ursus arctos horribilis
December 9th, 2022, 01:06 PM
2022 FCS INSIDER -- KEY LINKS
NCAA Statistics – Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fstats.ncaa.org%2frankings%2fch ange_sport_year_div&c=E,1,mRjnMdfJ923UgEz_6F_K71TPIgaYLBK4h14t4LGm20rq WWtqfAZgQSQTq6pntUD0a2pxmiKT48pAb9pE53zsA3uTxDpujS 57ux2QBVpU&typo=1) | Top-25 Polls -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs/fcs-coaches-poll) | Scoreboard -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/football/fcs)
FCS Insider -- Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ffcsinsider.com%2f&c=E,1,3rB462R9KZ-aj2yNofuGFA9TqKQXYMRWX4Earw7riN3E_ztqOugup5gq2BwpL zt7KVV2pF5uyCpiAUfIkKrtUsBnLvSjTj6jHtoKYe9jgHKVuPp zXHxOEBrbksEt&typo=1) | Stats Perform -- Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.fcs.football%2ffcsfront.asp&c=E,1,RNp9OmJwGyQPTgnEngU_v5QjJKoipACVxOqXwmSKZRyR PeqAHQOwZzl7U5GVxWDiwWUhGytnkLPvjVLVgWta1mTlttk6oK UmwhlQhdFYHjWZGXR8cFBDG7EaRw,,&typo=1) | HERO Sports -- Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fherosports.com%2fcategory%2fco llege-football%2ffcs%2f&c=E,1,RCc8_tC95gi2TageeGldFZx1_AffWt8LvdZDJ5-vLbx7CSpI2r98jPXJkxrGsIvPuPexsxfl3iB5CLLsEx5otyGav hh87fPePZRbmbyDGzYYTi8Cp2mfP5A,&typo=1) | Talking Pigskin -- Click Here (https://talkingpigskin.com/)
LINKS TO 2022 FCS ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
ASUN: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fasunsports.org%2Fsports%2Ffball %2F2022-23%2Freleases%2F20221122qivjle&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=O5qUsga9vA25hPq48CcC4K1JHW1A1%2FwcfSvvh2CYN% 2Bo%3D&reserved=0) | Big Sky: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbigskyconf.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F 11%2F22%2Ffootball-bigskyfb-announces-individual-awards-for-2022-season.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=gteQMXEfDQwN5s%2BszVBbiIB8%2B737821ZXDu%2BIP oKfBM%3D&reserved=0) | Big South: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbigsouthsports.com%2Fnews%2F202 2%2F11%2F22%2Fbig-south-announces-2022-football-annual-award-winners.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=PVxKjg3PxejNV2TSzG6dqwpK9szi8DKtfQAk7OsD8PY% 3D&reserved=0) | CAA: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcaasports.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F1 1%2F22%2Fmonmouth.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=ujgVCsalUud%2BnPoJHcne5Q3%2BsesC7DzjeQxn1fDj mpg%3D&reserved=0) | Ivy: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fivyleague.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F1 1%2F22%2Fivy-league-announces-football-all-ivy-rookie-of-the-year-coach-of-the-year.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=WXV5FyYmZtOTT7w7Jx%2FjMU8vOl9NJ4L69r0DshW2nD 0%3D&reserved=0)
MEAC: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFCS_STATS%2Fstatu s%2F1595105113261178881&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=qwRuIPiNkgjLgurcVP4fZjwh2l%2Fa7egLzq9O5dlpfx A%3D&reserved=0) | MVFC: Click Here (https://valley-football.org/news/2022/11/28/2022-missouri-valley-football-all-conference-teams.aspx) | NEC: Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fnortheastconference.org%2fnews %2f2022%2f11%2f23%2ffootball-a-year-for-the-flash-sfus-doyle-brown-jackson-villarrial-headline-all-nec-honor-roll.aspx&c=E,1,av0YilPGXae3zHosEDI9ldp4jpSZQXwx6PJIN7ROqcTE mp2zRytztK1pYJ8LveEeK-JOEppT4CIj_XOCejdL8ILZ6MRUgfFmYGOpZ3ylzvYoGImdJEo,&typo=1) | OVC: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fovcsports.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F1 1%2F21%2Fsemos-hess-and-matukewicz-utms-ford-and-franklin-headline-2022-ovc-football-honors.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=KRWEkME8mZMOkP%2B0bClRQeBGlnCqNAG1n6FRDaYdap 4%3D&reserved=0) | Patriot: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatriotleague.org%2Fnews%2F2022 %2F11%2F22%2Fpatriot-league-football-2022-major-awards-and-all-league-teams-announces-11-22-22.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=xm6k0%2BEUY07g8fre2530mNizYwhqK%2BRpMalBZXih X5A%3D&reserved=0)
PFL: Click Here (https://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2022/1811/pioneer-football-league-announces-30th-all-pfl-teams/) | SoCon: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsoconsports.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2 F11%2F22%2Fall-southern-conference-coaches-football-teams-announced.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=sFJBMn9zZ9XSq%2FIb%2FdUmm5egCeuQS1M6KmbtunS0 IcU%3D&reserved=0) | Southland: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southland.org%2Fnews%2F2022 %2F11%2F22%2F2022-all-southland-football-teams-and-superlative-award-winners-announced.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=4hQD%2FVQRl89iuOIjKfi0e3mkNYRXaDSGL129nGHhIB o%3D&reserved=0) | SWAC: Click Here (https://swac.org/news/2022/11/29/swac-announces-football-postseason-honors.aspx) | WAC: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wacsports.com%2Fsports%2Ffb all%2F2022-23%2Freleases%2F2022fbwacawards&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=Wet%2FlAA0TYPBH4dGrdkRPFq8ztoBnmiFems7qg5rsj Y%3D&reserved=0)
In Fall 2022 – College GameDay made two visits to FCS sites (at Jackson State & at Montana State) – now 12 times in FCS history.
