ursus arctos horribilis
October 31st, 2019, 01:19 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.
* The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame has announced the finalists for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, which annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The Big Sky has two of the 12 finalists in Eastern Washington's Spencer Blackburn and Montana's Dante Olson. Cornell safety Jelani Taylor also represents the FCS among the 12 finalists.
* 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.
* The Division I Football Championship Committee will announce a top-10 ranking, Wednesday, November 6, during halftime of the 8 p.m. (ET) Miami (OH) vs. Ohio game on ESPN2. For the fourth straight year, the sport committee will reveal the rankings ahead of Selection Sunday. In addition to building excitement around the FCS playoffs, the reveal may have some bearing on the final bracket that will be publicized during the selection show on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU.
* This week, 23 of 25 ranked teams are in action, and there are two games on the schedule that feature two ranked FCS teams. James Madison and North Dakota are idle this week.
#9/10 UNI (5-3) at #7/7 Illinois State (6-2), 12 p.m. CT [NBCSCH / ESPN+]
#3/3 Weber State (6-2) at #6/6 Sacramento State (6-2), 8 pm CT [Pluto TV Ch. 533/CW31]
* North Dakota State has extended its winning streak to 29 games, the second-longest in FCS history. NDSU holds the FCS record with a 33-game winning streak (2012-14). NDSU travels to Youngstown State (6 pm ET on Nov. 2 / ESPN+). Princeton's winning streak has reached 16 games. Princeton takes on Cornell on Friday (6 pm ET on Nov. 1 / ESPNU). Meanwhile, San Diego has extended its winning streak in league games (Pioneer Football League) to 33 games. USD hosts Drake on Saturday at 5 pm ET.
* Three FCS teams are still unbeaten: North Dakota State (8-0); Dartmouth (6-0); Princeton (6-0). There are nine teams in the FBS who are perfect.
* Alabama A&M's Jordan Bentley, Valparaiso's Jamari Booker, Richmond's Aaron Dykes and North Carolina A&T's Jacob Roberts were named Monday as the STATS FCS National Players of the Week.
* The STATS FCS Team of the Week was Alcorn, which beat Southern 27-13 for its best win of the season. It was Homecoming Day at Spinks-Casem Stadium; the Braves retired the No. 9 of all-time great Steve McNair, coach Fred McNair's late brother; and it was a rematch of last year's Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game. HONORABLE MENTION: Campbell (49-47, 3-OT win over Gardner-Webb); Northwestern State (44-41 OT win over UIW); Robert Morris (24-20 win over Bryant); South Carolina State (27-19 win over Bethune-Cookman); Valparaiso (19-10 win over Stetson).
* All eyes will turn to the Week 10 nightcap that will go a long way to defining the 2019 PFL championship race as PFL unbeatens Drake (4-0 PFL) and San Diego (4-0) square off on the Pacific Coast. Drake last defeated San Diego in 2012 while the Toreros have not lost a PFL home game since 2010.
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. But this year's title game will be on ABC. The game had aired on ABC previously in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983.
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 -- Three ranked opponents have entered the Alerus Center this season, and for the first time in the UND's Division I history, three ranked opponents have fallen. Senior Alex Cloyd blocked a punt in the end zone that freshman Jayson Coley recovered with just 4:21 to play in the fourth quarter to help seal a 16-12 win over ninth-ranked Montana State on Saturday afternoon as UND improved to 5-3 on the season and climbed back into the Top 25.
BIG SKY -- All eyes will be pointed towards Sacramento this weekend, as No. 3 Weber State and No. 6 Sacramento State face off. The only two teams unbeaten in league play will battle it out at Hornet Stadium on Saturday. The Wildcats and Hornets are both 4-0 in league play and are ranked in the top 10 of the FCS polls. The two losses for each of the teams this season came at the hands of FBS foes.
Big Sky kickers are leading the FCS in more ways than one. Northern Arizona's Luis Aguilar holds the season-long record for a made field goal this season at 57, while Portland State's Cody Williams and Weber State's Trey Tuttle have both nailed five field goals in a game to lead the FCS.
Northern Arizona's Case Cookus is tied for second in the Big Sky in career touchdown passes with 98. Eastern Washington's Vernon Adams holds the league record at 110 set back in 2014.
The Big Sky has a total of four teams ranked this week in the STATS FCS and AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 polls. Weber State leads the way at No. 3, followed by Sacramento State making its second straight weekly appearance in the top 10 at No. 6. Montana was voted No. 8 and Montana State was slotted No. 14/15. UC Davis and Northern Arizona are both receiving votes.
BIG SOUTH -- Monmouth RB PETE GUERRIERO surpassed 3,000 career rushing yards last Saturday at Charleston Southern after rushing for a career-high 221 against the Bucs. He became just the sixth player in league history to surpass the milestone, and enters this week sixth all-time with 3,001. Guerriero has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game 16 times (out of 28 overall appearances) -- the fifth-most in the conference record book, and owns a 107.18 career rushing yards per game average. Based on that per game clip, he would finish the regular-season with 3,429 career yards, which would be fourth-most in Big South annals.
Gardner-Webb WR IZAIAH GATHINGS has tied a Big South record for most consecutive games with multiple-TD catches at three, as he has caught all six of his touchdowns this season in the last three outings. His six TD catches are the most by a GWU receiver since 2013 when KENNY COOK caught nine. Meanwhile, the Runnin' Bulldogs have thrown four TD passes in three consecutive contests – a Big South first.
Campbell QB HAJJ-MALIK WILLIAMS totaled 208 passing yards and rushed for 100 in the Camels' 49-47, triple-overtime win at Gardner-Webb last Saturday. He is the first Big South quarterback to throw more than 200 yards and rush for 100 in a conference game since GWU's TYRELL MAXWELL achieved the feat in 2016 against Kennesaw State. Williams is just the ninth different Big South quarterback in league history with a 200-pass / 100-yard single-game performance.
CAA FOOTBALL -- CAA teams have combined to return 11 kickoffs for TD's this season. Richmond's Aaron Dykes, W&M's Bronson Yoder and Maine's Earnest Edwards share the national lead with two KOR's for touchdowns, with Dykes and Edwards doing it in one game. Also returning kickoffs for TD's have been URI's Ahmere Dorsey, UAlbany's Donovan McDonald, Elon's Shamari Wingard, JMU's Devin Ravenel and Towson's D'Ago Hunter. Nine of the 11 returns have been longer than 90 yards. In this week's FCS national stats, six of the top 17 players in kickoff return average are from the CAA.
Elon defensive back Greg Liggs, Jr. leads the nation with seven interceptions, all of which came in the month of October. The senior set a school record with three pickoffs against New Hampshire on Oct. 5 and then tied the mark with three more at Rhode Island last Saturday. He also had one vs. Delaware on Oct. 12. Liggs has also set the Elon career mark for interceptions with 14.
Thirteen of the 26 CAA games played this season have been decided by eight points or less, including three overtime contests. Last Saturday, Stony Brook rallied past Villanova, 36-35, on a field goal as time expired. 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.
IVY LEAGUE -- The No. 14/15 Dartmouth Big Green put their perfect 6-0 record on the line this week at Harvard, a team that has won 20 of the last 22 meetings between the two schools. And after suffering a 30-24 loss at Princeton last week, the Crimson are fighting to keep their Ivy League title hopes alive against Dartmouth, which boasts the top-scoring offense and lowest-scored-upon defense in the FCS.
Cornell will look to slow down a Princeton buzz-saw when the Ivy-leading and 12th-ranked Tigers visit Schoellkopf Field on Friday, Nov. 1 at 6:00 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Peppered with last-second finishes, crazy endings and upsets galore, nine of the last 15 contests have been decided by a touchdown or less, with that stretching to 12 of the last 19 meetings and 19 of the last 29. During that stretch, Cornell knocked off a ranked unbeaten Tiger squad in 2006 at home (14-7)
Yale football looks to make it three wins in a row on Saturday, November 2, at the Yale Bowl with the Bulldogs battling the Columbia Lions. The Elis aim for a 6-1 start for the third time in the past six seasons and carry momentum into a two-game road swing before their season finale in "The Game" on November 23.
MEAC -- A big showdown in Orangeburg, S.C. highlights Week 10 of MEAC football, as North Carolina A&T State and South Carolina State – both 3-1 in league play – square off at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in a contest to be rebroadcast on ESPNU. Elsewhere, Norfolk State will celebrate Homecoming against Morgan State, North Carolina Central will take on Howard and Delaware State will fly to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on the Rattlers.
Howard receiver Kyle Anthony is in pursuit of several records. After catching three passes in the Bison's 64-6 loss to North Carolina A&T State, Anthony now has 178 for his career. He needs six receptions to break the school record held by Gary "Flea" Harrell. He also needs six touchdown receptions to become the program's all-time leader.
Florida A&M continues to roll, winning its seventh straight game behind the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Rasean McKay. Making his first career start in place of the injured Ryan Stanley, McKay showed poise and completed 25 of 35 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown in a win over Morgan State. The Rattlers are nationally ranked for the first time since 2009 and continue to rise, sitting at No. 17 in both the STATS FCS and AFCA Coaches polls.
MISSOURI VALLEY -- North Dakota State and UNI are both 4-0 at home this season. NDSU (24) leads the FCS for current consecutive wins at home. Alabama's 31-game winning streak at home leads the FBS. UNI has a current 8-game home winning streak.
NDSU QB Trey Lance has thrown 151 career passes without an interception, one shy of the NDSU record 152 set by Easton Stick from the 2016 national quarterfinal win over South Dakota State through the seventh game of 2017 against Western Illinois. Lance passed Carson Wentz (143) and Brock Jensen (142 and 140) on the NDSU record list last week.
Illinois State leads the FCS in Red Zone defense, allowing opponents to convert their red-zone chances into points just 52.0 percent of the time. South Dakota State ranks 3rd in the FCS (62.5), while North Dakota State (18th, 70.6) and Youngstown State (22nd, 72.7) also rank in the Top 25. Illinois State is efficient on offense, too, ranking 9th in the FCS in red-zone conversions (91.7 percent success rate).
NORTHEAST -- Central Connecticut, Duquesne and Robert Morris are off to 3-0 starts in NEC play and all three own a positive turnover margin in league games.
Central Connecticut, which is 7-0 against FCS opponents, attained the No. 19 ranking (the highest in program history) in both major FCS top-25 polls this week. CCSU owns the second-ranked defense in the FCS (270.0 ypg) while the offense's 7.09 yards/play stand are fourth most in the nation.
Duquesne and Saint Francis clash in the #NECFB Game of the Week on ESPN3 at Rooney Field at 12:00 pm ET Saturday. After missing two games to injury, Dukes' senior AJ Hines has exceeded the 100-yard rushing mark in all three appearances since his return. SFU sophomore Jason Brown has 693 yards of total offense and six touchdown passes over his last two NEC games.
Wagner's Cam Gill (31.0) surpassed former Duquesne All-American Christian ****z (30.5) for the all-time NEC career sacks record.
Reclassifying from Division II, Merrimack has posted back-to-back victories over FCS programs (Presbyterian, Delaware State). Warriors' sophomore QB Christian Carter was responsible for 344 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 9 win over the Blue Hose, earning the New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Award for his efforts.
OHIO VALLEY -- With four weeks of the regular season remaining, there are now four teams with one Conference loss (Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri and UT Martin), with another team (Jacksonville State) just one game back with two losses.
For the first time since September 25, 2017, three OVC teams are ranked. This week's ranked OVC teams are Jacksonville State (No. 18/22):, Southeast Missouri (No. 21/18) and Austin Peay (RV/No. 25). UT Martin and Eastern Kentucky are among the other teams receiving votes, meaning over half the league is ranked or receiving votes this week.
Austin Peay scored 58 points in its road victory over Tennessee Tech. That set a new program record for points in an OVC road contest, breaking its previous mark of 49 against Murray State in 1966. In the win, quarterback JaVaughn Craig accounted for seven touchdowns, including tying the school record with five touchdown passes (to go along with two rushing scores).
Offense: QB JaVaughn Craig, Austin Peay | Defense: LB Omardrick Douglas, Southeast Missouri | Specialist: K Samuel Hayworth, Eastern Kentucky | Newcomer: QB Joe Pyle, Southeast Missouri
PATRIOT -- Six Patriot League football teams will be in action in Week 10 with all three games available on the Patriot League Network (PLN). Georgetown hosts Colgate with coverage on the PLN and regionally on WDCW beginning at noon. Lehigh welcomes Holy Cross in the Stadium Game of the Week in a battle of unbeaten teams in League play. Matt Martucci, Dave Owens and Morgan Uber will be on the call with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. Lafayette meets Fordham with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff on the PLN and Lafayette Sports Network.
Georgetown is fourth among FCS teams in scoring defense, allowing just 14.4 points per game during their 5-3 start. The Hoyas are also seventh in the FCS in total defense, limiting opponents to 294.9 yards per game. The Hoyas have also been among the most opportunistic teams in the nation, holding a +1.13 turnover margin through eight games. Defensive back's Micah McNeil, Jonathan Honore and Delano Salgado, along with linebacker Justin Fonteneaux are tied for the League lead with two interceptions apiece.
Lehigh's defense ranks 10th in DI FCS in team sacks at 3.14 per game, and 21st in team tackles for loss per game with 7.6. Senior linebacker Keith Woetzel is third in the nation in sacks (1.21 spg) and 15th in tackles for loss (1.6 tflpg). Junior defensive lineman Erik Slater is 12th in the FCS with 1.7 TFLs per game and 46th with 0.67 sacks per game.
PFL -- Davidson RB Wesley Dugger pushed past the 3,000 career yard mark against Marist, Oct. 26. One of two juniors among the FCS Top 10 Active Career Leaders, he is ranked fourth in total rushing yardage (3,007), averaging 107.4 yards per game (2nd among active career leaders). He is just ahead of Monmouth junior Pete Guerriero (3,001 yards) on the list. Dugger needs 286 yards to move into the PFL's career Top 10 in rushing yards.
San Diego wide receiver Michael Bandy moved past the 3,000 receiving yard plateau in Week 9. He now is ranked fourth among FCS active career leaders with 3,016 career receiving yards. Bandy is the ninth PFL receiver to record 3,000 career receiving yards and enters this week ninth all-time, 96 yards from moving past Dylan Ching (3,111 yards) for eighth on the list.
Marist's game against Butler on Saturday, Nov. 2 will be the Red Foxes' second annual #SetTheExpectation game. #SetTheExpectation is a campaign that engages male athletes and their coaches as the solution to end sexual assault and physical violence. It is spearheaded by Brenda Tracy, who has traveled to college campuses nationwide to deliver her message, including Marist in the spring of 2017. The Red Foxes' participation in the campaign is led by Marist's Center for Student-Athlete Enhancement in partnership with Tracy. Sponsors also include Marist's Title IX Office, Marist Dining Services, Marist's Chapter of It's On Us, and The Purple Thread.
SOUTHERN -- All nine Southern teams are in action this weekend, with Furman visiting Chattanooga in a game with title implications and Wofford stepping out of league play to visit defending FBS national champion Clemson.
Furman, 4-1 in league play, and Chattanooga, 3-1 in SoCon action, square off at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Paladins rebounded from their first league loss with a 28-7 win over Western Carolina on Oct. 26, while the Mocs dropped a 35-34 decision in overtime at Wofford for their first conference loss of the season.
The wins by Furman and Wofford moved them in a tie for first in the SoCon standings, a half-game ahead of Chattanooga. The Terriers, winners of five straight, re-entered the national rankings this week, returning after a six-week absence. Wofford is ranked No. 20 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 and No. 23 in the STATS FCS Top 25. Furman moved up one spot to No. 13 in both polls.
With a 5-for-5 effort against Chattanooga, Wofford senior kicker Luke Carter moved into a tie for second in league history for consecutive point-after makes. He has converted all 124 attempts of his career.
Chattanooga freshman Ailym Ford, who ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Wofford, has turned in five 100-yard rushing games this season, including four straight. Second in the league in rushing at 111.6 yards per game, Ford has totaled 893 yards and nine TDs, the latter of which is a UTC freshman record.
SOUTHLAND -- Central Arkansas was the only home team to win last week, preserving their undefeated mark on "The Stripes" (3-0). Abilene Christian (4-0) joins UCA as the only squads who have not dropped a home contest.
Trailing 16-0 at halftime, Central Arkansas outscored Sam Houston State 29-9 in the final two quarters. After a rocky first half, quarterback Breylin Smith was 10-for-18 for 253 yards and four touchdowns in the second half. The Bears have now completed four fourth-quarter comebacks of at least six points this season: 14 vs. Western Kentucky; six vs. Austin Peay; 10 vs. Abilene Christian; eight vs. Sam Houston State.)
Southland defenses are loaded with ballhawks this season as five schools make up the top-10 FCS squads in fumble recoveries. Sam Houston State is second with 13, followed by Abilene Christian at third with 12. McNeese and Houston Baptist are tied for seventh with 11, and UIW stands at 10th with nine.
Northwestern State's 44-41 overtime upset of No. 25 UIW marked the first home loss for the Cardinals under head coach Eric Morris.
SWAC -- Alabama A&M's Jordan Bentley was named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week. Bentley was a workhorse, scoring four touchdowns and rushing for a career-high 197 yards as Alabama A&M edged Alabama State 43-41 in three overtimes in the 78th Magic City Classic at Birmingham's Legion Field.
The Mississippi Valley State football team forced Texas Southern into six turnovers while scoring three defensive scores in a 35-14 win for the Delta Devils last Saturday. Valley had season-high marks with 250 rushing yards, 35 points scored, and six forced turnovers. Mississippi Valley State will play its third consecutive home game on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m., taking on Alabama State at Rice-Totten Stadium.
For the second week in a row Jackson State won a thrilling overtime finish. JSU beat Prairie View A&M in two overtimes a Thursday ago. CJ Anderson blocked Prairie View A&M's 27-yard field goal attempt to tie the game and the Tigers defeated the Panthers, 38-35.
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.
* The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame has announced the finalists for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, which annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The Big Sky has two of the 12 finalists in Eastern Washington's Spencer Blackburn and Montana's Dante Olson. Cornell safety Jelani Taylor also represents the FCS among the 12 finalists.
* 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.
* The Division I Football Championship Committee will announce a top-10 ranking, Wednesday, November 6, during halftime of the 8 p.m. (ET) Miami (OH) vs. Ohio game on ESPN2. For the fourth straight year, the sport committee will reveal the rankings ahead of Selection Sunday. In addition to building excitement around the FCS playoffs, the reveal may have some bearing on the final bracket that will be publicized during the selection show on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU.
* This week, 23 of 25 ranked teams are in action, and there are two games on the schedule that feature two ranked FCS teams. James Madison and North Dakota are idle this week.
#9/10 UNI (5-3) at #7/7 Illinois State (6-2), 12 p.m. CT [NBCSCH / ESPN+]
#3/3 Weber State (6-2) at #6/6 Sacramento State (6-2), 8 pm CT [Pluto TV Ch. 533/CW31]
* North Dakota State has extended its winning streak to 29 games, the second-longest in FCS history. NDSU holds the FCS record with a 33-game winning streak (2012-14). NDSU travels to Youngstown State (6 pm ET on Nov. 2 / ESPN+). Princeton's winning streak has reached 16 games. Princeton takes on Cornell on Friday (6 pm ET on Nov. 1 / ESPNU). Meanwhile, San Diego has extended its winning streak in league games (Pioneer Football League) to 33 games. USD hosts Drake on Saturday at 5 pm ET.
* Three FCS teams are still unbeaten: North Dakota State (8-0); Dartmouth (6-0); Princeton (6-0). There are nine teams in the FBS who are perfect.
* Alabama A&M's Jordan Bentley, Valparaiso's Jamari Booker, Richmond's Aaron Dykes and North Carolina A&T's Jacob Roberts were named Monday as the STATS FCS National Players of the Week.
* The STATS FCS Team of the Week was Alcorn, which beat Southern 27-13 for its best win of the season. It was Homecoming Day at Spinks-Casem Stadium; the Braves retired the No. 9 of all-time great Steve McNair, coach Fred McNair's late brother; and it was a rematch of last year's Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game. HONORABLE MENTION: Campbell (49-47, 3-OT win over Gardner-Webb); Northwestern State (44-41 OT win over UIW); Robert Morris (24-20 win over Bryant); South Carolina State (27-19 win over Bethune-Cookman); Valparaiso (19-10 win over Stetson).
* All eyes will turn to the Week 10 nightcap that will go a long way to defining the 2019 PFL championship race as PFL unbeatens Drake (4-0 PFL) and San Diego (4-0) square off on the Pacific Coast. Drake last defeated San Diego in 2012 while the Toreros have not lost a PFL home game since 2010.
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. But this year's title game will be on ABC. The game had aired on ABC previously in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983.
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 -- Three ranked opponents have entered the Alerus Center this season, and for the first time in the UND's Division I history, three ranked opponents have fallen. Senior Alex Cloyd blocked a punt in the end zone that freshman Jayson Coley recovered with just 4:21 to play in the fourth quarter to help seal a 16-12 win over ninth-ranked Montana State on Saturday afternoon as UND improved to 5-3 on the season and climbed back into the Top 25.
BIG SKY -- All eyes will be pointed towards Sacramento this weekend, as No. 3 Weber State and No. 6 Sacramento State face off. The only two teams unbeaten in league play will battle it out at Hornet Stadium on Saturday. The Wildcats and Hornets are both 4-0 in league play and are ranked in the top 10 of the FCS polls. The two losses for each of the teams this season came at the hands of FBS foes.
Big Sky kickers are leading the FCS in more ways than one. Northern Arizona's Luis Aguilar holds the season-long record for a made field goal this season at 57, while Portland State's Cody Williams and Weber State's Trey Tuttle have both nailed five field goals in a game to lead the FCS.
Northern Arizona's Case Cookus is tied for second in the Big Sky in career touchdown passes with 98. Eastern Washington's Vernon Adams holds the league record at 110 set back in 2014.
The Big Sky has a total of four teams ranked this week in the STATS FCS and AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 polls. Weber State leads the way at No. 3, followed by Sacramento State making its second straight weekly appearance in the top 10 at No. 6. Montana was voted No. 8 and Montana State was slotted No. 14/15. UC Davis and Northern Arizona are both receiving votes.
BIG SOUTH -- Monmouth RB PETE GUERRIERO surpassed 3,000 career rushing yards last Saturday at Charleston Southern after rushing for a career-high 221 against the Bucs. He became just the sixth player in league history to surpass the milestone, and enters this week sixth all-time with 3,001. Guerriero has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game 16 times (out of 28 overall appearances) -- the fifth-most in the conference record book, and owns a 107.18 career rushing yards per game average. Based on that per game clip, he would finish the regular-season with 3,429 career yards, which would be fourth-most in Big South annals.
Gardner-Webb WR IZAIAH GATHINGS has tied a Big South record for most consecutive games with multiple-TD catches at three, as he has caught all six of his touchdowns this season in the last three outings. His six TD catches are the most by a GWU receiver since 2013 when KENNY COOK caught nine. Meanwhile, the Runnin' Bulldogs have thrown four TD passes in three consecutive contests – a Big South first.
Campbell QB HAJJ-MALIK WILLIAMS totaled 208 passing yards and rushed for 100 in the Camels' 49-47, triple-overtime win at Gardner-Webb last Saturday. He is the first Big South quarterback to throw more than 200 yards and rush for 100 in a conference game since GWU's TYRELL MAXWELL achieved the feat in 2016 against Kennesaw State. Williams is just the ninth different Big South quarterback in league history with a 200-pass / 100-yard single-game performance.
CAA FOOTBALL -- CAA teams have combined to return 11 kickoffs for TD's this season. Richmond's Aaron Dykes, W&M's Bronson Yoder and Maine's Earnest Edwards share the national lead with two KOR's for touchdowns, with Dykes and Edwards doing it in one game. Also returning kickoffs for TD's have been URI's Ahmere Dorsey, UAlbany's Donovan McDonald, Elon's Shamari Wingard, JMU's Devin Ravenel and Towson's D'Ago Hunter. Nine of the 11 returns have been longer than 90 yards. In this week's FCS national stats, six of the top 17 players in kickoff return average are from the CAA.
Elon defensive back Greg Liggs, Jr. leads the nation with seven interceptions, all of which came in the month of October. The senior set a school record with three pickoffs against New Hampshire on Oct. 5 and then tied the mark with three more at Rhode Island last Saturday. He also had one vs. Delaware on Oct. 12. Liggs has also set the Elon career mark for interceptions with 14.
Thirteen of the 26 CAA games played this season have been decided by eight points or less, including three overtime contests. Last Saturday, Stony Brook rallied past Villanova, 36-35, on a field goal as time expired. 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.
IVY LEAGUE -- The No. 14/15 Dartmouth Big Green put their perfect 6-0 record on the line this week at Harvard, a team that has won 20 of the last 22 meetings between the two schools. And after suffering a 30-24 loss at Princeton last week, the Crimson are fighting to keep their Ivy League title hopes alive against Dartmouth, which boasts the top-scoring offense and lowest-scored-upon defense in the FCS.
Cornell will look to slow down a Princeton buzz-saw when the Ivy-leading and 12th-ranked Tigers visit Schoellkopf Field on Friday, Nov. 1 at 6:00 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Peppered with last-second finishes, crazy endings and upsets galore, nine of the last 15 contests have been decided by a touchdown or less, with that stretching to 12 of the last 19 meetings and 19 of the last 29. During that stretch, Cornell knocked off a ranked unbeaten Tiger squad in 2006 at home (14-7)
Yale football looks to make it three wins in a row on Saturday, November 2, at the Yale Bowl with the Bulldogs battling the Columbia Lions. The Elis aim for a 6-1 start for the third time in the past six seasons and carry momentum into a two-game road swing before their season finale in "The Game" on November 23.
MEAC -- A big showdown in Orangeburg, S.C. highlights Week 10 of MEAC football, as North Carolina A&T State and South Carolina State – both 3-1 in league play – square off at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in a contest to be rebroadcast on ESPNU. Elsewhere, Norfolk State will celebrate Homecoming against Morgan State, North Carolina Central will take on Howard and Delaware State will fly to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on the Rattlers.
Howard receiver Kyle Anthony is in pursuit of several records. After catching three passes in the Bison's 64-6 loss to North Carolina A&T State, Anthony now has 178 for his career. He needs six receptions to break the school record held by Gary "Flea" Harrell. He also needs six touchdown receptions to become the program's all-time leader.
Florida A&M continues to roll, winning its seventh straight game behind the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Rasean McKay. Making his first career start in place of the injured Ryan Stanley, McKay showed poise and completed 25 of 35 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown in a win over Morgan State. The Rattlers are nationally ranked for the first time since 2009 and continue to rise, sitting at No. 17 in both the STATS FCS and AFCA Coaches polls.
