ursus arctos horribilis
May 14th, 2021, 02:55 PM
FCS FOOTBALL – KEY LINKS
NCAA Statistics -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fcs) | NCAA Scoreboard / Schedule -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/football/fcs)
Standings -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/standings/football/fcs) | Rankings / Polls -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs/fcs-coaches-poll)
FCS Insider -- Click Here (https://fcsinsider.com/) | Stats Perform – Click Here (http://www.fcs.football/fcsfront.asp) | HERO Sports -- Click Here (https://herosports.com/college-football/fcs/)
Sunday, May 16
#1 South Dakota State vs. #2 Sam Houston [ABC] – 1 p.m. CT
PREVIEW (CRAIG HALEY) – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/fcs-championship-game-preview-south-dakota-state-vs-sam-houston/)
HEADLINES
Conference playoff records this spring: CAA (4-2), Southland (3-0), OVC (1-1); MVFC (6-4); Patriot (0-1); Pioneer (0-1); NEC (0-1); Big South (0-1); Southern (0-1); Big Sky (0-2).
Only 6 FCS players were taken in the NFL Draft this year, highlighted by NDSU QB Trey Lance, who was taken third overall by the San Francisco 49ers
Despite low draft numbers this year (6) and last (6 in 2019), the number of FCS players on NFL rosters has not altered much --- with more than 210 FCS players on NFL Opening Day rosters in each of the past 3 seasons. *The Southland (1) and MVFC (5) were the only two FCS leagues represented in this year’s draft.
#1 Seed vs. #2 Seed -- For the seventh time in FCS history, the top two seeds will face one another in the title game. It marks the first time that it’s happened in back-to-back seasons (#1 NDSU defeated #2 JMU in last year’s title game.) The #2-seeded team has won five of the previous times in the games featuring the top two seeds. Seasons in which it has occurred: 1981, 1996, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019 (the last 3 games were played in January of the following calendar year.)
3 Invited to FCS Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Announcement – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/barriere-chestnut-kelley-invited-to-walter-payton-award-announcement/) (announcement will take place Saturday afternoon)
3 Invited to FCS Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award Announcement -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/campbell-lewis-snyder-invited-to-buck-buchanan-award-announcement/) (announcement will take place Saturday afternoon)
FCS National Awards Show to Air on Bally Sports Networks and Affiliates -- More (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/fcs-national-awards-show-to-air-on-bally-sports-networks-and-affiliates/)
Stats Perform Announces Jerry Rice Award Winner – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/uiws-cameron-ward-wins-10th-jerry-rice-award-as-fcs-freshman-of-the-year/)
Stats Perform Announces Eddie Robinson Award Winner – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/vmis-scott-wachenheim-wins-eddie-robinson-award-winner-as-fcs-coach-of-the-year/)
Stats Perform Announces Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/north-carolina-centrals-jessie-malit-selected-for-2020-21-doris-robinson-scholar-athlete-award/)
FCS ADA All-America Team -- Click Here (https://nacda.com/news/2021/5/13/div1aaada-fcs-ada-names-2020-21-offensive-and-defensive-players-of-the-year-all-america-team.aspx)
Stats Perform FCS All-America Team -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/widespread-talent-fills-stats-perform-fcs-all-america-team/)
Associated Press All-America Team -- Click Here (https://fcsinsider.com/news/2021/5/13/football-2020-21-associated-press-fcs-all-america-team.aspx)
AFCA All-America Team -- Click Here (https://www.afca.com/2021-spring-afca-fcs-all-america-teams/)
BIG SKY -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigskyconf.com/index.aspx?path=football)
BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigsouthsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
CAA FOOTBALL -- Link to CAA Football Home Page (https://caasports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
IVY LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://ivyleague.com/index.aspx?path=football)
MEAC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://meacsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
MISSOURI VALLEY – Link to Football Home Page (https://valley-football.org/)
The Missouri Valley Football Conference is 109-59 during the past 23+ years in the FCS playoffs (since 1997). That includes 15 intra-conference matchups, meaning the league is 94-44 (.681) against teams from other leagues.
