A pair of Top 10 matchups (one in the Big Sky, one in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) highlight this weekend's games.
Craig Haley's Take: First place in the MVFC is on the line. SDSU holds either a 56-53-7 or 56-52-7 all-time lead (yes, depending on the school) in a rivalry that dates to 1889. The defending national champion Jackrabbits posted a 28-3 victory last season as part of their 21-game winning streak, which is tied for the eighth-longest in FCS history. Columbia ranks first in the subdivision in fewest points allowed per game (12.3), but then it’s SDSU (12.6) second and USD (14.4) third. The ‘Rabbits will mix the run of Isaiah Davis (19 career games with 100+ rushing yards) with the pass of QB Mark Gronowski (16 TD passes, FCS-best 181.0 passing efficiency). Coyotes QB Aidan Bouman (10 TDs to one interception) also has benefited from strong pass protection to play with consistency. A missing link last year due to injury, RB Travis Theis is coming off his third 100+ game of the season.
Montana State vs. Idaho -- This is the first meeting when both teams are nationally ranked (45 overall, 12 on FCS level). MSU is facing back-to-back top-10 opponents on the road following a win at Sacramento State. The Bobcats, who so capably utilize two QBs in Tommy Mellott and Sean Chambers, lead the FCS in rushing yards per game (325.6). Idaho, coming off a bye following a home loss to Montana, is minus-three in turnover margin in each of its two losses. The Vandals, behind QB Gevani McCoy, seek ball control, as they average a Big Sky-best 33 minutes, 26 seconds (also ninth in the FCS).
Northwestern State University announced on October 26 that it has canceled the remainder of the 2023 football season due to the recent passing of junior safety, Ronnie Caldwell. The school cites the mental health and well-being of its student-athletes as the primary reason for its decision.
With a new episode each Wednesday, “FCS Delivered” goes inside the action and news across the subdivision. Two-time Super Bowl champion Gary Reasons and national FCS writer Craig Haley have plenty to talk about and debate, including the latest Top 25 poll, weekly awards winners, and key matchups. The show also features “FCS National Awards on Campus,” Reasons’ weekly visit and presentation with a national player or team of the week. FCS Delivered, presented by FedEx Ground, is available on TheAnalyst.com, YouTube and podcast platforms.
FCS ALL-IN is produced by Big Sky Conference staff in collaboration with communications directors and video managers at all FCS Conferences -- features Craig Haley (Stats Perform) and Sam Herder (HERO Sports) with host Alex Eschelman. It's available on YouTube this week.
BIG SKY CONFERENCE
- No. 2 Montana State visits the Kibbie Dome this Saturday, as the Bobcats will face off against another Top-10 foe when they take on No. 9 Idaho. Despite first meeting in 1905, the Bobcats and Vandals have faced off just four times this century with the two playing in 2000, 2016, 2018 and 2021. The Bobcats, who own a 2-1 record against Top-10 teams on the road this season, will attempt to better that mark as they face No. 9 Idaho this Saturday. Montana State will potentially have five road games against Top 10 opponents in 2023 overall, as the Bobcats travel to Missoula to face current No. 7 Montana to close out the regular-season.
- Dam Cup Up for Grabs in Portland -- Portland State welcomes Eastern Washington this Saturday, as the Vikings seek to defend the Dam Cup after snapping a five-game skid in the series last season. Started in 2010, the Dam Cup refers to the four dams linking Oregon and Washington that you’ll pass on the 339-mile journey between the two campuses. This will be the 33rd consecutive season that Portland State and EWU have met (PSU opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
- Big Sky Slate Features 10 Ranked Matchups -- The Big Sky slate will potentially feature 10 ranked matchups between league foes in 2023. Three of the four ranked vs. ranked games remaining in the Big Sky pit two Top 10 teams, as #2 Montana State, #6 Sacramento State, #7 Montana and #9 Idaho are all featured in those games.
- Montana's Hauck on the Verge of History -- Head coach Bobby Hauck has 122 career victories during his time at Montana (2003-09, 2018-present), which ranks second in the league for all-time wins, sitting behind Jerome Souers’ 123 while he coached at Northern Arizona (1998-18). Hauck is also nearing the all-time wins mark for conference victories as well, with the Montana coach ranking third with his 70 Big Sky wins.
