ursus arctos horribilis
April 16th, 2021, 12:13 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/)
HEADLINES
AQs – Here’s a list of the AQs for the NCAA Division I Football Championship (through Thursday, April 15). The 16-team FCS football bracket will be revealed at 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, April 18, on ESPNU and WatchESPN. This year’s FCS championship will run from April 24-May 16, culminating in the national championship game on Sunday, May 16, in Frisco, Texas.
Weber State (Big Sky)
Monmouth (Big South)
Sacred Heart (NEC)
Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley)
Davidson (Pioneer Football League)
Sam Houston (Southland)
DETERMINED SATURDAY, APRIL 17 (CAA, MVFC, PATRIOT, SoCON) – see league write-ups below for scenarios.
Stats Perform National Players of the Week – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/stats-perform-fcs-national-week-9-awards/)
Craig’s Take (Must See Games This Week) -- Story (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/fcs-college-footballs-five-must-see-games-in-week-10/)
BIG SKY -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigskyconf.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Three #BigskyFB teams are ranked in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 and AFCS Coaches’ Top 25
#3/2 Weber State – Top 3 ranking all season long
#8/8 Eastern Washington – Highest ranking in 2021
#13/14 UC Davis – Three straight weeks in Top 15 in both polls
Weber State became the first team since 2016 to finish the regular season with a perfect league record. The Wildcats recorded a 5-0 mark to capture their fourth consecutive Big Sky title and first outright trophy to earn the league’s automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs. Weber State will compete in the postseason for the fifth straight year.
BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL --Link to Football Home Page (https://bigsouthsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Monmouth claimed the Big South’s AQ to the FCS Playoffs with a resounding 42-17 victory over Kennesaw State, the Hawks’ second-straight win over the Owls. It was Monmouth’s 10th consecutive Big South victory – the fourth-longest streak in league annals, and improved MU to 18-1 at home since the opening of Kessler Stadium in 2017.
Kennesaw State managed just 161 yards rushing at Monmouth, its fewest in a game since being held to 113 against Charleston Southern on Nov. 7, 2015. The Owls had more passing yards (167) than rushing yards (161) in a game for the first time since August 30, 2018 vs. Georgia State (181 rush, 201 pass).
In three games this spring, Monmouth RB Juwon Farri has rushed for 100+ yards in each contest and has 422 on 79 attempts (5.3 AVG) with 9 touchdowns
CAA FOOTBALL -- Link to CAA Football Home Page (https://caasports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Five CAA Football teams are ranked in this week’s STATS Perform FCS Top 25 poll, while four squads are ranked in the top 11 of the AFCA Coaches poll. James Madison (4-0) remained at No. 1 in both polls despite not playing for the second week in a row. The Dukes are back in action this Saturday as they host nationally ranked Richmond.
Four of CAA Football’s five nationally ranked teams go head-to-head on the final Saturday of the regular season. Villanova hosts unbeaten Delaware in a battle of the top two teams in the North Division, while James Madison entertains Richmond in a clash of two undefeated squads in the South Division.
A committee of athletics directors will determine CAA Football’s automatic qualifier after Saturday’s games since the conference did not complete all of its scheduled games this season.
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)
The MEAC will close out its Spring 2021 football schedule on Saturday when Delaware State host South Carolina State. The game will air live on ESPN3 and then shown on Sunday live on ESPNU ahead of the FCS Playoffs Selection Show.
Six MEAC Football players have been named to the NFF’s Hampshire Honor Society as announced by the NFF and College Football Hall of Fame. Howard had four players represented: fullback Zuri Godfrey, tight end Malik Hyatt, running back Amir Lewis and wide receiver Antonie Murray. Morgan State was represented by defensive lineman Shimano Dendoe and linebacker Devan Hebron.
MISSOURI VALLEY – Link to Football Home Page (https://valley-football.org/)
A If North Dakota State beats South Dakota State, NDSU will earn the league’s automatic bid. In that scenario, NDSU will be tied with UND and Missouri State and the Bison beat each team.