MISSOURI VALLEY -- North Dakota State and UNI are both 4-0 at home this season. NDSU (24) leads the FCS for current consecutive wins at home. Alabama's 31-game winning streak at home leads the FBS. UNI has a current 8-game home winning streak.
NDSU QB Trey Lance has thrown 151 career passes without an interception, one shy of the NDSU record 152 set by Easton Stick from the 2016 national quarterfinal win over South Dakota State through the seventh game of 2017 against Western Illinois. Lance passed Carson Wentz (143) and Brock Jensen (142 and 140) on the NDSU record list last week.
Illinois State leads the FCS in Red Zone defense, allowing opponents to convert their red-zone chances into points just 52.0 percent of the time. South Dakota State ranks 3rd in the FCS (62.5), while North Dakota State (18th, 70.6) and Youngstown State (22nd, 72.7) also rank in the Top 25. Illinois State is efficient on offense, too, ranking 9th in the FCS in red-zone conversions (91.7 percent success rate).
NORTHEAST -- Central Connecticut, Duquesne and Robert Morris are off to 3-0 starts in NEC play and all three own a positive turnover margin in league games.
Central Connecticut, which is 7-0 against FCS opponents, attained the No. 19 ranking (the highest in program history) in both major FCS top-25 polls this week. CCSU owns the second-ranked defense in the FCS (270.0 ypg) while the offense's 7.09 yards/play stand are fourth most in the nation.
Duquesne and Saint Francis clash in the #NECFB Game of the Week on ESPN3 at Rooney Field at 12:00 pm ET Saturday. After missing two games to injury, Dukes' senior AJ Hines has exceeded the 100-yard rushing mark in all three appearances since his return. SFU sophomore Jason Brown has 693 yards of total offense and six touchdown passes over his last two NEC games.
Wagner's Cam Gill (31.0) surpassed former Duquesne All-American Christian ****z (30.5) for the all-time NEC career sacks record.
Reclassifying from Division II, Merrimack has posted back-to-back victories over FCS programs (Presbyterian, Delaware State). Warriors' sophomore QB Christian Carter was responsible for 344 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 9 win over the Blue Hose, earning the New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Award for his efforts.
OHIO VALLEY -- With four weeks of the regular season remaining, there are now four teams with one Conference loss (Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri and UT Martin), with another team (Jacksonville State) just one game back with two losses.
For the first time since September 25, 2017, three OVC teams are ranked. This week's ranked OVC teams are Jacksonville State (No. 18/22):, Southeast Missouri (No. 21/18) and Austin Peay (RV/No. 25). UT Martin and Eastern Kentucky are among the other teams receiving votes, meaning over half the league is ranked or receiving votes this week.
Austin Peay scored 58 points in its road victory over Tennessee Tech. That set a new program record for points in an OVC road contest, breaking its previous mark of 49 against Murray State in 1966. In the win, quarterback JaVaughn Craig accounted for seven touchdowns, including tying the school record with five touchdown passes (to go along with two rushing scores).
Offense: QB JaVaughn Craig, Austin Peay | Defense: LB Omardrick Douglas, Southeast Missouri | Specialist: K Samuel Hayworth, Eastern Kentucky | Newcomer: QB Joe Pyle, Southeast Missouri
PATRIOT -- Six Patriot League football teams will be in action in Week 10 with all three games available on the Patriot League Network (PLN). Georgetown hosts Colgate with coverage on the PLN and regionally on WDCW beginning at noon. Lehigh welcomes Holy Cross in the Stadium Game of the Week in a battle of unbeaten teams in League play. Matt Martucci, Dave Owens and Morgan Uber will be on the call with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. Lafayette meets Fordham with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff on the PLN and Lafayette Sports Network.
Georgetown is fourth among FCS teams in scoring defense, allowing just 14.4 points per game during their 5-3 start. The Hoyas are also seventh in the FCS in total defense, limiting opponents to 294.9 yards per game. The Hoyas have also been among the most opportunistic teams in the nation, holding a +1.13 turnover margin through eight games. Defensive back's Micah McNeil, Jonathan Honore and Delano Salgado, along with linebacker Justin Fonteneaux are tied for the League lead with two interceptions apiece.
Lehigh's defense ranks 10th in DI FCS in team sacks at 3.14 per game, and 21st in team tackles for loss per game with 7.6. Senior linebacker Keith Woetzel is third in the nation in sacks (1.21 spg) and 15th in tackles for loss (1.6 tflpg). Junior defensive lineman Erik Slater is 12th in the FCS with 1.7 TFLs per game and 46th with 0.67 sacks per game.
