ursus arctos horribilis
November 19th, 2021, 03:20 PM
2021 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
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"FCS ALL IN" is a weekly news program dedicated to promoting all FCS 15 conferences. Content will be provided by each participating conference, and the program will be distributed via a YouTube channel (//YouTube.com/c/FCSALLIN) and launched each Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. In addition to providing an overview of FCS games, each episode will include interviews with special guests and national media correspondents.
#FearTheFCS -- In Week 1, the Big Sky became first FCS conference to post three wins over FBS opponents in the same week since CAA Football in 2009. Montana knocked off No. 20 Washington, becoming just the sixth FCS school to post a win over a nationally ranked FBS foe. There have been 12 FCS wins over FBS programs this season, including four wins over teams from "Power 5" programs. In 2016, five FCS teams knocked off Power 5 teams (the last time as many as three-such wins have occurred in one season). The last time the FCS had more than 10 wins in one season against FBS schools was in 2013 (16 that year).
FCS Wins Vs. FBS (2021)
Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (2OT)
UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17
South Dakota State 42, Colorado State 23
Montana 13, No. 20 Washington 7
Holy Cross 38, UConn 28
ETSU 23, Vanderbilt 3
Duquesne 28, Ohio 26
Jacksonville State 20, Florida State 17
UIW 42, Texas State 34
Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19
Rhode Island 35, UMass 22
Maine 35, UMass 10
The FCS football championship selection show is Sunday, Nov. 21 at 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPNU. The top eight seeds receive a first-round bye and the remaining 16 teams will play first-round games on Saturday, Nov. 27. The FCS Championship Game will be played in Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
FCS in the NFL – There were more than two full teams worth of FCS players on NFL opening-day rosters. Better than 130 former FCS players made teams' 53-man rosters. Despite low draft numbers this spring (6) and last (6 in 2019), the number of FCS players on NFL rosters has not altered much --- with more than 210 FCS players on NFL Opening Day rosters in each of the previous three seasons (that number includes 53-man rosters and practice squads). Research compiled by Craig Haley (Stats Perform) has the current number at 126 on active rosters and 199 overall. Read more: https://bit.ly/3BUurhe
The 2021 season marks the debut of two new FCS conferences. The ASUN has three members this season: Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, and Central Arkansas. The WAC has four post-season eligible teams in the fall: Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and SFA. The two leagues have agreed on a one-year scheduling alliance for this fall.
Dayton's Jake Chisholm, Montana's Robby Hauck, James Madison's Ethan Ratke and Murray State's DJ Williams were selected Monday as the Stats Perform FCS National Players. In addition, Delaware State earned FCS National Team of the Week.
Twenty-two players highlight the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. MORE: https://bit.ly/2Zz80B7
Eleven players have been added to the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. MORE: https://bit.ly/3c3SDTC
Eleven players have been added to the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. MORE: https://bit.ly/3c2X80P
All 25 ranked teams will play this weekend. Where to watch those key matchups (AFCA rankings denoted) are below. Five games on Saturday (Nov. 20) features two ranked teams playing one another.
No. 24 Monmouth at No. 5 Kennesaw State, 12 pm CT (ESPN+)
No. 23 Mercer at No. 20 East Tennessee State, 12 pm CT (ESPN3)
No. 3 Montana State at No. 7 Montana, 1 pm CT (ESPN+)
No. 16 South Dakota at No. 4 NDSU, 2:30 pm CT (ABC ND, Midco, ESPN+)
No. 18 Sacramento State at No. 11 UC Davis, 3 pm CT (ESPN+)
ASUN -- Eastern Kentucky will face Jacksonville State in the Opportunity Bowl presented by Dinsmore & Shohl on Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium. The Colonels will also celebrate Military Appreciation Day and Senior Day. Eastern Kentucky enters Saturday with a 6-4 record and is looking to snap a two-game skid after losses at Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. Jacksonville State leads the all-time series, 10-7.
Eastern Kentucky's Davion Ross was joined by a trio of players from Jacksonville State as the recipients of the ASUN Conference Football weekly awards, announced Monday by the league office. Ross returned a kickoff 98 yards against No. 1 Sam Houston to earn the Special Teams Player of the Week award while Zerrick Cooper (Offensive), Jaylen Swain (Defensive) and Ron Wiggins (Freshman) rounded out the honorees.
BIG SKY -- Montana State and Sac State are tied for first place in the Big Sky after both earning a 7-0 record in the league so far this season. Both teams are looking to become the first undefeated Big Sky champion since EWU and North Dakota both went 8-0 in 2016.
If the Bobcats and Hornets both win or both lose on Saturday, then Montana State and Sac State will become Co-Champions. If both the Bobcats and Hornets win on Saturday, MSU will be the Big Sky's automatic qualifier. If both teams lose, then Sac State would be the automatic qualifier by virtue of its win over Montana.
