ursus arctos horribilis
November 4th, 2022, 07:29 PM
School SIDs – please forward to your football media. Thank you!
Here is a link to this week’s fan/media video (courtesy NCAA staff) -- Click Here (https://youtu.be/4Eqnfi-7RMw)
Previously Released:
Week 1 Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t2VO8-UKY0) | Week 2 Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEm3RT4TeKw&feature=youtu.be) | Week 3 Video (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FnnOgWD9YjMQ&data=05%7C01%7Cthalpin%40ncaa.org%7C58c5926ba3264a 96dc2908da9ca8ef96%7C85a1e95666374b1db6eec72a59ee0 87f%7C0%7C0%7C637994546706429598%7CUnknown%7CTWFpb GZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI 6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yF2DfCSCFM4f6tAz2m1TTudrQSsPxuRvMj%2F09nzRoQ E%3D&reserved=0) | Week 4 Video (https://youtu.be/dVuTLwxZq5w) | Week 5 Video (https://youtu.be/WZ-L97YvEnI) | Week 6 Video (https://youtu.be/43_KI4hRjNY) | Week 7 Video (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F-zlb6edhHLU&data=05%7C01%7Cthalpin%40ncaa.org%7C5d491bd2d7eb43 f0598908dab2b93beb%7C85a1e95666374b1db6eec72a59ee0 87f%7C0%7C0%7C638018805936883269%7CUnknown%7CTWFpb GZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI 6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lpFYNT8pmJCivqxv2wkILtAVqHDbUDKtvnR%2B0E7mmo k%3D&reserved=0) | Week 8 Video (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FhPdB-arXxbw&data=05%7C01%7Cthalpin%40ncaa.org%7Cb27dee76992a49 5fa2b908dab82716ad%7C85a1e95666374b1db6eec72a59ee0 87f%7C0%7C0%7C638024775308994994%7CUnknown%7CTWFpb GZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI 6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jO3fGqf9kji%2BEipwrB17xV9scPcDV9GVDAJtlZQ%2B ZMk%3D&reserved=0)
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) | AGS Top-25 Rankings -- Click Here (http://thefcswedge.com/ags-poll/ags-poll-week-9-top-25-results-4/FCS) | 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/)
FCS ALL-IN AIRS EVERY FRIDAY ON ESPN+ AT 7 PM ET -- Click To Learn More (https://fcsinsider.com/news/2022/8/25/football-fcs-all-in-debuts-friday-on-espn.aspx)
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.
CRAIG HALEY OF STATS PERFORM PREVIEWS THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS -- Read (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/fcs-football-preview-and-predictions-week-10-games-of-the-week/)
FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/tuten-dotson-saint-francis-headline-fcs-weekly-awards/)
Josh Buchanan’s Top FCS Senior NFL Draft Prospects (article courtesy Stats Perform) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/2023-nfl-draft-an-insiders-look-at-leading-fcs-prospects/)
Stats Perform Expands Jerry Rice Award Watch List (Oct. 20) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/25-fcs-freshmen-selected-to-jerry-rice-award-watch-list/)
Stats Perform Expands Walter Payton Award Watch List (Oct. 20) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/twenty-fcs-standouts-join-2022-walter-payton-award-watch-list/)
Stats Perform Expands Buck Buchanan Award Watch List (Oct. 20) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/21-fcs-standouts-join-2022-buck-buchanan-award-watch-list/)
There are 4 FCS teams that remain unbeaten heading into this week:
Holy Cross (8-0), Jackson State (8-0), Princeton (7-0), Sacramento State (8-0)
FCS AQs (So Far, thru Oct. 29)
Saint Francis has earned the NEC AQ
FCS Week 10 Viewing Guide (courtesy Sam Herder of HERO Sports): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-week-10-schedule-bzbz/)
HERO Sports 2022 Playoff Predictions (Sam Herder): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-playoff-predictions-6-bzbz/)
Top 25 FCS vs. Top 25 FCS This Week (AFCA Coaches Poll unless noted)
ROAD
HOME
GAME TIME
TV INFO
#3 Sacramento State
# 6 Weber State
1:00 p.m. MT
ESPN+
#21 New Hampshire
#14 Richmond
3:30 p.m. ET
MASN / FloFootball
FBS WINS OVER FBS PROGRAMS – THE FCS HAD 12 SUCH VICTORIES IN 2021 (8 so far 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
ASUN
The Central Arkansas Bears and Eastern Kentucky Colonels will meet in a key ASUN Conference Football matchup with a championship opportunity on the line as a win by UCA would secure the program the 2022 season title. The game pits two of the nation's most explosive offenses against each other as they both rank in the top 20 for total offense (UCA - 15th/444.2 ypg | EKU - 19th/435.9 ypg) and scoring (EKU - 12th/36.1 ppg | UCA - 14th/36.0 ppg). Both EKU and UCA are riding two-game win streaks into the clash.
North Alabama, under the direction of interim head coach Ryan Held, will host Austin Peay for the Lions' first-ever ASUN Conference home game
Kennesaw State, winners of two-straight, will visit No. 15/20 UT-Martin for the Owls' third consecutive non-conference game
Both quarterbacks in the EKU-UCA game have surpassed 2,000 passing yards this season with the Colonels' Parker McKinney at 2,513 yards and the Bears' Will McElvain at 2,013.
BIG SKY
Sacramento State Looks to Continue Big Sky Win Streak -- Sacramento State enters this Saturday's game at Weber State undefeated at 8-0, having won their last 16 games in Big Sky play. The Hornet's last loss came against Weber State (36-17) in Sacramento on Nov. 2, 2019.
Wildcats Take On Another Top 10 Foe -- For the third-straight week, Weber State will play a Top 10 team in the nation, as the Wildcats host No. 3/2 Sacramento State on Saturday. The Wildcats have won 18 of their last 21 home games at Stewart Stadium against Big Sky foes.
UC Davis Red Hot Heading Into November -- Since starting the season at 1-4, UC Davis has won its last three games overall and has scored 50 or more points in each game of the current win streak. The 173 points scored by the Aggies are the most in consecutive games for UC Davis since 2000.
Flowers Moves Up Career Leaderboard for Kick Return TDs -- Malik Flowers earned his sixth kick return for a touchdown last week, as the All-American is now tied for the second-most all-time in FCS history. Weber State's Rashid Shaheed holds the FCS and Big Sky record with seven for his career.
BIG SOUTH
Preseason Big South favorite North Carolina A&T and Gardner-Webb are tied at the top of the Big South standings at 3-0. The Aggies are 3-0 in Big South games for the first time, while the Runnin’ Bulldogs are 3-0 for the first time since their 2003 Big South Championship run, and third time overall. The teams each have a league game prior to their meeting in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 19. Meanwhile, starting 3-0 in Big South action has proven to be a catalyst to a league title, as the past six outright/shared Big South champions started conference play 3-0.
North Carolina A&T RB BHAYSHUL TUTEN rushed for a career-high 256 yards this past Saturday against Campbell -- the second-most in a conference game and the third-highest overall single-game total in Big South history. He is the Big South’s leading rusher with 1,032 yards -- 1,012 of which have come in his past seven games (144.6 average) and all seven have been 100-yard rushing efforts. He is the first Big South rusher with seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Liberty’s RASHAD JENNINGS’ record string of 10 games across the 2007-2008 seasons, and is the third-longest such streak in league history (second-longest is nine by Liberty’s EUGENE GOODMAN). Tuten’s week-by-week total during his seven game streak = 127-133-140-114-103-139-256. His current season average of 129.0 rushing yards per game is pacing as the fourth-highest in a single-season in the conference record book.