BIG SOUTH-OVC FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
- UT Martin and Southeast Missouri are atop the Association standings at 3-0 each. It is the Skyhawks’ third-straight year opening conference play 3-0, while the Redhawks are 3-0 for the second consecutive season. UTM has won 8-straight conference games, while SEMO has a 9-game win streak in league contests, dating back to the 2021 season finale. The teams will go head-to-head on Nov. 11 in Martin.
- Several Association records were set last week: Most rushing TD (4 – Tennessee State’s Jordan Gant); Most rushing TD by a QB (3 – Eastern Illinois’ Pierce Holley); Longest TD rush (88 – Gardner-Webb’s Jayden Brown); Most receiving yards (203 – Southeast Missouri’s Ryan Flournoy); Longest TD pass reception (89 - Flournoy), Most sacks (4 – Tennessee State’s Terrell Allen); and Longest punt (70 – UT Martin’s Aidan Laros).
- Gardner-Webb hosts UT Martin Saturday, and GWU carries a five-game home win streak into the contest -- including an average 37.2 points during the streak. Meanwhile, GWU RB Narii Gaither is eighth all-time in Big South Conference history with 2,930 career rushing yards, and needs 70 to become just the seventh Big South player with 3,000 in his career. Gaither is the all-time leader for career receptions by a Big South running back with 93. His 782 career receiving yards are second among Big South RBs all-time -- just 38 away from breaking the record of 819.
- Of the 12 Association-conference games played thus far, 10 have been won by the home team, while the overall average margin of victory is 14.33 points. Four contests have been one-possession decisions -- including three by two points or less, while two match-ups have gone into overtime. The 12 games have combined for 520 points, for a per-game average of 43.33 points scored.
CAA FOOTBALL
- SEVERAL BIG CONFERENCE MATCHUPS IN WEEK 9: There is a full slate of conference games on the Week 9 schedule. First-place Delaware takes a 5-game winning streak to Towson, which has already beaten two ranked opponents this season. Richmond, which has won three in a row, hosts a Campbell squad that is 3-1 on the road. Villanova has won two straight as it entertains Stony Brook, while UAlbany travels to Maine. Monmouth heads to William & Mary, Rhode Island welcomes New Hampshire and Hampton takes on North Carolina A&T for Homecoming.
- BLOCK THAT KICK: New Hampshire blocked its ninth kick last Saturday, which not only leads FCS, but is five more than any other team in the nation. The FCS record for blocked kicks in a season is 13, set by Davidson in 1999.
- CONTROLLING THE CLOCK: Towson controlled the ball for 24:17 in the second half of its 34-24 win at #12 William & Mary last Saturday. Much of that came during a 22-play, 82-yard TD drive to start the second half that ate up 11:36 on the clock.
- DOUBLE PICK SIX: Richmond tied a CAA single-game record by returning two interceptions for touchdowns at North Carolina A&T last Saturday. The Spiders lead the nation with 20 turnovers gained and rank second in FCS with 12 interceptions.
- NO HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Of the 33 conference games played so far this season, 17 have been won by the road team and only 16 by the home team.
IVY LEAGUE
- Ivy League football begins under the light Friday evening af Franklin Field in Philadelphia with Brown taking on Penn on ESPNU. Brown alum Dennis Coleman (’75) and Penn alum Martin Vaughn (’75) will be honored prior to the game. The two were the first black quarterbacks to start against in other in an Ivy League football game, and one of the first such matchups in the history of major college football. Saturday's slate consists of three league games.
- There are currently five teams tied at the top of the league standings at 2-1: Harvard, Penn, Cornell, Dartmouth and Princeton. Brown and Yale are just one game behind at 1-2.
- Of the 12 league games played this season, eight have been decided by a single possession. Six have been decided by three or fewer points. Last season, 16 of the 28 league games were decided by one possession.
MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
- Thursday night football did not disappoint as the 2022 Celebration Bowl Champions No. 10/13 Eagles of North Carolina Central commanded the field in a 62-28 victory over the 2021 Celebration Bowl Champions the Bulldogs of Soth Carolina State.