If South Dakota State wins, the Jackrabbits are the AQ. MVFC tri-champs SDSU-UND-MSU would not all have played one another (and even though UND beat SDSU, the tiebreaker would be broken by record against common opponents due to the imbalanced schedules of each team). SDSU would be 3-0 against common foes (NDSU, WIU, SIU), while UND and MSU will have 2-1 records against common foes (as both lost to NDSU).
For the second time in MVFC history, the league will have tri-champions. Missouri State, North Dakota and the winner of the NDSU-SDSU game on Saturday will share the crown. It’s Missouri State’s third crown, UND’s first (in its first year in the league). NDSU has nine titles (nine in a row heading into this season), while SDSU owns one. (The other season in which the MVFC had tri-champions was in 2005 as UNI, Southern Illinois and Youngstown State shared the crown with identical 5-2 marks.)
NEC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://northeastconference.org/index.aspx?path=fball&)
The first-ever NEC Football Championship game lived up to the billing and then some on April 11. Needing overtime to settle matters, second-seeded Sacred Heart downed top-seeded Duquesne, 34-27, to take home its fifth NEC title and earn the conference's AQ to the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Sacred Heart running back Julius Chestnut (Baltimore, MD) earned the NEC Offensive Player of the Year award following a four-game stretch that yielded nearly 900 yards from scrimmage. SHU head coach Mark Nofri, who also led the Pioneers to back-to-back FCS Playoffs appearances in 2013 and 2014, garnered the NEC Coach of the Year honor for the fourth time in his career.
OHIO VALLEY – Click for More Info (http://ovcsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Austin Peay senior wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson was named Offensive Player of the Year, while his quarterback Draylen Ellis was one of two players honored as Freshman of the Year, joining Tennessee State running back Devon Starling. Jacksonville State sophomore safety Nicario Harper was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year while Murray State head coach Dean Hood earned the Roy Kidd OVC Coach of the Year honor.
The longest season in No. 10 Jacksonville State's storied football history is assured of lasting at least one more week, and hopefully even longer. The Gamecocks waved goodbye to the Ohio Valley Conference with their ninth league title and secured an FCS playoff berth with a 28-14 win over No. 17 Murray State at Roy Stewart Stadium on Sunday.
Tennessee State University has named Eddie George as head football coach. George played college football for Ohio State University and won the Heisman in 1995. That season, his senior year, George rushed for a school record 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns, an average of 148.23 yards per game, while also catching 47 passes for 417 yards and another score.
PATRIOT LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://patriotleague.org/index.aspx?path=football&)
Fordham junior quarterback Tim DeMorat and junior linebacker Ryan Greenhagen were selected Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Player of the year, respectively, when the Patriot League announced All-League honors and major awards for the 2021 spring season, on Tuesday. Holy Cross freshman quarterback Matthew Sluka was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year for the North Division champion Crusaders. Bucknell Head Coach Dave Cecchini claimed Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year honors for the South Division champion Bison.
Bucknell hosts defending champion Holy Cross in the Patriot League Championship Game on Saturday, April 17 at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. It will pit the Bison, the South Division winners with a 2-0 record, against the Crusaders, who secured the North Division's title-game bid with a 34-24 victory over Fordham.
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (http://www.pioneer-football.org/)
Following the announcement of the cancellation of Saturday’s Davidson-Stetson contest, the Pioneer Football League announced that Davidson has won the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Prior to the start of this season, the PFL Presidents’ Council affirmed that teams with the same number of league losses and within one game of the league leader by win percentage would be considered tied if they did not play an equal number of games. Davidson and San Diego each entered this weekend with one league loss. The previously announced cancellation assures Davidson will finish its season with one loss while a San Diego win at Valparaiso would assure it a one-loss season as well. In that scenario, the tiebreaker would be utilized to determine the automatic qualifier. In the event that San Diego and Davidson finished the season in a tie, Davidson won the head-to-head tiebreaker with its win over San Diego.
Tyler Huff led scoring drives on each side of the third quarter break to help Presbyterian down Davidson, 29-24, at Bailey Memorial Stadium. STATS PERFORM FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Colby Campbell posted 25 tackles in Presbyterian’s win, the most by a PFL defender since the 2014 season.
SoCON FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://soconsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
The Southern Conference title and automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship will be determined Saturday, as either VMI or Mercer will be crowned league champion and clinch its first-ever FCS playoffs appearance.
