Sam Houston State vs. NDSU: FCS Playoffs 2014 TV Info, Spread, Time, Predictions
Chris Roling
Dec 18, 2014
North Dakota State running back John Crockett celebrates after he scored a first-half touchdown against Youngstown State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Fargo, N.D. (AP Photo/Bruce Crummy)
For the fourth season in a row, the North Dakota State Bison are through to the semifinal round of the FCS Playoffs and face a familiar foe in the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
These two met in two of the last three FCS championship games, both matchups that went to the Bison.
The second-seeded Bison are the favorite for this showdown, in part due to home-field advantage and a 13-1 record. Sam Houston enters at 11-4 as the 19th seed, with a 1-3 record in this particular series.
What figures to be a high-scoring affair promises to be one of the most memorable games of the season, so set time aside Friday night as the two sides put everything on the line.
When: Friday, December 19, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota
Watch: ESPN2
Spread: NDSU - 10
Spread via Vegas Insider as of December 17 at 10 p.m. ET.
Breakdown
North Dakota State seems to be an unstoppable force at this point.
A road loss to Northern Iowa is the only blemish on the schedule for the Bison. Chris Klieman's team has held opponents to just 13.9 points per game this year, and the defense has scored 103 points off turnovers to date.
An offense that averages 33.1 points per game is no slouch, either. Junior quarterback Carson Wentz has taken the utmost care of the football this season, as a 63.1 completion percentage with 23 touchdowns shows.
As one of the more prolific dual-threat quarterbacks, Wentz also pops out on the stat sheet with his 625 yards and five scores on the ground. Those duties mostly go to John Crockett, though, who averages 5.5 yards per carry and has 1,754 yards and 17 scores to his name.
As ESPN CollegeFootball illustrates, Crockett spent the season smashing records:
With 227 yards, John Crockett has surpassed North Dakota State's single-season school record for rushing yards. #FCSpic.twitter.com/QMGxgtG0Ou
By comparison, Sam Houston State lives a bit on the edge.
The Bearkats allow 27.7 points per game and lean on an offense that averages 36.0 points to get by.
If it is not broke, do not fix it, right? The Bearkats have scored a minimum of 34 points in seven of their last eight games. A quarterfinals bout with Villanova cut things a bit too close for comfort, though, as the final 34-31 tally shows.
What the numbers do not show, though, is that Bearkats starting quarterback Jared Johnson played with the flu—and still threw for 303 yards and a trio of scores.
"He came in and threw the ball very well," Sam Houston State head coach K.C. Keeler said, per The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "I don't think he ran as well as he has in the past -- probably because he has the flu. That's the time of year it is. It's survival of the fittest."
Johnson has 2,827 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air with another 933 yards and six scores as a rusher this season. Those rushing totals still pale in comparison to senior back Keshawn Hill, who has gained 1,124 yards and 18 touchdowns on a 6.1 per-carry average.
This all points to an offensive shootout that may very well come down to whichever team has the ball last.
Prediction
The Bison are 8-0 at home, and unlike others the Bearkats have steamrolled this year, the defense has the speed to run with what Sam Houston State brings to the table.
Really, the blueprint to success for the hosts is readily available. Crockett is one of the best backs in the land and now gets a shot at a shaky defense that allows an average of 4.4 yards per carry.
All the Bison need to do is stand tall in the face of an early surge and then ride Crockett in a ball-control offense to get the win.
Saturday marks Sam Houston State's third game away from home against a national powerhouse that dominates the series. It has been a magical run to this point, but the hosts will pull away and not look back.
Bo Pelini Takes Multiple Shots at Nebraska, Insults Athletic Director
Dec 17, 2014
Bo Pelini was introduced Wednesday as the new head coach at Youngstown State, where he was hired by former Ohio State head coach and current YSU president Jim Tressel.
In his first public appearance since being fired as head coach at Nebraska, Pelini wasted no time taking a shot at his former chancellor, Harvey Perlman, per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com:
Pelini calls Jim Tressel “a president who understands football, who's going to support me, something I don’t know if I've ever had.” Zing!
Pelini's public comments might as well have been "I love you" compared with what he said behind closed doors.
When Pelini left Nebraska, he called a players-only meeting to say goodbye to his team. Pictures from the meet-up surfaced quickly, but we didn't know until Wednesday what he said to his players.
On Wednesday, however, Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald acquired an audio recording of Pelini's final speech. There was a lot—I mean, a lot—of NSFW language, which has been censored below.
Here is what Pelini said about athletic director Shawn Eichorst:
A guy like (Eichorst) who has no integrity, he doesn’t even understand what a core value is. And he hasn’t understood it from the day he got here. I saw it when I first met with the guy.
To have core values means you have to be about something, you have to represent something, you have to have something that is important to you. He is a [expletive] lawyer who makes policies. That’s all he’s done since he’s been here is hire people and make policies to cover his own [expletive].
