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There are 57 games this week involving FCS schools and, for the first time this year, no FCS schools are playing an FBS team this week. Eighteen programs have a bye week, but the top-ranked programs are all seeing action.
Using the FCS version of the Congrove Computer Rankings as our guide, top-ranked Delaware visits a hot Monmouth program which has scored 159 points (53 per game) in the last three outings. The Hawks opened the season with losses to Eastern Washington (away) and Lafayette (home), but then they knocked off Maine 51-22 and followed that up with the school's first-ever win over a FBS program when they went to Miami and defeated Florida International 45-42. Monmouth continued the upward trend this past Saturday by clocking Fordham 63-21 at home. However, Delaware is an 11.97-point computer favorite to cool off the Hawks.
No. 2 South Dakota goes to Murray State (1-4), which is coming off a brutal loss by the score of 72-35 at North Dakota. Murray State 1-8 vs MVFC teams since joining that conference at the start of last season, so it's no wonder the computer has the Coyotes favored by 25.70 points over the Racers.
No. 3 South Dakota State, the two-time defending FCS champs, visits Northern Iowa (2-2) in the MVFC opener for both schools..
The computer has North Dakota State ranked 4th and the Bison get ready to entertain 9th-ranked North Dakota. They used to compete for the Nickel Trophy but that was retired after the 2003 season. These schools have met 116 times previously with North Dakota holding a 63-50-3 lead. The Fighting Hawks won 49-24 last year after dropping the previous five and the computer has NDSU by 11.55 to shift the rivalry's balance of power back to the Bison.
Montana State, ranked 5th, will host Northern Colorado while the Bobcats' rival, Montana State, entertains Weber State.
Get the entire FCS schedule and picks.
There aren't any FBS-FCS games this week - only two games vs. D2 schools and who plays a D3 program. Texas Southern hosts VUL (Virginia University Lynchburg) and Morgan State hosts Lincoln (PA). FCS newcomer Mercyhurst hosts D3 Buffalo State (D3).
FBS schools are 108-6 in such games this season, and a collective 1,908-158 (.924) since we began tracking this in 2003.
In 2024, there are 121 scheduled scheduled matchups between FBS and FCS schools with 119 schools playing one such game, while Hawaii and UMass each play two.
This year, 15 schools do not play a FCS opponent and 5 are in the B1G (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC and UCLA). Texas is the only school in the SEC that will not play a FCS program. The same is true for Virginia Tech in the ACC. In fact, Texas and Virginia Tech, along with Michigan and Houston, are repeats from last year's list of schools that played all FBS programs.
2024 FCS wins vs. FBS:
August 24: Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
September 7: St. Francis (PA) 23, Kent State 17
September 7: Idaho 17, Wyoming 13
September 7: Southern Utah 27, UTEP 24 (OT)
September 21: Monmouth 45, FIU 42
September 28: UT-Martin 24, Kennesaw 13
In 2023, FBS schools were 114-4. These were the FCS wins last year:
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
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE - Won 31 straight vs FCS teams, 23 straight at home, 17 straight conference games, and 9 straight FCS road games.
Last: Idle this past weekend. Won 41-0 at SE Louisiana on Saturday, September 21.
Next: Visits Northern Iowa on Saturday, October 5.
FLORIDA A&M - 13 straight FCS wins, 21 home wins, and 16 conference wins (2nd longest)
Last: Game vs Alabama A&M was postponed to November 29, due to Hurricane Helene. The Rattlers lost 34-12 to FBS member Troy in their last outing on Saturday, September 21.
Next: Visits Alabama State on Saturday, October 5.
WESTERN ILLINOIS - Snapped a 27-game losing streak, but has still lost 27 straight to FCS teams, 18 straight conference games, 11 straight home games to FCS schools, and 18 road games.
Last: Won 49-32 at home over D2 member McKendree on Saturday, September 28.
Next: Visits Charleston Southern on Saturday, October 5.
CAL POLY - Had lost 18 straight true road games, but won this past weekend at Northern Colorado..
Last: Won 28-7 at Northern Colorado on Saturday, September 28
Next: Hosts Idaho State on Saturday, October 5.
NORTHERN COLORADO - Lost 17 straight games overall.
Last: Lost 28-7 at home to Cal Poly on Saturday, September 28.
Next: Visits Montana State on Saturday, October 5.