No. 3 Montana State at No. 7 Montana headlines Week 12 in a Top-10 showdown with FCS Playoff implications. The game will mark the 120th edition of the Brawl of the Wild, with the Bobcats winning the last four games in the series. The game will be available on ESPN+ subject to blackout in the ROOT SPORTS AT&T Sports Net territories airing the game live.
BIG SOUTH -- This Saturday's season-finale between 6-0 Kennesaw State and 6-0 Monmouth will decide the Big South's automatic qualifier to the FCS Playoffs. It will be the league's third-ever "Winner Take All" Championship game regular-season finale, as the others were 2011 (Stony Brook-Liberty), and 2017 (Kennesaw State-Monmouth). Saturday's match-up is the fourth time in the past five seasons that the winner of Kennesaw State-Monmouth will decide the Big South champion. Meanwhile, the winner of Saturday's contest will emerge with the league's first 7-0 conference season.
Monmouth is looking to become the first Big South program to win three consecutive football titles since Coastal Carolina was part of three-straight shared league championships from 2012-14. The Hawks are seeking three-straight outright crowns, which would be a first in the Big South's 20-year football history.
For the seventh time in league history, two nationally-ranked Big South members will go head-to-head on the gridiron, as No. 5/9 Kennesaw State hosts No. 24 Monmouth on Saturday to decide the Big South championship. It is the third time the two squads will face-off as ranked programs -- the first was Nov. 18, 2017 (No. 21/22 Kennesaw State defeated No. 22 Monmouth, 52-21), while the second time was this past spring on April 21 (No. 20/22 Monmouth 42, No. 7/7 Kennesaw State 17).
CAA FOOTBALL -- Four rivalry games highlight the CAA Football schedule on Saturday. Richmond and William & Mary meet for the 132nd time (series tied at 63-63-5) for the Capital Cup, while New Hampshire and Maine battle for the 109th time for the Brice-Cowell Musket. Villanova and Delaware clash in the Battle of the Blue for the 55th time and UAlbany and Stony Brook get together for the 23rd time in the Battle for the Golden Apple. Rounding out the slate, James Madison hosts Towson and Rhode Island visits Elon.
Villanova and James Madison enter the final day of the regular season tied for first in the CAA at 6-1. The Wildcats would claim their first CAA title since 2012 with a win, while the Dukes are looking to capture their sixth CAA crown in seven years. Should the teams finish as co-CAA champions, Villanova would receive the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs due to its 28-27 win over JMU on Oct. 9.
JMU's Ethan Ratke set NCAA records for career points by a kicker (517) and career field goals (100) last week. Ratke set a CAA single-game mark with 6 field goals vs. William & Mary and broke his own CAA record for FG's in a season with 28. He leads the nation in FG's and points (125) this season and has hit a field goal in 31 straight games.
IVY LEAGUE -- Three of the four games having Ivy title implications paired with it being rivalry weekend, should make for exciting Saturday of Ivy League football.
Four teams are still in contention for the Ivy title: Dartmouth (8-1, 5-1 Ivy), Princeton (8-1, 5-1 Ivy), Harvard (7-2, 4-2 Ivy) and Yale (5-4, 4-2 Ivy). The Big Green and Tigers control their own destiny this weekend – needing just a win to secure an Ivy title. The Crimson and Bulldogs – squaring off in the 137th edition of The Game -- would need both Dartmouth and Princeton to lose. Then the winner of their game, which will be broadcast before a national audience on ESPNU, would be part of a three-team share.
Three Ivies either earned a ranking or received a vote in the FCS Coaches Poll this week. Princeton came in at the No. 20 spot in the nation and was followed by Dartmouth at No. 21. Harvard also received votes in the poll.
The league wrapped up non-conference play with a collective record of 17-7. The league's non-conference success is not a new trend. Since 2010, Ivies have posted a mark of 158-106 (.598).
MEAC -- Following 11 weeks of intense gridiron battles, two teams are left standing that have shots of claiming at least a share of the 2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football championship. South Carolina State (5-5, 4-0 MEAC) heads into its final game of the regular season already having wrapped up at least a share of the MEAC crown, its 18th MEAC crown overall. Should the Bulldogs defeat Norfolk State on Saturday, SCSU will claim the title outright. The SCSU-NSU game is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.
North Carolina Central (5-5, 3-1 MEAC) can claim a share of the MEAC title with a win over Delaware State coupled with a SCSU loss to Norfolk State. Should that happen, it would mark the Eagles' first football championship since 2016 and its sixth as a member of the MEAC. The NCCU-DSU contest is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday in Durham, N.C.
MISSOURI VALLEY -- North Dakota State claimed its 10th MVFC crown with its 49-17 win at Youngstown State last week. The Bison also claimed the league's automatic bid into the FCS playoffs with the win (NDSU would win tiebreaker against any possible tied teams for first).
