colgate (91). Each of the League's seven programs posted Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) scores of more than 70 percent, including Georgetown (88), Holy Cross (84), Colgate (80), Bucknell (78), Lafayette (76), Fordham (74) and Lehigh (73). Overall, the Patriot League led all conferences in the FGR.
PFL -- All 10 PFL teams will be involved in league action this weekend and will be for each of the five weeks remaining in the regular season. Co-leader Drake returns to action after its off week with a pivotal road trip to a surging Morehead State that has won back-to-back games and sits only a game behind the co-leaders. San Diego, the league's other co-leader, treks cross country for its own key test at Dayton in a matchup of perennial PFL powers that pits a 3-0 Toreros side against a 2-1 Flyers squad. Davidson and Stetson, also sitting at 2-1 in league play, look to follow up big Week 8 wins while avoiding potential traps as the Wildcats host Marist while the Hatters travel to Valparaiso. Meanwhile, Jacksonville travels to Butler with both squads seeking their first PFL win.
There are few things that can challenge the longevity of Dayton's scoring streak, which stands at 482 games entering this weekend. However, Rick Chamberlin's tenure as a Flyer surpasses even that streak. When he takes up his position on the sideline against San Diego this weekend it will be his 500th appearance as a Flyer: 45 as a player (1975-78); 326 as an assistant coach (1979-2007); 129 as a head coach (2008-now).
With its win against Valparaiso in Week 8, San Diego's extended its PFL win streak to 32 games. It is the third longest conference win streak in FCS history. It trails a 39-game win streak by Duquesne in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Association (1999-06) and a 36-game win streak by Jacksonville State of the Ohio Valley Conference (2013-18).
SOUTHERN -- The Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week features league-leading Chattanooga visiting preseason SoCon favorite Wofford in a showdown crucial to both teams' title hopes. The Mocs sit alone atop the league standings at 3-0 after posting a 16-13 win over ETSU on Thursday, Oct. 17. Freshman running back Ailym Ford ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns, falling two yards shy of the school freshman rushing record. For his efforts, Ford was named the STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week.
Wofford won its fourth straight game Saturday, Oct. 19, downing Western Carolina 59-7 to move to 3-1 in SoCon play, just a half a game behind the Mocs in the standings. Terrier quarterback Joe Newman accounted for four touchdowns against the Catamounts, running and throwing for two each. Newman, Irvin Mulligan and Jacquez Allen all ran for more than 100 yards, while D'mauriae VanCleave caught four passes for 112 yards and a TD and returned a punt 87 yards for a score.
The Citadel handed then-No. 8 Furman its first league loss of the season over the weekend, picking up a 27-10 decision to knock the Paladins to 3-1 in SoCon play and into a tie for second with Wofford in the standings. The Bulldogs showcased a suffocating defense in the win, holding the Paladins to just 216 yards of total offense, a season low.
Furman will play its 500th SoCon game in program history when it visits Western Carolina on Saturday. The Paladins are 274-214-11 all-time and trail just VMI (519) and The Citadel (516) in number of SoCon games played.
SOUTHLAND -- Abilene Christian running back Tracy James has the second-most touchdowns in all of FCS (16) after recording the first three-score performance of his career in an overtime win over Stephen F. Austin.
No. 25 UIW's 35-17 win over Lamar marked the first for the Cardinals as a ranked team in program history.
Sam Houston State's defense paces the nation in third-down conversion percentage (.234), fumbles recovered (13) and tackles for loss per game (11.6).
UIW's Jaylon Jimmerson, Lamar's Michael Lawson and Central Arkansas' Robert Rochell are all tied for third in the nation with four interceptions each. Led by Jimmerson, UIW leads all FCS squads in interceptions (15), turnover margin per game (+1.86) and turnovers gained (23).
SWAC -- Saturday marks a championship rematch where the Alcorn Braves defeated the Southern Jaguars 37-28 at Spinks-Casem Stadium in 2018. It was Alcorn's 16th conference championship, and the third in the last five years. Alcorn is 8-1 against Southern head coach Dawson Odums. It includes wins in the 2014 & 2018 SWAC Championships. The Braves are 38-27-2 all-time against the Jaguars The Braves have won six straight games against SWAC West Division opponents.
Arkansas Pine Bluff ends a four-game homestand with a Saturday game contest against SWAC West foe Grambling State. Both teams have won two games in a row and are coming off of bye weeks. UAPB's 5-2 start matches the best start since the 2012 season. UAPB has now surpassed the win totals from each of the previous six years (4 wins in 2014; 2 wins in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018; 1 win in 2016).
Southern's Glendon McDaniel, along with Jackson State's Keonte Hampton, Adrian Salazar, and Kymani Clarke were all named SWAC Football Players of the Week. McDaniel threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns during Southern's 28-21 win over Texas Southern in the State Fair Showdown in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday.