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Eight second-round FCS playoff games are on the docket for Saturday, as well as the SWAC Championship and an added FBS-FCS matchup that has New Mexico State hosting Valparaiso.
SEE: Schedule Picks and Scores
The SWAC Championship will be hosted by Jackson State which turned in a perfect regular season conference slate (8-0) and sits at 11-0 over-all. The Tigers will face a Southern squad that went 7-4 over-all and 5-3 in the SWAC West, and whom Jackson State soundly defeated 35-0 on October 29. Last year, the Tigers also went 8-0 in the conference and defeated Prairie View A&M in the title game 27-10, but they lost a regular season non-conference match to Louisiana-Monroe, and ended the year with a Celebration Bowl loss to South Carolina State 31-10. MEAC champ North Carolina Central awaits either Jackson State or Southern in this year's Celebration Bowl which will take place on December 17th at Noon ET in Atlanta.
Valparaiso has nothing to gain by visiting New Mexico State except an extra payday of $425,000. In return, the Aggies get a chance to equal their record at 6-6 and improve their bowl chances. They also won't have to refund season ticket holders after their home game with San Jose State was canceled earlier this year.
As for the FCS Playoff games, Montana rallied from a 24-3 deficit by scoring 31 unanswered points and eliminated visiting SEMO 34-24 in the first round. The Griz now face No. 3 seed and defending national champion North Dakota State in the FargoDome. The Bison are looking for their 10th national title in the last 12 years.
Idaho missed a 39-yard field goal with 6 seconds left and SE Louisiana held on for a wild 45-42 win in Hammond. The Lions take a 6-game winning streak to 6-seed Samford this week.
Gardner-Webb cashed its first-ever FCS playoff game into a round two opportunity with a 52-41 win at Eastern Kentucky. The Runnin' Bulldogs resembled their nickname as they rushed for 405 yards led by Naree Gaither's 245. Gaither ran for 136 yards and both of his touchdowns in the first quarter. Gardner-Webb will now make the trek from Boiling Springs, North Carolina to Williamsburg to take on 5-seed William & Mary.
Meanwhile, Richmond will travel across country from Virginia to Sacramento State to face the 2-seed Hornets after blanking Davidson 41-0.
St. Francis was no match for the Blue Hens as Delaware bludgeoned the Red Flash 56-17. It was the second appearance in the playoffs for St. Francis, and the first since a 31-21 loss to Villanova in 2016. It's the 18th playoffs for Delaware which won the national championship in 2003 and lost in the title game in 2007 and 2010. The reward for the Fightin' Blue Hens is a journey to 1-seed South Dakota State.
Elon is still winless in four FCS Playoff appearances. This time, the Phoenix fell 31-6 at Furman which will head to San Antonio to face 7-seed Incarnate Word.
New Hampshire outscored Fordham 52-42 and the Wildcats will now travel just 100 miles to Worcester, Massachusetts to face 8-seed Holy Cross.
Weber State was a 38-31 winner over North Dakota and will head to fellow Big Sky member and 4-seed Montana State which defeated the Wildcats 43-38 in Bozeman on October 22.
All 8 of the seeded teams are favored to win.
All on December 3
ESPN+ 3:00 p.m. Delaware at (1) SDSU
ESPN+ 12:00 p.m. New Hampshire at (8) Holy Cross
ESPN+ 2:00 p.m. Gardner-Webb at (5) Wm. & Mary
ESPN+ 3:00 p.m. Weber State at (4) Montana State
ESPN2 3:30 p.m. Montana at (3) NDSU
ESPN+ 3:00 p.m. SE Louisiana at (6) Samford
ESPN+ 2:00 p.m. Furman at (7) UIW
ESPN+ 5:00 p.m. Richmond at (2) Sacramento State
Home team on bottom.
| 1st Round | 2nd Round | Quarters | Semis | C'ship (Frisco, TX) (1/8, 2 PM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francis 17 Delaware 56 |
Delaware 1SDSU |
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| ? ? |
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| Fordham 42 New Hampshire 52 |
New Hampshire 8 Holy Cross |
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| ? ? |
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| Gardner-Webb 52 E. Kentucky 41 |
Gardner-Webb 5 Wm. & Mary |
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| ? ? |
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| North Dakota 31 Weber State 38 |
Weber State 4 Montana St |
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| ? ? |
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| SEMO 24 Montana 34 |
Montana 3 NDSU |
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| ? ? |
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| Idaho 42 SE Louisiana 45 |
SE Louisiana 6 Samford |
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| ? ? |
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| Elon 6 Furman 31 |
Furman 7 UIW |
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| ? ? |
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| Davidson 0 Richmond 41 |
Richmond 2 Sacramento |
Another FCS vs. FBS matchup was added when New Mexico State reached a deal with Valparaiso to play this Saturday. The Aggies were in need of make-up game after an earlier contest with San Jose State was canceled.
The FBS is 111-8 (.933) vs. the FCS this year, and is now 1,685-148 (.919) since we began tracking this in 2003.
116 of the 131 FBS schools have played at least one such game while Appalachian State, Army, and Marshall each played two.
Here were the FCS wins in 2022:
September 2: William & Mary 41, Charlotte 24
September 3: Delaware14, Navy 7
September 10: Weber State 35, Utah State 7
September 10: Incarnate Word 55, Nevada 41
September 10: Holy Cross 37, Buffalo 31
September 10: Eastern Kentucky 59, Bowling Green 57 (7 OT's)
September 17: Southern Illinois 31, Northwestern 24
September 24: Sacramento State 41, Colorado State 10
HOLY CROSS - Won 11 straight over-all.
Last: Won 47-10 at Georgetown on Saturday, November 19.
Next: FCS Playoff 8-seed will host New Hampshire on Saturday, December 3.
JACKSON STATE - Won 11 straight over-all
Last: Won 24-13 at Alcorn State on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Hosts Southern in SWAC Championship on Saturday, December 3.
SACRAMENTO STATE - Won 11 straight over-all. Won 19 straight conference games. Won 10 straight road games.
Last: Won 27-21 at home over UC Davis on Saturday, November 19.
Next: FCS Playoff 2-seed will host Richmond on Saturday, December 3.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE - Won 10 straight over-all
Last: Won 31-7 at home over Illinois State on Saturday, November 12.
Next: FCS Playoff 1-seed will host Delaware on Saturday, December 3.
MONTANA STATE - Won 18 straight home games.
Last: Won 55-21 at home over Montana on Saturday, November 19.
Next: FCS Playoff 4-seed will host Weber State on Saturday, December 3.
WESTERN ILLINOIS - Lost 13 straight over-all.
Last: Lost 20-13 in OT at Illinois State on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
WAGNER - Lost 19 straight road games.
Last: Lost 33-0 at Duquesne on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
PRESBYTERIAN - Lost 16 straight conference games.
Last: Lost 42-21at Stetson on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN - Lost 11 straight home games.
Last: Lost 49-7 at Tarleton on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
GEORGETOWN - Lost 11 straight home games.
Last: Lost 47-10 at home to Holy Cross on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete