The College Sports Journal

FCS Quarterfinal Round Playoffs: Top Seeded North Dakota State Wins Defensive Struggle over MVFC Mate Illinois State, 9-3

FARGO, N.D.—North Dakota State did not score a touchdown, but three field goals proved to be enough to secure its ninth straight Division I FCS semi-final appearance in a 9-3 victory over fellow Missouri Valley Football Member Illinois State in front o 14,132 in attendance inside the Fargodome. This game was the first time North.

A New Era, The Ed McCaffrey Era

Fans, faculty, and community alike are buzzing on the University of Northern Colorado campus following the new coaching announcement. The rumor wheel started turning early Thursday morning and became official at 3:10 pm MT when Ed McCaffrey confirmed it on Twitter. The former Denver Broncos super bowl player, successful business owner, and former Valor Christian.

CSJ Game Preview 120th Meeting Between Army and Navy, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

“The only thing that is fun about this game is winning it,” Army head coach Jeff Monken said this week.

2019 FCS Playoffs: CSJ Playoff Picks, National Quarterfinals

We’re down to the final eight teams in the FCS Playoffs, as an unprecedented six of those teams face off on Friday evening in an intriguing tripleheader that includes three Big Sky teams. All three games played after sundown could be deeply affected by the weather.

2019 FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal Matchup: Montana at Weber State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Who: Montana at Weber State When: Friday, December 13th at 8 pm MT Where: Ogden, Utah at Stewart Stadium How to Watch: ESPN 2 Unlike many of the other playoff games, this showdown has already happened once this season. At WA-Grizzly Stadium Weber State was beat down by Montana 35-16. The only major change this.

Central Michigan tops two ranked conference opponents, moves into NWCA Top 25

Manheim, Pennsylvania – A weekend trip out east to face new conference foes was beneficial for coach Tom Borrelli’s Central Michigan squad as the Chippewas downed ranked opponents Rider 28-10 and Lock Haven 24-12 to enter this week’s NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll at No. 24. The Chippewas (2-1) faced off with both schools for.

2019 FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal Matchup: Illinois State at North Dakota State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Illinois State at North Dakota State Where: Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota When: Saturday, December 14th, 12:00PM EST TV/Streaming: ESPN/Watch ESPN Illinois State Redbirds (10-4), Head Coach: Brock Spack Missouri Valley Normal, Illinois The Redbirds have won two road games to set up this all MVFC quarterfinal. Illinois State has defeated Southeast.

2019 FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal Matchup: Austin Peay at Montana State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

After winning the Ohio Valley Conference championship for just the second time in school history and the first since 1977, the Governors won their second straight playoff game with a resounding win over Sacramento State last weekend. APSU has a chance to knock off another Big Sky Conference foe when the Govs travel to Bozeman, Montana, to take on Montana State in a Friday night clash.

2019 FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal Matchup: Northern Iowa at James Madison, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

The Panthers play exceptional defense. They allowed only 220 yards against South Dakota State and 213 against San Diego. They will need a similar performance to stay in the game against James Madison.

2019 FCS Playoffs, Round 2 Review: CSJ Staff Gives Their Opinions

With the second round of the FCS Playoffs now complete, we give you links to all our recaps and our writers’ impression of the games.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: Weber State Escapes Kennesaw State Upset Bid, Beat Owls 26-20

OGDEN, UT – Kennesaw State jumped to a 17-12 halftime lead over Weber State in their FCS Playoff matchup, but the host Wildcats used a big defensive play to take the lead and rode its momentum to a 26-20 second-round win.

Is it time for a Group of Five Football Playoff?

I may be in a unique situation as my crossover for football is not the FBS Power Five (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, & SEC, as well as Independent Notre Dame) and Group of Five (AAC, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, & Sun Belt) schools like many college football reporters. Rather, my take is both.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: Austin Peay Writes Another Winning Chapter In 42-28 Win over Sacramento State

Another chapter was written in Austin Peay’s history-making season as the Governors rolled early and often on their way to a 42-28 win over Sacramento State on Saturday in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs at Hornet Field.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: Record-Setting Performance for Montana As They Smother Southeastern Louisiana 73-28