- Senior quarterback Davius Richard threw for 352 yards completing 18 of 27 pass attempts for five touchdowns and ran for 26 yards with a pair of rushing TD's. Four different receivers caught five touchdown passes from Richard led by J'Mari Taylor with two scoring receptions and 100 total yards.
- Howard senior safety Kenny Gallop Jr. collected FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honors as announced by FCS | The Analyst on Monday. Gallop Jr. helped the Bison defeat the Spartans of Norfolk State in a come-from behind performance to win 27-23 in Howard's Homecoming football game in Washington, D.C. The Portsmouth, Virginia native posted a season-high 11 tackles and had a last-second interception to preserve the Bison victory over the Spartans. His pick occurred on the Bison one-yard line with five seconds left to prevent NSU from going ahead. Gallop Jr. collected six solo tackles and recorded the seventh double-figure tackles game. He was also credited for a six-yard half tackle for loss and a four-yard half sack, as well as a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup.
MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL
- South Dakota State (7-0) is the only FCS unbeaten. Notably, there are only nine FBS programs that are perfect.
- The MVFC has nine of its 12 programs in the Top 29 of the Sagarin Ratings, including seven of the Top 12 (AND 6 OF THE TOP 8) among FCS programs. The MVFC is the top-rated FCS league in the Sagarin Ratings.
- For the second-straight week, Youngstown State was involved in a game decided on the final play of regulation. After losing 34-31 to South Dakota on Oct. 21, PK Andrew Lastovka of YSU nailed a walk-off 37-yard field goal as time expired in YSU’s 41-38 win over Illinois State on Oct. 28. Not counting overtime games, 20 league games have been decided with a score on the game’s final play. Until last week, no team in Conference history has had games on back-to-back weekends that ended on the final play.
- UNI shut out North Dakota last week (Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023) in the UNI-Dome (27-0). It marks the 49th time a shutout has occurred in league play. UNI’s shutout marked its first over a Top 10 team. UNI, with 11, has more league shutouts than any other MVFC team, while the shutout suffered by UND was the first for the Fighting Hawks in league play.
NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
- The first full weekend of Northeast Conference (NEC) football was a thrilling one. Duquesne held off a furious Saint Francis U comeback to secure its spot on top of the league standings with a perfect 3-0 record. Merrimack continues to climb up the rankings as the Warriors pitched a shutout at LIU to improve to 3-1 in conference play. Stonehill got back on track with a thrilling double overtime home victory over Sacred Heart, while Central Connecticut put its first notch in the win column in league play after defeating Wagner at home.
- Week 9 of the season kicks off early, as the NEC was back in the national spotlight Thursday night with a prime time conference clash between LIU and Central Connecticut at Arute Field in New Britain, CT. The 7:00 p.m. kickoff was featured on CBS Sports Network just two weeks after the league played their first-ever conference game on national linear television on Oct. 12. On Saturday, Duquesne, the only undefeated team remaining in the circuit, will take on Sacred Heart on ESPN+, while Merrimack will head to defending league champion Saint Francis U seeking its fourth straight victory. Rounding out the action is a tilt on Staten Island featuring Stonehill and Wagner.
- Duquesne, which is averaging a league-high 37.7 points against conference opponents, is off the program’s best start in NEC play (3-0) since the 2020-21 seasons went they went 4-0.
PATRIOT LEAGUE
- LAFAYETTE RANKED NO. 19 AND 21 IN POLLS, HOLY CROSS NO. 22 IN COACHES POLL, FORDHAM RECEIVING VOTES -- Lafayette climbed to No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll and entered the Stats Perform Top 25 Poll at No. 21. The Leopards snapped Holy Cross’s 18-game League winning streak with a 38-35 win at Fitton Field. Prior to this season, the last time the Leopards were ranked in either poll was Dec. 21, 2009. The Crusaders slipped to No. 22 in the FCS Coaches Poll and are receiving votes in the Stats Perform Top 25. Fordham is receiving votes in both polls coming out of their bye week.
- LAFAYETTE AND MATTHEW SLUKA EARN STATS PERFORM NATIONAL FCS WEEKLY HONORS -- Lafayette was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week after its 38-35 victory over then-No. 11/15 Holy Cross. Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka earned national Offensive Player of the Week after breaking a Patriot League and FCS single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback, totaling 330 yards on the ground and accounting for four touchdowns against the Leopards.
