Year: 2021

CSJ 2021 Goodyear Cotton Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal) Preview: #4 Cincinnati vs. #1 Alabama

After years of public uproar (especially of those that follow the non-Power Five leagues) in the consideration of Group of Five schools, Cincinnati gets their shot to show what it can do in a college football playoff setting. In previous years, undefeated G5 schools were passed up for one-loss Power Five teams, UCF was that team in 2017 who like Cincinnati was the only undefeated team in the FBS ranks.
The Bearcats get a shot at the top seeded team, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama won the SEC Championship Game in convincing fashion, with a 41-24 win over previously undefeated Georgia.

Group of Five 2021-22 Bowl First Weekend Recap & Highlights

The first weekend is in the books for the Group of Five teams. Eight bowls were played Dec. 17th and 18th–all involving at least one G5 team in those games. The big story of the weekend was Western Kentucky’s QB Bailey Zappe breaking former LSU QB Joe Burrow’s record with 61st TD pass of season in WKU’s 59-38 win over Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl. Zappe also broke the pass yardage record with over 5,800 yards passing.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Semifinal Preview: South Dakota State at #8 Montana State

FCS SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT MONTANA STATEWHERE: BOBCAT STADIUM, BOZEMAN, MONT.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 12:00 PM MSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN2 / WATCHESPN The other semifinal game between James Madison and North Dakota State will rightfully get its attention as those are the top seeds left in the final four but the South Dakota State-Montana State […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Semifinal Preview: #3 James Madison at #2 North Dakota State

FCS SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: JAMES MADISON AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 8:15 PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN2 / WATCHESPN This JMU-NDSU rivalry has been blooming over the past five seasons but like all good things, they have to come to an end. This will be the last meeting (at least with both at […]

CSJ 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl Preview: Coastal Carolina vs. Northern Illinois

This Cure Bowl is another great match-up just like the game was a year ago. Coastal Carolina makes a return visit after losing the game last year versus Liberty in overtime. Northern Illinois makes its first appearance in this bowl game and the first from any MAC school in this bowl game.

CSJ 2021 Bahamas Bowl Preview: Toledo vs. Middle Tennessee

The first college bowl game of the holiday season gets under way away from the United States. The lone bowl game to be played outside of the USA is this Bahamas Bowl. This game pits Toledo out of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) versus Middle Tennessee, out of Conference USA in the seventh game on the island nation (the 2020 Bahamas Bowl was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Women’s Basketball, Men’s Basketball to Share Same Court In Never Forget Tribute Classic

A unique college basketball doubleheader returns to the hardwood with the renewal of the Never Forget Tribute Classic.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: #8 Montana State Bobcats at #1 Sam Houston Bearkats

GAME PREVIEW: # 8 Montana State vs. #1 Sam HoustonWhen: Saturday, December 11 at 7:30PM CSTWhere: Bowers Stadium; Huntsville, TexasTV/Streaming: ESPN+ Sam Houston’s defense came up with a clutch stop on fourth and goal to hold off a late rally in a 49-42 victory over Incarnate Word in the second round of the FCS playoffs […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: #6 Montana Grizzlies at #3 James Madison Dukes

Fans of James Madison, who will be competing in the Sun Belt next season, feel like this is the “rubber match” between the two programs and would be a fitting sendoff for the Dukes to avenge that semifinal loss. Montana fans, however, would like a different type of sendoff.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: South Dakota State at #5 Villanova

This game will mark the second matchup between SDSU and Villanova on the gridiron. The first meeting also took place in the postseason, with the Jackrabbits pulling out a 10-7 victory on a late field goal in 2016 in a game played at Brookings.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: #7 East Tennessee State at #2 North Dakota State

FCS QUARTERFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 11:00AM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN / WATCHESPN Two conference champions meet in Fargo in this quarterfinal round match-up. East Tennessee State won the Southern Conference title this year and defeated Kennesaw State in the second round of the Division I FCS […]

Jimmy V Classic: Villanova Controls the Boards in Defeating Longtime Rival

The renewal of a longstanding rivalry between two former Big East Conference foes put all the is good about college basketball on full display in front of nearly 15,000 fans as No. 6 Villanova defeated Syracuse 67-53 on Nov. 9 in the nightcap of the 2021 Jimmy V Classic at famed Madison Square Garden.