The 2020-21 season marks the 15th title appearance for a league team. The league is 9-4 in previous title games, although Youngstown State (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) and Southern Illinois (1983) both played in the championship prior to joining the league. All 15 of the league’s title-game appearances have occurred since 1997.
South Dakota State has extended the MVFC’s FCS-record to 10-straight title game appearances for the league. The CAA (5 in a row), OVC (4-straight) and SoCon (4 appearances in a row) are next on the list. Last year featured an MVFC (NDSU) and CAA (James Madison) matchup.
An MVFC team has faced a Southland Conference team in the title game four times previously, and the MVFC is 4-0 in those matchups. The MVFC holds a 60-53-2 all-time record against Southland teams, including a 2-3 mark this season.
NEC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://northeastconference.org/index.aspx?path=fball&)
OHIO VALLEY – Click for More Info (http://ovcsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
PATRIOT LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://patriotleague.org/index.aspx?path=football&)
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (http://www.pioneer-football.org/)
SoCON FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://soconsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
SOUTHLAND -- Link to Football Home Page (https://www.southland.org/index.aspx?path=football)
The Southland was the only FCS conference to play all of its games this spring without any cancellations or rescheduled games due to COVID.
Sam Houston returns to the NCAA Division I Football Championship game for the first time since 2012, while South Dakota State is making its first appearance in the event.
The Bearkats overcame a 24-3 halftime deficit in a 38-35 semifinal win over No. 3 James Madison, scoring three touchdowns in the final 2:22 of the third quarter to spark the comeback.
Sam Houston led the seven spring season participants with 22 all-conference selections, headlined by Player of the Year Eric Schmid and Newcomer of the Year Jequez Ezzard. Head man K.C. Keeler garnered Coach of the Year honors.
SWAC – Link to Football Home Page (https://swac.org/index.aspx?path=football)
NCAA Statistics -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fcs) | NCAA Scoreboard / Schedule -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/football/fcs)
Standings -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/standings/football/fcs) | Rankings / Polls -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs/fcs-coaches-poll)
FCS Insider -- Click Here (https://fcsinsider.com/) | Stats Perform – Click Here (http://www.fcs.football/fcsfront.asp) | HERO Sports -- Click Here (https://herosports.com/college-football/fcs/)
Sunday, May 16
#1 South Dakota State vs. #2 Sam Houston [ABC] – 1 p.m. CT
PREVIEW (CRAIG HALEY) – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/fcs-championship-game-preview-south-dakota-state-vs-sam-houston/)
HEADLINES
Conference playoff records this spring: CAA (4-2), Southland (3-0), OVC (1-1); MVFC (6-4); Patriot (0-1); Pioneer (0-1); NEC (0-1); Big South (0-1); Southern (0-1); Big Sky (0-2).
Only 6 FCS players were taken in the NFL Draft this year, highlighted by NDSU QB Trey Lance, who was taken third overall by the San Francisco 49ers
Despite low draft numbers this year (6) and last (6 in 2019), the number of FCS players on NFL rosters has not altered much --- with more than 210 FCS players on NFL Opening Day rosters in each of the past 3 seasons. *The Southland (1) and MVFC (5) were the only two FCS leagues represented in this year’s draft.
#1 Seed vs. #2 Seed -- For the seventh time in FCS history, the top two seeds will face one another in the title game. It marks the first time that it’s happened in back-to-back seasons (#1 NDSU defeated #2 JMU in last year’s title game.) The #2-seeded team has won five of the previous times in the games featuring the top two seeds. Seasons in which it has occurred: 1981, 1996, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019 (the last 3 games were played in January of the following calendar year.)