Bryant QB ZEVI ECKHAUS passed for a Big South single-game record 450 yards this past Saturday at Gardner-Webb, bettering the old mark of 447 that was held by Liberty’s STEPHEN CALVERT against Baylor in the 2017 season opener. It was Eckhaus’ third consecutive game with at least 300 passing yards -- tying that Big South record, while his 59 pass attempts were the most in a league contest and third-highest overall single-game total.
Bryant QB ZEVI ECKHAUS and Campbell QB HAJJ-MALIK WILLIAMS each amassed 482 yards of offense in their respective games last week -- tied for the second-most in a game in Big South history, and 12 yards shy of the single-game record of 494 (Liberty’s MIKE BROWN vs. Stony Brook in 2010). Eckhaus’ breakdown was 450 P, 32 R, while Williams’ totals were 426 P, 56 R.
CAA
TOP 25 MATCHUP HEADLINES WEEK 10 SCHEDULE: A big Top 25 matchup between #17 New Hampshire and #14 Richmond headlines the seven-game CAA slate in Week 10. The Wildcats are atop the CAA standings at 5-0, while the Spiders are a game back at 4-1. Other conference matchups include Towson hosting Villanova, Monmouth at Delaware, Elon entertaining UAlbany, Maine visiting Rhode Island and William & Mary making the short trip to Hampton. Stony Brook hosts Morgan State in non-conference play.
THE RACE IS ON: The race for the CAA title is the most competitive in FCS with seven teams packed within two games of the lead entering Week 10. New Hampshire is on top of the standings at 5-0, followed by Richmond and William & Mary at 4-1. Elon sits 4th at 4-2, and Delaware, Rhode Island and Villanova are tied at 3-2. Seven CAA teams also have winning overall records, which is tied with the Missouri Valley for the most in FCS.
GETTING IT DONE ON THE GROUND: Six of the top 26 rushers in FCS play in the CAA. MU's Jaden Shirden leads the nation at 151.7 ypg, UNH's Dylan Laube and W&M's Bronson Yoder are tied for 14th (103.4 ypg), URI's Marques DeShields (99.5 ypg) is 16th, EU's Jalen Hampton is 20th (95.6 ypg) and UA's Todd Sibley is 26th (89.2 ypg). Twenty different CAA players have run for at least 100 yards in a game this season, with Shirden (3) and Laube (1) having topped 200 yards.
IVY
This weekend’s four-game Ivy League football slate kicks off Saturday at noon ET with Brown-Yale and will be followed by Penn-Cornell, Dartmouth-Princeton and Columbia-Harvard all starting at 1 p.m. ET. All contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.
No. 17 Princeton now sits alone atop the Ivy League standings with 4-0 record. The Tigers are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the FCS and are owners of the longest win streak in the FCS with nine consecutive dating back to last year. Harvard, Penn and Yale all sit one game behind the Tigers at 3-1 in conference play. There are still four remaining matchups that pit teams currently in the top four of standings against each other.
The league closed out non-conference with a collective record of 19-5 (.791). Since 2010, Ivies own a mark of 177-111 (.615) in non-conference play.
MEAC
Four games are on tap for this Saturday as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters Week 10 of the 2022 football season: two conference match-ups and a pair of non-conference tilts.
Coming off two straight MEAC losses, Norfolk State will face a non-conference opponent this Saturday, traveling to Greensboro, N.C., to take on former conference rival North Carolina A&T State. The Spartans are looking to end a two-game losing streak, having fallen this past Saturday, 49-21 to Howard. The Aggies are undefeated in the Big South and currently maintain a five-game win streak after defeating Campbell for Homecoming 45-38 this past weekend. The Spartans are 9-32 in 43 games against the Aggies, and NCAT bested Norfolk State in the last meeting between the two teams 58-19 in 2019 en route to the MEAC title and the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
Howard has successfully climbed to the top of the MEAC standings and remains undefeated in the conference after last weekend’s 49-21 win at Norfolk State. North Carolina Central, meanwhile, bounced back this past Saturday by spoiling Delaware State’s Homecoming with a 28-21 win at Alumni Stadium. Howard is on a two-game win streak, defeating their last two opponents by more than two touchdowns (49-21 against Norfolk State, 35-17 against Delaware State). The Bison are averaging 42 points per game in conference action, while the Eagles are the MEAC’s top-scoring offense overall, averaging 37.8 points a contest. This will be the 26th time the Eagles and Bison have met, with North Carolina Central leading 15-9-1 (including a nine-game winning streak in the series). Last season, the Eagles defeated the Bison 45-27 at Greene Stadium.
MVFC
In the Metrics -- Nine MVFC teams rank in the Top 34 of the Sagarin football ratings, which includes five of the Top 18, and four in the Top 12. The same nine MVFC schools rank in the Top 37 of the Massey FCS computer rankings. Notably, all 11 MVFC programs rank in the Top 31 of Massey’s Strength of Schedule ratings, which includes South Dakota, which has the FCS’ hardest SOS. The MVFC is the top-rated FCS league in the Sagarin, followed by the Big Sky, ASUN, Southern, CAA, and WAC.
November to Remember? -- Eight of the league’s 11 schools are still in line to win six DI games and post winning records with a shot at entry into the FCS playoffs, which begins Saturday, Nov. 26.
Title Talk -- A win on Saturday would give South Dakota State at least a share of the Conference title and the league’s AQ into the playoffs. If SDSU wins at UNI, it would have a 7-0 league mark with one game (Nov. 12) remaining on its regular-season slate. All league teams but NDSU (4-1 entering this weekend) already have two league losses. A tie at 7-1 between NDSU at SDSU would result in co-champions, but SDSU would earn the AQ since the Jackrabbits had beaten the Bison. An SDSU loss at UNI, coupled with an NDSU loss at Western would guarantee SDSU of at least a co-championship, but not the AQ.
NEC
The Northeast Conference's two undefeated teams remained perfect in conference play after Week 9 action. In the ESPN3 Game of the Week, Saint Francis U (6-2, 5-0 NEC) moved to 5-0 after posting a convincing win at NEC preseason favorite Sacred Heart (4-4, 2-2 NEC), and in the process, clinched the conference's AQ to the FCS Playoffs. Visiting Merrimack (6-2, 5-0 NEC) shut down Stonehill (3-3, 1-3 NEC) for more than 40 minutes to improve to 5-0 in the league with a come-from-behind victory. Central Connecticut (1-7, 1-3 NEC) and LIU (1-7, 1-3 NEC) scored their first victories of the season, defeating Wagner (1-7, 1-3 NEC) and Duquesne (2-6, 1-3 NEC), respectively.
Saint Francis U has caught the eye of national voters, as the Red Flash are receiving votes in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top-25 Poll. Tabbed the Stats Perform FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week, Saint Francis U became the first team in the FCS to clinch an automatic bid to the postseason after Saturday’s 44-14 win at Sacred Heart. Since opening the season with an overtime loss to Akron and a tight defeat to Richmond, the Red Flash have won six straight games. Saint Francis U is also receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll.
The Red Flash have defeated opponents by an average of 26.5 points per game this season. Fueled by sophomore quarterback Cole Doyle, who ranks eighth in the nation in passing efficiency (164.8), the Red Flash are 20th in the FCS in total offense (434.6 yards per game) and 23rd in scoring offense (34.1 ppg). Defensively, Saint Francis U is 10th in the FCS at 17.6 points per game.
Merrimack, which received votes for the first time in the FCS Coaches Poll on Oct. 24, is knocking on the doorstep of the top-25 again this week. The Warriors have won six straight and are undefeated in NEC play with a 5-0 mark.
Three teams hit the gridiron for conference play on Saturday. Sacred Heart heads to Duquesne (12 pm), Wagner travels to Stonehill (1 pm) and Central Connecticut faces LIU on the road on ESPN3 (1 pm). Saint Francis U rounds out the action when it puts its six-game winning streak on the line in a non-conference tilt at Georgetown (12:30 pm).