In April 2021 – A total of 24 FCS Players were taken in the NFL Draft. The 24 selections are the most since 2008.
Nearly 200 former FCS players were on NFL Opening Day rosters in 2022 (including injured reserve, practice squads and active 53-man rosters)
Tracking FCS Standouts Committed to Major All-Star Games (courtesy Craig Haley) -- Click for Full Story (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/tracking-fcs-standouts-who-have-committed-to-the-major-2023-all-star-games/)
FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
HERO SPORTS (DEC. 8) - Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-all-americans-bzbz/)
ASSOCIATED PRESS – To Come
STATS PERFORM – To Come
FCS ADA – To Come
WALTER CAMP – To Come
AFCA – To Come
PHIL STEELE – To Come
STATS PERFORM MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award (QB Gevani McCoy, Idaho) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/idaho-qb-gevani-mccoy-selected-as-2022-jerry-rice-award-recipient-as-fcs-freshman-player-of-the-year/)
Stats Perform Walter Payton Award (Top 3 Finalists Announced) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/tim-demorat-lindsey-scott-jr-jaden-shirden-invited-to-2022-walter-payton-award-announcement/)
Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award (Top 3 Finalists Announced) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/john-pius-zeke-vandenburgh-david-walker-invited-to-2022-buck-buchanan-award-announcement/)
Stats Perform Eddie Robinson Award (Coach John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/no-1-again-south-dakota-state-coach-john-stiegelmeier-is-2022-eddie-robinson-award-recipient/)
Stats Perform Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award Finalists -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/15-fcs-standouts-named-finalists-for-2022-fedex-ground-doris-robinson-scholar-athlete-award/)
Craig Haley (Stats Perform) / Sam Herder (HERO SPORTS) Playoff Previews:
SAMFORD-NDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-samford-at-north-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-samford-north-dakota-state-preview-dsds/)
W&M-MONTANA STATE -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-william-mary-at-montana-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-william-mary-montana-state-preview-dsds/)
UIW-SAC STATE -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-uiw-at-sacramento-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-incarnate-word-sacramento-state-preview-dsds/)
HOLY CROSS-SDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-holy-cross-at-south-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-holy-cross-south-dakota-state-preview-dsds/)
Second-Round Playoff Review (Craig Haley, The Analyst) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-second-round-playoff-review-seeded-teams-flex-their-muscle/)
FCS Playoffs – Quarterfinal Schedule Below
FCS Playoff – Championship History -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/fcs)
ROAD (FRIDAY GAMES)
HOME
GAME TIME
TV INFO
Samford (11-1)
North Dakota State (10-2)
7 p.m. ET
ESPN2/ESPN+
William & Mary (11-1)
Montana State (11-1)
10:15 p.m. ET
ESPN2/ESPN+
UIW (11-1)
Sacramento State (12-0)
10:30 p.m. ET
ESPN+
SATURDAY GAME
Holy Cross (12-0)
South Dakota State (11-1)
12 p.m. ET
ESPN/ESPN+
The 2023 FCS championship game will be played on Sunday, Jan. 8, and will air on ABC starting at 2 p.m. ET. -- Read (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2022-09-07/abc-broadcast-2022-fcs-championship-game-frisco)
The last time the game was held on a Sunday was at the end of the 2021 spring season which saw Sam Houston defeat South Dakota St. 23-21.
