Covering All College Sports Since 2012
Furman at Elon When: Saturday, September 8, 6:00 PM Where: Rhodes Stadium, Elon, NC TV/Streaming Coverage: College Sports Live Furman Paladins (0-1, 0-1 SoCon, last week L 7-48 at Clemson) Furman returned to the playoffs in 2017 after a 4 year absence where they defeated this week’s opponent, Elon, in the first round. The Paladins.
The campuses of Lehigh and Villanova are only separated by about an hour by car – an easy drive up I-476. The wording in the Lehigh football game notes calls their game against No. 12-ranked Villanova a matchup of “regional rivals”. Though the Wildcats’ game notes didn’t return the labeling favor to the Mountain Hawks.
Early in the season, teams move up and down in the polls as teams show that they are what we thought they would be; better than anticipated; or way over ranked versus their actual performance. We had a lot of movement from the preseason in the FCS after week one. There were 5 FCS teams that upset.
James Madison stayed with North Carolina State throughout the game on Saturday. In the end, the Dukes came up just a bit short, falling 24-13 in Raleigh. Playing a team of that caliber that close would be considered a moral victory for many FCS schools. But for James Madison, the 3 time defending CAA Champions.
Six players including Zach Bednarczyk from Villanova, Christian Lopez from North Alabama, Dominick Bragalone from Lehigh, Pace Temple from Butler, Franklin “Mac” McCain III from North Carolina A&T, and Lorran Fonsceca from Nicholls have been selected as the College Sports Journal All-Stars for the week ending Sept. 3, 2018 from the NCAA Division I FCS schools..
Here is my take on the top 5 games of the week with video highlights from Week 1. The biggest victory came from North Carolina A&T come-from-behind victory over East Carolina, 28-23, behind two late touchdown passes from backup quarterback Kyle Carter. But the shock of the week came from Youngstown State, where non-scholarship Butler.
Last season, Lehigh finished with a 5-7 record. In both wins and losses, it felt like almost every game ended in a shootout – for example, a 54-35 win over Georgetown, or a 65-47 loss to Penn. So when Lehigh beat St. Francis 21-19 Saturday at Murray Goodman, it was a type of victory that.
Northern Arizona at UTEP When: Saturday, September 1st, 4:30 PM MST Where: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX TV/Streaming Coverage: ESPN3/WatchESPN Northern Arizona: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule It’s not often an FCS team is favored when facing an FBS program, but in Northern Arizona’s opener against the UTEP Miners on Saturday, it is pretty close. When looking at how.
James Madison at North Carolina State When: Saturday, September 1st, 12:00 PM EDT Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC TV/Streaming Coverage: ESPNU, WatchESPN App (ESPNU subscription required) James Madison: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule James Madison has its sights set on a third straight trip to Frisco, Texas in the first weekend of 2019. They enter the season as the.
Northern Iowa at Montana When: Saturday, September 1st, 7:00 PM MDT Where: Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, MT TV/Streaming Coverage: ABC/SWX Montana, Altitude2/ Montana Web Northern Iowa: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule Northern Iowa tries to get off to a fast start–something that the Panthers are notorious for not doing but then finishing strong and squeaking into the FCS playoffs. Also, UNI.
Holy Cross at Colgate When: Saturday, September 1st, 1:00 PM EDT Where: Andy Kerr Stadium, Hamilton, NY TV/Streaming Coverage: Stadium (online stream) Holy Cross: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule The Bob Chesney era begins at Holy Cross, and it couldn’t start out in a more important or challenging way than a trip against the preseason Patriot League favorite in.
Boise State at Troy When: Saturday, September 1st, 5:00 PM CDT Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL TV/Streaming Coverage: ESPNews/WatchESPN App Boise State: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule Boise State is our favorite to win its division in the Mountain West Conference and trying to make a New Year’s Six bowl as the top conference champion from.
The JMU Quarterback battle is raging on.. apparently up until the opening kickoff. If Coach Mike Houston knows who is starting at quarterback for the #2 team in FCS, James Madison Dukes, he isn’t telling anyone. Houston has been telling the local members of the media that everyone would know “at 12:01pm on September 1,”.
Kennesaw State at Georgia State When: Thursday, August 30, 7:00 PM EDT Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA TV/Streaming Coverage: ESPN+ (subscription req’d) Kennesaw Sate: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule The Owls are only three years old as a program, but in that time head coach Brian Bohannon has built a team built for deep runs in the FCS Playoffs. Today they take.
New Hampshire at Maine When: Thursday, August 30, 7:00 PM Where: Alfon Stadium, Orono, ME TV/Streaming Coverage: Fox College Sports Atlantic/Fox Sports Go New Hampshire Wildcats: CSJ’s Team Preview Capsule New Hampshire starts the 2018 season looking for get off on the right foot towards a season that they think can be magical. Key Player:.
The Lehigh Mountain Hawks secured a win over their bitter Rivals Lafayette, won a share of the Patriot League Championship, and won the league’s autoqualifier for the FCS playoffs, putting them in the postseason for the second straight season. Sounds like a terrific year? Not exactly. The St. Francis (PA) Red Flash had started out.
Western Illinois at Montana State When: Thursday, August 30, 7:00 PM MDT Where: Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, MT TV/Streaming Coverage: SWX Montana, Altitude2/Montana State Western Illinois: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule Western Illinois is not ranked to start this season, but they finished 13th in the final FCS poll last season. The Leathernecks ended last year 8-4 with a berth in the.
Louisville Cardinals Location: Louisville, KY Coach: Bobby Petrino (75-27) 9th Season, 5th consecutive at Louisville Stadium: Cardinal Stadium (Capacity 61,000) CSJ Projections 5th ACC (3rd Atlantic Division) 1st: Kentucky 24th: FBS 24th: Division I 2017 In a Sentence: Louisville was another team mired in the middle of the ACC in 2017. They seemed to win.
College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the MVFC. North Dakota State won its unprecedented sixth national title in seven years last year. The Bison again look stacked to win its eighth straight conference title and are the odds on favorites to again win its seventh national title .
There he was on the sidelines of practice, Walter Payton award nominee and unquestioned feature back of the Mountain Hawks, senior RB Dominick Bragalone, on one knee. Understandably, he was not on the field as much for practice with the Lehigh offense or Lehigh special teams. That’s because head coach Andy Coen needs his legs.
North Dakota State Bison Location: Fargo, ND Coach: Chris Kileman (54-6 @NDSU, 57-13 overall) 5th Season Stadium: Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (Capacity: 18,700) CSJ Projections: 1st: Missouri Valley Football Conference 1st: North Dakota 1st: FCS 31st: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: After a one-year title game hiatus in 2016 after James Madison defeated.
The James Madison Dukes have won the last two CAA football championships out right, winning the FCS National Championship following the 2016 season and finishing runner up to North Dakota State following the 2017 season. In fact, the Dukes have not lost a conference game – regular season or playoff – under Mike Houston. The Dukes will look.
James Madison Dukes Location: Harrisonburg, VA Coach: Mike Houston (28-2) 3rd Season Stadium: Bridgefort Stadium (Capacity: 24,887) CSJ Projections: 1st: CAA 2nd: Virginia 2nd: FCS 44rd: Division I 2017 In a Sentence: James Madison was dominant throughout the season in 2017 led by a defense that was almost impenetrable. Until the FCS National Championship game,.
Below are the Top 25 FCS preseason rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the 2018 season. 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. Sagarin rankings provide the only rankings that actually ranks all Division I schools.
Prairie View A&M at Rice When: Saturday, August 25, 6:00 PM CDT Where: Rice Stadium, Houston, TX TV/Streaming Coverage: ESPN+, ESPN+ stream (subscription) Prairie View A&M: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule The #DooleyEra is upon us at Prairie View. Eric Dooley has been around the SWAC for years and has been one of the most successful recruiters and coordinators in.
North Carolina A&T vs. Jacksonville State When: Saturday, August 25, 7:00 PM EDT Where: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL TV/Streaming Coverage: ESPN, WatchESPN North Carolina A&T: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule The Aggies are participating in this year’s FCS Kickoff Classic after a historic undefeated 12-0 season last year. They certainly won’t be intimidated by playing one of.