VMI hosts archrival The Citadel for the Ingles SoCon Game of the Week on select Nexstar affiliates. The Keydets, seeking their first SoCon title since 1977 and eighth overall, will claim the SoCon crown with a win or a Mercer loss.
Mercer, looking for its first-ever SoCon title, must beat Samford and have VMI lose. The hottest team in the league entering the final week of the regular season, the Bears have won four straight games, the last three of which were over ranked opponents. The Bears debuted in the national polls for the first time ever this week, entering the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 at No. 23 and the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 at No. 25 (tied). VMI is ranked No. 15 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 12 in the coaches’ poll, while ETSU is ranked No. 24 in both polls.
SOUTHLAND -- Link to Football Home Page (https://www.southland.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Following a 49-47 upset of No. 14 UIW to close out its season, Northwestern State was named the STATS Perform FCS National Team of the Week. Demon quarterback Bryce Rivers became the first NSU gunslinger to throw for at least 400 yards in consecutive games, setting a program record with 477 yards in the win.
After holding on in a 27-13 win over McNeese, Sam Houston claimed its first Southland Conference championship since 2016 and secured the league’s automatic bid for the FCS Playoffs.
Currently sitting on the bubble for the FCS Playoffs, Southeastern Louisiana added a last minute road contest against No. 18 Southern Illinois to help boost the Lions’ resume.
SWAC – Link to Football Home Page (https://swac.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass has been named the Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week after an impressive outing at Jackson State on Saturday. As A&M returned from a 35-day layoff, Glass completed 27 of 40 passes and set career highs with 440 passing yards, six touchdown passes and seven total touchdowns (one rushing) in a 52-43 road win over Jackson State.
On Saturday, April 17, the Grambling State Tigers look to seek redemption against the Southern Jaguars in the Shreveport rendition of the 47th annual Bayou Classic at Independence Stadium. The G-Men have won three of the last five battles against its Southwestern Athletic Conference rival, but recently dropped the last two meetings against the Jags. It will be 504 days from the last Bayou Classic, but this game hopes to be the high point of this chaotic COVID-19 spring football season.
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/)
HEADLINES
AQs – Here’s a list of the AQs for the NCAA Division I Football Championship (through Thursday, April 15). The 16-team FCS football bracket will be revealed at 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, April 18, on ESPNU and WatchESPN. This year’s FCS championship will run from April 24-May 16, culminating in the national championship game on Sunday, May 16, in Frisco, Texas.
Weber State (Big Sky)
Monmouth (Big South)
Sacred Heart (NEC)
Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley)
Davidson (Pioneer Football League)
Sam Houston (Southland)
DETERMINED SATURDAY, APRIL 17 (CAA, MVFC, PATRIOT, SoCON) – see league write-ups below for scenarios.
Stats Perform National Players of the Week – Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/stats-perform-fcs-national-week-9-awards/)
Craig’s Take (Must See Games This Week) -- Story (https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/04/fcs-college-footballs-five-must-see-games-in-week-10/)
BIG SKY -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigskyconf.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Three #BigskyFB teams are ranked in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 and AFCS Coaches’ Top 25
#3/2 Weber State – Top 3 ranking all season long
#8/8 Eastern Washington – Highest ranking in 2021
#13/14 UC Davis – Three straight weeks in Top 15 in both polls
Weber State became the first team since 2016 to finish the regular season with a perfect league record. The Wildcats recorded a 5-0 mark to capture their fourth consecutive Big Sky title and first outright trophy to earn the league’s automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs. Weber State will compete in the postseason for the fifth straight year.
BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL --Link to Football Home Page (https://bigsouthsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Monmouth claimed the Big South’s AQ to the FCS Playoffs with a resounding 42-17 victory over Kennesaw State, the Hawks’ second-straight win over the Owls. It was Monmouth’s 10th consecutive Big South victory – the fourth-longest streak in league annals, and improved MU to 18-1 at home since the opening of Kessler Stadium in 2017.
Kennesaw State managed just 161 yards rushing at Monmouth, its fewest in a game since being held to 113 against Charleston Southern on Nov. 7, 2015. The Owls had more passing yards (167) than rushing yards (161) in a game for the first time since August 30, 2018 vs. Georgia State (181 rush, 201 pass).