FBS WINS OVER FBS PROGRAMS – THE FCS HAD 12 SUCH VICTORIES IN 2021 (8 this year) -- #FearTheFCS
DATE
FCS TEAM
SCORE
FBS TEAM
Sept. 2
William & Mary
41-24
Charlotte
Sept. 3
Delaware
14-7
Navy
Sept. 10
Eastern Kentucky
59-57 (7 OT)
Bowling Green
Sept. 10
Holy Cross
37-31
Buffalo
Sept. 10
UIW
55-41
Nevada
Sept. 10
Weber State
35-7
Utah State
Sept. 17
Southern Illinois
31-24
Northwestern
Sept. 24
Sacramento State
41-10
Colorado State
The finalists for the 2022 Bill Schwanke Award for excellence in FCS radio broadcasting include
Mike Reis -- Southern Illinois @MikeReisSIU
Jason Ross -- Sacramento State @JasonRoss1140
Dan Scott -- Furman @DanScottShow
Bob Black -- Richmond @spidervoice
Tyler Merriam -- South Dakota State @tylermerriam
Jay Colley -- William & Mary @jaybirdcolley
Greg Stotelmyer -- Eastern Kentucky @Gstotelmyer
Conference (Teams) Record
MVFC (3) 2-1
Southern (2) 2-1
Southland (2) 2-1
Big Sky (5) 4-3
Big South (1) 1-1
CAA (5) 4-4
Patriot (2) 1-1
ASUN (1) 0-1
NEC (1) 0-1
OVC (1) 0-1
PFL (1) 0-1
FCS INSIDER – AROUND THE FCS (Notes From Leagues With Games This Saturday)
BIG SKY (MONTANA STATE, SACRAMENTO STATE)
Big Sky Co-Champions Sacramento State and Montana State will be in action on Friday night, as the pair look to continue their postseason runs past the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals. Below are news and notes for the quarterfinal round of the FCS Playoffs.
Hornets Earn First-Ever FCS Playoff Win -- No. 2 seeded Sacramento State passed for a season-high 400 yards and three touchdowns to rally for a 38-31 win over Richmond last week. It was the first-ever FCS playoff win for the Hornets and their first postseason victory for the program since the Div. II playoffs in 1988. Sacramento State hosts No. 7 seeded Incarnate Word out of the Southland on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8:30 p.m. MT, with the game being streamed on ESPN+.
Montana State Earns Third Quarters Trip Since 2019 -- No. 4 seeded Montana State rushed for 388 yards and downed fellow Big Sky member Weber State 33-25 last week, as the Bobcats advanced to the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals for the third time since 2019. Montana State hosts No. 5 seeded William & Mary out of the CAA on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8:15 p.m. MT, with the game being aired on ESPN2.
Big Sky Leads FCS in National Seeds and Playoff Teams for Past Two Seasons -- The Big Sky has seen its most successful stretch in football over the past two seasons, as the league has matched its high in total playoff teams in back-to-back seasons with five each for 2021 and 2022. The 10 total playoff teams are the most of any FCS conference in the past two seasons, while the Big Sky's five total national seeds in the last two years are also the most nationwide.
CAA (WILLIAM & MARY)
W&M ADVANCES TO FCS PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS: William & Mary defeated Big South champ Gardner-Webb, 54-14, last Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Tribe set school playoff records for points, total yards (608), rushing yards (302) and forced turnovers (6) in the win. W&M has won eight in a row and its 11 overall victories this season are tied for the most in program history.
BOZEMAN BOUND: Next up for W&M is a Friday night clash with Big Sky champ Montana State, which is also 11-1. The game features two of the nation's most prolific rushing attacks with MSU ranked #1 in FCS (332.8 ypg) and W&M ranked #4 (276.7 ypg). The Tribe is on an 8-game winning streak and is 6-0 on the road this season, while the Bobcats have won 9 in a row and own a FCS-best 19-game home winning streak.
PLAYOFF SUCCESS: The CAA has had at least two teams advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs every year since the final expanded to 20 (and then 24) teams in 2010. The conference has had at least one team in the quarterfinals every year since 1995 and has had at least one team in the semifinals for the past nine seasons. CAA teams are 29-31 all-time in the quarterfinals of the playoffs and 8-3 in quarterfinal games since 2015.
MVFC (NORTH DAKOTA STATE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The MVFC is 85-20 all-time in home playoff games. The Bison and Jackrabbits have combined for an all-time 42-2 mark in home FCS playoff games. NDSU is 32-1; and SDSU is 10-1 at home in the post-season.
Since the bracket expanded to 20 teams in 2010 (3 years) and 24 in 2013 (10 years), the MVFC has had a minimum of two teams in the quarterfinals 11 times, including this year. The league has averaged 2.23 teams in the quarterfinals in those 13 seasons.
Counting 2022, the MVFC is 83-39 (.680) since 2010 in the playoffs -- which includes 15 intra-conference games (meaning the league is 68-24 against teams from other leagues for a phenomenal .739 winning percentage). Last season, MVFC teams were 25-5 against non-conference FCS teams. All five losses were to ranked FCS teams, all of which made the 2021 playoff field.