…I didn't really have any relationship with the A.D.. The guy, you guys saw him (Sunday), the guy is a total [expletive]. I mean, he is, and he's a total [expletive].
But Pelini did not stop there.
According to Chatelain, he says he saw anger in administrators' faces after Nebraska beat Iowa in the regular season-finale. They didn't want the Huskers to win—the implication being that they knew Pelini was a goner and would have preferred to fire him after a loss.
This is how Pelini described his final exchange with Eichorst:
He goes, I disagree that I haven't supported you. I said, 'Hey bud, you can't support someone under a [expletive] rock.' I said, to do your job at this level, in a place like this, you gotta be a grown-[expletive] [expletive] man...to lead something. I said you can't lead anything under a [expletive] rock. I said you don't spend any time with us. Our players don't even know who you are. That isn't leadership.
And he said, 'Well I appreciate (your) advice.'
I said, 'I suggest you take it, but see you later.' And that's how it went down.
There's a lot more if you're inclined to keep reading. My personal favorite quote concerns Eichorst's "team of people," to which Pelini says: "I’d rather [expletive] work at McDonald’s than work with some of those guys.
"Not that there is anything bad about working at McDonald’s."
Pelini was fired in November after seven seasons with the Huskers, all of which were more or less the same.
An optimist would argue that he never won fewer than nine games. A pessimist would counter that he never lost fewer than four.
Regardless, the move was met with mixed reviews, especially once Nebraska hired former Oregon State head coach Mike Riley. Riley won nine or more games just four times in the past 11 seasons.
Nebraska released the following statement in response to the comments leaked Wednesday, per Brent Yarina of Big Ten Network:
Pelini is a divisive figure who at one point dared Nebraska to fire him. His playful, charming, cat-loving persona is contrasted with his sometimes-hot temper. He is not afraid to say what's on his mind, which in many cases makes him more endearing.
But it also sometimes lands him in trouble.
One has to wonder, then, if Thursday will play a role in Pelini's coaching future. Nothing he said at the presser is factually untrue—Tressel won a national title with OSU and almost certainly knows more about football than Perlman—but he still probably shouldn't have said it. And he definitely shouldn't have said that stuff to his players.
Youngstown State is a not a destination coaching job, even for a Youngstown, Ohio native such as Pelini. One has to assume he plans on coaching at the FBS level again in the future.
The question is whether any FBS president will ever want to hire him. At this point, his chances look bleak. What school would hire a guy with a reputation for bashing administrators (and a nasty little habit of being recorded)? Why would they risk ending up on the wrong side of one of his diatribes?
FCS Playoffs 2014: Quarterfinals Results, Semifinals Schedule and Bracket Update
Dec 12, 2014
New Hampshire defensive back Casey DeAndrade (28) leaps for joy after the Wildcats defeated Maine 20-12 in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, at Alfond Stadium in Orono, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Following a second round that was largely dominated by the favorites holding up their end of the bargain, the 2014 FCS Playoffs are looking for a jolt in the form of an upset in the quarterfinals. The four games taking place on Friday and Saturday feature seven ranked teams, including top-ranked New Hampshire.
In addition to the top-seeded Wildcats, who along with Chattanooga had the stage to themselves on Friday night, all eyes will be focused on North Dakota State.
After surviving last weeks' clash with rival South Dakota State, the Bison will look to make a statement against Coastal Carolina on Saturday. North Dakota State hasn't lost in this tournament since 2010, winning three straight championships.
Will the Bison have enough in the tank after the emotional second-round win? Did New Hampshire live up to its billing as the No. 1 seed?
This weekend will answer those questions and many more, which will be recapped for your reading pleasure right now.
Date
Matchup
Score/Start Time
Friday, December 12
No. 1 New Hampshire def. No. 8 Chattanooga
35-30
Saturday, December 13
No. 2 North Dakota State def. No. 7 Coastal Carolina
39-32
Saturday, December 13
Sam Houston State def. No. 6 Villanova
34-31
Saturday, December 13
No. 5 Illinois State def. No. 4 Eastern Washington
59-46
Quarterfinal Results
Illinois State def. Eastern Washington, 59-46
In the final quarterfinal matchup, Illinois State rode an offensive tidal wave to a victory at Roos Field against Eastern Washington.
Marshaun Coprich led the way for the Redbirds, racking up 258 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries. He also put the game away in the fourth quarter. After Eastern Washington scored to cut the deficit to 52-39, Coprich had a 74-yard touchdown run on the next drive, per Randy Reinhardt of The Pantagraph:
Illinois State dominated the game on the ground, running for 343 yards and six touchdowns. Tre Roberson had a solid day passing, going 19-of-24 for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
Roberson's effort not only helped the Redbirds clinch their spot in the semifinals, but it also made history for the school, per the team's official Twitter:
Tre Roberson now with 27 TD passes in 2014, which ties the single-season record set by Matt Brown in 2012 #RedbirdFootball
Eastern Washington can't blame quarterback Vernon Adams for the loss. On a day where the defense allowed 59 points and the offense mustered 95 yards on 23 carries, the sophomore had 425 yards and three touchdowns.
