ursus arctos horribilis
December 15th, 2022, 05:53 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 – (Dec. 13) -- Click Here (https://apnews.com/article/joe-burrow-college-football-sports-south-dakota-louisiana-state-tigers-1f70abf0bdebda2cf8a83d31ee755c75)
FCS ADA – To Be Announced Dec. 19
STATS PERFORM – To Be Announced Dec. 20
AFCA – To Be Announced Dec. 21
WALTER CAMP – To Come
PHIL STEELE – To Come
FCS PUNTER OF THE YEAR – Montana freshman Patrick Rohrbach (FCS Punter of the Year by the Augusta Sports Council)
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 (Jack Chisolm, Dayton) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/daytons-jake-chisholm-is-2022-recipient-of-fedex-ground-doris-robinson-scholar-athlete-award/)
Craig Haley (Stats Perform) / Sam Herder (HERO SPORTS) Playoff Previews:
UIW-NDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-semifinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-uiw-at-north-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): NDSU Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-ndsu-bzbz/) | UIW Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-uiw-bzbz/)
MONTANA STATE-SDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-semifinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-montana-state-at-south-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Montana State Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-montana-state-bzbz/) | SDSU Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-sdsu-bzbz/)
Cricket Celebration Bowl – Jackson State-NC Central -- Preview (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/celebration-bowl-north-carolina-central-seeks-to-spoil-sanders-jackson-state-finale/)
FCS Playoffs – Semifinal Schedule Below
FCS Playoff – Championship History -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/fcs)
FCS Playoff Scorecard
W-L
Pct.
Missouri Valley (3)
4-1
.800
Southland (2)
3-1
.750
Big Sky (5)
5-4
.556
Southern (2)
2-2
.500
Big South (1)
1-1
.500
CAA (5)
4-5
.444
Patriot (2)
1-2
.333
ASUN (1)
0-1
.000
NEC (1)
0-1
.000
OVC (1)
0-1
.000
PFL (1)
0-1
.000
ROAD (FRIDAY GAME)
HOME
GAME TIME
TV INFO
UIW (12-1)
North Dakota State (11-2)
7 p.m. ET
ESPN2
SATURDAY
Montana State (12-1)
South Dakota State (12-1)
4 p.m. ET
ESPN2
CELEBRATION BOWL
Jackson State (12-0)
vs. NC Central (9-2)
12 p.m. ET
ABC
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
FCS INSIDER – AROUND THE FCS (Notes From Leagues With Games This Saturday)
BIG SKY (MONTANA STATE)
Montana State Returns to the Semifinals -- Montana State travels to top-seeded South Dakota State on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2:00 p.m. MT, with a return trip to the FCS National Championship Game on the line for the Bobcats. MSU has made it to the semifinals three times since 2019.
Montana State and South Dakota State have faced off 16 times, with Saturday’s semifinal matchup being the 17th in the all-time series. The series dates back to 1956, with the Bobcats owning an 11-5 edge. The matchup will also mark the third time the two football programs have met in the postseason, with Montana State taking last season’s semifinal contest 31-17 at home.
Bobcats Route Tribe in Quarterfinals -- The Bobcats feasted on No. 5 seeded William & Mary in the quarterfinals, as Montana State won a 55-7 game against the Tribe. The Bobcats led 27-0 at halftime, before a 28-point third quarter which made the outcome painfully obvious for the visiting CAA Champions out of Virginia.
Isaiah Ifanse led the way for Montana State in the box score versus William & Mary, rushing for 162 yards and a pair of scores in just his second game of the year after missing the regular season due to injury.
Big Sky Leads FCS With 34 Semifinal Appearances -- Dating back to 1978, the Big Sky Conference has had 34 semifinal appearances which ranks as the most for any FCS conference. The Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association rank second and third with 32 and 31 respectively. The Big Sky and MVFC are the only two of those three who have representatives in this year's semifinals.
MVFC (NORTH DAKOTA STATE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE)
Home Sweet Home for MVFC -- The MVFC is 87-20 all-time in home playoff games. The Bison and Jackrabbits have combined for an all-time 44-2 mark in home FCS playoff games. NDSU is 33-1; and SDSU is 11-1 at home in the post-season.
In the Metrics -- The MVFC is the top-rated FCS league in the Sagarin (9 of its 11 teams are in the Top 33 in the FCS Sagarin rankings), followed by the Big Sky, ASUN, Southern, WAC, and CAA. South Dakota State (at No. 4 overall) has had the hardest strength of schedule (Massey Ratings) of any remaining playoff team. In fact, the four hardest schedules (including eight of the top 10, and 11 of the Top 21) in that metric belong to schools from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. South Dakota (1), North Dakota (2), and Southern Illinois (3) rank 1-2-3 for SOS in the Massey Ratings index.
Only six leagues have sent two teams to the semifinals in the same season, including the MVFC this year. The CAA and MVFC have both done it seven times. The MVFC has had two semifinalists in the same tournament in six of the past nine playoffs.
All-Time Title Game Trips -- The MVFC has 11 total titles, the most by an FCS league. The 2021 season marked the 16th title game appearance for an MVFC member, tied with the SoCon for the most. An MVFC member has reached the FCS championship game in an FCS-record 11-straight seasons (2011-21). In 2014, NDSU beat Illinois State in the only same-conference FCS title game.
SOUTHLAND (UIW)
No. 7 UIW was the only underdog to win in the national quarterfinals with a record-breaking 66-63 victory at No. 2 Sacramento State. They now travel to Fargo, N.D., to take on No. 3 North Dakota State in a Friday night’s semifinal tilt. This is UIW’s third overall playoff appearance, second consecutive playoff appearance, and sixth overall playoff game. This is the Cardinals’ deepest playoff run.
This is the Cardinals’ second-ever meeting with the Bison, with NDSU taking a 58-0 win on Sept. 13, 2014, when ESPN’s College Gameday famously visited Fargo. This was UIW’s third-ever football game as a Division I member.
QB Lindsey Scott, Jr., has been invited to the announcement of the 2022 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award, which honors the offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.
After the 66-point outburst at Sacramento State, the UIW offense is now the most prolific in Southland history in terms of both points scored and points per game. The Cardinals’ 689 points bests the record of Sam Houston’s 615 points in 2015, when the Bearkats played 15 games. NCAA statistics currently are not ranking scoring offense teams, but the Cardinals’ 53.0 points per game would rank second in FCS history behind Mississippi Valley State’s 60.9 points in 1984. Georgia Southern averaged 50.0 points per game in 1999 and is the only other 50-plus point team in the FCS record book..
CRICKET CELEBRATION BOWL (NC CENTRAL VS. JACKSON STATE)
JACKSON STATE will look to put an exclamation point on an historic 2022 season in the Cricket Celebration Bowl against North Carolina Central. This is the fourth meeting between the teams and first since 1987, all won by JSU in Jackson (29-10 in 1980, 49-37 in 1986, 10-9 in 1987).
The Tigers won their second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championship over Southern and look to claim their first Celebration Bowl title and first HBCU National Championship since 1996.
This is Jackson State's second straight appearance in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, as the Tigers join Grambling (2016-17) and Alcorn (2018-19) to earn back-to-back Celebration Bowl berths from the SWAC. These are the only three SWAC schools to earn a berth in the Celebration Bowl (Alcorn 3, Grambling 2, Jackson State 2).
This season, Jackson State football posted the first 12-0 regular season in program history. The Tigers became the first SWAC team since 1991 to go undefeated in the regular season (Alabama St. went 10-0-1; finished with 11-0-1 record and win in the Heritage Bowl). JSU also became the first SWAC team since 1984 to finish regular season undefeated and untied (Alcorn went 9-0 before losing in 1-AA playoffs to finish season 9-1).
Jackson State football will end the 2022 season in Atlanta in the Cricket Celebration Bowl and open the 2023 season in the ATL in the Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge vs. South Carolina State.
NC CENTRAL clinched its first MEAC football championship since 2016 and earned a trip to the 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl (Dec. 17 / 12 p.m. / Mercedes-Benz Stadium / Atlanta) after defeating Norfolk State, 48-14, on Nov. 12.
After improving its record to 9-2 with a road victory over Tennessee Tech on Nov. 19, NCCU rose four spots in the national rankings to No. 21 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Earlier this season, NCCU moved into the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll at No. 25 on Sept. 19, which represented the Eagles' first regular season national ranking since Oct. 16, 2017.
The 2022 Eagles join the ranks of five other teams at NCCU to win nine games or more in a season. The last team to do so was in 2016 with a 9-3 record.
With a victory in the Celebration Bowl, the 2022 Eagles would become just the third team in NCCU history to reach double-digit wins in a season. Under the direction of head coach Rod Broadway, NCCU won 10 games in 2005 and 11 in 2006. Current NCCU head coach Trei Oliver was an assistant coach on both of those squads.
NCCU has captured three Black College National Championships (1954, 2005, 2006).
The 2022 Eagles have already broken single-season NCCU records for scoring (422 points - 371 in 2006), third quarter scoring (99 points - 96 in 1982), first downs (249 - 234 in 2005), and total offense (4,862 yards - 4,614 in 2016).