Duquesne at UMass When: Saturday, August 25, 5:30 PM EDT Where: McGuirk Stadium, Amherst, MA TV/Streaming Coverage: NESN+, Eleven Sports, Flo Network, NESN GO, UMass Athletics Duquesne: CSJ’s 2018 Preview Capsule Duquesne enters this game looking to test themselves going into a 2018 season where they are looking to re-establish themselves as the top dog.
College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the OVC. 2017 was another year where head coach John Grass’ Jacksonville Gamecocks pulverized the rest of their OVC competition and experienced only two losses – one to an FBS team early in the year, and another after a loss in.
College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the MEAC. Winners of the Celebration Bowl last season, North Carolina A&T was the runaway choice to repeating as MEAC champions. Aggie fans are accustomed lately to great football teams, but a historic 12-0 season, with a win over an FBS team.
On a cool Tuesday morning, the Lehigh defense was having a lot of fun at football practice. For Lehigh fans, 2017 was a year to forget on the defensive end, a year replete with a multitude of big play touchdowns, big gashes of rushing yardage and some agonizing losses. But attending Lehigh’s practice today it.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits Location: Brookings, SD Coach: John Stiegelmeier (148-97) 22nd Season Stadium: Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (Capacity: 19,340) CSJ Projections: 2nd: Missouri Valley Football Conference 1st: South Dakota 3rd: FCS 63rd: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: SDSU went farther than it has ever went in the FCS playoffs with a semi-final appearance.
College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the Big South Conference. The Kennesaw State Owls are still a relatively young program, but their impressive run in 2017 – and the fact that they graduate little of their quad – means Brian Bohannon’s squad is picked to be the.
College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the Big Sky Conference. CSJ picks Weber State to repeat as the Big Sky champions this season, due to the return of five All-Americans and 10 players that earned All-Big Sky honors off last year’s championship team. Leading the Wildcats this.
We now turn the calendar to 2018 in the in the SWAC and as the calendar changed so did so many things in the conference. This year there will be five new head coaches in the conference (Connell Maynor/Alabama A&M, Donald Hill-Ely/Alabama State, Cedric Thomas/Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Vincent Dancy/Mississippi Valley State, and Eric Dooley/Prairie View A&M).
Weber State Wildcats Location: Ogden, UT Coach: Jay Hill (26-23) 5th Season Stadium: Stewart Stadium (Capacity: 17,312) CSJ Projections: 1st: Big Sky 2nd: Utah 4th: FCS 79th: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: The Wildcat progression has been a consistent upward trend under Coach Hill–last year WSU won a share of the Big Sky title.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks Location: Jacksonville, AL Coach: John Grass (43-8) Stadium: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium (Capacity: 24,000) CSJ Projections: 1st: OVC 4th: Alabama 5th: FCS 89th: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: Another year where head coach John Grass’ Jacksonville Gamecocks pulverized the rest of their OVC competition and experienced only two losses – one.
Sam Houston State Bearkats Location: Huntsville, TX Coach: K.C. Keeler (220-85-1, 46-12 at SHSU) 5th Year at Sam Houston State Stadium: Bowers Stadium (Capacity: 12,593) CSJ Projections: 1st: Southland 7th: Texas 6th: FCS 91st: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: It was another very good season for K.C. Keeler and the Bearkats if you look.
New Hampshire Wildcats Location: Durham, NH Coach: Sean McDonnell (150-88) 20th Season at New Hampshire Stadium: Wildcat Stadium (Capacity 11,015) CSJ Projections 2nd: CAA 1st: New Hampshire 7th: FCS 100th: Division I 2017 In a Sentence: New Hampshire battled some inconsistencies on both sides of the ball in 2017. They were led by dynamic QB/WR.
Eastern Washington Eagles Location: Cheney, WA Coach: Aaron Best (7-4) 2nd Season Stadium: Roos Field (Capacity: 8,600) CSJ Projections: 2nd: Big Sky 3rd: Washington 8th: FCS 103rd: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: The Eagles got snubbed from the FCS playoffs after finishing the season at 7-4 overall after coming off a semifinal appearance in.