College Basketball Returns to Famed Madison Square Garden for Jimmy V Classic

In a city known for its rich basketball tradition on the asphalt courts that abound on nearly every street corner, college basketball takes center stage once again with the annual Jimmy V Classic.

2021-22 College Bowl Games for Group of Five Schools

A total of 42 bowl games, including the College Football Playoff semi-finals and championship, are scheduled to take place beginning Dec. 17 with the Bahamas Bowl and ending Jan. 10 with the College Football Playoff National Championship in Indianapolis. Of the 42 bowls, 23 of the bowls will include at least one team from the […]

College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Dec. 4

Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings after the conference championship games, Dec. 4th, 2021. This will be the final rankings until all the bowls are played. A final rankings will be submitted after the National Championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot […]

2021 FBS Group of Five Championship Games Highlights and Recaps

A 2021 season like no other has taken place where finally a Group of Five team will undoubtedly be playing in the College Football Playoff. Cincinnati won the American Athletic Conference title over Houston to finish (thanks to Alabama also winning the SEC over Georgia) as the only undefeated team in all of FBS. The […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Second Round Preview: South Dakota State at #4 Sacramento State

FCS SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT SACRAMENTO STATEWHERE: HORNET STADIUM, SACRAMENTO, CALIF.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 6:00PM PSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ A first time match-up will take place in Sacramento in the Division I FCS Second Round when South Dakota State visits Sacramento State. Sacramento State was the Big Sky Conference champions with an unblemished conference mark to […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Second Round Preview: Southern Illinois at #2 North Dakota State

FCS SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2:30PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ Southern Illinois advanced the first round last week by defeating Missouri Valley Football Conference mate South Dakota on the road. The reward for the Salukis is to face another MVFC foe on the road in #2 […]

CSJ 2021 American Athletic Conference Championship Game Preview — Houston at Cincinnati

HOUSTON AT CINCINNATIWHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 4:00 PM ESTWHERE: NIPPERT STADIUM, CINCINNATI, OHIOTV/STREAMING: ABC / WATCHESPN To put it simply, this is the type of championship game that American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco was thinking when he made the claim that the AAC is the Power Six conference. While this game has had UCF and Cincinnati as undefeated […]

CSJ 2021 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game Preview — Appalachian State at Louisiana

APPALACHIAN STATE AT LOUISIANAWHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 3:30 PM ESTWHERE: CAJUN FIELD, LAFAYETTE, LA.TV/STREAMING: ESPN / WATCHESPN The two teams that the Sun Belt Conference has ever seen in its history of the game will meet again this year for the third time. Appalachian State will travel to Louisiana after these two schools met the first two times the […]

FCS Playoff Round Two – Game Preview – Incarnate Word Cardinals at #1 Sam Houston Bearkats

The road to Frisco will go through Huntsville after the Sam Houston Bearkats were named the No. 1 overall seed in the FCS Playoffs when the bracket was revealed a couple of weeks ago.