All 11 MVFC schools rank in the Top 17 of the Massey Index "Strength of Schedule." Amazingly, MVFC schools hold the top 5 spots in SOS, led by Youngstown State (1), Missouri State (2), UNI (3), Western Illinois (4) and Indiana State (5). Weber State (5-5) and Eastern Washington (8-2) are the only schools (outside of seven schools from the MVFC) with a .500 or better record that also have a schedule strength in the Top 20. Only six FCS schools are ranked in the Top 25 of the Massey SOS rankings and are also ranked in the Top 25 polls (Stats Perform & AFCA coaches) -- the five ranked MVFC schools are joined only by Eastern Washington from the Big Sky.
Five MVFC teams are ranked in the Top 16 of the AFCA coaches Top 25 (and five in the Top 17 of the Stats Perform). UNI and North Dakota are among schools receiving votes. North Dakota State leads the MVFC in both polls, clocking in at No. 4 in each ranking this week. The MVFC is top-rated FCS league in the Sagarin, ahead of three FBS divisions (C-USA-West; MAC-East; Sun Belt-West).
NORTHEAST -- SACRED HEART (5-1) can clinch an outright Northeast Conference crown and an automatic bid to the DI FCS playoffs with a win in Week 12. The Pioneers visit LIU on Saturday at 12:00 pm ET on ESPN3. BRYANT needs a win and help to overtake SHU for the NEC AQ.
SACRED HEART, which ranks amongst the top-7 Division I FCS team leaders in three major defensive categories (pass defense, total defense, scoring defense), has held its opponent to 17 points or fewer throughout its current five-game win streak.
SHU All-American RB Julius Chestnut, who missed seven games due to injury, gained 116 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches in a Week 11 win over Wagner.
BRYANT, which posted a 4-0 home record this fall, attempts to reach the 7-win mark for the first time since 2014.
MERRIMACK, which features the NEC's leading passer (Westin Elliott) and pass-catcher (Jacari Carter), paces the circuit in pass yards (2,663), pass completion percentage (69.1) and touchdown passes (30).
OHIO VALLEY -- UT Martin locked up its first OVC Championship since 2006 with its victory over Tennessee Tech last week. The Skyhawks moved up to No. 8 in this week's AFCA Top 25 poll, which equaled its highest-ever ranking (set on Nov. 6, 2006). UTM has won nine-straight games (the second-longest streak nationally) and are one of five teams who are undefeated against fellow FCS competition this season (9-0). With a win this week Skyhawks head coach Jason Simpson will reach 100 career victories.
Southeast Missouri ranks first nationally in red zone offense (100%), having scored on all 29 trips inside the 20-yard line. The only other team nationally at 100% is Youngstown State (22-of-22). SEMO ranks first in the OVC and 25th nationally in fewest turnovers (12).
Tennessee State scored a late touchdown last week to avoid a shutout against Austin Peay. The Tigers have scored in 86-straight games, the longest active streak of any OVC opponent. The Tigers finished OVC play 3-3 under first-year head coach Eddie George.
PATRIOT -- The final week of the regular season includes three League games and one non-League game. The day kicks off at noon with Georgetown playing at Morgan State on ESPN3. Colgate hosts Fordham at noon on ESPN+ in a battle of 4-1, second-place teams, vying for a chance to claim a share of the Patriot League title. Holy Cross travels to Bucknell for the second time in a calendar year for a 1 p.m. game on ESPN+. The Crusaders can clinch sole possession of the League title with a win, though a Bucknell can open the door for Colgate or Fordham with an upset. Lafayette and Lehigh meet for the 157th time in college football's most-played rivalry at 12:30 p.m. at Goodman Stadium. The game will be available on ESPN+, Service Electric 2 and the Lafayette Sports Network. Home Patriot League games can be viewed internationally at https://patriotleague.org/watch.
Holy Cross clinched at least a share of the Patriot League title for the third-consecutive season and the League's automatic berth to the NCAA DI FCS Playoffs with its 52-24 victory at Fordham on Nov. 13. Sophomore quarterback Matthew Sluka accounted for four touchdowns, freshman running back Jordan Fuller rushed for three touchdowns, and the Crusaders' defense held the Rams' explosive offense scoreless in the second half to seal the victory. Holy Cross is the first Patriot League team to earn three-consecutive League titles since Lafayette, who accomplished the feat from 2004-06. The Crusaders won three straight League titles between 1989 and 1991.
Fordham 5th-year offensive lineman Nick Zakelj has been invited to compete in the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl. The team captain and three-time All-Patriot League selection has started at left tackle for a Rams' offense that has been among the most productive in the FCS this season. The Rams are 16th in the FCS in total offense (445.6) and 17th in the FCS in scoring offense (33.9). Fordham also leads the Patriot League and is 21st in the FCS in the fewest sacks allowed per game (1.30).