Radio personality Brad James noted the Eagles had their backs against the wall basically from the start, getting down 10-0 in the first quarter and giving up 21 points in the third quarter, so it was hard to see a comeback happening:
Eastern Washington has to play pretty much perfect football down the stretch here, hard to do
Illinois State's offense has been rolling since losing to Northern Iowa on October 1. The Redbirds have scored over 40 points in their last four games and their 59 points today is the second-highest total of the season.
Now, the Redbirds will face their most difficult task in the playoffs with a matchup against top-ranked New Hampshire on the horizon.
Sam Houston State def. Villanova, 34-31
The biggest upset of the quarterfinals took place at Villanova Stadium, with the sixth-ranked Wildcats being knocked off by Sam Houston State. The Bearkats squeaked out a 34-31 victory when Villanova kicker Chris Gough missed a 51-yard field goal attempt with 34 seconds to play.
Villanova started the game at a disadvantage with star quarterback John Robertson out after suffering a concussion last week, via the school's official Twitter feed:
Villanova will play today without starting QB John Robertson who is out due to an injury suffered in last week's win over Liberty.
Robertson is a finalist for the Payton Award, which is the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy, and had 2,846 passing yards, 1,078 rushing yards and 46 total touchdowns. Credit Villanova for fighting through the loss of its best offensive player to put up 31 points and 514 yards.
The defense was the issue for the Wildcats, allowing Sam Houston State to put up 34 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Bearkats quarterback Jared Johnson was on top of his game, going 22-of-27 with 303 yards and three touchdowns. He also chipped in with 32 rushing yards.
The big play of the game was a 66-yard strike from Johnson to LaDarius Brown that opened the scoring in the second half and gave Sam Houston State a 24-16 lead, per the school's Twitter:
LaDarius Brown catches a deep pass and forces his way into the end zone on the first play of the second half. #SHSUFootball leads Nova 24-16
Brown, who finished the game with 174 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions, is known to most FBS fans for his time at TCU. He was dismissed from the school in February after reportedly being arrested for possession of marijuana, per Stefan Stevenson and Domingo Ramirez Jr of The Forth Worth Star-Telegram.
With the win, Sam Houston State will move to the semifinals next week against North Dakota State at the Fargodome.
North Dakota State def. Coastal Carolina, 39-32
For the second consecutive week, North Dakota State was pushed to the limit in its quest to become the first school to win four straight FCS championships. Coastal Carolina had an answer for every challenge presented by the Bison before time unfortunately ran out.
The Chanticleers had a chance to tie the game on the final drive, but a dropped pass on first down and sack of quarterback Alex Ross on the next play halted the drive before it got started. Ross was intercepted on a fourth-and-12 play to clinch the Bison win over Coastal Carolina in this round for the second straight year, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Three-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State eliminates Coastal Carolina in the quarterfinals for the second season in a row, 39-32
North Dakota State's offensive hero for the game was running back John Crockett, who finished with 227 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. The Bison were helped out in the fourth quarter by quarterback Carson Wentz, who converted a two-point conversion following a Crockett touchdown, via Beth Hoole of Valley News Live:
John Crockett ladies and gentleman. 45 yard touchdown. 221 yards on 23 carries. Only to be upstaged by Wentz going for 2. 39-32 NDSU.
On the game, the Bison finished with 327 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. It was a vintage performance by the three-time defending national champions, who got an efficient performance from Wentz with 173 passing yards.
In a losing effort, Coastal Carolina proved to be an excellent challenge. The Chanticleers didn't panic when they were down 14-3 after the first three drives of the game, but the defense couldn't get a stop in the fourth quarter when it needed to most.
One highlight from the game for Coastal Carolina was from Devin Brown, who had a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in the second quarter to tie the game at 17, via Aaron Marks of 100.3 The Team:
Tie game after 98 yard KO return by Devin Brown!!!!!!!!!!!! 17-17 with 7:53 to go in 2nd quarter
Moving ahead to the semifinals, North Dakota State will take on Sam Houston State next weekend.
New Hampshire def. Chattanooga, 35-30
Nov 30, 2013; Durham, NH, USA; New Hampshire Wildcats wide receiver R.J. Harris (15) runs with the ball during the first half against the Lafayette Leopards at Cowell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
In a squeaker at Cowell Stadium, New Hampshire was able to hold serve on its home turf with a come-from-behind victory over Chattanooga.
The Wildcats were bailed out in the fourth quarter after quarterback Sean Goldrich threw what looked to be an interception to Trevor Knight in Chattanooga's end zone, but Wright's foot was deemed to be out of bounds. On the next play, Nico Steriti scored from six yards out to give the top seed a 28-24 lead.