In three games this spring, Monmouth RB Juwon Farri has rushed for 100+ yards in each contest and has 422 on 79 attempts (5.3 AVG) with 9 touchdowns
CAA FOOTBALL -- Link to CAA Football Home Page (https://caasports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Five CAA Football teams are ranked in this week’s STATS Perform FCS Top 25 poll, while four squads are ranked in the top 11 of the AFCA Coaches poll. James Madison (4-0) remained at No. 1 in both polls despite not playing for the second week in a row. The Dukes are back in action this Saturday as they host nationally ranked Richmond.
Four of CAA Football’s five nationally ranked teams go head-to-head on the final Saturday of the regular season. Villanova hosts unbeaten Delaware in a battle of the top two teams in the North Division, while James Madison entertains Richmond in a clash of two undefeated squads in the South Division.
A committee of athletics directors will determine CAA Football’s automatic qualifier after Saturday’s games since the conference did not complete all of its scheduled games this season.
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)
The MEAC will close out its Spring 2021 football schedule on Saturday when Delaware State host South Carolina State. The game will air live on ESPN3 and then shown on Sunday live on ESPNU ahead of the FCS Playoffs Selection Show.
Six MEAC Football players have been named to the NFF’s Hampshire Honor Society as announced by the NFF and College Football Hall of Fame. Howard had four players represented: fullback Zuri Godfrey, tight end Malik Hyatt, running back Amir Lewis and wide receiver Antonie Murray. Morgan State was represented by defensive lineman Shimano Dendoe and linebacker Devan Hebron.
MISSOURI VALLEY – Link to Football Home Page (https://valley-football.org/)
A If North Dakota State beats South Dakota State, NDSU will earn the league’s automatic bid. In that scenario, NDSU will be tied with UND and Missouri State and the Bison beat each team.
If South Dakota State wins, the Jackrabbits are the AQ. MVFC tri-champs SDSU-UND-MSU would not all have played one another (and even though UND beat SDSU, the tiebreaker would be broken by record against common opponents due to the imbalanced schedules of each team). SDSU would be 3-0 against common foes (NDSU, WIU, SIU), while UND and MSU will have 2-1 records against common foes (as both lost to NDSU).
For the second time in MVFC history, the league will have tri-champions. Missouri State, North Dakota and the winner of the NDSU-SDSU game on Saturday will share the crown. It’s Missouri State’s third crown, UND’s first (in its first year in the league). NDSU has nine titles (nine in a row heading into this season), while SDSU owns one. (The other season in which the MVFC had tri-champions was in 2005 as UNI, Southern Illinois and Youngstown State shared the crown with identical 5-2 marks.)
NEC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://northeastconference.org/index.aspx?path=fball&)
The first-ever NEC Football Championship game lived up to the billing and then some on April 11. Needing overtime to settle matters, second-seeded Sacred Heart downed top-seeded Duquesne, 34-27, to take home its fifth NEC title and earn the conference's AQ to the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Sacred Heart running back Julius Chestnut (Baltimore, MD) earned the NEC Offensive Player of the Year award following a four-game stretch that yielded nearly 900 yards from scrimmage. SHU head coach Mark Nofri, who also led the Pioneers to back-to-back FCS Playoffs appearances in 2013 and 2014, garnered the NEC Coach of the Year honor for the fourth time in his career.
OHIO VALLEY – Click for More Info (http://ovcsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Austin Peay senior wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson was named Offensive Player of the Year, while his quarterback Draylen Ellis was one of two players honored as Freshman of the Year, joining Tennessee State running back Devon Starling. Jacksonville State sophomore safety Nicario Harper was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year while Murray State head coach Dean Hood earned the Roy Kidd OVC Coach of the Year honor.
The longest season in No. 10 Jacksonville State's storied football history is assured of lasting at least one more week, and hopefully even longer. The Gamecocks waved goodbye to the Ohio Valley Conference with their ninth league title and secured an FCS playoff berth with a 28-14 win over No. 17 Murray State at Roy Stewart Stadium on Sunday.