PFL -- Davidson continues to control the race for the PFL automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division I Football Championship, needing a win to clinch the berth. San Diego needs a Davidson loss and a win in its final game to earn the AQ spot. If both Davidson and San Diego lose, then the group of two-loss teams trailing them enter the conversation, with both Marist and Morehead State still holding outside chances of claiming the spot. As a reminder, St. Thomas is ineligible for the PFL's automatic qualifying spot as it is still reclassifying to Division I. In addition, the tiebreakers only affect which team will earn the league's automatic qualifying spot. Any teams tied for the best PFL win percentage at the season's end will be declared co-champions.
Drake at Davidson: After seeing a potential championship delayed by a road loss, Davidson, searching for its second consecutive PFL title, returns to Richardson Stadium and hosts Drake. Davidson brings the league's top-rated offense into the fray, averaging 40.3 points per game thanks to a run game averaging a league-best 349.1 yards per game. Drake is the league's No. 2 scoring defense (16.0 ppg) and is ranked No. 7 against the run, allowing only 138.8 rushing yards per game.
San Diego at Stetson: San Diego travels to the opposite coast seeking its PFL-record-tying 12th regular-season crown when it faces Stetson. San Diego returns to action after an off week to give its No. 3 defense a rest after it allowed only 18.3 points per game in the first seven games, holding opponents to under 300 yards to rank No. 3 is defensive yardage. After nearly knocking off Morehead State last week, Stetson returns home and is averaging 23.7 points per game (No. 9 in the PFL) and 373.5 offensive yards per game.
SOUTHERN -- The Southern Conference title and automatic bid to the FCS playoffs are on the line Saturday when ETSU hosts Mercer in a top-25 matchup in Johnson City, Tennessee. The nationally ranked squads enter the contested tied atop the league standings at 6-1 in SoCon play.
The Bucs enter the contest ranked No. 10 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 and No. 8 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. The Bears entered both polls this week, debuting at Nos. 23 and 21, respectively.
ETSU, which aims to match its SoCon wins record with its seventh of the season, is seeking its first outright SoCon title and its second overall after sharing the 2018 crown. Mercer, which has already scored a program-record six SoCon wins, is seeking its first league title. Last season, the Bears topped then-No. 20 ETSU 21-13.
ETSU rolled to a 56-35 win at Western Carolina last weekend, getting 266 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Jacob Saylors and 212 yards and three rushing scores from Quay Holmes. The duo became just the second set of teammates in SoCon history to rush for 200-plus yards in the same game, joining Georgia Southern's Jayson Foster (253) and Lamar Lewis (206), who did it against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 15, 2007.
SOUTHLAND -- Each picking up their eighth win on the year on Saturday, both Southeastern & UIW could clinch at least a share of the conference title with a win this week. A win for the Cardinals would give them their first FCS playoff automatic qualifier in program history.
Though the Cardinals have relied mostly on the passing game of Cameron Ward, running back Kevin Brown made sure people didn't forget his name with a 185-yard, two-score performance in a down game for Ward against Nicholls. Brown, the Southland Offensive Player of the Week, is averaging 90.6 yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns in league play.
Cole Kelley is putting together a convincing campaign to become just the third two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award as the FCS leader in completion percentage (73.9), efficiency (181.0), passing yards per game (399.7), points responsible for per game (29.0) and total offense per game (439.0).
SWAC -- The 2021 Southwestern Athletic Conference Football Championship game picture got clearer after this past weekend's slate of games. In the Eastern Division, Jackson State clinched its first divisional title since 2013 with a 21-17 come from behind road win over Southern. The Tigers will look to claim their first league title since the 2007 season when they meet the Western Division Champion (PVAMU/ALCN) at the 2021 Cricket SWAC Football Championship presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar.
In the Western Division, Prairie View A&M can clinch its first championship game appearance since 2009 with a Alcorn State loss at Jackson State (Nov. 20, ESPN+) or a win against Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 27, ESPN+) in the Panthers final conference regular season outing of the season. Alcorn State kept its title game hopes alive on Saturday with a 31-29 home win over Prairie View A&M. The Braves will need help in order to clinch their seventh appearance in the championship game. Alcorn State will need to win its game at Jackson State and have Prairie View A&M lose its game versus Mississippi Valley State in order for the Braves to clinch a berth in the title game.
WAC -- It's the final week of regular season play with four games schedule across the conference. In WAC games, top-ranked Sam Houston already has a share of the WAC title but can clinch it outright when they visit Abilene Christian. 22nd-ranked Stephen F. Austin will also be on the road, traveling south to Lamar. Tarleton plays host to Central Arkansas while Dixie State wraps up the season with a tough game against 14th-ranked Missouri State. All four games are available on ESPN+.
Sam Houston is the consensus number one team in FCS, topping the Stats Perform Top 25, AFCA Coaches' Top 25, College Sports Madness FCS Top 25 and Athlon Sports Top 25. Stephen F. Austin is also a Top 25 team, coming in at 22nd in both the Stats Perform Top 25 and AFCA Coaches' Top 25. With its win over Eastern Kentucky, Sam Houston clinched the AQ7 spot in the FCS Playoffs. This week, they will have a chance to clinch the WAC title outright when they visit Abilene Christian.