New Hampshire's defense didn't have a lot of big moments, but it was able to make a critical stop on third-and-six on Chattanooga's next drive. On the Wildcats' first play after getting the ball back, R.J. Harris scored on a 61-yard pass play to put them up 35-24, via New Hampshire alumni on Twitter:
Harris finished with 172 receiving yards and two touchdowns, which was critical because New Hampshire's running game never got going. Steriti, who was coming off a season-high 110 yards against Fordham last week, had the late touchdown run but was held to 58 yards on 16 carries.
Per the Colonial Athletic Association's official Twitter account, Harris' second touchdown catch was also a historic one:
#FCSplayoffs stat: That R.J. Harris TD tied him for the all-time #CAAFB lead in career receptions with 304.
Once Harris got going, the Wildcats' offense took off, as B/R Pac-12 writer Kyle Kensing noted after the star wideout made a circus catch in traffic with a defender draped all over him:
The final score doesn't show it, but Chattanooga controlled a lot of this game. It came into this matchup with tremendous confidence, as evidenced by fullback Taharin Tyson's comments to Stephen Hargis of The Times Free Press:
We've got a good group of veteran guys who have played in a lot of big games in their college and high school career, so they know what the atmosphere will be like.
Even the young guys know now how to focus on being ready. I don't think we'll be nervous. Maybe at first, like for any big game, but it's going to come down to who makes more plays and fewer mistakes.
The Mocs had 346 yards of offense in the first half and held a 21-15 lead, but the offense couldn't keep it going and the defense eventually cracked against New Hampshire's offense. They made too many mistakes in the second half, the biggest of which was an interception thrown by Jacob Huesman as the offense was driving to try and make it a one score game midway through the fourth quarter.
With the victory, New Hampshire is guaranteed a home game in the semifinals against Illinois State.
FCS Playoff Bracket 2014: Preview and Predictions for 2nd Round
Dec 2, 2014
AMES, IA - AUGUST 30: Head coach Chris Klienman of the North Dakota State Bison leads his team off the field after the defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 34-14 at Jack Trice Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Ames, Iowa. North Dakota State defeated Iowa State 34-14. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
A wild first week in the FCS football playoffs left a lot of some of the top teams heading home early.
Top seeds like New Hampshire, Jacksonville State and North Dakota State remained home, but are set to take the stage this weekend. All three programs will be at home along with Illinois State, Coastal Carolina and other elite programs.
One of the biggest shake-ups came when Liberty edged James Madison for its second significant win. After taking down Coastal Carolina and JMU in consecutive weeks, the Flames look like a dark horse moving forward.
Prior to the big dogs rolling out in the playoffs, here's a look at the FCS bracket, predictions and analysis of the second round.
Visitor
Home
Date
Time (ET)
Live Stream
Prediction
Fordham
No. 1 New Hampshire
Dec. 6
1 p.m.
ESPN3
New Hampshire
South Dakota State
No. 2 North Dakota State
Dec. 6
3:30 p.m.
ESPN3
North Dakota State
Sam Houston State
No. 3 Jacksonville State
Dec. 6
2 p.m.
ESPN3
Jacksonville State
Montana
No. 4 Eastern Washington
Dec. 6
4:30 p.m.
ESPN3
Montana
UNI
No. 5 Illinois State
Dec. 6
2 p.m.
ESPN3
Illinois State
Liberty
No. 6 Villanova
Dec. 6
4:30 p.m.
ESPN3
Liberty
Richmond
No. 7 Coastal Carolina
Dec. 6
1 p.m.
ESPN3
Coastal Carolina
Indiana State
No. 8 Chattanooga
Dec. 6
1 p.m.
ESPN3
Chattanooga
Analysis
In the FCS playoffs, no team is riding higher than Liberty.
Not only did the Flames clinch a spot into the postseason with a massive win over former No. 1 Coastal, but they also took down JMU in the first round. It was a historic moment for the program, as the Flames men's basketball Twitter account notes:
On the heels of its first playoff victory, Turner Gill has the team ready to compete with Villanova. The Wildcats come in at 10-2 and 6-0 at home, but the Flames are burning bright at the right time after two of the biggest victories, with a chance to make a late run.
Playing well in the FCS playoffs might not be the ceiling for the rising program. With UAB's football program folds, via ESPN.com, the Flames might be looking for a move, per Dan Wolken of USA Today:
Liberty, a well-funded football program, is dying to move up from FCS. If UAB shutters football, they could be viable for C-USA spot.
For now, the Flames look like a strong contender in the FCS playoffs. Going up against a stout Villanova program, Liberty has another shot to prove it's a program on the rise with a win.
Outside of Liberty, South Dakota State has been another surprise team. The Jackrabbits have been slowly on the rise but recently had a huge win of their own against Montana State to move forward in the postseason.
Zach Zenner enjoyed a career day with 324 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns to propel SDSU to the next round. Bobcats head coach Rob Ash spoke about the swift running back, via Scott Mansch of the Great Falls Tribune.