3 Invited to FCS Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Announcement – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/barriere-chestnut-kelley-invited-to-walter-payton-award-announcement/) (announcement will take place Saturday afternoon)
3 Invited to FCS Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award Announcement -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/campbell-lewis-snyder-invited-to-buck-buchanan-award-announcement/) (announcement will take place Saturday afternoon)
FCS National Awards Show to Air on Bally Sports Networks and Affiliates -- More (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/fcs-national-awards-show-to-air-on-bally-sports-networks-and-affiliates/)
Stats Perform Announces Jerry Rice Award Winner – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/uiws-cameron-ward-wins-10th-jerry-rice-award-as-fcs-freshman-of-the-year/)
Stats Perform Announces Eddie Robinson Award Winner – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/vmis-scott-wachenheim-wins-eddie-robinson-award-winner-as-fcs-coach-of-the-year/)
Stats Perform Announces Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/north-carolina-centrals-jessie-malit-selected-for-2020-21-doris-robinson-scholar-athlete-award/)
FCS ADA All-America Team -- Click Here (https://nacda.com/news/2021/5/13/div1aaada-fcs-ada-names-2020-21-offensive-and-defensive-players-of-the-year-all-america-team.aspx)
Stats Perform FCS All-America Team -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/widespread-talent-fills-stats-perform-fcs-all-america-team/)
Associated Press All-America Team -- Click Here (https://fcsinsider.com/news/2021/5/13/football-2020-21-associated-press-fcs-all-america-team.aspx)
AFCA All-America Team -- Click Here (https://www.afca.com/2021-spring-afca-fcs-all-america-teams/)
BIG SKY -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigskyconf.com/index.aspx?path=football)
BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigsouthsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
CAA FOOTBALL -- Link to CAA Football Home Page (https://caasports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
IVY LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://ivyleague.com/index.aspx?path=football)
MEAC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://meacsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
MISSOURI VALLEY – Link to Football Home Page (https://valley-football.org/)
The Missouri Valley Football Conference is 109-59 during the past 23+ years in the FCS playoffs (since 1997). That includes 15 intra-conference matchups, meaning the league is 94-44 (.681) against teams from other leagues.
The 2020-21 season marks the 15th title appearance for a league team. The league is 9-4 in previous title games, although Youngstown State (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) and Southern Illinois (1983) both played in the championship prior to joining the league. All 15 of the league’s title-game appearances have occurred since 1997.
South Dakota State has extended the MVFC’s FCS-record to 10-straight title game appearances for the league. The CAA (5 in a row), OVC (4-straight) and SoCon (4 appearances in a row) are next on the list. Last year featured an MVFC (NDSU) and CAA (James Madison) matchup.
An MVFC team has faced a Southland Conference team in the title game four times previously, and the MVFC is 4-0 in those matchups. The MVFC holds a 60-53-2 all-time record against Southland teams, including a 2-3 mark this season.
NEC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://northeastconference.org/index.aspx?path=fball&)
OHIO VALLEY – Click for More Info (http://ovcsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
PATRIOT LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://patriotleague.org/index.aspx?path=football&)
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (http://www.pioneer-football.org/)
SoCON FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://soconsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
SOUTHLAND -- Link to Football Home Page (https://www.southland.org/index.aspx?path=football)
The Southland was the only FCS conference to play all of its games this spring without any cancellations or rescheduled games due to COVID.
Sam Houston returns to the NCAA Division I Football Championship game for the first time since 2012, while South Dakota State is making its first appearance in the event.
The Bearkats overcame a 24-3 halftime deficit in a 38-35 semifinal win over No. 3 James Madison, scoring three touchdowns in the final 2:22 of the third quarter to spark the comeback.
Sam Houston led the seven spring season participants with 22 all-conference selections, headlined by Player of the Year Eric Schmid and Newcomer of the Year Jequez Ezzard. Head man K.C. Keeler garnered Coach of the Year honors.
SWAC – Link to Football Home Page (https://swac.org/index.aspx?path=football)