The MVFC is 17-8 vs. FCS schools in 2022. Six of the eight losses are against ranked FCS teams. Remarkably, a league member has only lost two games to an unranked FCS foe since September 2019, going 37-2 against FCS unranked teams during that span, including a perfect 24-0 last year.
PATRIOT (HOLY CROSS)
HOLY CROSS IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS -- Holy Cross will be playing its seventh FCS-playoff game when they travel to No. 1 South Dakota State for the quarterfinal round. The Crusaders are 2-4, with FCS-playoff victories over New Hampshire (35-19) last week and Sacred Heart (13-10) in a first-round meeting last season.
PATRIOT LEAGUE IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS - Patriot League teams are 9-15 in FCS Playoff games since 2010, winning at least one postseason game in eight seasons. The Crusaders knocked off New Hampshire (35-19) in the second round, after the Wildcats eliminated Fordham (52-42) in the first round of the 2022 NCAA DI FCS Championship. Holy Cross was eliminated by Villanova (21-16) in the second round last season after defeating NEC champion Sacred Heart (13-10) in the first. Colgate fell to eventual FCS Champion North Dakota State in the quarterfinal round in 2018 after defeating James Madison (23-20) in the second round. Colgate leads the Patriot League with six postseason victories, while Lehigh (5), Fordham (3) and Holy Cross (2) have all earned victories in the NCAA DI FCS Championship.
HOLY CROSS SETS PATRIOT LEAGUE POSTSEASON RECORDS IN SECOND-ROUND WIN VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE - The Crusaders made their mark on the Patriot League record book, tying two single-game postseason records and breaking another in their 35-19 victory over New Hampshire. Sr. DB Walter Reynolds’ two interceptions tied the League’s single-game postseason record, set by Fordham’s Ian Williams against Sacred Heart in 2014. Holy Cross’s four rushing touchdowns tied Colgate’s mark set against James Madison in 2015. The Crusaders’ defense held the Wildcats to 22 net rushing yards, breaking the record of a Lehigh defense that held Western Illinois to 32 rushing yards in 2000.
HAUGHNEY A SEMIFINALIST FOR 2022 FCS PUNTER OF THE YEAR - Holy Cross Sr. P Patrick Haughney has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2022 FCS Punter of the Year Award. The three-time All-Patriot League honoree averaged 40.95 yards per punt, with 18 of his 38 punts landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He also had nine punts of more than 50 yards with a long of 63 yards. The Augusta Sports Council will announce the winner on Dec. 13.
SOCON (SAMFORD)
Southern Conference champion and No. 6 national seed Samford visits defending national champion and No. 3 national seed North Dakota State in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on ESPN2 on Friday. This will be the first meeting between the squads.
The SoCon has gone 112-80 (.583) all-time in the FCS playoffs, winning eight national titles. Furman claimed the first of those in 1988, becoming the first private school to win what was then the I-AA championship.
Samford is ranked No. 9 in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 and No. 8 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, while North Dakota State is ranked No. 4 in both polls. Samford is 4-0 against ranked FCS squads this season, while NDSU is 2-1.
Samford has won a school-record 10 straight games heading into Friday’s contest, with its lone loss of the season coming to defending FBS national champion Georgia.
Samford will become the first squad to face the defending FBS and FCS national champions in the same season since the 2007 Michigan squad, which famously lost to defending FCS champion App State – then a member of the SoCon – to open the season and beating defending BCS champion Florida in the Capital One Bowl to end the season.
The Bulldogs are 11-1 overall and went 8-0 in league play to win their first-ever outright SoCon title.
SOUTHLAND (UIW)
All eight national seeds advanced to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs, meaning No. 7 UIW hits the road to take on No. 2 Sacramento State in a Friday night tilt. This is UIW’s third overall playoff appearance, second consecutive playoff appearance, and fifth overall playoff game.
This is the Cardinals’ third meeting with the Hornets, with Sacramento State winning both previous meetings in 2014 and 2017. Both teams earned dramatic wins in the round of 16 after byes in the opening round. The Cardinals were 41-38 winners over Furman, with Elliot Davison sealing the win with a diving interception late in the fourth quarter. The Hornets trailed Richmond by as many as 14 points in the first half, but outscored the Spiders 21-10 in the second half to win 38-31 and take the first FCS playoff win in program history.
After the 41 points scored against Furman, the UIW offense is now the most prolific in Southland history in terms of both points scored and points per game. • The Cardinals’ 623 points bests the record of Sam Houston’s 615 points in 2015, when the Bearkats played 15 games.