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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
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"FCS ALL IN" is a weekly news program dedicated to promoting all FCS 15 conferences. Content will be provided by each participating conference, and the program will be distributed via a YouTube channel (//YouTube.com/c/FCSALLIN) and launched each Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. In addition to providing an overview of FCS games, each episode will include interviews with special guests and national media correspondents.
#FearTheFCS -- In Week 1, the Big Sky became first FCS conference to post three wins over FBS opponents in the same week since CAA Football in 2009. Montana knocked off No. 20 Washington, becoming just the sixth FCS school to post a win over a nationally ranked FBS foe. There have been 12 FCS wins over FBS programs this season, including four wins over teams from "Power 5" programs. In 2016, five FCS teams knocked off Power 5 teams (the last time as many as three-such wins have occurred in one season). The last time the FCS had more than 10 wins in one season against FBS schools was in 2013 (16 that year).
FCS Wins Vs. FBS (2021)
Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (2OT)
UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17
South Dakota State 42, Colorado State 23
Montana 13, No. 20 Washington 7
Holy Cross 38, UConn 28
ETSU 23, Vanderbilt 3
Duquesne 28, Ohio 26
Jacksonville State 20, Florida State 17
UIW 42, Texas State 34
Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19
Rhode Island 35, UMass 22
Maine 35, UMass 10
The FCS football championship selection show is Sunday, Nov. 21 at 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPNU. The top eight seeds receive a first-round bye and the remaining 16 teams will play first-round games on Saturday, Nov. 27. The FCS Championship Game will be played in Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
FCS in the NFL – There were more than two full teams worth of FCS players on NFL opening-day rosters. Better than 130 former FCS players made teams' 53-man rosters. Despite low draft numbers this spring (6) and last (6 in 2019), the number of FCS players on NFL rosters has not altered much --- with more than 210 FCS players on NFL Opening Day rosters in each of the previous three seasons (that number includes 53-man rosters and practice squads). Research compiled by Craig Haley (Stats Perform) has the current number at 126 on active rosters and 199 overall. Read more: https://bit.ly/3BUurhe
The 2021 season marks the debut of two new FCS conferences. The ASUN has three members this season: Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, and Central Arkansas. The WAC has four post-season eligible teams in the fall: Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and SFA. The two leagues have agreed on a one-year scheduling alliance for this fall.
Dayton's Jake Chisholm, Montana's Robby Hauck, James Madison's Ethan Ratke and Murray State's DJ Williams were selected Monday as the Stats Perform FCS National Players. In addition, Delaware State earned FCS National Team of the Week.
Twenty-two players highlight the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. MORE: https://bit.ly/2Zz80B7
Eleven players have been added to the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. MORE: https://bit.ly/3c3SDTC
Eleven players have been added to the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. MORE: https://bit.ly/3c2X80P
All 25 ranked teams will play this weekend. Where to watch those key matchups (AFCA rankings denoted) are below. Five games on Saturday (Nov. 20) features two ranked teams playing one another.
No. 24 Monmouth at No. 5 Kennesaw State, 12 pm CT (ESPN+)
No. 23 Mercer at No. 20 East Tennessee State, 12 pm CT (ESPN3)
No. 3 Montana State at No. 7 Montana, 1 pm CT (ESPN+)
No. 16 South Dakota at No. 4 NDSU, 2:30 pm CT (ABC ND, Midco, ESPN+)
No. 18 Sacramento State at No. 11 UC Davis, 3 pm CT (ESPN+)
ASUN -- Eastern Kentucky will face Jacksonville State in the Opportunity Bowl presented by Dinsmore & Shohl on Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium. The Colonels will also celebrate Military Appreciation Day and Senior Day. Eastern Kentucky enters Saturday with a 6-4 record and is looking to snap a two-game skid after losses at Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. Jacksonville State leads the all-time series, 10-7.
Eastern Kentucky's Davion Ross was joined by a trio of players from Jacksonville State as the recipients of the ASUN Conference Football weekly awards, announced Monday by the league office. Ross returned a kickoff 98 yards against No. 1 Sam Houston to earn the Special Teams Player of the Week award while Zerrick Cooper (Offensive), Jaylen Swain (Defensive) and Ron Wiggins (Freshman) rounded out the honorees.
BIG SKY -- Montana State and Sac State are tied for first place in the Big Sky after both earning a 7-0 record in the league so far this season. Both teams are looking to become the first undefeated Big Sky champion since EWU and North Dakota both went 8-0 in 2016.
If the Bobcats and Hornets both win or both lose on Saturday, then Montana State and Sac State will become Co-Champions. If both the Bobcats and Hornets win on Saturday, MSU will be the Big Sky's automatic qualifier. If both teams lose, then Sac State would be the automatic qualifier by virtue of its win over Montana.