OVC
UT Martin sophomore defensive end Daylan Dotson was named the FedEx National Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in a 52-28 road win at Houston Christian. He had five tackles, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, one of which was in the end zone and went for a touchdown. He led a Skyhawk defensive unit that forced seven turnovers on the day. UT Martin ranks fourth nationally in interceptions (13) and turnovers gained (20).
Southeast Missouri junior WR Ryan Flournoy had 15 catches for 256 yards and a touchdown in the team’s game with Eastern Kentucky. The 15 catches are tied for the most by a FCS player this season while the 256 receiving yards are tied for the third-most. Flournoy ranks 10th nationally in receiving yards/game (95.1).
Lindenwood topped William Jewell 62-23 to improve to 6-2 on the season and guarantee a winning season in its first year of Division I football. The Lions have two games remaining this season.
PATRIOT
CRUSADERS LOOKING FOR PATRIOT LEAGUE RECORD 4TH STRAIGHT TITLE -- Holy Cross can clinch at least a share of a record fourth straight Patriot League title with a victory over Lehigh on Saturday. A victory would also capture the Patriot League’s AQ to the NCAA DI FCS Championship. The Crusaders are currently tied with Lafayette, who won a share of the League crown from 2004 through 2006.
HOLY CROSS AND FORDHAM CLIMB IN AFCA AND STATS PERFORM FCS TOP-25 POLLS -- Holy Cross climbed one spot in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll to No. 7 while slipping to sixth in the Stats Perform FCS Poll. The Crusaders are the highest ranked League team since Colgate was sixth in the coaches poll on Nov. 11, 2018. The three-time defending champions improved to 8-0 with a dramatic 53-52 overtime victory over Fordham during Week Nine. Fordham fell to No. 18 in the FCS Coaches Poll and slipped two spots in the Stats Perform Poll to No. 24 following their loss at Holy Cross last week.
Fordham Sr. WR Fotis Kokosioulis took over sole possession of sixth place with one touchdown reception vs. Georgetown on Oct. 1. His record-breaking performance of 320 receiving yards and four touchdowns at Ohio University helped him climb into the Patriot League career touchdown receptions top-10. He is second in the PL and eighth in the FCS with eight touchdown receptions through eight games He is also second in the FCS in receiving yards per game (107.6) and second in receptions per game (8.1).
PFL
THE RACE IS ON -- Three weeks remain in the 2022 season and the PFL race still has six teams in contention for the league title and five in the hunt for the league’s automatic bid to the 2022 FCS Playoffs. There will be plenty of action between the league’s leaders in the closing weeks:
Week 10: St. Thomas at Valparaiso | Butler at San Diego
Week 11: Davidson at San Diego
Week 12: St. Thomas at Butler | Dayton at Davidson
BUTLER NOTCHES PROGRAM WIN NO. 600 -- Butler, which has won three-straight games for the first time since 2017, is one win away from its 600th all-time win. They became the 31st current FCS team to record 600 victories.
MARIST’S PARADY GETS 150TH MARIST VICTORY, ON HUNT FOR 150TH FCS WIN -- Marist head coach James Parady picked up his 150th Marist victory in the Red Foxes’ Week 9 home victory against Presbyterian. He is four wins to record 150 career FCS victories. Since the FCS was created in 1978, only 14 head coaches have won 150 or more FCS games, including five active head coaches (see list, page 7). FCS wins are only counted for head coaches when their program is listed as a Division I FCS program by the NCAA.
SOCON
Wofford visits Western Carolina on Saturday for the Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week on select Nexstar affiliates, while league-leading Samford hosts VMI and The Citadel welcomes Chattanooga.
Four SoCon squads are nationally ranked this week. Samford, Mercer, Chattanooga and Furman sit Nos. 10-13 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, in that order, while the Bulldogs are No. 10 in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ top 25 and are directly followed by the Mocs at No. 11 and the Bears at No. 13. The Paladins entered the AFCA poll this week at No. 19.
Resurgent Wofford picked up its second straight win under interim coach Shawn Watson on Oct. 29, outlasting ETSU in a 48-41 slugfest. Quarterback Jimmy Weirick threw for a school-record 409 yards and three touchdowns en route to earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors, Amir Annoor intercepted a pass and returned in 19 yards to the ETSU 12-yard line with 52 seconds left and Nathan Walker scored on a 9-yard rush with 32 ticks left as the Terriers won a thriller.
Western Carolina was idle last week after its 34-21 loss to The Citadel on Oct. 22. The Catamounts got 129 rushing yards from freshman Desmond Reid in the setback, while classmate Cole Gonzales threw for two TDs.
SOUTHLAND
Saturday’s key game in league action will have major implications on the Southland title race, as 3-0 Northwestern State visit 3-1 A&M-Commerce. These teams are meeting for the 30th time, with the Demons holding a 17-10-2 record in the series. The series in Commerce is tied at 4-4-2, dating back to 1926. NSU has won the last four meetings and 10 of the last 11, and will visit Commerce for the first time since 1999.
The UIW Cardinals’ scoring average still ranks second in the nation after their 35-7 win over A&M-Commerce last week. This puts the Cardinals at 443 total points through nine games for an average of 49.2 points, and are still the only FCS team to score over 400 points this season. The Southland record book notes the most total points scored in a season, with Sam Houston scoring 616 points in 15 games in 2015 - an average of 41.1 points per game.
Nicholls running back Julien Gums went over the 3,000-yard career rushing mark in the Colonels’ 40-35 victory over McNeese. Gums currently ranks sixth nationally in FCS in career rushing yards. Entering this week’s action, the senior Walter Payton Award Watch List member has 3,205 career yards, and needs 141 yards to enter the top 10 in the Southland record books.
SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Prairie View A&M's Trazon Connley, Alabama State’s Colton Adams and Jayden John along with Florida A&M’s A.J. Davis its SWAC Football Players of the Week for their exceptional performances during games played this past weekend.
Jackson State is currently ranked at No. 5 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Tigers currently sit at No. 9 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll.
Jackson State currently leads the SWAC in points allowed per game (8.9 ppg). The Tigers also rank 1st in total sacks (30). Jackson State currently leads the SWAC in points per game averaging 40.1 points per contest.
The 2022 Cricket SWAC Football Championship will be carried live on ESPN2 on Saturday, December 3 at 3:00 pm CST.
WAC
ABILENE CHRISTIAN LEADS RACE FOR NCAA AUTOBID IN LATEST ASUN-WAC POWER RANKING -- Stephen F. Austin checked in third in the latest ASUN-WAC Power Ranking that was released on Oct. 31, posting a 0.7151 rating with a 4-1 record in countable games. By way of being the WAC conference leader at 2-0 in conference games, Abilene Christian would earn the NCAA automatic bid with a power ranking of 0.6289 (4-2 countable record) over ASUN leader Central Arkansas (0.5530 power ranking, 4-3 record in countable games). The ASUN-WAC Power Ranking is calculated by bracketologist Warren Nolan utilizing a measure similar to the NCAA RPI to determine the recipient of the automatic bid from the WAC and ASUN for the FCS Playoffs. Countable Games include any scheduled contests against FCS teams eligible for the FCS Championship, any team that is reclassifying to FCS and is in the reclassification process, or any FBS or FBS reclassifying teams. Tarleton, Utah Tech, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State are ineligible for the 2022 FCS Playoffs due to reclassification.