PFL -- Davidson RB Wesley Dugger pushed past the 3,000 career yard mark against Marist, Oct. 26. One of two juniors among the FCS Top 10 Active Career Leaders, he is ranked fourth in total rushing yardage (3,007), averaging 107.4 yards per game (2nd among active career leaders). He is just ahead of Monmouth junior Pete Guerriero (3,001 yards) on the list. Dugger needs 286 yards to move into the PFL's career Top 10 in rushing yards.
San Diego wide receiver Michael Bandy moved past the 3,000 receiving yard plateau in Week 9. He now is ranked fourth among FCS active career leaders with 3,016 career receiving yards. Bandy is the ninth PFL receiver to record 3,000 career receiving yards and enters this week ninth all-time, 96 yards from moving past Dylan Ching (3,111 yards) for eighth on the list.
Marist's game against Butler on Saturday, Nov. 2 will be the Red Foxes' second annual #SetTheExpectation game. #SetTheExpectation is a campaign that engages male athletes and their coaches as the solution to end sexual assault and physical violence. It is spearheaded by Brenda Tracy, who has traveled to college campuses nationwide to deliver her message, including Marist in the spring of 2017. The Red Foxes' participation in the campaign is led by Marist's Center for Student-Athlete Enhancement in partnership with Tracy. Sponsors also include Marist's Title IX Office, Marist Dining Services, Marist's Chapter of It's On Us, and The Purple Thread.
SOUTHERN -- All nine Southern teams are in action this weekend, with Furman visiting Chattanooga in a game with title implications and Wofford stepping out of league play to visit defending FBS national champion Clemson.
Furman, 4-1 in league play, and Chattanooga, 3-1 in SoCon action, square off at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Paladins rebounded from their first league loss with a 28-7 win over Western Carolina on Oct. 26, while the Mocs dropped a 35-34 decision in overtime at Wofford for their first conference loss of the season.
The wins by Furman and Wofford moved them in a tie for first in the SoCon standings, a half-game ahead of Chattanooga. The Terriers, winners of five straight, re-entered the national rankings this week, returning after a six-week absence. Wofford is ranked No. 20 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 and No. 23 in the STATS FCS Top 25. Furman moved up one spot to No. 13 in both polls.
With a 5-for-5 effort against Chattanooga, Wofford senior kicker Luke Carter moved into a tie for second in league history for consecutive point-after makes. He has converted all 124 attempts of his career.
Chattanooga freshman Ailym Ford, who ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Wofford, has turned in five 100-yard rushing games this season, including four straight. Second in the league in rushing at 111.6 yards per game, Ford has totaled 893 yards and nine TDs, the latter of which is a UTC freshman record.
SOUTHLAND -- Central Arkansas was the only home team to win last week, preserving their undefeated mark on "The Stripes" (3-0). Abilene Christian (4-0) joins UCA as the only squads who have not dropped a home contest.
Trailing 16-0 at halftime, Central Arkansas outscored Sam Houston State 29-9 in the final two quarters. After a rocky first half, quarterback Breylin Smith was 10-for-18 for 253 yards and four touchdowns in the second half. The Bears have now completed four fourth-quarter comebacks of at least six points this season: 14 vs. Western Kentucky; six vs. Austin Peay; 10 vs. Abilene Christian; eight vs. Sam Houston State.)
Southland defenses are loaded with ballhawks this season as five schools make up the top-10 FCS squads in fumble recoveries. Sam Houston State is second with 13, followed by Abilene Christian at third with 12. McNeese and Houston Baptist are tied for seventh with 11, and UIW stands at 10th with nine.
Northwestern State's 44-41 overtime upset of No. 25 UIW marked the first home loss for the Cardinals under head coach Eric Morris.
SWAC -- Alabama A&M's Jordan Bentley was named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week. Bentley was a workhorse, scoring four touchdowns and rushing for a career-high 197 yards as Alabama A&M edged Alabama State 43-41 in three overtimes in the 78th Magic City Classic at Birmingham's Legion Field.
The Mississippi Valley State football team forced Texas Southern into six turnovers while scoring three defensive scores in a 35-14 win for the Delta Devils last Saturday. Valley had season-high marks with 250 rushing yards, 35 points scored, and six forced turnovers. Mississippi Valley State will play its third consecutive home game on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m., taking on Alabama State at Rice-Totten Stadium.
For the second week in a row Jackson State won a thrilling overtime finish. JSU beat Prairie View A&M in two overtimes a Thursday ago. CJ Anderson blocked Prairie View A&M's 27-yard field goal attempt to tie the game and the Tigers defeated the Panthers, 38-35.