No. 3 Montana State at No. 7 Montana headlines Week 12 in a Top-10 showdown with FCS Playoff implications. The game will mark the 120th edition of the Brawl of the Wild, with the Bobcats winning the last four games in the series. The game will be available on ESPN+ subject to blackout in the ROOT SPORTS AT&T Sports Net territories airing the game live.
BIG SOUTH -- This Saturday's season-finale between 6-0 Kennesaw State and 6-0 Monmouth will decide the Big South's automatic qualifier to the FCS Playoffs. It will be the league's third-ever "Winner Take All" Championship game regular-season finale, as the others were 2011 (Stony Brook-Liberty), and 2017 (Kennesaw State-Monmouth). Saturday's match-up is the fourth time in the past five seasons that the winner of Kennesaw State-Monmouth will decide the Big South champion. Meanwhile, the winner of Saturday's contest will emerge with the league's first 7-0 conference season.
Monmouth is looking to become the first Big South program to win three consecutive football titles since Coastal Carolina was part of three-straight shared league championships from 2012-14. The Hawks are seeking three-straight outright crowns, which would be a first in the Big South's 20-year football history.
For the seventh time in league history, two nationally-ranked Big South members will go head-to-head on the gridiron, as No. 5/9 Kennesaw State hosts No. 24 Monmouth on Saturday to decide the Big South championship. It is the third time the two squads will face-off as ranked programs -- the first was Nov. 18, 2017 (No. 21/22 Kennesaw State defeated No. 22 Monmouth, 52-21), while the second time was this past spring on April 21 (No. 20/22 Monmouth 42, No. 7/7 Kennesaw State 17).
CAA FOOTBALL -- Four rivalry games highlight the CAA Football schedule on Saturday. Richmond and William & Mary meet for the 132nd time (series tied at 63-63-5) for the Capital Cup, while New Hampshire and Maine battle for the 109th time for the Brice-Cowell Musket. Villanova and Delaware clash in the Battle of the Blue for the 55th time and UAlbany and Stony Brook get together for the 23rd time in the Battle for the Golden Apple. Rounding out the slate, James Madison hosts Towson and Rhode Island visits Elon.
Villanova and James Madison enter the final day of the regular season tied for first in the CAA at 6-1. The Wildcats would claim their first CAA title since 2012 with a win, while the Dukes are looking to capture their sixth CAA crown in seven years. Should the teams finish as co-CAA champions, Villanova would receive the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs due to its 28-27 win over JMU on Oct. 9.
JMU's Ethan Ratke set NCAA records for career points by a kicker (517) and career field goals (100) last week. Ratke set a CAA single-game mark with 6 field goals vs. William & Mary and broke his own CAA record for FG's in a season with 28. He leads the nation in FG's and points (125) this season and has hit a field goal in 31 straight games.
IVY LEAGUE -- Three of the four games having Ivy title implications paired with it being rivalry weekend, should make for exciting Saturday of Ivy League football.
Four teams are still in contention for the Ivy title: Dartmouth (8-1, 5-1 Ivy), Princeton (8-1, 5-1 Ivy), Harvard (7-2, 4-2 Ivy) and Yale (5-4, 4-2 Ivy). The Big Green and Tigers control their own destiny this weekend – needing just a win to secure an Ivy title. The Crimson and Bulldogs – squaring off in the 137th edition of The Game -- would need both Dartmouth and Princeton to lose. Then the winner of their game, which will be broadcast before a national audience on ESPNU, would be part of a three-team share.
Three Ivies either earned a ranking or received a vote in the FCS Coaches Poll this week. Princeton came in at the No. 20 spot in the nation and was followed by Dartmouth at No. 21. Harvard also received votes in the poll.
The league wrapped up non-conference play with a collective record of 17-7. The league's non-conference success is not a new trend. Since 2010, Ivies have posted a mark of 158-106 (.598).
MEAC -- Following 11 weeks of intense gridiron battles, two teams are left standing that have shots of claiming at least a share of the 2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football championship. South Carolina State (5-5, 4-0 MEAC) heads into its final game of the regular season already having wrapped up at least a share of the MEAC crown, its 18th MEAC crown overall. Should the Bulldogs defeat Norfolk State on Saturday, SCSU will claim the title outright. The SCSU-NSU game is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.
North Carolina Central (5-5, 3-1 MEAC) can claim a share of the MEAC title with a win over Delaware State coupled with a SCSU loss to Norfolk State. Should that happen, it would mark the Eagles' first football championship since 2016 and its sixth as a member of the MEAC. The NCCU-DSU contest is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday in Durham, N.C.
MISSOURI VALLEY -- North Dakota State claimed its 10th MVFC crown with its 49-17 win at Youngstown State last week. The Bison also claimed the league's automatic bid into the FCS playoffs with the win (NDSU would win tiebreaker against any possible tied teams for first).