UTAH TECH EARNS FIRST CONFERENCE WIN OF THE YEAR AT NO. 19 SFA -- Utah Tech snapped a five-game losing streak overall on the road at No. 19 Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 29. The Trailblazers spoiled homecoming for the Lumberjacks with a go-ahead touchdown with 47 seconds left and a goal-line stand as time expired for a 47-44 victory. Both teams combined for 48 points in the second half alone, which included three touchdowns in the final 5:21 of the fourth quarter. The clubs also combined for 1,109 yards of total offense and an average of 7.4 yards per scrimmage play.
SAM HOUSTON WIN STREAK EXTENDS TO FIVE -- Sam Houston continued its midseason momentum with a fifth consecutive win, dropping Tarleton 40-21 on the road on Oct. 29. The Bearkats scored 26 unanswered points to open a 33-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on the way to the triumph. Zach Hrbacek erupted for 203 rushing yards on just 20 carries for Sam Houston, averaging 10.2 yards and scoring touchdowns of 80 and 4 yards for the Bearkats. Kavian Gaither logged 12 tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in the victory.
FCS STANDINGS – through Saturday, Oct. 29
ASUN
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Jacksonville St.
3
0
7
2
Won 1
Central Ark.
3
0
4
4
Won 2
Eastern Ky.
1
1
5
3
Won 2
Austin Peay
1
2
5
3
Lost 1
Kennesaw St.
1
2
4
4
Won 2
North Ala.
0
4
1
7
Lost 6
BIG SKY
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Sacramento St.
5
0
8
0
Won 8
Montana St.
5
0
7
1
Won 5
Weber St.
4
1
7
1
Won 1
Idaho
4
1
5
3
Lost 1
UC Davis
3
2
4
4
Won 3
Montana
2
3
5
3
Lost 3
Portland St.
2
3
3
5
Won 1
Northern Ariz.
2
3
3
5
Won 1
Eastern Wash.
1
4
2
6
Lost 1
Northern Colo.
1
4
2
6
Lost 4
Idaho St.
1
4
1
7
Lost 1
Cal Poly
0
5
1
7
Lost 6
BIG SOUTH
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
N.C. A&T
3
0
5
3
Won 5
Gardner-Webb
3
0
4
5
Won 2
Campbell
2
1
4
4
Lost 2
Charleston So.
1
2
1
7
Lost 2
Bryant
0
3
2
6
Lost 2
Robert Morris
0
3
0
8
Lost 8
CAA
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
New Hampshire
5
0
6
2
Won 3
William & Mary
4
1
7
1
Won 4
Richmond
4
1
6
2
Won 3
Elon
4
2
6
3
Won 1
Delaware
3
2
6
2
Lost 1
Rhode Island
3
2
5
3
Lost 1
Villanova
3
2
5
3
Won 2
Maine
2
3
2
6
Lost 2
Monmouth
2
4
4
5
Lost 3
Hampton
1
4
4
4
Lost 2
Towson
1
4
3
5
Won 1
UAlbany
1
4
2
6
Won 1
Stony Brook
1
5
1
7
Lost 1
IVY
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Princeton
4
0
7
0
Won 7
Penn
3
1
6
1
Lost 1
Harvard
3
1
5
2
Won 1
Yale
3
1
5
2
Won 1
Cornell
1
3
4
3
Lost 1
Brown
1
3
3
4
Won 1
Dartmouth
1
3
2
5
Lost 1
Columbia
0
4
3
4
Lost 3
MEAC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Howard
2
0
3
5
Won 2
N.C. Central
2
1
6
2
Won 1
South Carolina St.
1
1
3
5
Lost 1
Delaware St.
1
2
4
4
Lost 2
Morgan St.
1
2
3
5
Won 1
Norfolk St.
1
2
1
7
Lost 2
MVFC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
South Dakota St.
6
0
8
1
Won 8
North Dakota St.
4
1
6
2
Won 1
UNI
4
2
5
4
Won 3
Southern Ill.
4
2
5
4
Lost 2
Youngstown St.
3
2
5
3
Won 3
North Dakota
3
2
5
3
Won 1
Illinois St.
3
2
5
3
Lost 1
Missouri St.
1
4
3
5
Won 1
South Dakota
1
4
2
6
Lost 1
Indiana St.
0
5
1
7
Lost 7
Western Ill.
0
5
0
8
Lost 8
NEC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Merrimack
5
0
7
2
Won 6
Saint Francis (PA)
5
0
6
2
Won 6
Sacred Heart
2
2
4
4
Lost 2
Stonehill
1
3
3
3
Lost 3
Duquesne
1
3
2
6
Lost 1
LIU
1
3
1
7
Won 1
Central Conn. St.
1
3
1
7
Won 1
Wagner
1
3
1
7
Lost 1
OVC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Southeast Mo. St.
2
0
6
2
Lost 1
UT Martin
3
0
5
3
Won 1
Tennessee St.
2
1
3
5
Lost 1
Lindenwood
1
2
6
2
Won 4
Eastern Ill.
1
2
2
6
Lost 3
Tennessee Tech
1
3
2
6
Won 1
Murray St.
1
3
1
8
Won 1
PATRIOT
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Colgate
0
1
1
4
Lost 3
Holy Cross
4
0
8
0
Won 8
Fordham
2
1
6
2
Lost 1
Lafayette
1
2
2
6
Lost 3
Lehigh
1
2
1
7
Lost 6
Georgetown
1
3
2
6
Won 1
Bucknell
1
3
1
7
Lost 1
PFL
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
St. Thomas (MN)
5
0
7
1
Won 7
Davidson
4
1
6
2
Won 2
Butler
4
1
6
2
Won 4
Dayton
4
1
6
2
Won 3
Valparaiso
3
2
4
4
Lost 1
San Diego
2
2
3
4
Lost 1
Marist
3
3
3
5
Won 1
Stetson
1
3
3
4
Lost 3
Morehead St.
1
4
2
6
Lost 3
Drake
1
5
1
8
Won 1
Presbyterian
0
6
1
8
Lost 8
SOCON
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Samford
5
0
7
1
Won 6
Mercer
5
1
7
2
Won 1
Furman
5
1
7
2
Won 4
Chattanooga
4
1
6
2
Lost 1
Wofford
2
3
2
6
Won 2
The Citadel
2
4
2
6
Lost 1
Western Caro.
1
4
3
5
Lost 3
ETSU
1
6
3
6
Lost 3
VMI
0
5
1
7
Lost 6
SOUTHLAND
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Northwestern St.
3
0
3
5
Lost 1
UIW
3
1
8
1
Won 5
Tex. A&M-Commerce
3
1
5
3
Lost 1
Southeastern La.
2
1
5
3
Won 2
Nicholls
2
2
2
7
Lost 1
Houston Christian
1
3
2
6
Lost 4
Lamar University
1
3
1
7
Won 1
McNeese
0
4
1
7
Lost 4
SWAC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
EAST
Jackson St.
5
0
8
0
Won 8
Florida A&M
4
1
6
2
Won 6
Alabama St.
3
2
5
3
Won 2
Alabama A&M
3
2
3
5
Lost 1
Bethune-Cookman
2
3
2
6
Lost 1
Mississippi Val.
0
5
0
8
Lost 8
WEST
Prairie View
4
1
5
3
Won 2
Southern U.
3
2
5
3
Lost 1
Texas Southern
3
2
4
4
Won 3
Alcorn
2
3
3
5
Lost 3
Grambling
1
4
2
6
Won 1
Ark.-Pine Bluff
0
5
2
6
Lost 6
WAC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Abilene Christian
2
0
5
3
Lost 1
SFA
2
1
5
4
Lost 1
Tarleton St.