"Boy," Ash said. "When he broke free it was like we weren't even out there. He was very impressive. ... I saw him way too much today. He just made phenomenal plays."
Zenner isn't the only weapon for the Jackrabbits, as Terry Vandrovec of the Argus Leader notes:
.@GoJacksFB enters Round 2 of the playoffs boasting the leading rusher (Zach Zenner 1,886) and receiver (Jake Wieneke 1,375) in the FCS.
The Jackrabbits and Zenner will now have to face North Dakota State for a chance to advance. While the Bison recently dropped a game to Northern Iowa, coming away with a win in Fargo will take another phenomenal game from Zenner and the entire team.
However, the NDSU program has been entirely too strong to drop a game this early in the playoffs. There will be upsets on Saturday, but the Jackrabbits are huge underdogs against the Bison.
A lot is still up in the air with the playoffs continuing, so several shake-ups might be on the horizon. Expect even more turmoil in the weeks to come as Liberty, SDSU and several others look to continue improbable postseason runs.
Fordham Moves on to 2nd Round of FCS Playoffs with Win over Sacred Heart
Nov 30, 2014
Fordham's offense lines up against Army during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
The Fordham Rams are headed to New Hampshire, where next Saturday they will take on the No. 1-seeded Wildcats (10-1) in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.
On Saturday, The Rams beat Sacred Heart, 44-22, in the opening round in front of 2,442 fans at Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx, New York.
It was a rematch of the first round of the FCS playoffs last November, when the Pioneers came to Rose Hill and lost, 37-27. The Rams would lose a week later at Towson. This year, the goal has been to get to Frisco, Texas, to play for the national championship on Jan. 10.
"Our kids did a fantastic job preparing this week," Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead said. "They gave tremendous effort. For the most part we executed well. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't clean, but no game is."
"We had great urgency," he added. "They understood the magnitude of the game—with this being a single-elimination tournament."
Save for two games this year—one a 50-6 thrashing at Villanova in Week 2, the other a 42-31 loss last week at Army—Fordham has dismantled its opponents. In their 10 regular-season wins, the Rams averaged 46.9 points per game, scoring 50 or more four times.
Saturday's game did not play out like so many others did for Fordham this year, though the end result was a familiar one.
Fordham struck first when Mike Nebrich connected with Tebucky Jones Jr. on a one-yard touchdown reception. It was the 26th touchdown pass for Nebrich this season and the 62nd of his Fordham career. He would go on to throw three more, including one on the next possession, a 50-yard pass to Brian Wetzel that put Fordham ahead 14-0 less than five minutes into the first quarter.
Sacred Heart (9-3) would respond by scoring nine points in a row, though a blocked extra point and blocked field goal by the Rams kept it a five-point game early in the second quarter.
After a Michael Marando field goal for Fordham made it 17-9, Sacred Heart would score on its next possession. A 59-yard run by Sean Bell led to a two-yard touchdown pass from RJ Noel to Tyler Dube. A two-point conversion was nullified due to a pass-interference call and the Pioneers settled for the extra point and trailed, 17-16, with 4:10 to go in the second quarter.
On the Rams' final drive before halftime, Nebrich connected again with Wetzel, this time for 14 yards as Fordham took a 24-16 lead into the break.
A 97-yard touchdown pass from Nebrich to Jones put Fordham ahead, 31-16, early in the third quarter. Marando added a field goal to make it 34-16.
Keshaudas Spence then scored for the Pioneers on a 22-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and Fordham still had a 34-22 lead midway through the third quarter.
Another Marando field goal made it 37-22 with 11:44 left in the game, and Chase Edmonds' 22nd touchdown run of the season, this one from 26 yards out, sealed the win.
"We had to fight for every inch," Moorhead said, giving credit to the opponent. "That's a well-coached football team. They're tough. They're disciplined."
Fordham's motto all along has been "next man in," a reference to everyone on the roster being ready when called upon. That was certainly on display Saturday when the Rams were without key players on both sides of the ball.
Tight end Dan Light and outside linebacker/defensive lineman Brett Biestek did not play due to injuries suffered a week earlier in the game at Army. Linebacker Stephen Hodge has been out all year.
There have been injuries and setbacks, but the Rams continue to roll on.
"I can't count on two hands the number of guys who have gone down," Moorhead said. "That's the culture we've tried to create here. We neither give nor accept excuses... It's a credit to our kids for their belief in the things we deem as important to being successful."
Quotations in this article were obtained firsthand.
Charles Costello covers the Fordham Rams for Bleacher Report. A full archive of his articles can be found here. Follow him on Twitter: @CFCostello
Sep 20, 2014; Richmond, VA, USA; New Hampshire Wildcats wide receiver Mike Kelly (24) and running back Trevon Bryant (8) celebrate after their game against the Richmond Spiders at Robins Stadium. The Wildcats won 29-26. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
A day after earning the No. 1 seed for the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship, New Hampshire topped the FCS Coaches Poll for the first time all season.