Mike Kern
Associate Commissioner
NCAA Statistics – Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fstats.ncaa.org%2frankings%2fch ange_sport_year_div&c=E,1,mRjnMdfJ923UgEz_6F_K71TPIgaYLBK4h14t4LGm20rq WWtqfAZgQSQTq6pntUD0a2pxmiKT48pAb9pE53zsA3uTxDpujS 57ux2QBVpU&typo=1) | Top-25 Polls -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs/fcs-coaches-poll) | Scoreboard -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/football/fcs)
FCS Insider -- Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ffcsinsider.com%2f&c=E,1,3rB462R9KZ-aj2yNofuGFA9TqKQXYMRWX4Earw7riN3E_ztqOugup5gq2BwpL zt7KVV2pF5uyCpiAUfIkKrtUsBnLvSjTj6jHtoKYe9jgHKVuPp zXHxOEBrbksEt&typo=1) | Stats Perform -- Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.fcs.football%2ffcsfront.asp&c=E,1,RNp9OmJwGyQPTgnEngU_v5QjJKoipACVxOqXwmSKZRyR PeqAHQOwZzl7U5GVxWDiwWUhGytnkLPvjVLVgWta1mTlttk6oK UmwhlQhdFYHjWZGXR8cFBDG7EaRw,,&typo=1) | HERO Sports -- Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fherosports.com%2fcategory%2fco llege-football%2ffcs%2f&c=E,1,RCc8_tC95gi2TageeGldFZx1_AffWt8LvdZDJ5-vLbx7CSpI2r98jPXJkxrGsIvPuPexsxfl3iB5CLLsEx5otyGav hh87fPePZRbmbyDGzYYTi8Cp2mfP5A,&typo=1) | Talking Pigskin -- Click Here (https://talkingpigskin.com/)
LINKS TO 2022 FCS ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
ASUN: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fasunsports.org%2Fsports%2Ffball %2F2022-23%2Freleases%2F20221122qivjle&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=O5qUsga9vA25hPq48CcC4K1JHW1A1%2FwcfSvvh2CYN% 2Bo%3D&reserved=0) | Big Sky: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbigskyconf.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F 11%2F22%2Ffootball-bigskyfb-announces-individual-awards-for-2022-season.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=gteQMXEfDQwN5s%2BszVBbiIB8%2B737821ZXDu%2BIP oKfBM%3D&reserved=0) | Big South: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbigsouthsports.com%2Fnews%2F202 2%2F11%2F22%2Fbig-south-announces-2022-football-annual-award-winners.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=PVxKjg3PxejNV2TSzG6dqwpK9szi8DKtfQAk7OsD8PY% 3D&reserved=0) | CAA: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcaasports.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F1 1%2F22%2Fmonmouth.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=ujgVCsalUud%2BnPoJHcne5Q3%2BsesC7DzjeQxn1fDj mpg%3D&reserved=0) | Ivy: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fivyleague.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F1 1%2F22%2Fivy-league-announces-football-all-ivy-rookie-of-the-year-coach-of-the-year.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=WXV5FyYmZtOTT7w7Jx%2FjMU8vOl9NJ4L69r0DshW2nD 0%3D&reserved=0)
MEAC: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFCS_STATS%2Fstatu s%2F1595105113261178881&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=qwRuIPiNkgjLgurcVP4fZjwh2l%2Fa7egLzq9O5dlpfx A%3D&reserved=0) | MVFC: Click Here (https://valley-football.org/news/2022/11/28/2022-missouri-valley-football-all-conference-teams.aspx) | NEC: Click Here (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fnortheastconference.org%2fnews %2f2022%2f11%2f23%2ffootball-a-year-for-the-flash-sfus-doyle-brown-jackson-villarrial-headline-all-nec-honor-roll.aspx&c=E,1,av0YilPGXae3zHosEDI9ldp4jpSZQXwx6PJIN7ROqcTE mp2zRytztK1pYJ8LveEeK-JOEppT4CIj_XOCejdL8ILZ6MRUgfFmYGOpZ3ylzvYoGImdJEo,&typo=1) | OVC: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fovcsports.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F1 1%2F21%2Fsemos-hess-and-matukewicz-utms-ford-and-franklin-headline-2022-ovc-football-honors.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=KRWEkME8mZMOkP%2B0bClRQeBGlnCqNAG1n6FRDaYdap 4%3D&reserved=0) | Patriot: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatriotleague.org%2Fnews%2F2022 %2F11%2F22%2Fpatriot-league-football-2022-major-awards-and-all-league-teams-announces-11-22-22.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=xm6k0%2BEUY07g8fre2530mNizYwhqK%2BRpMalBZXih X5A%3D&reserved=0)
PFL: Click Here (https://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2022/1811/pioneer-football-league-announces-30th-all-pfl-teams/) | SoCon: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsoconsports.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2 F11%2F22%2Fall-southern-conference-coaches-football-teams-announced.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=sFJBMn9zZ9XSq%2FIb%2FdUmm5egCeuQS1M6KmbtunS0 IcU%3D&reserved=0) | Southland: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southland.org%2Fnews%2F2022 %2F11%2F22%2F2022-all-southland-football-teams-and-superlative-award-winners-announced.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=4hQD%2FVQRl89iuOIjKfi0e3mkNYRXaDSGL129nGHhIB o%3D&reserved=0) | SWAC: Click Here (https://swac.org/news/2022/11/29/swac-announces-football-postseason-honors.aspx) | WAC: Click Here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wacsports.com%2Fsports%2Ffb all%2F2022-23%2Freleases%2F2022fbwacawards&data=05%7C01%7Ccraig.haley%40statsperform.com%7Cfe 850090272a4566a01208dacd8e228b%7C4075cd999abe4ba6b 490d67ac91a2624%7C0%7C0%7C638048307583410920%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2l uMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7 C&sdata=Wet%2FlAA0TYPBH4dGrdkRPFq8ztoBnmiFems7qg5rsj Y%3D&reserved=0)
In Fall 2022 – College GameDay made two visits to FCS sites (at Jackson State & at Montana State) – now 12 times in FCS history.