Stony Brook Seawolves Location: Stony Brook, NY Coach: Chuck Priore (77-61) 13th Season at Stony Brook Stadium: LaValle Stadium (Capacity 12,300) CSJ Projections 3rd: CAA 4th: New York 9th: FCS 105th: Division I 2017 In a Sentence: Stony Brook had a great season in 2017, going 10-3, including 7-1 in the CAA, defeating Lehigh in.
College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the Southern Conference. CSJ picks Samford to win the SoCon this season, thanks to the powerful Bulldog offense that head coach Chris Hatcher returns in 2018. Leading the Bulldog offense is Samford QB Devlin Hodges, who collected his second straight SoCon.
Kennesaw State Owls Location: Kennesaw, GA Coach: Brian Bohannon (26-10) Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium (Capacity: 8,318) CSJ Projections: 1st: Big South 3rd: Georgia 10th: FCS 108th: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: The Owls are only three years old, but in that time head coach Brian Bohannon has built a team built for deep runs.
Northern Iowa Panthers Location: Cedar Falls, IA Coach: Mark Farley (135–68) 18th Season Stadium: UNI-Dome (Capacity: 16,324) CSJ Projections: 3rd: Missouri Valley Football Conference 3rd: Iowa 11th: FCS 111th: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: UNI made the FCS playoffs for the third time in four years last year but after an opening round win.
Samford Bulldogs Location: Homewood, AL Coach: Chris Hatcher (21-14) Stadium: Seibert Stadium (Capacity: 6,700) CSJ Projections: 2nd: SoCon 3rd: South Carolina 15th: FCS 122nd: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: Samford made the playoffs again behind outstanding quarterback play, but continued its recent history as the league’s biggest tease, gutting out a conference title with a.
North Carolina A&T Aggies Location: Greensboro, NC Coach: Sam Washington (0-0) Stadium: Aggie Stadium (Capacity: 21,500) CSJ Projections: 1st: MEAC 7th: North Carolina 1st: HBCU 14th: FCS 121st: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: Aggie fans were accustomed lately to great football teams, but a historic 12-0 season, with a win over an FBS team.
Furman Paladins Location: Greenville, SC Coach: Clay Hendrix (8-5) Stadium: Paladin Stadium (Capacity: 16,000) CSJ Projections: 2nd: SoCon 3rd: South Carolina 15th: FCS 122nd: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: Clay Hendrix had a fine debut campaign as head coach of the resurgent Paladins, marred only by season bookend losses at Wofford. Biggest Shoes to.
Central Arkansas Bears Location: Conway, AR Coach: Nathan Brown (0-0) 1st Year at Central Arkansas Stadium: Estes Stadium (Capacity: 10,000) CSJ Projections: 2nd: Southland 3rd: Arkansas 16th: FCS 124th: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: For the second straight season, Central Arkansas made the FCS playoffs under head coach Steve Campbell, but after the season.
Elon Phoenix Location: Elon, NC Coach: Curt Cignetti (8-4) 2nd Season at Elon Stadium: Rhodes Stadium (Capacity 13,100) CSJ Projections 4th: CAA 8th: North Carolina 17th: FCS 125th: Division I 2017 In a Sentence: Elon played in a lot of tight games in 2017, with 9 games ending within one score. They came out on.
Austin Peay Governors Location: Clarksville, TN Coach: Will Healy (8-15) Stadium: Fortera Stadium (Capacity: 10,000) CSJ Projections: 2rd: OVC 5th: Tennessee 17th: FCS 127th: Division I 2017 In A Sentence: The case was convincing for the committee to include 8-4 Austin Peay for inclusion in the FCS Playoffs – an 8-4 record, with a 7-1 record.
Delaware Blue Hens Location: Newark, DE Coach: Danny Rocco (7-4) 2nd Season at Delaware Stadium: Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium (Capacity 22,000) CSJ Projections 5th: CAA 1st: Delaware 18th: FCS 128th: Division I 2017 In a Sentence: Delaware struggled on offense for most of 2017, especially at the quarterback position. The Blue Hens put.