Hosting their first FCS Playoff games since 2015, the Grizzlies put on a show for their home fans, setting program and national records as they defeated Southeastern Louisiana 73-28 in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: Montana State Scores 47 Consecutive Points And Overwhelms Albany 47-21

Montana State used a balanced offense and solid defense to easily defeat Albany 47-21 in their second round matchup in the FCS playoffs. Even though Albany did get the scoring starting on an excellent 58 yard pitch and catch from Jeff Undercuffler to Juwan Green, From there, it was all Bobcats.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: James Madison Takes Early Punch from Monmouth, Pulls Away For 66-21 Win

The opening fifteen minutes and five seconds of the second round FCS playoff game between Monmouth and Jamses Madison featured six touchdowns, three by the visiting Hawks and three by the hosting Dukes. After that thrilling start, however, James Madison would score 45 unanswered points on the way to a dominating 66-21 victory.

2019-20 College Bowl Games for Group of Five Schools

The following will be the schedule for the college bowl games involving Group of Five schools. As expected, Memphis was the ranked the top Group of Five school and will play in the New Year’s Six Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas against Penn State on Dec. 28. A total of 22 bowl games will involve.

College Sports Journal Sagarin High Major Men’s Basketball Top 25 – Dec. 7

Below are the Top 25 High-Major rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Dec. 7th, 2019. Gonzaga remains atop the standings, where they have been since the preseason poll. The High-Major conferences include AAC, A-10, Conference USA, Mountain West, West Coast, and Missouri Valley conferences. Sagarin rankings provide the only rankings that.

College Sports Journal Sagarin Mid-Major Men’s Basketball Top 25 – Dec. 7

Below are the Top 25 Mid-Major rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Dec. 7th, 2019. North Carolina Greensboro takes over the top spot after wins over Kennesaw State and Radford. The Mid-Major conferences include America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern,.

College Sports Journal Sagarin FBS G5 Top 25 – Dec. 7

Here are the Top 25 FBS Group of Five (G5) rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Dec, 7th, 2019. Memphis retains the top spot following its AAC Conference title win over Cincinnati this week. This will be the last rating until after after the national championship game in January. A final.

2019 FBS Group of Five Championship Games Highlights and Recaps

All that ends well. Memphis was the top ranked College Football Playoff Top 25 Group of Five going into the championship weekend with Boise State, Cincinnati, and Appalachian State as the other three teams in the rankings. Memphis played Cincinnati in the the American Association title game at home and held on to win the.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: Northern Iowa Defense Keys Upset of #7 Seeded South Dakota State, 13-10

BROOKINGS, S.D. — Behind a dominating defensive effort, Northern Iowa rallied for a 13-10 victory over #7 seeded South Dakota State in front of 4,102 fans at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Northern Iowa (10-4) kicker Matthew Cook converted the go-ahead 18-yard field goal with 2:10 left and the UNI defense did what it did the.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: Top Seeded North Dakota State Starts Slow, Finishes Strong in Win over Nicholls, 37-13

FARGO, N.D. — Top seeded North Dakota State set a new FCS record with its 34th consecutive victory, pulling away from Nicholls in the second half for a 37-13 win in the second round of the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs in front of 15,690 at the Fargodome. North Dakota State (13-0) broke a tie.

FCS Second Round Playoffs: The James Robinson Show Rumbles Through Central Arkansas In 24-14 Victory

Illinois State RB James Robinson followed up his 297 yard effort last week against Southeast Missouri State with a 210 yard rushing game against Central Arkansas, including two touchdowns as the Redbirds defeated Central Arkansas 24-14 in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.

COULSON: App State Runs Past Louisiana-Lafayette In Sun Belt Championship Game 45-38

Evans scampered 58 yards with a screen pass from quarterback Zac Thomas on a third-and-15 play less than two minutes into the game and Appalachian was on its way to the decisive 45-38 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in the second consecutive meeting between the two teams in the conference title clash at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

2019 FCS Playoffs: CSJ Playoff Picks, Round 2

This weekend eight seeded teams join the FCS Playoff party, including North Dakota State, who has made December dome football a North Dakota tradition, and four teams from the Big Sky, who saw an unprecedented four teams seeded in the playoffs. As a result, seven of the eight games are being played west of the Mississippi River.

