News/Commentary

FCS Playoff Scores and Round 2 Matchups, Plus Other Results and Games to Come

November 25, 2023 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

First-round Games

November 25 (all times eastern)

Gardner-Webb (7-4) at Mercer (8-3), 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 1-seed South Dakota State (11-0)  on 12/2 at 2 p.m.
Computer Pick: Mercer by 4.82
Winner: Mercer 17-7

Duquesne (7-4) at Youngstown St. (7-4), 5 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 8-seed Villanova (9-2) on 12/2 at Noon
Computer Pick: Youngstown State by 16.64
Winner: Youngstown State 40-7

N.C. Central (9-2) at Richmond (8-3), 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 5-seed Albany (9-3) on 12/2 at Noon
Computer Pick: Richmond by 8.09
Winner: Richmond 49-27

Nicholls (6-4) at Southern Ill. (7-4), 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 4-seed Idaho (8-3) on 12/2 at 10 p.m.
Computer Pick: Southern Illinois 4.40
Winner: Southern Illinois 35-0

Sacramento St. (7-4) at North Dakota (7-4), 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 3-seed South Dakota (9-2) on 12/2 at 2 p.m.
Computer Pick: North Dakota by 4.37
Winner: Sacramento State 42-35

Drake (8-3) at North Dakota St. (8-3), 3:30 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 6-seed Montana State on 12/2 at 3:00 p.m.
Computer Pick: North Dakota State by 28.24
Winner: NDSU 66-3

Chattanooga (7-4) at Austin Peay (9-2), 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 7-seed Furman on 12/2 at 1 p.m.
Computer Pick: Austin Peay by 5.72
Winner: Chattanooga 24-21

Lafayette (9-2) at Delaware (8-3), 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN+)
- Winner at 2-seed Montana on 12/2  at 9 p.m.
Computer Pick: Delaware by 16.21
Winner: Delaware 36-34

Bracket (2nd Round through Final)

Home team on bottom.

12/2 12/8-9 12/15-16 C'ship (Frisco)
(1/7, 2 PM)
Mercer
1 SDSU		      
  ?
?		    
Youngstown
8 Villanova		      
    ?
?		  
Richmond
5 Albany		      
  ?
?		    
Southern Ill.
4 Idaho		      
      ?
?
Sacramento St.
3 South Dakota		      
  ?
?		    
NDSU
6 Montana State		      
    ?
?		  
Chattanooga
7 Furman		      
  ?
?		    
Delaware
2 Montana		      

Bayou Classic

Southern 27, Grambling 22

Turkey Day Classic

Alabama State 41, Tuskegee (D2) 3

SWAC Championship, December 2 at 4 p.m.

Florida A&M vs. Prairie View A&M

Celebration Bowl, December 16 at Noon

Howard vs. Florida A&M / Prairie View A&M winner

FBS vs. FCS

This season had 117 of the 133 FBS schools facing one FCS opponent, and Army played two such games for a total of 118 FBS-FCS matchups.

Of the 16 FBS schools that did NOT play a FCS program, 7 were in the B1G (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin). 6 more are evenly split between the Big 12 (Houston, Oklahoma, Texas) and Pac-12 (Colorado, USC, Washington). The other three were Liberty (CUSA) , UTSA (American), and Virginia Tech (ACC).

The FBS programs were 114-4 this year against the FCS schools. Over-all, the FBS is a collective 1,800-152 (.922) since we began tracking this in 2003.

Here are the FCS wins in 2023, so far:
September 9: Idaho 33, Nevada 6
September 9: Southern Illinois 14, Northern Illinois 12
September 9: Fordham 40, Buffalo 37
September 16: Sacramento State 30, Stanford 23

Streaks - Current FCS Longest

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE - Won 25 straight over-all, 18 straight conference games, 8 straight road games.
Last: 35-17 home win vs. Missouri State in regular season finale on Saturday, November 18.
Next: 2nd round FCS Playoffs - Hosts Mercer.

MONTANA STATE - Won 26 straight home games.
Last: 37-7 loss at Montana in regular season finale on Saturday, November 18.
Next: 2nd Round FCS playoffs - Hosts North Dakota State

WESTERN ILLINOIS - Lost 24 straight over-all, 18 straight conference games, and 11 straight home games.
Last: 48-6 home loss vs. South Dakota in season finale on Saturday, November 18.
Next: 2024 season opener

CAL POLY - Lost 16 straight true road games.
Last: 48-21 home loss to Weber State in season finale on Saturday, November 18.
Next: 2024 season opener