FCS Weekend Recap: Upsets, Upsets, Everywhere An Upset

October 24, 2021 by Staff

The FCS had a massive breakout of upset-itis over the weekend as 22 games were won by the outright underdog at the sportsbooks.

The higher-ranked teams were not  immune. Based on the Congrove Computer Rankings, No. 3 Eastern Washington, No. 6 South Dakota State, No. 7 Dartmouth, No. 14 Duquese, No. 15 Incarnate Word, and No. 25 South Dakota were all victims.

Though not underdogs, No. 17 Harvard and No. 23 Rhode Island also fell.

Eastern Washington, Dartmouth and Harvard all lost for the first time this season, leaving just North Dakota State, Sam Houston State and Princeton as the only remaining undefeated schools in the FCS. Time to visit best australia online casinos.

Eastern Washington was taken down by Weber State in Cheyney, 35-34. It was Weber's fourth game this season against a foe that was ranked in the top 5 at the time it played them, and it's first win. Ironically, the breakthrough victory came on the road after failing thrice at home. Even more ironically, Eastern Washington was riding a 20-game home winning streak and the oddsmakers had the visiting Wildcats listed as a 9.5-point underdog.

South Dakota State was a 10-point favorite, but lost 26-17 at home to Northern Iowa.

Dartmouth, a 17.5-point favorite at home on Friday night over Columbia, was shutout 19-0.

Duquesne was taken down by a 31-13 count at Sacred Heart after entering that contest as a 9-point favorite.

Incarnate Word was also a 9-point favorite on its journey to McNeese State where the Cardinals had their wings clipped, 28-20, by the Cowboys.

South Dakota was a 20-14 loser at home to Illinois State as an 18-point favorite.

Harvard was just a 2-point underdog to No. 8 Princeton and that game played-up to expectations with the Tigers prevailing 18-16 in 5 overtimes.

Rhode Island, however, was another story as the 13-poiunt underdog Rams were demolished 44-0 at Villanova.

Meanwhile, No. 1 North Dakota State trailed most of the game, but a 14-0 fourth quarter gave the Bison a 27-20 win over Missouri State.

No. 2 Sam Houston State had no trouble at home with Jacksonville State a the Bearkats romped to a 42-7 win over the reeling Gamecocks who are just 2-3 since their upset of Florida State on September 11.

No. 4 James Madison was a 22-10 winner at Delaware, and No. 5 Montana State handled Idaho 27-9 in Bozeman.

No. 9 SE Louisiana had a 51-14 walk in the park at Northwestern State in Natchitoches.

No. 10 Southern Illinois was idle.

SEE: Picks and Scores

FORFEIT

In a rare move, and by Pioneer Football League guidelines, Drake was forced to forfeit its game against Stetson due to Covid issues within the Bulldog program. For the sake of data entry, the Congrove Computer Rankings will issue a 1-0 win for Stetson and a 1-0 loss for Drake.

FCS vs. FBS

2 teams will play 2 FCS teams this fall (UConn and UMass), and 115 teams will play 1 FCS school for a total of 117 such matchups.

There was just one such game this week as Arkansas defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 45-3 in Little Rock.

The FBS is 97-10 vs. the FCS this season. Since we began tracking this in 2003, the FBS teams are now 1,566-138 (.919).

Last year, 30 FBS teams played a total of just 34 games against FCS schools and the FCS won just 1 game (1-33). That honor also went to Jacksonville State with its 19-10 victory over FIU.

Here are the FCS wins in 2021:
September 2: UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17
September 2: Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (2 OT)
September 3: South Dakota State 42, Colorado State 23
September 4: Holy Cross 38, UConn 28
September 4: Montana 13, Washington 7
September 4: ETSU 23, Vanderbilt 3
September 11: Duquesne 28, Ohio 26
September 11: Jacksonville State 20, Florida State 17.
September 18: Incarnate Word 42, Texas State 34.
September 18: Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19

This was the only FCS win vs. the FBS in 2020:
October 23: Jacksonville State 19, FIU 10

In 2019, FBS teams were 111-3 (.974) in such games. These were the only FCS wins that season:
August 29: Central Arkansas 35, Western Kentucky 28
September 7: Southern Illinois 45, Massachusetts 20
September 14: The Citadel 27, Georgia Tech 24 (OT)

Streaks

SAM HOUSTON STATE - Won 15 straight games overall (FCS longest).
Last: Won 42-7 at home over Jacksonville State on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Visits Tarleton State on Saturday, Oct. 30.

EASTERN WASHINGTON - A 20-game home winning streak (was FCS longest) came to an end with a 35-34 loss to Weber State.
Last: Lost 35-34 at home to Weber State on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Hosts Montana State on Saturday, Nov. 6.

ALCORN STATE - Won 12 straight home games (FCS longest).
Last: Won 44-27 at Texas Southern on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Visits Southern on Saturday, Oct. 30.

MONMOUTH - Won 13 straight conference games (FCS longest).
Last: Won 34-17 at Campbell on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Next: Visits North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Oct. 30.

PRINCETON - Won 11 straight road games (FCS longest).
Last: Won 18-16 at home over Harvard in 5 OT's on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Visits Cornell on Friday, Oct. 29.

TEXAS SOUTHERN - Lost 16 straight road games (tied FCS longest).
Last: Lost 44-27 at home to Alcorn State on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Oct. 30.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE - Lost 16 straight road games (tied FCS longest).
Last: Lost 28-17 at Indiana State on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Hosts South Dakota State on Saturday, Oct. 30.

BUTLER - Lost 12 straight conference games (FCS longest).
Last: Lost 49-35 at home to Davidson on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Visits Dayton on Saturday, Oct. 30.

WAGNER - Lost 16 straight overall (FCS longest).
LAST: Lost 31-10 at homt to Bryant on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Next: Visits LIU on Saturday, Oct. 30.