In April 2021 – A total of 24 FCS Players were taken in the NFL Draft. The 24 selections are the most since 2008.
Nearly 200 former FCS players were on NFL Opening Day rosters in 2022 (including injured reserve, practice squads and active 53-man rosters)
Tracking FCS Standouts Committed to Major All-Star Games (courtesy Craig Haley) -- Click for Full Story (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/tracking-fcs-standouts-who-have-committed-to-the-major-2023-all-star-games/)
FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
HERO SPORTS (DEC. 8) - Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-all-americans-bzbz/)
ASSOCIATED PRESS – To Come
STATS PERFORM – To Come
FCS ADA – To Come
WALTER CAMP – To Come
AFCA – To Come
PHIL STEELE – To Come
STATS PERFORM MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award (QB Gevani McCoy, Idaho) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/idaho-qb-gevani-mccoy-selected-as-2022-jerry-rice-award-recipient-as-fcs-freshman-player-of-the-year/)
Stats Perform Walter Payton Award (Top 3 Finalists Announced) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/tim-demorat-lindsey-scott-jr-jaden-shirden-invited-to-2022-walter-payton-award-announcement/)
Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award (Top 3 Finalists Announced) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/john-pius-zeke-vandenburgh-david-walker-invited-to-2022-buck-buchanan-award-announcement/)
Stats Perform Eddie Robinson Award (Coach John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/no-1-again-south-dakota-state-coach-john-stiegelmeier-is-2022-eddie-robinson-award-recipient/)
Stats Perform Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award Finalists -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/15-fcs-standouts-named-finalists-for-2022-fedex-ground-doris-robinson-scholar-athlete-award/)
Craig Haley (Stats Perform) / Sam Herder (HERO SPORTS) Playoff Previews:
SAMFORD-NDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-samford-at-north-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-samford-north-dakota-state-preview-dsds/)
W&M-MONTANA STATE -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-william-mary-at-montana-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-william-mary-montana-state-preview-dsds/)
UIW-SAC STATE -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-uiw-at-sacramento-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-incarnate-word-sacramento-state-preview-dsds/)
HOLY CROSS-SDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-quarterfinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-holy-cross-at-south-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-2022-holy-cross-south-dakota-state-preview-dsds/)
Second-Round Playoff Review (Craig Haley, The Analyst) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-second-round-playoff-review-seeded-teams-flex-their-muscle/)
FCS Playoffs – Quarterfinal Schedule Below
FCS Playoff – Championship History -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/fcs)
ROAD (FRIDAY GAMES)
HOME
GAME TIME
TV INFO
Samford (11-1)
North Dakota State (10-2)
7 p.m. ET
ESPN2/ESPN+
William & Mary (11-1)
Montana State (11-1)
10:15 p.m. ET
ESPN2/ESPN+
UIW (11-1)
Sacramento State (12-0)
10:30 p.m. ET
ESPN+
SATURDAY GAME
Holy Cross (12-0)
South Dakota State (11-1)
12 p.m. ET
ESPN/ESPN+
The 2023 FCS championship game will be played on Sunday, Jan. 8, and will air on ABC starting at 2 p.m. ET. -- Read (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2022-09-07/abc-broadcast-2022-fcs-championship-game-frisco)
The last time the game was held on a Sunday was at the end of the 2021 spring season which saw Sam Houston defeat South Dakota St. 23-21.