Coastal Carolina, the previous No. 1 team in the FCS, dropped its first game of the season to Liberty. As a result, the Chanticleers fell outside the Top Five and behind a pair of two-loss teams in Eastern Washington and Villanova.
Despite earning the second-most first-place votes with four, North Dakota State only moved up one spot to No. 3 in the rankings. Harvard's huge win over Yale wasn't enough to move it up in the standings at a perfect 10-0 this season.
Here's a look at the full rankings and analysis ahead of the playoffs. A full breakdown of the rankings is located at NCAA.com. A full look at the bracket can also be found at NCAA.com.
Pos.
School
Record
Points
1
New Hampshire (20)
10-1
644
2
Jacksonville State (1)
10-1
610
3
North Dakota State (4)
11-1
605
4
Eastern Washington
10-2
569
5
Villanova
10-2
528
6
Coastal Carolina (1)
11-1
519
7
Illinois State
10-1
486
8
Chattanooga
9-3
462
9
Southeastern Louisiana
9-3
448
10
UNI
8-4
419
11
Montana
8-4
371
12
Fordham
10-2
359
13
South Dakota State
8-4
317
14
Harvard
10-0
309
15
James Madison
9-3
248
16
Richmond
8-4
244
17
Montana State
8-4
238
18
Eastern Kentucky
9-3
217
19
Sam Houston State
8-4
126
20
Bethune-Cookman
9-3
122
21
Indiana State
7-5
108
22
Sacred Heart
9-2
91
23
Liberty
8-4
82
24
William & Mary
7-5
66
25
Youngstown State
7-5
56
Analysis
New Hampshire has been one of the best programs in the country all season but certainly benefited from a loss by Coastal in the final weekend.
The Wildcats topped the Coaches Poll and are guaranteed to host any opponent they face in the playoffs thanks to holding the No. 1 seed. Defensive end Cody Muller noted how the team has accomplished its mission this season, per Mark Emmert of the Portland Press Herald:
Before the season starts we set our goals and one of them was a CAA championship, beat Maine, get that Brice-Cowell Musket back. And to achieve both of them in the same night, it was tremendous.
I don’t think (playing poorly) really matters right now. I think we’re going to enjoy what we did, what we accomplished.
It wasn't a pretty victory for the Wildcats due to six turnovers, but they finished 8-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association and won the conference title. The program's official account passed along a photo following the win:
Meanwhile, the Chants had to settle for narrowly missing out on an undefeated regular season. Coastal still makes the playoffs and comes in as one of the top seeds, but the loss to Liberty dropped it from the top of the rankings.
Chants coach Joe Moglia spoke about the season as a whole, per FCS Football:
What the win meant for Liberty was so much more than squashing an undefeated season for Coastal. The Flames secured a spot in the postseason bracket and have to travel to No. 15 James Madison to continue their season.
The team's official account provides a look at the celebration for the team after the announcement:
This selection has been made! The Flames will be traveling to take on JMU in the first round of the FCS Pla... https://t.co/pdihqDQNpG
Though it might seem like a long shot to knock off the Dukes on the road, the Flames are coming off one of the biggest wins of the year. Led by former Kansas coach Turner Gill, the program is heading in the right direction entering the playoffs.
North Dakota State and Jacksonville State secured spots in the Top Three thanks to wins for both teams. With the playoffs set to kick off Saturday, it will be a melee for the entire FCS leading up to the National Championship on Jan. 10.
The field for the 2014 FCS college football playoffs has been announced . The selection committee had some tough decisions to make, especially after some teams who most likely would not have been included won their conference's automatic bid...
FCS Playoffs 2014: Dates, Schedule, Teams, Bracket and More
Donald Wood
Nov 23, 2014
AMES, IA Ð AUGUST 30: Place kicker Adam Keller #17 of the North Dakota State Bison celebrates with teammate long snapper James Fisher #51after kicking a field goal in the second half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Ames, Iowa. North Dakota State defeated Iowa State 34-14. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
Many fans are excited for the inaugural College Football Playoff, but the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs are one of the most interesting postseasons in all of sports.
With 24 of the best FCS schools going to battle in a tournament-style format, the FCS Playoffs are the closest version of a football equivalent to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. For those who have never experienced the FCS postseason, you are in for a treat.
Here is the full schedule for the 2014 FCS Playoffs, the full bracket for the event and a breakdown of the top teams to watch.
Date
First-Round Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Date
Second-Round Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Date
Quarterfinals Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Date
Semifinals Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Date
Championship Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Nov. 29
Fordham vs. Sacred Heart
12 p.m.
ESPN 3
Nov. 29
Eastern Kentucky vs. Indiana State
1 p.m.
ESPN 3
Nov. 29
Richmond vs. Morgan State
1 p.m.