CSJ Mountain West Championship Game Preview — Hawai’i at Boise State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Hawai’i at Boise State When: Saturday, December 7, 4:00 PM EST Where: Albertson’s Stadium, Boise, Idaho TV/Streaming: ESPN / WatchESPN Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (9-4, 5-3 MWC) Mountain West West Division Champions Location: Honolulu, Hawai’i Enrollment: 18,056 Season Recap: The Rainbow Warriors clinched a spot in the league title game for the first time after edging San Diego State 14-11 two weeks.

CSJ American Athletic Association Championship Game Preview — Cincinnati at Memphis, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Cincinnati at Memphis When: Saturday, December 7th, 3:30 PM EST Where:Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn. TV/Streaming: ABC / WatchESPN Cincinnati Bearcats (10-2, 7-1 AAC) AAC East Division Champions Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Enrollment: 43,691 Season Recap: The Bearcats won the AAC East, one game better in the division standings than Central Florida. Cincinnati is looking for its sixth conference championship.

CSJ Conference USA Championship Game Preview — UAB at FAU, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

UAB at FAU When: Saturday, December 7, 12:30 PM CST Where:FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Fla. TV/Streaming: CBS Sports Network / CBS Sports App UAB Blazers (9-3, 6-2 C-USA) Conference USA West Division Champions Location: Birmingham, Ala. Enrollment: 22,080 Season Recap:UAB, the reigning Conference USA Champion, looks to win back-to-back titles on Saturday when the Blazers visit Florida Atlantic for.

CSJ MAC Championship Game Preview — Central Michigan vs. Miami (OH) — How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Central Michigan vs. Miami (OH) When: Saturday, December 7th, 12:00 PM EST Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. TV/Streaming: ESPN2 / WatchESPN Central Michigan Chippewas (8-4, 6-2 MAC) MAC West Division Champions Location: Mount Pleasant, Mich. Enrollment: 28,389 Season Recap: The Chippewas come into this game with some momentum as CMU had a 49-7 throttling of Toledo in.

CSJ Sun Belt Championship Game Preview — Louisiana at Appalachian State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Louisiana at Appalachian State When: Saturday, December 7, 12:00 PM EST Where:Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone, N.C. TV/Streaming: ESPN / WatchESPN Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (9-2, 7-1 SBC) Sun Belt West Division Champions Location: Lafayette, La. Enrollment: 19,188 Head Coach: Billy Napier, 2nd Season (Career Record: 17-9) Season Recap:With its 31-30 win over ULM, Louisiana clinched its first 10-win season in.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Albany at Montana State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Albany proved its eight win regular season was no fluke as they cruised to a 42-14 win over Central Connecticut State behind a huge second half where they score three times in the opening seven and a half minutes of the third quarter.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Illinois State at Central Arkansas, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

  FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Illinois State at Central Arkansas Where: Estes Stadium, Conway, Arkansas When: Saturday, December 7th, 3:00 PM TV/Streaming: ESPN3 (subscription req’d)   Illinois State Redbirds (9-4), Head Coach: Brock Spack Missouri Valley Normal, Illinois In order for Illinois State to come away with a victory in its first-round playoff game.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Monmouth at James Madison, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

FCS Second Round Matchup: Monmouth (Big South) at James Madison (Colonial) When: Saturday December 7, 1:00 PM Where: Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Virginia Streaming: ESPN3 Monmouth Hawks (11-2), Head Coach: Kevin Callahan Big South Conference West Long Branch, New Jersey Winners of the Big South Conference, Monmouth is currently riding a nine game winning streak. In.

Perseverance and Character Helped Banachs Propel Iowa Wrestling to New Heights

The Banachs, who combined for five individual national championships while competing for the Hawkeyes, just might have been the major catalysts of the astronomical rise of the Iowa program.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Austin Peay at Sacramento State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Austin Peay and Sacramento State are both in a position that few pundits imagined at the start of the season: in the second round of the FCS national playoffs. The stakes only get higher for the winner of Saturday’s game.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Kennesaw State at Weber State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

Kennesaw State snuck past Wofford with solid team effort, but Weber State is no team to sneak around. The Wildcats had a week to rest and practice while the Owls dealt with Wofford. The Big Sky Conference’s automatic qualifier is battle-tested and ready for a big matchup. Weber State has only lost to FBS Nevada.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Nicholls at North Dakota State, How To Watch and Fearless Predictions

The oddsmakers don’t give them much of a chance – on a popular gambling site, Nicholls was a 28 point underdog.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Northern Iowa at South Dakota State, Predictions, How to Watch

Who: Northern Iowa at South Dakota State When: Saturday, December 7th Time: 1 p.m. CT Location: Brookings, S.D. Stadium:Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium How to Watch: ESPN 3 Northern Iowa Panthers (9-4, 6-2 MVFC) The Panthers used its defense to get by San Diego in the the first round of the playoffs. The Panthers now get a rematch in.