Tennessee State University has named Eddie George as head football coach. George played college football for Ohio State University and won the Heisman in 1995. That season, his senior year, George rushed for a school record 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns, an average of 148.23 yards per game, while also catching 47 passes for 417 yards and another score.
PATRIOT LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://patriotleague.org/index.aspx?path=football&)
Fordham junior quarterback Tim DeMorat and junior linebacker Ryan Greenhagen were selected Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Player of the year, respectively, when the Patriot League announced All-League honors and major awards for the 2021 spring season, on Tuesday. Holy Cross freshman quarterback Matthew Sluka was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year for the North Division champion Crusaders. Bucknell Head Coach Dave Cecchini claimed Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year honors for the South Division champion Bison.
Bucknell hosts defending champion Holy Cross in the Patriot League Championship Game on Saturday, April 17 at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. It will pit the Bison, the South Division winners with a 2-0 record, against the Crusaders, who secured the North Division's title-game bid with a 34-24 victory over Fordham.
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (http://www.pioneer-football.org/)
Following the announcement of the cancellation of Saturday’s Davidson-Stetson contest, the Pioneer Football League announced that Davidson has won the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Prior to the start of this season, the PFL Presidents’ Council affirmed that teams with the same number of league losses and within one game of the league leader by win percentage would be considered tied if they did not play an equal number of games. Davidson and San Diego each entered this weekend with one league loss. The previously announced cancellation assures Davidson will finish its season with one loss while a San Diego win at Valparaiso would assure it a one-loss season as well. In that scenario, the tiebreaker would be utilized to determine the automatic qualifier. In the event that San Diego and Davidson finished the season in a tie, Davidson won the head-to-head tiebreaker with its win over San Diego.
Tyler Huff led scoring drives on each side of the third quarter break to help Presbyterian down Davidson, 29-24, at Bailey Memorial Stadium. STATS PERFORM FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Colby Campbell posted 25 tackles in Presbyterian’s win, the most by a PFL defender since the 2014 season.
SoCON FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://soconsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
The Southern Conference title and automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship will be determined Saturday, as either VMI or Mercer will be crowned league champion and clinch its first-ever FCS playoffs appearance.
VMI hosts archrival The Citadel for the Ingles SoCon Game of the Week on select Nexstar affiliates. The Keydets, seeking their first SoCon title since 1977 and eighth overall, will claim the SoCon crown with a win or a Mercer loss.
Mercer, looking for its first-ever SoCon title, must beat Samford and have VMI lose. The hottest team in the league entering the final week of the regular season, the Bears have won four straight games, the last three of which were over ranked opponents. The Bears debuted in the national polls for the first time ever this week, entering the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 at No. 23 and the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 at No. 25 (tied). VMI is ranked No. 15 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 12 in the coaches’ poll, while ETSU is ranked No. 24 in both polls.
SOUTHLAND -- Link to Football Home Page (https://www.southland.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Following a 49-47 upset of No. 14 UIW to close out its season, Northwestern State was named the STATS Perform FCS National Team of the Week. Demon quarterback Bryce Rivers became the first NSU gunslinger to throw for at least 400 yards in consecutive games, setting a program record with 477 yards in the win.
After holding on in a 27-13 win over McNeese, Sam Houston claimed its first Southland Conference championship since 2016 and secured the league’s automatic bid for the FCS Playoffs.
Currently sitting on the bubble for the FCS Playoffs, Southeastern Louisiana added a last minute road contest against No. 18 Southern Illinois to help boost the Lions’ resume.
SWAC – Link to Football Home Page (https://swac.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass has been named the Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week after an impressive outing at Jackson State on Saturday. As A&M returned from a 35-day layoff, Glass completed 27 of 40 passes and set career highs with 440 passing yards, six touchdown passes and seven total touchdowns (one rushing) in a 52-43 road win over Jackson State.
On Saturday, April 17, the Grambling State Tigers look to seek redemption against the Southern Jaguars in the Shreveport rendition of the 47th annual Bayou Classic at Independence Stadium. The G-Men have won three of the last five battles against its Southwestern Athletic Conference rival, but recently dropped the last two meetings against the Jags. It will be 504 days from the last Bayou Classic, but this game hopes to be the high point of this chaotic COVID-19 spring football season.