ESPN 3
Nov. 29
Sam Houston State vs. Southeastern LA
2 p.m.
ESPN 3
Nov. 29
Montana vs. San Diego
4 p.m.
ESPN 3
Nov. 29
James Madison vs. Liberty
4 p.m.
ESPN 3
Nov. 29
Montana State vs. South Dakota State
4 p.m.
ESPN 3
Nov. 29
UNI vs. Stephen F. Austin
8 p.m.
ESPN 3
Dec. 6
No. 1 New Hampshire vs. Fordham/Sacred Heart
1 p.m.
ESPN 3
Dec. 6
No. 7 Coastal Carolina vs. Richmond/Morgan State
1 p.m.
ESPN 3
Dec. 6
No. 8 Chattanooga vs. Eastern Kentucky/Indiana State
1 p.m.
ESPN 3
Dec. 6
No..3 Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston State/Southeastern Louisiana
2 p.m.
ESPN 3
Dec. 6
No. 5 Illinois State vs. UNI/Stephen F. Austin
2 p.m.
ESPN 3
Dec. 6
No. 2 North Dakota State vs. Montana State/South Dakota State
*Bracket via FCS Gameday on Twitter. Full interactive bracket via NCAA.com.
Breaking Down the Top Teams
There are several programs that deserve attention leading into the tournament, but none more so than No. 1 seed New Hampshire. After taking a loss in Week 1 against Toledo, the Wildcats won 10 straight games against FCS competition and sit atop the Colonial Athletic Association standings.
Congrats to New Hampshire on the No. 1 FCS playoff seed, but don't be fooled - NDSU Bison is the team to beat. #FCSplayoffs
The team in second behind New Hampshire in the CAA is Villanova. At 10-2 this season, the Wildcats lost two games this season by a total of two points, including a double-overtime thriller in the season opener against Syracuse.
New Hampshire did not play Villanova during the regular season, but the two elite programs could be on a collision course with each other in the FCS Playoffs.
Another team to consider this season is the North Dakota State Bison, who have only lost once all season. The program won the Missouri Valley Football Conference and is the three-time defending FCS champions.
With experience on their side, the Bison will be a legitimate contender once again this postseason.
10-1 Jacksonville State earns one of the top four seeds in the FCS playoffs. That’s one of MSU’s best wins of the season. No. 65 in Sagarin.
One team not getting the attention it deserves is Jacksonville State. After losing to a stacked Michigan State Spartans team in the opening matchup of the season, the Gamecocks went undefeated for the remainder of the season by mixing defensive pressure and offensive prowess.
Many of the teams in this tournament don’t get the mainstream attention they deserve, but each has made the FCS Playoffs for a reason.
With 24 teams going to battle with the championship on the line, this should be an excellent stretch of college football.
Nov 23, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Alex Ross passes against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY
For a second straight week, Coastal Carolina topped the FCS Coaches' Poll with an unblemished 11-0 record. Not much changed at the top of the latest poll, with the biggest shakeup coming outside the Top 10.
In fact, the entire Top 10 remained the same with the only change being North Dakota State stealing a first-place vote from Jacksonville State. A week after losing their first game of the season, it appears the Bison still have confidence from at least one voter.
With McNeese State falling for a second straight week, several programs moved up including undefeated Harvard. Here's a look at the latest poll and analysis of the rankings. A full breakdown of the standings can be found at NCAA.com.
Pos.
Program (1st-Place Votes)
Record
Points
1
Coastal Carolina (20)
11-0
639
2
New Hampshire (4)
9-1
625
3
Jacksonville State (1)
9-1
588
4
North Dakota State (1)
10-1
587
5
Eastern Washington
9-2
550
6
Villanova
9-2
513
7
Illinois State
9-1
485
8
Fordham
10-1
446
9
Chattanooga
8-3
435
10
Southeastern Louisiana
8-3
426
11
Northern Iowa
7-4
402
12
Montana State
8-3
364
13
Montana
7-4
328
14
Harvard
9-0
271
15
South Dakota State
7-4
265
16
Eastern Kentucky
9-2
237
17
McNeese State
6-4
208
18
Indiana State
7-4
187
19
William & Mary
7-4
176
20
Youngstown State
7-4
149
21
Richmond
7-4
141
22
James Madison
8-3
138
23
Alcorn State
9-2
54
24
Bethune-Cookman
8-3
45
25
Sacred Heart
9-2
32
Analysis
Literally nothing changed at the top of the standings as the Chanticleers continued to roll. Coastal cruised to a 31-point victory over Monmouth and earned 20 first-place votes for a second consecutive week.
Quarterback Alex Ross went off for 255 passing yards, 66 rushing yards, four total touchdowns and one interception against Monmouth. The program had never been at the top of the rankings prior to this season but appears to be unstoppable in the Big South Conference.
