The FCS college football season is passing the midseason mark this weekend, although some teams have played over half of their schedule, depending on bye weeks.
This is the seventh full week of a memorable campaign, with the NCAA allowing for a maximum of 11 regular-season games, generally spread over 12 weeks, although a small handful of teams opened early in Week 0 and the Southwestern Athletic Conference will extend into a 13th week over Thanksgiving weekend.
The 2021 season was highly anticipated following last year’s pandemic-delayed campaign, and it’s delivered with top teams, top players and top games.
Here are midseason choices for the best of the best across the FCS:
3 Best Games
No. 6 Eastern Washington 34, No. 4 Montana 28 (Oct 2.) – The national exposure on ESPN2 helped make this Big Sky rivalry game of unbeatens feel like an instant classic. The Eagles overcame a 21-10 deficit after three quarters to extend the FCS’ longest active home winning streak to 19. Quarterback Eric Barriere passed for 422 yards as well as two touchdowns to wide receiver Andrew Boston.
No. 1 Sam Houston 21, Stephen F. Austin 20 (Oct. 2) – Defending FCS champion Sam Houston remained clutch, rallying past rival SFA for the 10th straight time before 25,007 at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Bearkats, who played without All-America quarterback Eric Schmid, scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including Trappe Pannell’s 4-yard TD run and Christian Pavon’s go-ahead PAT with 2:37 left. SFA’s Chris Campos missed a late 51-yard field goal attempt.
No. 11 Villanova 28, No. 3 James Madison 27 (Oct. 9) – Villanova shut out James Madison in the second half while halting the Dukes’ 15-game winning streak against CAA competition. The Wildcats reversed a 27-16 deficit in the third quarter, going ahead on Daniel Smith’s 57-yard TD pass to Rayjoun Pringle, and withstood two JMU trips into their red zone in the fourth, with all-time FCS field goal leader Ethan Ratke missing attempts both times. The ‘Cats converted a fourth-and-1 from their 29 with under two minutes left.
3 Best Teams
It’s hard not to go with the three highest-ranked teams in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. Most key players returned from Sam Houston’s FCS championship squad in the spring, and the top-ranked Bearkats (5-0) own the longest active FCS winning streak at 16. Second-ranked Eastern Washington (6-0) has an FBS win (UNLV) in addition to the Montana triumph, plus the No. 1-ranked offense in the FCS. Third-ranked North Dakota State (5-0) is surrendering the fewest points in the nation – in fact, it’s the lowest average (8.6) of the eight-time FCS champion’s Division I era (since 2004).
3 Surprise Teams
Tenth-ranked ETSU (6-0) overmatched Vanderbilt to start the season and has its highest national ranking since 1997. Rhode Island beat Delaware last Saturday to reach 5-0 for the first time since 2001, and the Rams’ No. 12 ranking is their highest since that season. After opening the campaign with an FBS loss, No. 17 UT Martin (4-1) has matched the second-longest winning streak of coach Jason Simpson’s 16 seasons, beating Samford, Jacksonville State and Murray State along the way.
3 Disappointing Teams
As the program with the most all-time Patriot League championships, it’s astounding Lehigh (0-6) has scored only three field goals with a touchdown. Returning a veteran lineup this season, Monmouth (3-3) seemed primed to reach the top 10, but the Big South power has been outside the national rankings for three straight weeks. Being competitive hasn’t prevented Albany (0-5) from an eight-game losing streak that is the second longest in its program’s history (since 1973).
Best Offensive Player(s)
Yeah, take your pick between 2020-21 Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley of Southeastern Louisiana and runner-up Eric Barriere of Eastern Washington. Playing only on the road to date, Kelley has the Lions (4-1) off to their best start since 1980, ranking No. 1 in the FCS in total offense (440.4 yards per game), total touchdowns (25) and completion percentage (74.5). Eastern Wahington’s best start since 1967 has been fueled by Barriere, who leads the nation in passing yards per game (411.2) – he set the FCS record for passing yards in a half against Western Illinois (487) – and is tied for the high in TD passes (21).
Best Defensive Player
Fordham linebacker Ryan Greenhagen opened the season by posting an FCS single-game record 31 tackles against Nebraska and followed it up with 28 stops against Monmouth. Unfortunately, on the second-half kickoff of the Rams’ fifth game, Greenhagen suffered a season-ending ACL tear. He had 102 tackles through four and a half games, which was well on pace to surpassing the FCS single-season record (195).
Best Special Teams Player
Despite having his streak of 24 consecutive made field goals end against Villanova, James Madison’s Ethan Ratke has had a strong season while becoming the FCS all-time leader in field goals (81) and points by a kicker (444). He’s made a field goal in all five games to push that streak to 26 straight games, or seven shy of the FCS all-time record.
Best Statistic
Little on the FCS level draws as much attention as wins over FBS programs. This season, FCS teams have combined for 10 to tie for the most (also 2016) since there were 16 in 2013. Montana’s 13-7 win over No. 20 Washington was just the sixth for an FCS program against a nationally ranked FBS team. Other FCS-over-FBS wins: UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17; Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (2 OTs); South Dakota State 42, Colorado State 23; Holy Cross 38, UConn 28; ETSU 23, Vanderbilt 3; Duquesne 28, Ohio 26; Jacksonville State 20, Florida State 17; UIW 42, Texas State 34; and Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19.
NFL Draft Stock Up
Northern Iowa left tackle Trevor Penning was considered a top 100 prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft entering the season, but starting with his dominating performance against Iowa State in the opener, he’s had a banner senior campaign. SI.com has lauded the 6-foot-7, 340-pound Penning for having first-round tape and Pro Football Network suggested the idea of him becoming the first offensive tackle off the board. The buzz is high.