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 – (Dec. 13) -- Click Here (https://apnews.com/article/joe-burrow-college-football-sports-south-dakota-louisiana-state-tigers-1f70abf0bdebda2cf8a83d31ee755c75)
FCS ADA – To Be Announced Dec. 19
STATS PERFORM – To Be Announced Dec. 20
AFCA – To Be Announced Dec. 21
WALTER CAMP – To Come
PHIL STEELE – To Come
FCS PUNTER OF THE YEAR – Montana freshman Patrick Rohrbach (FCS Punter of the Year by the Augusta Sports Council)
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 (Jack Chisolm, Dayton) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/daytons-jake-chisholm-is-2022-recipient-of-fedex-ground-doris-robinson-scholar-athlete-award/)
Craig Haley (Stats Perform) / Sam Herder (HERO SPORTS) Playoff Previews:
UIW-NDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-semifinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-uiw-at-north-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): NDSU Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-ndsu-bzbz/) | UIW Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-uiw-bzbz/)
MONTANA STATE-SDSU -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/fcs-semifinal-round-playoff-preview-and-prediction-montana-state-at-south-dakota-state/) (HERO SPORTS): Montana State Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-montana-state-bzbz/) | SDSU Keys to Victory (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-semifinals-keys-sdsu-bzbz/)
Cricket Celebration Bowl – Jackson State-NC Central -- Preview (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/celebration-bowl-north-carolina-central-seeks-to-spoil-sanders-jackson-state-finale/)
FCS Playoffs – Semifinal Schedule Below
FCS Playoff – Championship History -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/fcs)
FCS Playoff Scorecard
W-L
Pct.
Missouri Valley (3)
4-1
.800
Southland (2)
3-1
.750
Big Sky (5)
5-4
.556
Southern (2)
2-2
.500
Big South (1)
1-1
.500
CAA (5)
4-5
.444
Patriot (2)
1-2
.333
ASUN (1)
0-1
.000
NEC (1)
0-1
.000
OVC (1)
0-1
.000
PFL (1)
0-1
.000
ROAD (FRIDAY GAME)
HOME
GAME TIME
TV INFO
UIW (12-1)
North Dakota State (11-2)
7 p.m. ET
ESPN2
SATURDAY
Montana State (12-1)
South Dakota State (12-1)
4 p.m. ET
ESPN2
CELEBRATION BOWL
Jackson State (12-0)
vs. NC Central (9-2)
12 p.m. ET
ABC
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
FCS INSIDER – AROUND THE FCS (Notes From Leagues With Games This Saturday)
BIG SKY (MONTANA STATE)
Montana State Returns to the Semifinals -- Montana State travels to top-seeded South Dakota State on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2:00 p.m. MT, with a return trip to the FCS National Championship Game on the line for the Bobcats. MSU has made it to the semifinals three times since 2019.
Montana State and South Dakota State have faced off 16 times, with Saturday’s semifinal matchup being the 17th in the all-time series. The series dates back to 1956, with the Bobcats owning an 11-5 edge. The matchup will also mark the third time the two football programs have met in the postseason, with Montana State taking last season’s semifinal contest 31-17 at home.
Bobcats Route Tribe in Quarterfinals -- The Bobcats feasted on No. 5 seeded William & Mary in the quarterfinals, as Montana State won a 55-7 game against the Tribe. The Bobcats led 27-0 at halftime, before a 28-point third quarter which made the outcome painfully obvious for the visiting CAA Champions out of Virginia.
Isaiah Ifanse led the way for Montana State in the box score versus William & Mary, rushing for 162 yards and a pair of scores in just his second game of the year after missing the regular season due to injury.
Big Sky Leads FCS With 34 Semifinal Appearances -- Dating back to 1978, the Big Sky Conference has had 34 semifinal appearances which ranks as the most for any FCS conference. The Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association rank second and third with 32 and 31 respectively. The Big Sky and MVFC are the only two of those three who have representatives in this year's semifinals.
MVFC (NORTH DAKOTA STATE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE)
Home Sweet Home for MVFC -- The MVFC is 87-20 all-time in home playoff games. The Bison and Jackrabbits have combined for an all-time 44-2 mark in home FCS playoff games. NDSU is 33-1; and SDSU is 11-1 at home in the post-season.
In the Metrics -- The MVFC is the top-rated FCS league in the Sagarin (9 of its 11 teams are in the Top 33 in the FCS Sagarin rankings), followed by the Big Sky, ASUN, Southern, WAC, and CAA. South Dakota State (at No. 4 overall) has had the hardest strength of schedule (Massey Ratings) of any remaining playoff team. In fact, the four hardest schedules (including eight of the top 10, and 11 of the Top 21) in that metric belong to schools from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. South Dakota (1), North Dakota (2), and Southern Illinois (3) rank 1-2-3 for SOS in the Massey Ratings index.