The official FCS Football account noted the most recent win for the Chants:
Outside of Coastal, the only other undefeated team in the rankings was Harvard. The Ivy League powerhouse has been led all season by running back Paul Stanton Jr., who had 276 total yards and three touchdowns in the win over Pennsylvania.
The Crimson moved from No. 17 to No. 14 thanks to the win and losses by other teams around them. Harvard may be undefeated but will still have to take down Yale this weekend to clinch the Ivy League.
21 Nov 1998: General view of the Harvard Crimson defensive line (left) lined up against the offensive line of the Yale Bulldogs during the game at the Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Bulldogs defeated the Crimson 9-7. Mandatory Credit: A
Harvard and Yale's rivalry game will have College GameDay in town, per Craig Larson of The Boston Globe. Crimson coach Tim Murphy spoke about the honor ahead of the critical game.
“We are very honored and excited about ESPN College GameDay coming to Harvard Stadium for The Game,” Murphy said. “It will make The Game even bigger and even more fun.”
Speaking of "The Game," ESPN College Football noted how significant the matchup is for both sides:
Yale comes in off the radar on the rankings but is still 8-1 this season and riding a five-game winning streak. The Crimson may have the recent edge in the series, but the Bulldogs can change all of that on Saturday at Harvard Stadium.
Meanwhile, McNeese State continues to slide down the poll after losing another game to Southeastern Louisiana. It marked the fourth loss of the season for the Cowboys as they head into the final game of the year against Lamar.
Bethune-Cookman, Youngstown State and Richmond also dropped while Indiana State made the biggest jump to No. 18.
Coastal and New Hampshire appear to be entrenched in the top spots, but a lot can change before the season ends. Liberty might make some noise with an upset over the Chants or Maine might earn its fourth straight win against New Hampshire.
Not much time remains this season before the playoffs begin, so every program will look to remain in the FCS Coaches' Poll leading up to the postseason.
Mike Nebrich Injury 1 of Many Storylines in Fordham's Win over Georgetown
Nov 15, 2014
Fordham Rams Brian Wetzel #24 in action against the St, Francis (PA) Red Flash during a college football game on Saturday, August 30, 2014 in the Bronx, NY. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fordham routed Georgetown, 52-7, on a sunny but cool Saturday afternoon at Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx. It was the Rams' 10th win of the season, their ninth in a row, and it brought them one step closer to being awarded a bye in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
The Rams passed for 352 yards, ran for 144 and held the Hoyas to just 80 passing yards. Kendall Pearcey ran for 89 yards and three touchdowns, Brian Wetzel caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown and Chase Edmonds recorded his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, setting a school record.
But the story of the day occurred early in the second quarter when quarterback Mike Nebrich went down, spent a minute on the turf, then limped off the field in noticeable pain. Later, it was revealed that Nebrich had suffered a knee contusion. He did not return, and his status for Fordham's game at Army next Saturday is uncertain.
"We feel optimistic about it, but it takes a day or so," Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead said about the injury. "He'll be evaluated tomorrow, and we'll go from there and hope for the best."
Peter Maetzold, who started the last two games after Nebrich had surgery to remove his appendix, was sharp. He had a 34-yard touchdown pass to Wetzel in the second quarter when Fordham went for it on 4th-and-11. He connected with Tebucky Jones Jr. for a 43-yard completion later in the quarter that set up another touchdown. Fordham led 24-0 at the half. Maetzold was just getting warmed up.
In the third quarter, Edmonds' 1-yard touchdown run made it 31-0. Maetzold then connected with Sam Ajala for a 54-yard touchdown to put Fordham ahead 38-0. A 60-yard completion to Sam Ajala on the Rams' next possession set up another touchdown to give them a 45-0 lead with 1:41 left in the third quarter. His day ended there.
"Pete's up for relief pitcher of the year," Moorhead said. "He's done an unbelievable job in three of the biggest games of the year."
Though he didn't get the start Saturday, Maetzold was clearly ready to play.
"It helps when you play the past two weeks, of course, but I think your mentality through the week is really important," Maetzold said. "If you're not preparing during the week, you're not going to succeed during the game."
On Senior Day, Fordham recorded a historic win: It's the first time in school history that the Rams have gone undefeated in Patriot League play.
"After the 1-10 season (2011) we turned it around," Wetzel said. "The new coaching staff came in, and we all bought in, came together and we clicked."
Now Fordham heads to Army, its only game this year against a Football Bowl Subdivision team. The Black Knights are 3-7 and coming off a 54-24 loss to Western Kentucky on Saturday. Still, this will be a huge step up in competition for the Rams.
"They're a very tough, physical Division I team," Moorhead said. "They run an offensive scheme that you don't see all season that you have to get ready for in one week's notice.
"They're a very storied and tradition-rich program. It's a great experience up there."
Quotations in this article were obtained firsthand.
Charles Costello covers the Fordham Rams for Bleacher Report. A full archive of his articles can be found here. Twitter: @CFCostello