CSJ 2021 Mountain West Conference Championship Game Preview — Utah State at San Diego State

UTAH STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATEWHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 3:00 PM ESTWHERE: DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CARSON, CALIF.TV/STREAMING: FOX / FOX SPORTS LIVE The Mountain West title game participants were not known until the last weekend of play. San Diego State needed a win over Boise State, while Utah State needed SDSU to beat Boise State and also to […]

CSJ 2021 Mid-American Conference Championship Game Preview — Kent State vs. Northern Illinois

KENT STATE vs. NORTHERN ILLINOISWHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 12:00 PM ESTWHERE: FORD FIELD, DETROIT, MICH.TV/STREAMING: ESPN / WATCHESPN The Kent State Golden Flashes and Northern Illinois Huskies will meet in the MAC Championship. This is a rematch from the November 3rd meeting, which Kent State won in a wild affair at home, 52-47. Now the two will face off […]

CSJ 2021 Conference USA Championship Game Preview — Western Kentucky at UTSA

WESTERN KENTUCKY AT UTSAWHEN: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 7:00 PM ESTWHERE: ALAMODOME, SAN ANTONIO, TEX.TV/STREAMING: CBS SPORTS NETWORK / CBS SPORTS APP The Conference USA championship this year will take place in a location it has never been–San Antonio, Texas. The home standing UTSA Roadrunners, who won the C-USA West Division will host the East Division champions of Western Kentucky. […]

College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Nov. 27

Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Nov. 27th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot after […]

Sluka’s John Elway Impression Lifts Holy Cross To Last-Second 13-10 Win Over Sacred Heart

The 35 yard spiral from Sluka to Coker was on the money – and Coker came up with it and fell in the end zone, and with it, gave Holy Cross their first-ever FCS Playoff win in five tries.

St. Francis-Brooklyn Women Notch Historical Triumph

St. Francis-Brooklyn coach Linda Cimino conjured up some classic Norman Dale after her Terriers scored the final six points of the game, all in the last 45 seconds, to overtake and stun Michigan State 66-63 to record what is believed to be the biggest win in the history of the program at the school.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Davidson at Kennesaw State

FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: DAVIDSON AT KENNESAW STATEWHERE: FIFTH BANK STADIUM, KENNESAW, GA.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 2:00 PM ESTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ If you are a fan of running the football, this playoff match-up will be for you between Davidson and Kennesaw State. This game will feature the number one and number two rushing offenses in the […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Northern Iowa at Eastern Washington

FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: NORTHERN IOWA AT EASTERN WASHINGTONWHERE: ROOS FIELD, CHENEY, WASH.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 1:00 PM PSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ Two of the Division I FCS powerhouse program meet again in the playoffs when Northern Iowa travels to Eastern Washington. These two programs have been two of the most dominant FCS programs over the past […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Tennessee-Martin at Missouri State

FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: TENNESSEE-MARTIN AT MISSOURI STATEWHERE: ROBERT W. PLASTER STADIUM, SPRINGFIELD, MO.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 3:00PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ Missouri State is back in the playoffs for the second season in a row and fourth season overall. The Bears were co-champions of the MVFC last spring to get their first bid to the postseason […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Southern Illinois at South Dakota

FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTH DAKOTAWHERE: DAKOTADOME, VERMILLION, S.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 5:00PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ It is a rarity that two teams from the same conference play each other in the first round of the FCS playoffs but that is the case in this match-up. The NCAA rule for the opening round […]

2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: UC Davis at South Dakota State

These two teams were actually conference members of the now defunct Great West Football Conference until SDSU left that league after the 2007 season. UC Davis left the league after the 2011 season. Both moved to their current leagues of the Missouri Valley Football Conference for SDSU and the Big Sky Conference for UC Davis.

College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Nov. 20

Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Nov. 20th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. Cincinnati remains at the top spot after […]

CSJ Sagarin 2021 NCAA FCS Playoff Projection-FINAL

Using the Sagarin ranking this week, the following would be the field of 24 teams for the Division I FCS Football Playoffs. The actual playoff announcement will be made later today at 12:30 EST on ESPNU. North Dakota State is the top seed, while MVFC mate South Dakota State is the second seed. James Madison […]

College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Nov. 20

Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Nov. 20th, 2021. This is the last ranking of the regular season and CSJ will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. North Dakota State stays the top of the rankings after the Bison defeated South […]