- JACOB DOBBS NAMED A FINALIST FOR WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY -- Holy Cross fifth-year linebacker Jacob Dobbs was selected as one of the 16 finalists for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, annually recognizing the best in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Dobbs, a four-year captain and three-time All-Patriot League selection, is 16 tackles shy of breaking the League’s career tackles record. The 2022 Academic All-League selection has a 3.76 cumulative GPA, majoring in economics and religious studies. Holy Cross’s Peter Oliver and Fordham’s Ryan Greenhagen were finalists for the 2022 Campbell Trophy.
- DOBBS CLOSING IN ON PATRIOT LEAGUE TACKLES RECORD -- Holy Cross 5th LB Jacob Dobbs is 16 tackles shy of breaking the Patriot League career total tackles record of 425, held by Lee Picariello (Lehigh) and David Streeter (Holy Cross). Dobbs leads the FCS with 14.4 tackles per game. The League’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year is fifth in League history with 410 tackles and second among the FCS active leaders. Lafayette Sr. LB Marco Olivas averages 7.3 tackles per game, up to 361 for his career, while currently ranking third among the FCS active leaders. Conway eclipsed 300 tackles on Sept. 30 and currently ranks second in the League, averaging 10.3 tackles per game through seven games. He is fourth among the active FCS leaders with 330.
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
- RUNNING BACK REVIVAL -- Five of the league’s running backs enter Week 8 ranked among the FCS Top 35 in rushing yards per game, led by Butler’s Jyran Mitchell, whose 116.1 yards per game ranks eighth among FCS rushers. Davidson’s Mari Adams (95.6 ypg) slipped to 14th among FCS rushers this week. They are joined by San Diego’s Isaiah Williams (28th, 82.0 ypg), Marist’s Amin Woods (30th, 80.4 ypg), and Dayton’s Michael Neel (35, 80.4 ypg).
- YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH THESE PFL TEAMS -- Davidson remains one of the FCS’ toughest teams to get the ball away from, the Wildcats committing just four turnovers this season to rank fourth in the FCS. Drake is ranked eighth in the subdivision with just five turnovers this season. Butler, Morehead State, and San Diego each have eight turnovers this season and are tied for 28th nationally.
- TOP OF TAKEAWAYS -- Marist remains the league’s best at forcing turnovers, getting two more takeaways in Week 8 to enter this week’s action with 16 turnovers gained – fifth in the FCS. San Diego has 14 takeaways while Butler, Dayton, and Stetson each have 11 turnovers gained.
- ZURAK, MIKKO BATTLE FOR TOP KICKER -- Butler’s Luka Zurak has picked up right where he left off last season, making 13 of his 15 field goals this season – leading the FCS with those 13 makes. He is being challenged for that crown by Presbyterian freshman kicker Mack Mikko who has converted 11 of his 16 attempts. Zurak’s 1.62 field goals made per game rank fourth in the FCS with Mikko right behind him at 1.57 field goals made per game, ranking fifth.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
- Three SoCon teams - Furman, Western Carolina, and Chattanooga - appeared in this week’s AFCA Coaches and Stats Perform Top 25 polls. The Paladins are third in both polls. Chattanooga is 15th in the AFCA poll and 17th in the Stats Perform poll. The Catamounts sit in 16th in the AFCA and 10th in the Stats Perform.
- Chattanooga has the top-scoring defense in the SoCon, allowing 20.8 points per game. Mocs edge rusher Jay Person leads the league in tackles for loss (11.5).
- ETSU visits Furman looking to hand the Paladins their first conference loss. The road team has won each of the last two matchups in the series.
- Samford quarterback Michael Hiers is second in the FCS in passing yards (2,288). Heirs leads the SoCon and is third in FCS football in completion percentage (.727). And Mercer receiver Ty James crossed the 3,000-yard mark for his career in last week’s home win over Wofford. James leads all FCS receivers in yards (793), with Chattanooga’s Jamoi Mayes coming in at second (737).