All 11 MVFC schools rank in the Top 17 of the Massey Index "Strength of Schedule." Amazingly, MVFC schools hold the top 5 spots in SOS, led by Youngstown State (1), Missouri State (2), UNI (3), Western Illinois (4) and Indiana State (5). Weber State (5-5) and Eastern Washington (8-2) are the only schools (outside of seven schools from the MVFC) with a .500 or better record that also have a schedule strength in the Top 20. Only six FCS schools are ranked in the Top 25 of the Massey SOS rankings and are also ranked in the Top 25 polls (Stats Perform & AFCA coaches) -- the five ranked MVFC schools are joined only by Eastern Washington from the Big Sky.
Five MVFC teams are ranked in the Top 16 of the AFCA coaches Top 25 (and five in the Top 17 of the Stats Perform). UNI and North Dakota are among schools receiving votes. North Dakota State leads the MVFC in both polls, clocking in at No. 4 in each ranking this week. The MVFC is top-rated FCS league in the Sagarin, ahead of three FBS divisions (C-USA-West; MAC-East; Sun Belt-West).
NORTHEAST -- SACRED HEART (5-1) can clinch an outright Northeast Conference crown and an automatic bid to the DI FCS playoffs with a win in Week 12. The Pioneers visit LIU on Saturday at 12:00 pm ET on ESPN3. BRYANT needs a win and help to overtake SHU for the NEC AQ.
SACRED HEART, which ranks amongst the top-7 Division I FCS team leaders in three major defensive categories (pass defense, total defense, scoring defense), has held its opponent to 17 points or fewer throughout its current five-game win streak.
SHU All-American RB Julius Chestnut, who missed seven games due to injury, gained 116 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches in a Week 11 win over Wagner.
BRYANT, which posted a 4-0 home record this fall, attempts to reach the 7-win mark for the first time since 2014.
MERRIMACK, which features the NEC's leading passer (Westin Elliott) and pass-catcher (Jacari Carter), paces the circuit in pass yards (2,663), pass completion percentage (69.1) and touchdown passes (30).
OHIO VALLEY -- UT Martin locked up its first OVC Championship since 2006 with its victory over Tennessee Tech last week. The Skyhawks moved up to No. 8 in this week's AFCA Top 25 poll, which equaled its highest-ever ranking (set on Nov. 6, 2006). UTM has won nine-straight games (the second-longest streak nationally) and are one of five teams who are undefeated against fellow FCS competition this season (9-0). With a win this week Skyhawks head coach Jason Simpson will reach 100 career victories.
Southeast Missouri ranks first nationally in red zone offense (100%), having scored on all 29 trips inside the 20-yard line. The only other team nationally at 100% is Youngstown State (22-of-22). SEMO ranks first in the OVC and 25th nationally in fewest turnovers (12).
Tennessee State scored a late touchdown last week to avoid a shutout against Austin Peay. The Tigers have scored in 86-straight games, the longest active streak of any OVC opponent. The Tigers finished OVC play 3-3 under first-year head coach Eddie George.
PATRIOT -- The final week of the regular season includes three League games and one non-League game. The day kicks off at noon with Georgetown playing at Morgan State on ESPN3. Colgate hosts Fordham at noon on ESPN+ in a battle of 4-1, second-place teams, vying for a chance to claim a share of the Patriot League title. Holy Cross travels to Bucknell for the second time in a calendar year for a 1 p.m. game on ESPN+. The Crusaders can clinch sole possession of the League title with a win, though a Bucknell can open the door for Colgate or Fordham with an upset. Lafayette and Lehigh meet for the 157th time in college football's most-played rivalry at 12:30 p.m. at Goodman Stadium. The game will be available on ESPN+, Service Electric 2 and the Lafayette Sports Network. Home Patriot League games can be viewed internationally at https://patriotleague.org/watch.
Holy Cross clinched at least a share of the Patriot League title for the third-consecutive season and the League's automatic berth to the NCAA DI FCS Playoffs with its 52-24 victory at Fordham on Nov. 13. Sophomore quarterback Matthew Sluka accounted for four touchdowns, freshman running back Jordan Fuller rushed for three touchdowns, and the Crusaders' defense held the Rams' explosive offense scoreless in the second half to seal the victory. Holy Cross is the first Patriot League team to earn three-consecutive League titles since Lafayette, who accomplished the feat from 2004-06. The Crusaders won three straight League titles between 1989 and 1991.
Fordham 5th-year offensive lineman Nick Zakelj has been invited to compete in the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl. The team captain and three-time All-Patriot League selection has started at left tackle for a Rams' offense that has been among the most productive in the FCS this season. The Rams are 16th in the FCS in total offense (445.6) and 17th in the FCS in scoring offense (33.9). Fordham also leads the Patriot League and is 21st in the FCS in the fewest sacks allowed per game (1.30).
PFL -- Davidson continues to control the race for the PFL automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division I Football Championship, needing a win to clinch the berth. San Diego needs a Davidson loss and a win in its final game to earn the AQ spot. If both Davidson and San Diego lose, then the group of two-loss teams trailing them enter the conversation, with both Marist and Morehead State still holding outside chances of claiming the spot. As a reminder, St. Thomas is ineligible for the PFL's automatic qualifying spot as it is still reclassifying to Division I. In addition, the tiebreakers only affect which team will earn the league's automatic qualifying spot. Any teams tied for the best PFL win percentage at the season's end will be declared co-champions.