1
1
5
3
Lost 1
Utah Tech
1
2
2
6
Won 1
Southern Utah
1
3
3
5
Lost 4
Sam Houston
0
0
5
2
Won 5
Mike Kern
Associate Commissioner
Here is a link to this week’s fan/media video (courtesy NCAA staff) -- Click Here (https://youtu.be/4Eqnfi-7RMw)
Previously Released:
Week 1 Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t2VO8-UKY0) | Week 2 Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEm3RT4TeKw&feature=youtu.be) | Week 3 Video (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FnnOgWD9YjMQ&data=05%7C01%7Cthalpin%40ncaa.org%7C58c5926ba3264a 96dc2908da9ca8ef96%7C85a1e95666374b1db6eec72a59ee0 87f%7C0%7C0%7C637994546706429598%7CUnknown%7CTWFpb GZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI 6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yF2DfCSCFM4f6tAz2m1TTudrQSsPxuRvMj%2F09nzRoQ E%3D&reserved=0) | Week 4 Video (https://youtu.be/dVuTLwxZq5w) | Week 5 Video (https://youtu.be/WZ-L97YvEnI) | Week 6 Video (https://youtu.be/43_KI4hRjNY) | Week 7 Video (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F-zlb6edhHLU&data=05%7C01%7Cthalpin%40ncaa.org%7C5d491bd2d7eb43 f0598908dab2b93beb%7C85a1e95666374b1db6eec72a59ee0 87f%7C0%7C0%7C638018805936883269%7CUnknown%7CTWFpb GZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI 6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lpFYNT8pmJCivqxv2wkILtAVqHDbUDKtvnR%2B0E7mmo k%3D&reserved=0) | Week 8 Video (https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FhPdB-arXxbw&data=05%7C01%7Cthalpin%40ncaa.org%7Cb27dee76992a49 5fa2b908dab82716ad%7C85a1e95666374b1db6eec72a59ee0 87f%7C0%7C0%7C638024775308994994%7CUnknown%7CTWFpb GZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI 6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jO3fGqf9kji%2BEipwrB17xV9scPcDV9GVDAJtlZQ%2B ZMk%3D&reserved=0)
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) | AGS Top-25 Rankings -- Click Here (http://thefcswedge.com/ags-poll/ags-poll-week-9-top-25-results-4/FCS) | 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/)
FCS ALL-IN AIRS EVERY FRIDAY ON ESPN+ AT 7 PM ET -- Click To Learn More (https://fcsinsider.com/news/2022/8/25/football-fcs-all-in-debuts-friday-on-espn.aspx)
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.
CRAIG HALEY OF STATS PERFORM PREVIEWS THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS -- Read (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/fcs-football-preview-and-predictions-week-10-games-of-the-week/)
FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/tuten-dotson-saint-francis-headline-fcs-weekly-awards/)
Josh Buchanan’s Top FCS Senior NFL Draft Prospects (article courtesy Stats Perform) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/11/2023-nfl-draft-an-insiders-look-at-leading-fcs-prospects/)
Stats Perform Expands Jerry Rice Award Watch List (Oct. 20) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/25-fcs-freshmen-selected-to-jerry-rice-award-watch-list/)
Stats Perform Expands Walter Payton Award Watch List (Oct. 20) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/twenty-fcs-standouts-join-2022-walter-payton-award-watch-list/)
Stats Perform Expands Buck Buchanan Award Watch List (Oct. 20) -- Click Here (https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/21-fcs-standouts-join-2022-buck-buchanan-award-watch-list/)
There are 4 FCS teams that remain unbeaten heading into this week:
Holy Cross (8-0), Jackson State (8-0), Princeton (7-0), Sacramento State (8-0)
FCS AQs (So Far, thru Oct. 29)
Saint Francis has earned the NEC AQ
FCS Week 10 Viewing Guide (courtesy Sam Herder of HERO Sports): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-week-10-schedule-bzbz/)
HERO Sports 2022 Playoff Predictions (Sam Herder): Click Here (https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-playoff-predictions-6-bzbz/)
Top 25 FCS vs. Top 25 FCS This Week (AFCA Coaches Poll unless noted)
ROAD
HOME
GAME TIME
TV INFO
#3 Sacramento State
# 6 Weber State
1:00 p.m. MT
ESPN+
#21 New Hampshire
#14 Richmond
3:30 p.m. ET
MASN / FloFootball
FBS WINS OVER FBS PROGRAMS – THE FCS HAD 12 SUCH VICTORIES IN 2021 (8 so far 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
ASUN
The Central Arkansas Bears and Eastern Kentucky Colonels will meet in a key ASUN Conference Football matchup with a championship opportunity on the line as a win by UCA would secure the program the 2022 season title. The game pits two of the nation's most explosive offenses against each other as they both rank in the top 20 for total offense (UCA - 15th/444.2 ypg | EKU - 19th/435.9 ypg) and scoring (EKU - 12th/36.1 ppg | UCA - 14th/36.0 ppg). Both EKU and UCA are riding two-game win streaks into the clash.
North Alabama, under the direction of interim head coach Ryan Held, will host Austin Peay for the Lions' first-ever ASUN Conference home game
Kennesaw State, winners of two-straight, will visit No. 15/20 UT-Martin for the Owls' third consecutive non-conference game
Both quarterbacks in the EKU-UCA game have surpassed 2,000 passing yards this season with the Colonels' Parker McKinney at 2,513 yards and the Bears' Will McElvain at 2,013.
BIG SKY
Sacramento State Looks to Continue Big Sky Win Streak -- Sacramento State enters this Saturday's game at Weber State undefeated at 8-0, having won their last 16 games in Big Sky play. The Hornet's last loss came against Weber State (36-17) in Sacramento on Nov. 2, 2019.
Wildcats Take On Another Top 10 Foe -- For the third-straight week, Weber State will play a Top 10 team in the nation, as the Wildcats host No. 3/2 Sacramento State on Saturday. The Wildcats have won 18 of their last 21 home games at Stewart Stadium against Big Sky foes.
UC Davis Red Hot Heading Into November -- Since starting the season at 1-4, UC Davis has won its last three games overall and has scored 50 or more points in each game of the current win streak. The 173 points scored by the Aggies are the most in consecutive games for UC Davis since 2000.
Flowers Moves Up Career Leaderboard for Kick Return TDs -- Malik Flowers earned his sixth kick return for a touchdown last week, as the All-American is now tied for the second-most all-time in FCS history. Weber State's Rashid Shaheed holds the FCS and Big Sky record with seven for his career.
BIG SOUTH
Preseason Big South favorite North Carolina A&T and Gardner-Webb are tied at the top of the Big South standings at 3-0. The Aggies are 3-0 in Big South games for the first time, while the Runnin’ Bulldogs are 3-0 for the first time since their 2003 Big South Championship run, and third time overall. The teams each have a league game prior to their meeting in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 19. Meanwhile, starting 3-0 in Big South action has proven to be a catalyst to a league title, as the past six outright/shared Big South champions started conference play 3-0.
North Carolina A&T RB BHAYSHUL TUTEN rushed for a career-high 256 yards this past Saturday against Campbell -- the second-most in a conference game and the third-highest overall single-game total in Big South history. He is the Big South’s leading rusher with 1,032 yards -- 1,012 of which have come in his past seven games (144.6 average) and all seven have been 100-yard rushing efforts. He is the first Big South rusher with seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Liberty’s RASHAD JENNINGS’ record string of 10 games across the 2007-2008 seasons, and is the third-longest such streak in league history (second-longest is nine by Liberty’s EUGENE GOODMAN). Tuten’s week-by-week total during his seven game streak = 127-133-140-114-103-139-256. His current season average of 129.0 rushing yards per game is pacing as the fourth-highest in a single-season in the conference record book.