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
- Northwestern State Cencels The Remainder of Their Season -- Northwestern State University announced that it has canceled the remainder of the 2023 football season due to the recent passing of junior safety, Ronnie Caldwell. The school cites the mental health and wellbeing of its student-athletes as the primary reason for its decision. The school has also accepted the resignation of head coach, Brad Laird, who was in his sixth season as head coach of the Demons football team.
- FCS Committee Had The Word in Top 10 -- We’re less than a month away from FCS playoff selection Sunday, the Division I Football Championship Committee has revealed its in-season top 10 rankings of the FCS teams. UIW entered those rankings at No. 10. The committee’s top 10 rankings give insight into which teams are in contention for one of the first-round byes given to the eight seeded teams in the FCS playoff bracket. Additionally, The Word was No. 4 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 8 in the FCS Stats Perform Poll.
- Nicholls and Lamar Get Love Too -- Nicholls and Lamar are beginning to receive votes in the major Top 25 polls of the FCS. The Colonels are receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll, while the Cardinals are receiving votes in the FCS Stats Perform Poll for the second consecutive week. The Nicholls defense has turned into one of the top units in the nation, ranking second in the country in interceptions (12) and third in takeaways (17). In their three conference games, Nicholls is holding offenses to only 8.0 points per game and 298.0 yards of total offense.
- Getting It Done on Both Sides -- UIW currently ranks No. 6 in the nation in total offense, averaging 473.9 yards per game, and No. 8 in the nation in total defense, only allowing 282.7 yards per game. UIW is one of only two teams in the entire country that ranks in the Top 10 in both total offense and defense, joining No. 1 South Dakota State.
SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alcorn State’s Aaron Allen and Malachi Bailey along with Jackson State’s Jacobian Morgan its SWAC Football Players of the Week for their impressive performances during games played this past weekend. Allen completed 14-of-26 pass attempts for 219 yards and two touchdowns during Alcorn State’s win over UAPB on Saturday. He also had five carries for 37 yards and a rushing touchdown.
- (Craig Haley, Stats Perform) --FAMU can clinch the East Division spot in the SWAC championship game with a win coupled by an Alabama A&M loss to Alabama State. The Rattlers have won 17 straight games inside Bragg Memorial Stadium, and QB Jeremy Mousa is averaging nearly 279 passing yards with 17 TD passes to three interceptions in seven home starts the last two years. PVAMU, tied for the West Division lead with Alcorn State and Southern, has allowed just six TD passes in its last four games after surrendering 14 in the first three outings.
- (Craig Haley, Stats Perform) -- ASU beat its rival 24-17 last year when the Magic City Classic drew 67,532 to Legion Field – the FCS season high in attendance. A&M has converted over 46% of its third downs and is averaging 34 points per game (way up from last year’s 20.5 average). ASU, behind LB Colton Adams (74 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss) is allowing just 18.3 points per game. The many events surrounding the game include a parade, tailgate party and halftime bands show.
UNITED ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
- United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football announced a partnership with Victory Rings to serve as the "Official Championship Ring Provider" for the UAC. Victory Rings, headquartered in Katy, Texas, is led by founder and president Matt Hall, a former two-sport (basketball and baseball) student-athlete for future UAC football member UTRGV. The company has a primary focus on ring customization and features a personal-level commitment to their jewelry design efforts. With excellence as their standard, Victory Rings strives to celebrate the hard work of each team and individual by creating a personalized ring specific to the program’s championship journey.
- Walters, the sophomore signal-caller for UNA, had 223 all-purpose yards in a one-point win over Utah Tech, completing 13-of-19 passes for 118 yards while adding a career-high 105 rushing yards on 12 carries. He became the first Lions' quarterback since 2018 to rush for over 100 yards. Walters threw the game-winning touchdown, a 28-yard pass to Dakota Warfield and was responsible for a UNA offense that converted all four of its fourth down attempts, including a QB bootleg play on the last scoring drive.
- A redshirt-junior, Tracy threw for a career-high 397 yards and three touchdowns in Utah Tech's heartbreaking road loss at North Alabama. He completed 26-of-40 passing attempts and has now notched four three-touchdown games in his career including back-to-back contests this season. Tracy tallied five completions of 30 or more yards to four different receivers against the Lions.