Jamie Williams’ FCS Legacy Awards Ballot

This season, I had the pleasure to be included by Craig Haley as a voter in the STATS FCS Top 25 for the first time. Along with the Top 25 vote comes the opportunity to vote for the FCS Legacy Awards: Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan, Eddie Robinson and Jerry Rice. As a voter, I believe.

Wrestling History About to be Made at Presbyterian College

Presbyterian College, home of the only NCAA Division 1 women’s wrestling team, is set to compete at home for the first time in the history of the fledgling program.

Plenty of eyes will be watching.

2019 FCS Second Round Playoff Matchup: Southeastern Louisiana at Montana, Predictions, How to Watch

Who: SLU at Montana When: Saturday, December 7th Time: 1 p.m. MT Location: Missoula, Montana Stadium: WA-Grizzly Stadium How to Watch: ESPN 3  The SLU Lions escaped a nasty first-round playoff game against Villanova. A back-and-forth scoring onslaught that seesawed dramatically from one half to the other. Villanova had a 31-14 halftime lead that might.

2019 FCS Playoffs, Round 1 Review: CSJ Staff Gives Their Opinions

With the first round of the FCS Playoffs now complete, we give you links to all our recaps and our writers’ impression of the games. Monmouth 44, Holy Cross 27 FCS 1st Round Playoffs: Monmouth Overwhelms Holy Cross 44-27 For Hawks First-Ever Playoff Victory Chuck: Monmouth proved they have a balanced offense that can give.

FCS 1st Round Playoffs: Backup QB Leads Kennesaw State to Victory over Wofford, 28-21

It’s the nightmare scenario for any playoff team – seeing your starting quarterback go down midway through the second quarter with an injury. That’s exactly the scenario Kennesaw State found themselves in against Wofford, a battle between triple-option teams with hard-running quarterbacks.

To the delight of Owl fans, QB Jonathan Murphy was able to carve his name on the plank of champions as he rallied his team to a thrilling 28-21 win.

FCS 1st Round Playoffs: Monmouth Overwhelms Holy Cross 44-27 For Hawks First-Ever Playoff Victory

Monmouth piled up 502 yards of total offense as the Hawks beat Holy Cross 44-27 in the first-ever FCS Playoff appearance for the program and the only head coach they have ever had, Kevin Callahan.

FCS 1st Round Playoffs: Southeastern Louisiana Outlasts Villanova 45-44 in Playoff Classic

When the bracket was released last Sunday, many fans pointed to the Villanova/Southeastern Louisiana as the most potentially entertaining game and the one most likely to see a lot of scoring. The two teams did not disappoint, scoring a total of 89 points in a 45-44 Lion win that went down to the very last minutes of the game.

College Sports Journal Sagarin High Major Men’s Basketball Top 25 – Nov. 30

Below are the Top 25 High-Major rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Nov. 30th, 2019. Gonzaga remains atop the standings despite losing this past week to Michigan. The High-Major conferences include AAC, A-10, Conference USA, Mountain West, West Coast, and Missouri Valley conferences. Sagarin rankings provide the only rankings that actually.

College Sports Journal Sagarin Mid-Major Men’s Basketball Top 25 – Nov. 30

Below are the Top 25 Mid-Major rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Nov. 30th, 2019. East Tennessee State stays atop the rankings this week following wins over Appalachian State and Little Rock. The Mid-Major conferences include America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic,.

FCS 1st Round Playoffs: Julien Gums Helps Nicholls Run Past North Dakota, 24-6

Julien Gums and Dontrell Taylor combined for 267 yards on the ground and quarterback Chase Fourcade completed all but two of his 16 pass attempts as Nicholls State defeated North Dakota 24-6 on Saturday on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.