Bryant QB ZEVI ECKHAUS passed for a Big South single-game record 450 yards this past Saturday at Gardner-Webb, bettering the old mark of 447 that was held by Liberty’s STEPHEN CALVERT against Baylor in the 2017 season opener. It was Eckhaus’ third consecutive game with at least 300 passing yards -- tying that Big South record, while his 59 pass attempts were the most in a league contest and third-highest overall single-game total.
Bryant QB ZEVI ECKHAUS and Campbell QB HAJJ-MALIK WILLIAMS each amassed 482 yards of offense in their respective games last week -- tied for the second-most in a game in Big South history, and 12 yards shy of the single-game record of 494 (Liberty’s MIKE BROWN vs. Stony Brook in 2010). Eckhaus’ breakdown was 450 P, 32 R, while Williams’ totals were 426 P, 56 R.
CAA
TOP 25 MATCHUP HEADLINES WEEK 10 SCHEDULE: A big Top 25 matchup between #17 New Hampshire and #14 Richmond headlines the seven-game CAA slate in Week 10. The Wildcats are atop the CAA standings at 5-0, while the Spiders are a game back at 4-1. Other conference matchups include Towson hosting Villanova, Monmouth at Delaware, Elon entertaining UAlbany, Maine visiting Rhode Island and William & Mary making the short trip to Hampton. Stony Brook hosts Morgan State in non-conference play.
THE RACE IS ON: The race for the CAA title is the most competitive in FCS with seven teams packed within two games of the lead entering Week 10. New Hampshire is on top of the standings at 5-0, followed by Richmond and William & Mary at 4-1. Elon sits 4th at 4-2, and Delaware, Rhode Island and Villanova are tied at 3-2. Seven CAA teams also have winning overall records, which is tied with the Missouri Valley for the most in FCS.
GETTING IT DONE ON THE GROUND: Six of the top 26 rushers in FCS play in the CAA. MU's Jaden Shirden leads the nation at 151.7 ypg, UNH's Dylan Laube and W&M's Bronson Yoder are tied for 14th (103.4 ypg), URI's Marques DeShields (99.5 ypg) is 16th, EU's Jalen Hampton is 20th (95.6 ypg) and UA's Todd Sibley is 26th (89.2 ypg). Twenty different CAA players have run for at least 100 yards in a game this season, with Shirden (3) and Laube (1) having topped 200 yards.
IVY
This weekend’s four-game Ivy League football slate kicks off Saturday at noon ET with Brown-Yale and will be followed by Penn-Cornell, Dartmouth-Princeton and Columbia-Harvard all starting at 1 p.m. ET. All contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.
No. 17 Princeton now sits alone atop the Ivy League standings with 4-0 record. The Tigers are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the FCS and are owners of the longest win streak in the FCS with nine consecutive dating back to last year. Harvard, Penn and Yale all sit one game behind the Tigers at 3-1 in conference play. There are still four remaining matchups that pit teams currently in the top four of standings against each other.
The league closed out non-conference with a collective record of 19-5 (.791). Since 2010, Ivies own a mark of 177-111 (.615) in non-conference play.
MEAC
Four games are on tap for this Saturday as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters Week 10 of the 2022 football season: two conference match-ups and a pair of non-conference tilts.
Coming off two straight MEAC losses, Norfolk State will face a non-conference opponent this Saturday, traveling to Greensboro, N.C., to take on former conference rival North Carolina A&T State. The Spartans are looking to end a two-game losing streak, having fallen this past Saturday, 49-21 to Howard. The Aggies are undefeated in the Big South and currently maintain a five-game win streak after defeating Campbell for Homecoming 45-38 this past weekend. The Spartans are 9-32 in 43 games against the Aggies, and NCAT bested Norfolk State in the last meeting between the two teams 58-19 in 2019 en route to the MEAC title and the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
Howard has successfully climbed to the top of the MEAC standings and remains undefeated in the conference after last weekend’s 49-21 win at Norfolk State. North Carolina Central, meanwhile, bounced back this past Saturday by spoiling Delaware State’s Homecoming with a 28-21 win at Alumni Stadium. Howard is on a two-game win streak, defeating their last two opponents by more than two touchdowns (49-21 against Norfolk State, 35-17 against Delaware State). The Bison are averaging 42 points per game in conference action, while the Eagles are the MEAC’s top-scoring offense overall, averaging 37.8 points a contest. This will be the 26th time the Eagles and Bison have met, with North Carolina Central leading 15-9-1 (including a nine-game winning streak in the series). Last season, the Eagles defeated the Bison 45-27 at Greene Stadium.
MVFC
In the Metrics -- Nine MVFC teams rank in the Top 34 of the Sagarin football ratings, which includes five of the Top 18, and four in the Top 12. The same nine MVFC schools rank in the Top 37 of the Massey FCS computer rankings. Notably, all 11 MVFC programs rank in the Top 31 of Massey’s Strength of Schedule ratings, which includes South Dakota, which has the FCS’ hardest SOS. The MVFC is the top-rated FCS league in the Sagarin, followed by the Big Sky, ASUN, Southern, CAA, and WAC.
November to Remember? -- Eight of the league’s 11 schools are still in line to win six DI games and post winning records with a shot at entry into the FCS playoffs, which begins Saturday, Nov. 26.
Title Talk -- A win on Saturday would give South Dakota State at least a share of the Conference title and the league’s AQ into the playoffs. If SDSU wins at UNI, it would have a 7-0 league mark with one game (Nov. 12) remaining on its regular-season slate. All league teams but NDSU (4-1 entering this weekend) already have two league losses. A tie at 7-1 between NDSU at SDSU would result in co-champions, but SDSU would earn the AQ since the Jackrabbits had beaten the Bison. An SDSU loss at UNI, coupled with an NDSU loss at Western would guarantee SDSU of at least a co-championship, but not the AQ.
NEC
The Northeast Conference's two undefeated teams remained perfect in conference play after Week 9 action. In the ESPN3 Game of the Week, Saint Francis U (6-2, 5-0 NEC) moved to 5-0 after posting a convincing win at NEC preseason favorite Sacred Heart (4-4, 2-2 NEC), and in the process, clinched the conference's AQ to the FCS Playoffs. Visiting Merrimack (6-2, 5-0 NEC) shut down Stonehill (3-3, 1-3 NEC) for more than 40 minutes to improve to 5-0 in the league with a come-from-behind victory. Central Connecticut (1-7, 1-3 NEC) and LIU (1-7, 1-3 NEC) scored their first victories of the season, defeating Wagner (1-7, 1-3 NEC) and Duquesne (2-6, 1-3 NEC), respectively.
Saint Francis U has caught the eye of national voters, as the Red Flash are receiving votes in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top-25 Poll. Tabbed the Stats Perform FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week, Saint Francis U became the first team in the FCS to clinch an automatic bid to the postseason after Saturday’s 44-14 win at Sacred Heart. Since opening the season with an overtime loss to Akron and a tight defeat to Richmond, the Red Flash have won six straight games. Saint Francis U is also receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll.
The Red Flash have defeated opponents by an average of 26.5 points per game this season. Fueled by sophomore quarterback Cole Doyle, who ranks eighth in the nation in passing efficiency (164.8), the Red Flash are 20th in the FCS in total offense (434.6 yards per game) and 23rd in scoring offense (34.1 ppg). Defensively, Saint Francis U is 10th in the FCS at 17.6 points per game.
Merrimack, which received votes for the first time in the FCS Coaches Poll on Oct. 24, is knocking on the doorstep of the top-25 again this week. The Warriors have won six straight and are undefeated in NEC play with a 5-0 mark.
Three teams hit the gridiron for conference play on Saturday. Sacred Heart heads to Duquesne (12 pm), Wagner travels to Stonehill (1 pm) and Central Connecticut faces LIU on the road on ESPN3 (1 pm). Saint Francis U rounds out the action when it puts its six-game winning streak on the line in a non-conference tilt at Georgetown (12:30 pm).