FBS WINS OVER FBS PROGRAMS – THE FCS HAD 12 SUCH VICTORIES IN 2021 (8 this year) -- #FearTheFCS
DATE
FCS TEAM
SCORE
FBS TEAM
Sept. 2
William & Mary
41-24
Charlotte
Sept. 3
Delaware
14-7
Navy
Sept. 10
Eastern Kentucky
59-57 (7 OT)
Bowling Green
Sept. 10
Holy Cross
37-31
Buffalo
Sept. 10
UIW
55-41
Nevada
Sept. 10
Weber State
35-7
Utah State
Sept. 17
Southern Illinois
31-24
Northwestern
Sept. 24
Sacramento State
41-10
Colorado State
The finalists for the 2022 Bill Schwanke Award for excellence in FCS radio broadcasting include
Mike Reis -- Southern Illinois @MikeReisSIU
Jason Ross -- Sacramento State @JasonRoss1140
Dan Scott -- Furman @DanScottShow
Bob Black -- Richmond @spidervoice
Tyler Merriam -- South Dakota State @tylermerriam
Jay Colley -- William & Mary @jaybirdcolley
Greg Stotelmyer -- Eastern Kentucky @Gstotelmyer
Conference (Teams) Record
MVFC (3) 2-1
Southern (2) 2-1
Southland (2) 2-1
Big Sky (5) 4-3
Big South (1) 1-1
CAA (5) 4-4
Patriot (2) 1-1
ASUN (1) 0-1
NEC (1) 0-1
OVC (1) 0-1
PFL (1) 0-1
FCS INSIDER – AROUND THE FCS (Notes From Leagues With Games This Saturday)
BIG SKY (MONTANA STATE, SACRAMENTO STATE)
Big Sky Co-Champions Sacramento State and Montana State will be in action on Friday night, as the pair look to continue their postseason runs past the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals. Below are news and notes for the quarterfinal round of the FCS Playoffs.
Hornets Earn First-Ever FCS Playoff Win -- No. 2 seeded Sacramento State passed for a season-high 400 yards and three touchdowns to rally for a 38-31 win over Richmond last week. It was the first-ever FCS playoff win for the Hornets and their first postseason victory for the program since the Div. II playoffs in 1988. Sacramento State hosts No. 7 seeded Incarnate Word out of the Southland on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8:30 p.m. MT, with the game being streamed on ESPN+.
Montana State Earns Third Quarters Trip Since 2019 -- No. 4 seeded Montana State rushed for 388 yards and downed fellow Big Sky member Weber State 33-25 last week, as the Bobcats advanced to the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals for the third time since 2019. Montana State hosts No. 5 seeded William & Mary out of the CAA on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8:15 p.m. MT, with the game being aired on ESPN2.
Big Sky Leads FCS in National Seeds and Playoff Teams for Past Two Seasons -- The Big Sky has seen its most successful stretch in football over the past two seasons, as the league has matched its high in total playoff teams in back-to-back seasons with five each for 2021 and 2022. The 10 total playoff teams are the most of any FCS conference in the past two seasons, while the Big Sky's five total national seeds in the last two years are also the most nationwide.
CAA (WILLIAM & MARY)
W&M ADVANCES TO FCS PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS: William & Mary defeated Big South champ Gardner-Webb, 54-14, last Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Tribe set school playoff records for points, total yards (608), rushing yards (302) and forced turnovers (6) in the win. W&M has won eight in a row and its 11 overall victories this season are tied for the most in program history.
BOZEMAN BOUND: Next up for W&M is a Friday night clash with Big Sky champ Montana State, which is also 11-1. The game features two of the nation's most prolific rushing attacks with MSU ranked #1 in FCS (332.8 ypg) and W&M ranked #4 (276.7 ypg). The Tribe is on an 8-game winning streak and is 6-0 on the road this season, while the Bobcats have won 9 in a row and own a FCS-best 19-game home winning streak.
PLAYOFF SUCCESS: The CAA has had at least two teams advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs every year since the final expanded to 20 (and then 24) teams in 2010. The conference has had at least one team in the quarterfinals every year since 1995 and has had at least one team in the semifinals for the past nine seasons. CAA teams are 29-31 all-time in the quarterfinals of the playoffs and 8-3 in quarterfinal games since 2015.
MVFC (NORTH DAKOTA STATE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The MVFC is 85-20 all-time in home playoff games. The Bison and Jackrabbits have combined for an all-time 42-2 mark in home FCS playoff games. NDSU is 32-1; and SDSU is 10-1 at home in the post-season.
Since the bracket expanded to 20 teams in 2010 (3 years) and 24 in 2013 (10 years), the MVFC has had a minimum of two teams in the quarterfinals 11 times, including this year. The league has averaged 2.23 teams in the quarterfinals in those 13 seasons.