Drake at Davidson: After seeing a potential championship delayed by a road loss, Davidson, searching for its second consecutive PFL title, returns to Richardson Stadium and hosts Drake. Davidson brings the league's top-rated offense into the fray, averaging 40.3 points per game thanks to a run game averaging a league-best 349.1 yards per game. Drake is the league's No. 2 scoring defense (16.0 ppg) and is ranked No. 7 against the run, allowing only 138.8 rushing yards per game.
San Diego at Stetson: San Diego travels to the opposite coast seeking its PFL-record-tying 12th regular-season crown when it faces Stetson. San Diego returns to action after an off week to give its No. 3 defense a rest after it allowed only 18.3 points per game in the first seven games, holding opponents to under 300 yards to rank No. 3 is defensive yardage. After nearly knocking off Morehead State last week, Stetson returns home and is averaging 23.7 points per game (No. 9 in the PFL) and 373.5 offensive yards per game.
SOUTHERN -- The Southern Conference title and automatic bid to the FCS playoffs are on the line Saturday when ETSU hosts Mercer in a top-25 matchup in Johnson City, Tennessee. The nationally ranked squads enter the contested tied atop the league standings at 6-1 in SoCon play.
The Bucs enter the contest ranked No. 10 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 and No. 8 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. The Bears entered both polls this week, debuting at Nos. 23 and 21, respectively.
ETSU, which aims to match its SoCon wins record with its seventh of the season, is seeking its first outright SoCon title and its second overall after sharing the 2018 crown. Mercer, which has already scored a program-record six SoCon wins, is seeking its first league title. Last season, the Bears topped then-No. 20 ETSU 21-13.
ETSU rolled to a 56-35 win at Western Carolina last weekend, getting 266 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Jacob Saylors and 212 yards and three rushing scores from Quay Holmes. The duo became just the second set of teammates in SoCon history to rush for 200-plus yards in the same game, joining Georgia Southern's Jayson Foster (253) and Lamar Lewis (206), who did it against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 15, 2007.
SOUTHLAND -- Each picking up their eighth win on the year on Saturday, both Southeastern & UIW could clinch at least a share of the conference title with a win this week. A win for the Cardinals would give them their first FCS playoff automatic qualifier in program history.
Though the Cardinals have relied mostly on the passing game of Cameron Ward, running back Kevin Brown made sure people didn't forget his name with a 185-yard, two-score performance in a down game for Ward against Nicholls. Brown, the Southland Offensive Player of the Week, is averaging 90.6 yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns in league play.
Cole Kelley is putting together a convincing campaign to become just the third two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award as the FCS leader in completion percentage (73.9), efficiency (181.0), passing yards per game (399.7), points responsible for per game (29.0) and total offense per game (439.0).
SWAC -- The 2021 Southwestern Athletic Conference Football Championship game picture got clearer after this past weekend's slate of games. In the Eastern Division, Jackson State clinched its first divisional title since 2013 with a 21-17 come from behind road win over Southern. The Tigers will look to claim their first league title since the 2007 season when they meet the Western Division Champion (PVAMU/ALCN) at the 2021 Cricket SWAC Football Championship presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar.
In the Western Division, Prairie View A&M can clinch its first championship game appearance since 2009 with a Alcorn State loss at Jackson State (Nov. 20, ESPN+) or a win against Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 27, ESPN+) in the Panthers final conference regular season outing of the season. Alcorn State kept its title game hopes alive on Saturday with a 31-29 home win over Prairie View A&M. The Braves will need help in order to clinch their seventh appearance in the championship game. Alcorn State will need to win its game at Jackson State and have Prairie View A&M lose its game versus Mississippi Valley State in order for the Braves to clinch a berth in the title game.
WAC -- It's the final week of regular season play with four games schedule across the conference. In WAC games, top-ranked Sam Houston already has a share of the WAC title but can clinch it outright when they visit Abilene Christian. 22nd-ranked Stephen F. Austin will also be on the road, traveling south to Lamar. Tarleton plays host to Central Arkansas while Dixie State wraps up the season with a tough game against 14th-ranked Missouri State. All four games are available on ESPN+.
Sam Houston is the consensus number one team in FCS, topping the Stats Perform Top 25, AFCA Coaches' Top 25, College Sports Madness FCS Top 25 and Athlon Sports Top 25. Stephen F. Austin is also a Top 25 team, coming in at 22nd in both the Stats Perform Top 25 and AFCA Coaches' Top 25. With its win over Eastern Kentucky, Sam Houston clinched the AQ7 spot in the FCS Playoffs. This week, they will have a chance to clinch the WAC title outright when they visit Abilene Christian.
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Mike Kern
Associate Commissioner