OVC
UT Martin sophomore defensive end Daylan Dotson was named the FedEx National Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in a 52-28 road win at Houston Christian. He had five tackles, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, one of which was in the end zone and went for a touchdown. He led a Skyhawk defensive unit that forced seven turnovers on the day. UT Martin ranks fourth nationally in interceptions (13) and turnovers gained (20).
Southeast Missouri junior WR Ryan Flournoy had 15 catches for 256 yards and a touchdown in the team’s game with Eastern Kentucky. The 15 catches are tied for the most by a FCS player this season while the 256 receiving yards are tied for the third-most. Flournoy ranks 10th nationally in receiving yards/game (95.1).
Lindenwood topped William Jewell 62-23 to improve to 6-2 on the season and guarantee a winning season in its first year of Division I football. The Lions have two games remaining this season.
PATRIOT
CRUSADERS LOOKING FOR PATRIOT LEAGUE RECORD 4TH STRAIGHT TITLE -- Holy Cross can clinch at least a share of a record fourth straight Patriot League title with a victory over Lehigh on Saturday. A victory would also capture the Patriot League’s AQ to the NCAA DI FCS Championship. The Crusaders are currently tied with Lafayette, who won a share of the League crown from 2004 through 2006.
HOLY CROSS AND FORDHAM CLIMB IN AFCA AND STATS PERFORM FCS TOP-25 POLLS -- Holy Cross climbed one spot in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll to No. 7 while slipping to sixth in the Stats Perform FCS Poll. The Crusaders are the highest ranked League team since Colgate was sixth in the coaches poll on Nov. 11, 2018. The three-time defending champions improved to 8-0 with a dramatic 53-52 overtime victory over Fordham during Week Nine. Fordham fell to No. 18 in the FCS Coaches Poll and slipped two spots in the Stats Perform Poll to No. 24 following their loss at Holy Cross last week.
Fordham Sr. WR Fotis Kokosioulis took over sole possession of sixth place with one touchdown reception vs. Georgetown on Oct. 1. His record-breaking performance of 320 receiving yards and four touchdowns at Ohio University helped him climb into the Patriot League career touchdown receptions top-10. He is second in the PL and eighth in the FCS with eight touchdown receptions through eight games He is also second in the FCS in receiving yards per game (107.6) and second in receptions per game (8.1).
PFL
THE RACE IS ON -- Three weeks remain in the 2022 season and the PFL race still has six teams in contention for the league title and five in the hunt for the league’s automatic bid to the 2022 FCS Playoffs. There will be plenty of action between the league’s leaders in the closing weeks:
Week 10: St. Thomas at Valparaiso | Butler at San Diego
Week 11: Davidson at San Diego
Week 12: St. Thomas at Butler | Dayton at Davidson
BUTLER NOTCHES PROGRAM WIN NO. 600 -- Butler, which has won three-straight games for the first time since 2017, is one win away from its 600th all-time win. They became the 31st current FCS team to record 600 victories.
MARIST’S PARADY GETS 150TH MARIST VICTORY, ON HUNT FOR 150TH FCS WIN -- Marist head coach James Parady picked up his 150th Marist victory in the Red Foxes’ Week 9 home victory against Presbyterian. He is four wins to record 150 career FCS victories. Since the FCS was created in 1978, only 14 head coaches have won 150 or more FCS games, including five active head coaches (see list, page 7). FCS wins are only counted for head coaches when their program is listed as a Division I FCS program by the NCAA.
SOCON
Wofford visits Western Carolina on Saturday for the Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week on select Nexstar affiliates, while league-leading Samford hosts VMI and The Citadel welcomes Chattanooga.
Four SoCon squads are nationally ranked this week. Samford, Mercer, Chattanooga and Furman sit Nos. 10-13 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, in that order, while the Bulldogs are No. 10 in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ top 25 and are directly followed by the Mocs at No. 11 and the Bears at No. 13. The Paladins entered the AFCA poll this week at No. 19.
Resurgent Wofford picked up its second straight win under interim coach Shawn Watson on Oct. 29, outlasting ETSU in a 48-41 slugfest. Quarterback Jimmy Weirick threw for a school-record 409 yards and three touchdowns en route to earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors, Amir Annoor intercepted a pass and returned in 19 yards to the ETSU 12-yard line with 52 seconds left and Nathan Walker scored on a 9-yard rush with 32 ticks left as the Terriers won a thriller.
Western Carolina was idle last week after its 34-21 loss to The Citadel on Oct. 22. The Catamounts got 129 rushing yards from freshman Desmond Reid in the setback, while classmate Cole Gonzales threw for two TDs.
SOUTHLAND
Saturday’s key game in league action will have major implications on the Southland title race, as 3-0 Northwestern State visit 3-1 A&M-Commerce. These teams are meeting for the 30th time, with the Demons holding a 17-10-2 record in the series. The series in Commerce is tied at 4-4-2, dating back to 1926. NSU has won the last four meetings and 10 of the last 11, and will visit Commerce for the first time since 1999.
The UIW Cardinals’ scoring average still ranks second in the nation after their 35-7 win over A&M-Commerce last week. This puts the Cardinals at 443 total points through nine games for an average of 49.2 points, and are still the only FCS team to score over 400 points this season. The Southland record book notes the most total points scored in a season, with Sam Houston scoring 616 points in 15 games in 2015 - an average of 41.1 points per game.
Nicholls running back Julien Gums went over the 3,000-yard career rushing mark in the Colonels’ 40-35 victory over McNeese. Gums currently ranks sixth nationally in FCS in career rushing yards. Entering this week’s action, the senior Walter Payton Award Watch List member has 3,205 career yards, and needs 141 yards to enter the top 10 in the Southland record books.
SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Prairie View A&M's Trazon Connley, Alabama State’s Colton Adams and Jayden John along with Florida A&M’s A.J. Davis its SWAC Football Players of the Week for their exceptional performances during games played this past weekend.
Jackson State is currently ranked at No. 5 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Tigers currently sit at No. 9 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll.
Jackson State currently leads the SWAC in points allowed per game (8.9 ppg). The Tigers also rank 1st in total sacks (30). Jackson State currently leads the SWAC in points per game averaging 40.1 points per contest.
The 2022 Cricket SWAC Football Championship will be carried live on ESPN2 on Saturday, December 3 at 3:00 pm CST.
WAC
ABILENE CHRISTIAN LEADS RACE FOR NCAA AUTOBID IN LATEST ASUN-WAC POWER RANKING -- Stephen F. Austin checked in third in the latest ASUN-WAC Power Ranking that was released on Oct. 31, posting a 0.7151 rating with a 4-1 record in countable games. By way of being the WAC conference leader at 2-0 in conference games, Abilene Christian would earn the NCAA automatic bid with a power ranking of 0.6289 (4-2 countable record) over ASUN leader Central Arkansas (0.5530 power ranking, 4-3 record in countable games). The ASUN-WAC Power Ranking is calculated by bracketologist Warren Nolan utilizing a measure similar to the NCAA RPI to determine the recipient of the automatic bid from the WAC and ASUN for the FCS Playoffs. Countable Games include any scheduled contests against FCS teams eligible for the FCS Championship, any team that is reclassifying to FCS and is in the reclassification process, or any FBS or FBS reclassifying teams. Tarleton, Utah Tech, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State are ineligible for the 2022 FCS Playoffs due to reclassification.