Counting 2022, the MVFC is 83-39 (.680) since 2010 in the playoffs -- which includes 15 intra-conference games (meaning the league is 68-24 against teams from other leagues for a phenomenal .739 winning percentage). Last season, MVFC teams were 25-5 against non-conference FCS teams. All five losses were to ranked FCS teams, all of which made the 2021 playoff field.
The MVFC is 17-8 vs. FCS schools in 2022. Six of the eight losses are against ranked FCS teams. Remarkably, a league member has only lost two games to an unranked FCS foe since September 2019, going 37-2 against FCS unranked teams during that span, including a perfect 24-0 last year.
PATRIOT (HOLY CROSS)
HOLY CROSS IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS -- Holy Cross will be playing its seventh FCS-playoff game when they travel to No. 1 South Dakota State for the quarterfinal round. The Crusaders are 2-4, with FCS-playoff victories over New Hampshire (35-19) last week and Sacred Heart (13-10) in a first-round meeting last season.
PATRIOT LEAGUE IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS - Patriot League teams are 9-15 in FCS Playoff games since 2010, winning at least one postseason game in eight seasons. The Crusaders knocked off New Hampshire (35-19) in the second round, after the Wildcats eliminated Fordham (52-42) in the first round of the 2022 NCAA DI FCS Championship. Holy Cross was eliminated by Villanova (21-16) in the second round last season after defeating NEC champion Sacred Heart (13-10) in the first. Colgate fell to eventual FCS Champion North Dakota State in the quarterfinal round in 2018 after defeating James Madison (23-20) in the second round. Colgate leads the Patriot League with six postseason victories, while Lehigh (5), Fordham (3) and Holy Cross (2) have all earned victories in the NCAA DI FCS Championship.
HOLY CROSS SETS PATRIOT LEAGUE POSTSEASON RECORDS IN SECOND-ROUND WIN VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE - The Crusaders made their mark on the Patriot League record book, tying two single-game postseason records and breaking another in their 35-19 victory over New Hampshire. Sr. DB Walter Reynolds’ two interceptions tied the League’s single-game postseason record, set by Fordham’s Ian Williams against Sacred Heart in 2014. Holy Cross’s four rushing touchdowns tied Colgate’s mark set against James Madison in 2015. The Crusaders’ defense held the Wildcats to 22 net rushing yards, breaking the record of a Lehigh defense that held Western Illinois to 32 rushing yards in 2000.
HAUGHNEY A SEMIFINALIST FOR 2022 FCS PUNTER OF THE YEAR - Holy Cross Sr. P Patrick Haughney has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2022 FCS Punter of the Year Award. The three-time All-Patriot League honoree averaged 40.95 yards per punt, with 18 of his 38 punts landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He also had nine punts of more than 50 yards with a long of 63 yards. The Augusta Sports Council will announce the winner on Dec. 13.
SOCON (SAMFORD)
Southern Conference champion and No. 6 national seed Samford visits defending national champion and No. 3 national seed North Dakota State in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on ESPN2 on Friday. This will be the first meeting between the squads.
The SoCon has gone 112-80 (.583) all-time in the FCS playoffs, winning eight national titles. Furman claimed the first of those in 1988, becoming the first private school to win what was then the I-AA championship.
Samford is ranked No. 9 in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 and No. 8 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, while North Dakota State is ranked No. 4 in both polls. Samford is 4-0 against ranked FCS squads this season, while NDSU is 2-1.
Samford has won a school-record 10 straight games heading into Friday’s contest, with its lone loss of the season coming to defending FBS national champion Georgia.
Samford will become the first squad to face the defending FBS and FCS national champions in the same season since the 2007 Michigan squad, which famously lost to defending FCS champion App State – then a member of the SoCon – to open the season and beating defending BCS champion Florida in the Capital One Bowl to end the season.
The Bulldogs are 11-1 overall and went 8-0 in league play to win their first-ever outright SoCon title.
SOUTHLAND (UIW)
All eight national seeds advanced to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs, meaning No. 7 UIW hits the road to take on No. 2 Sacramento State in a Friday night tilt. This is UIW’s third overall playoff appearance, second consecutive playoff appearance, and fifth overall playoff game.
This is the Cardinals’ third meeting with the Hornets, with Sacramento State winning both previous meetings in 2014 and 2017. Both teams earned dramatic wins in the round of 16 after byes in the opening round. The Cardinals were 41-38 winners over Furman, with Elliot Davison sealing the win with a diving interception late in the fourth quarter. The Hornets trailed Richmond by as many as 14 points in the first half, but outscored the Spiders 21-10 in the second half to win 38-31 and take the first FCS playoff win in program history.
After the 41 points scored against Furman, the UIW offense is now the most prolific in Southland history in terms of both points scored and points per game. • The Cardinals’ 623 points bests the record of Sam Houston’s 615 points in 2015, when the Bearkats played 15 games.
Mike Kern
Associate Commissioner