Thursday Night Recap

September 1, 2022 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

Bryant University of Smithfield, Rhode Island.  Enrollment - 3,287. Member FCS.
Florida International University (FIU) of Miami, Florida. Enrollment - 55,000. Member FBS.

None of that mattered on Thursday night when the two teams played in Miami as FIU needed a comeback and a 2-point conversion in overtime to stave off the Bryant upset and escape with a 38-37 win. The Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com had made a rare projection of a FCS win over the FBS by giving the Bulldogs a 3.75-point advantage against a 10.5-point spread favoring the Golden Panthers.

Heading into the Labor Day weekend, FBS schools were 1,578-140 (.919) vs. FCS programs since 2003.

Also in overtime, St. Francis (PA) came close to winning at Akron. The Zips got a TD run in the extra stanza, followed by a game-sealing INT, to register a 30-23 escape.

Another overtime game on Thursday night saw Indiana State edge North Alabama at home, 17-14.

Northern Illinois never trailed, but gave up almost all of a 22-point lead as the Huskies beat Eastern Illinois 34-27.

San Jose State rallied to a  21-17 win over Portland State by virtue of a 2-yard run with 1:11 left after the Vikings had to pint on 4th-and-2 from their own 9-yard line. Isaiah Hamilton returned the 42-yard kick for 19 yards to the Portland State 32 to set-up the 6-play drive aided by 24 yards in penalties, including a facemask 15-yarder that nullified a sack.

The biggest upset of the night happened in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood where No. 36 Samford knocked of 5th-ranked Kennesaw 27-17 as the Bulldogs outscored the Owls 13-0 in the final period.

No. 26 Monmouth fell 31-21 at a New Hampshire team that was ranked 105th.

In a game that opened in the sportsbooks favoring Stony Brook by 2.5, the computer had visiting Rhode Island by 0.56 and the Rams rolled, 35-14.

See all the FCS scores and review the picks for every game this weekend.