UTAH TECH EARNS FIRST CONFERENCE WIN OF THE YEAR AT NO. 19 SFA -- Utah Tech snapped a five-game losing streak overall on the road at No. 19 Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 29. The Trailblazers spoiled homecoming for the Lumberjacks with a go-ahead touchdown with 47 seconds left and a goal-line stand as time expired for a 47-44 victory. Both teams combined for 48 points in the second half alone, which included three touchdowns in the final 5:21 of the fourth quarter. The clubs also combined for 1,109 yards of total offense and an average of 7.4 yards per scrimmage play.
SAM HOUSTON WIN STREAK EXTENDS TO FIVE -- Sam Houston continued its midseason momentum with a fifth consecutive win, dropping Tarleton 40-21 on the road on Oct. 29. The Bearkats scored 26 unanswered points to open a 33-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on the way to the triumph. Zach Hrbacek erupted for 203 rushing yards on just 20 carries for Sam Houston, averaging 10.2 yards and scoring touchdowns of 80 and 4 yards for the Bearkats. Kavian Gaither logged 12 tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in the victory.
FCS STANDINGS – through Saturday, Oct. 29
ASUN
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Jacksonville St.
3
0
7
2
Won 1
Central Ark.
3
0
4
4
Won 2
Eastern Ky.
1
1
5
3
Won 2
Austin Peay
1
2
5
3
Lost 1
Kennesaw St.
1
2
4
4
Won 2
North Ala.
0
4
1
7
Lost 6
BIG SKY
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Sacramento St.
5
0
8
0
Won 8
Montana St.
5
0
7
1
Won 5
Weber St.
4
1
7
1
Won 1
Idaho
4
1
5
3
Lost 1
UC Davis
3
2
4
4
Won 3
Montana
2
3
5
3
Lost 3
Portland St.
2
3
3
5
Won 1
Northern Ariz.
2
3
3
5
Won 1
Eastern Wash.
1
4
2
6
Lost 1
Northern Colo.
1
4
2
6
Lost 4
Idaho St.
1
4
1
7
Lost 1
Cal Poly
0
5
1
7
Lost 6
BIG SOUTH
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
N.C. A&T
3
0
5
3
Won 5
Gardner-Webb
3
0
4
5
Won 2
Campbell
2
1
4
4
Lost 2
Charleston So.
1
2
1
7
Lost 2
Bryant
0
3
2
6
Lost 2
Robert Morris
0
3
0
8
Lost 8
CAA
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
New Hampshire
5
0
6
2
Won 3
William & Mary
4
1
7
1
Won 4
Richmond
4
1
6
2
Won 3
Elon
4
2
6
3
Won 1
Delaware
3
2
6
2
Lost 1
Rhode Island
3
2
5
3
Lost 1
Villanova
3
2
5
3
Won 2
Maine
2
3
2
6
Lost 2
Monmouth
2
4
4
5
Lost 3
Hampton
1
4
4
4
Lost 2
Towson
1
4
3
5
Won 1
UAlbany
1
4
2
6
Won 1
Stony Brook
1
5
1
7
Lost 1
IVY
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Princeton
4
0
7
0
Won 7
Penn
3
1
6
1
Lost 1
Harvard
3
1
5
2
Won 1
Yale
3
1
5
2
Won 1
Cornell
1
3
4
3
Lost 1
Brown
1
3
3
4
Won 1
Dartmouth
1
3
2
5
Lost 1
Columbia
0
4
3
4
Lost 3
MEAC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Howard
2
0
3
5
Won 2
N.C. Central
2
1
6
2
Won 1
South Carolina St.
1
1
3
5
Lost 1
Delaware St.
1
2
4
4
Lost 2
Morgan St.
1
2
3
5
Won 1
Norfolk St.
1
2
1
7
Lost 2
MVFC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
South Dakota St.
6
0
8
1
Won 8
North Dakota St.
4
1
6
2
Won 1
UNI
4
2
5
4
Won 3
Southern Ill.
4
2
5
4
Lost 2
Youngstown St.
3
2
5
3
Won 3
North Dakota
3
2
5
3
Won 1
Illinois St.
3
2
5
3
Lost 1
Missouri St.
1
4
3
5
Won 1
South Dakota
1
4
2
6
Lost 1
Indiana St.
0
5
1
7
Lost 7
Western Ill.
0
5
0
8
Lost 8
NEC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Merrimack
5
0
7
2
Won 6
Saint Francis (PA)
5
0
6
2
Won 6
Sacred Heart
2
2
4
4
Lost 2
Stonehill
1
3
3
3
Lost 3
Duquesne
1
3
2
6
Lost 1
LIU
1
3
1
7
Won 1
Central Conn. St.
1
3
1
7
Won 1
Wagner
1
3
1
7
Lost 1
OVC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Southeast Mo. St.
2
0
6
2
Lost 1
UT Martin
3
0
5
3
Won 1
Tennessee St.
2
1
3
5
Lost 1
Lindenwood
1
2
6
2
Won 4
Eastern Ill.
1
2
2
6
Lost 3
Tennessee Tech
1
3
2
6
Won 1
Murray St.
1
3
1
8
Won 1
PATRIOT
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Colgate
0
1
1
4
Lost 3
Holy Cross
4
0
8
0
Won 8
Fordham
2
1
6
2
Lost 1
Lafayette
1
2
2
6
Lost 3
Lehigh
1
2
1
7
Lost 6
Georgetown
1
3
2
6
Won 1
Bucknell
1
3
1
7
Lost 1
PFL
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
St. Thomas (MN)
5
0
7
1
Won 7
Davidson
4
1
6
2
Won 2
Butler
4
1
6
2
Won 4
Dayton
4
1
6
2
Won 3
Valparaiso
3
2
4
4
Lost 1
San Diego
2
2
3
4
Lost 1
Marist
3
3
3
5
Won 1
Stetson
1
3
3
4
Lost 3
Morehead St.
1
4
2
6
Lost 3
Drake
1
5
1
8
Won 1
Presbyterian
0
6
1
8
Lost 8
SOCON
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Samford
5
0
7
1
Won 6
Mercer
5
1
7
2
Won 1
Furman
5
1
7
2
Won 4
Chattanooga
4
1
6
2
Lost 1
Wofford
2
3
2
6
Won 2
The Citadel
2
4
2
6
Lost 1
Western Caro.
1
4
3
5
Lost 3
ETSU
1
6
3
6
Lost 3
VMI
0
5
1
7
Lost 6
SOUTHLAND
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Northwestern St.
3
0
3
5
Lost 1
UIW
3
1
8
1
Won 5
Tex. A&M-Commerce
3
1
5
3
Lost 1
Southeastern La.
2
1
5
3
Won 2
Nicholls
2
2
2
7
Lost 1
Houston Christian
1
3
2
6
Lost 4
Lamar University
1
3
1
7
Won 1
McNeese
0
4
1
7
Lost 4
SWAC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
EAST
Jackson St.
5
0
8
0
Won 8
Florida A&M
4
1
6
2
Won 6
Alabama St.
3
2
5
3
Won 2
Alabama A&M
3
2
3
5
Lost 1
Bethune-Cookman
2
3
2
6
Lost 1
Mississippi Val.
0
5
0
8
Lost 8
WEST
Prairie View
4
1
5
3
Won 2
Southern U.
3
2
5
3
Lost 1
Texas Southern
3
2
4
4
Won 3
Alcorn
2
3
3
5
Lost 3
Grambling
1
4
2
6
Won 1
Ark.-Pine Bluff
0
5
2
6
Lost 6
WAC
LEAGUE
OVERALL
W
L
W
L
STREAK
Abilene Christian
2
0
5
3
Lost 1
SFA
2
1
5
4
Lost 1
Tarleton St.
1
1
5
3
Lost 1
Utah Tech
1
2
2
6
Won 1
Southern Utah
1
3
3
5
Lost 4
Sam Houston
0
0
5
2
Won 5
Mike Kern
Associate Commissioner