Only six leagues have sent two teams to the semifinals in the same season, including the MVFC this year. The CAA and MVFC have both done it seven times. The MVFC has had two semifinalists in the same tournament in six of the past nine playoffs.
All-Time Title Game Trips -- The MVFC has 11 total titles, the most by an FCS league. The 2021 season marked the 16th title game appearance for an MVFC member, tied with the SoCon for the most. An MVFC member has reached the FCS championship game in an FCS-record 11-straight seasons (2011-21). In 2014, NDSU beat Illinois State in the only same-conference FCS title game.
SOUTHLAND (UIW)
No. 7 UIW was the only underdog to win in the national quarterfinals with a record-breaking 66-63 victory at No. 2 Sacramento State. They now travel to Fargo, N.D., to take on No. 3 North Dakota State in a Friday night’s semifinal tilt. This is UIW’s third overall playoff appearance, second consecutive playoff appearance, and sixth overall playoff game. This is the Cardinals’ deepest playoff run.
This is the Cardinals’ second-ever meeting with the Bison, with NDSU taking a 58-0 win on Sept. 13, 2014, when ESPN’s College Gameday famously visited Fargo. This was UIW’s third-ever football game as a Division I member.
QB Lindsey Scott, Jr., has been invited to the announcement of the 2022 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award, which honors the offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.
After the 66-point outburst at Sacramento State, the UIW offense is now the most prolific in Southland history in terms of both points scored and points per game. The Cardinals’ 689 points bests the record of Sam Houston’s 615 points in 2015, when the Bearkats played 15 games. NCAA statistics currently are not ranking scoring offense teams, but the Cardinals’ 53.0 points per game would rank second in FCS history behind Mississippi Valley State’s 60.9 points in 1984. Georgia Southern averaged 50.0 points per game in 1999 and is the only other 50-plus point team in the FCS record book..
CRICKET CELEBRATION BOWL (NC CENTRAL VS. JACKSON STATE)
JACKSON STATE will look to put an exclamation point on an historic 2022 season in the Cricket Celebration Bowl against North Carolina Central. This is the fourth meeting between the teams and first since 1987, all won by JSU in Jackson (29-10 in 1980, 49-37 in 1986, 10-9 in 1987).
The Tigers won their second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championship over Southern and look to claim their first Celebration Bowl title and first HBCU National Championship since 1996.
This is Jackson State's second straight appearance in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, as the Tigers join Grambling (2016-17) and Alcorn (2018-19) to earn back-to-back Celebration Bowl berths from the SWAC. These are the only three SWAC schools to earn a berth in the Celebration Bowl (Alcorn 3, Grambling 2, Jackson State 2).
This season, Jackson State football posted the first 12-0 regular season in program history. The Tigers became the first SWAC team since 1991 to go undefeated in the regular season (Alabama St. went 10-0-1; finished with 11-0-1 record and win in the Heritage Bowl). JSU also became the first SWAC team since 1984 to finish regular season undefeated and untied (Alcorn went 9-0 before losing in 1-AA playoffs to finish season 9-1).
Jackson State football will end the 2022 season in Atlanta in the Cricket Celebration Bowl and open the 2023 season in the ATL in the Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge vs. South Carolina State.
NC CENTRAL clinched its first MEAC football championship since 2016 and earned a trip to the 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl (Dec. 17 / 12 p.m. / Mercedes-Benz Stadium / Atlanta) after defeating Norfolk State, 48-14, on Nov. 12.
After improving its record to 9-2 with a road victory over Tennessee Tech on Nov. 19, NCCU rose four spots in the national rankings to No. 21 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Earlier this season, NCCU moved into the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll at No. 25 on Sept. 19, which represented the Eagles' first regular season national ranking since Oct. 16, 2017.
The 2022 Eagles join the ranks of five other teams at NCCU to win nine games or more in a season. The last team to do so was in 2016 with a 9-3 record.
With a victory in the Celebration Bowl, the 2022 Eagles would become just the third team in NCCU history to reach double-digit wins in a season. Under the direction of head coach Rod Broadway, NCCU won 10 games in 2005 and 11 in 2006. Current NCCU head coach Trei Oliver was an assistant coach on both of those squads.
NCCU has captured three Black College National Championships (1954, 2005, 2006).
The 2022 Eagles have already broken single-season NCCU records for scoring (422 points - 371 in 2006), third quarter scoring (99 points - 96 in 1982), first downs (249 - 234 in 2005), and total offense (4,862 yards - 4,614 in 2016).
Mike Kern
Associate Commissioner