EWU 74-23 PORTST
SUU 24-38 CP
SAC 13-56 UCD(in Reno, NV)
IDA 10-63 UF WEB 26-13 IDST
UND 16-31 NAU MTST 29-25 UMT
NConf Record: 0-1 Overall: 16-20
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 9-7
Best Performance: (#3) Weber St. 26, Idaho St. 13 - The Wildcat defense registers 13 TFLs and 7 sacks against a potent Bengal offense.
Worst Performance: North Dakota 16, Northern Arizona 31 - With a playoff spot on the line, the Fighting Hawks can only amass 192 yards against the depleted 'Jacks.
Most Surprising Result: Northern Arizona 31, North Dakota 16 - We don't know what NAU will do with Jerome Souers yet, but he'll at least get to go out with a quality win.
Southland
SHSU 42-20 HBU UCA 16-7 ACU NWST 35-23 SFA LAM 21-17 MCNSE
SELU 0-44 NICH
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 8-13
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 4-1
Best Performance: Lamar 21, (#22) McNeese St. 17 - Darrel Colbert runs for 110 yards and the game-winning touchdown to help the Cardinals earn their first-ever playoff bid.
Worst Performance: Stephen F. Austin 23, Northwestern St. 35 - The Lumberjacks finish 2-8, their worst record since going winless in 2007.
Most Surprising Result: Central Arkansas 16, Abilene Christian 7 - I guess taking the pressure off helped the Bears because they lost 3 straight when they still had playoff hopes.
Best Performance: Indiana St. 15, Western Illinois 13 - Jonas Griffith put up 4.5 tackles-for-loss, but that and Jerry Nunez's 3 field goals still weren't enough to get the Sycamores into the postseason.
Worst Performance: Missouri St. 0, Northern Iowa 37 - The prospect of playing spoiler apparently wasn't enough to get the Bears to even show up in Cedar Falls.
Most Surprising Result: Western Illinois 13, Indiana St. 15 - The Leathernecks' streak of 3 straight winning seasons comes to an end.
Best Performance: Austin Peay 48, Murray St. 23 - It was a disappointing season in Clarksville to be sure, but they at least were able to prevent the Racers from achieving a winning season.
Worst Performance: Tennessee Tech 6, Eastern Kentucky 37 - The Golden Eagles finished 1-10 and only came within 20 points in 1 of those 10 losses.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
Pioneer League
USD 31-14 MARIST
BUT 38-41 DVDSN DAY 34-7 JU
VALPO 31-45 STET DRAKE 43-6 MHEAD
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 12-15
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 2-14
Best Performance: (#21) San Diego 31, Marist 14 - The Toreros still handle Marist with ease despite not having anything concrete to play for.
Worst Performance: Jacksonville 7, Dayton 34 - The Dolphins, who ran the ball 90% of the time this season, were outrushed 307-266
Most Surprising Result: Stetson 45, Valparaiso 31 - The Hatters finish 8-2, by far their best record since restarting football & their best record period since 1929.
I look forward every week for your breakdowns. It is much appreciated and well thought out.
That said, while the NAU win was surprising, I would have maybe done a collective "surprising result" for the Big Sky with this. Three of the four major rivalry games, the Dam Cup, the Brawl, and Weber/ISU were all won by the visiting team (the Causeway was technically won by the "home" team, but was played at a neutral site). When you are playing your longtime rival at your place, there is a sense of pride to protect your home turf. If you can't get up for that game, it is pretty sad and somewhat surprising. While Portland State may not have been given much of a chance to win, the game should have been much more competitive that it was, and Montana and Idaho State both had a lot to play for and both just had to win at home (and could not do it).
JALMOND wrote:I look forward every week for your breakdowns. It is much appreciated and well thought out.
That said, while the NAU win was surprising, I would have maybe done a collective "surprising result" for the Big Sky with this. Three of the four major rivalry games, the Dam Cup, the Brawl, and Weber/ISU were all won by the visiting team (the Causeway was technically won by the "home" team, but was played at a neutral site). When you are playing your longtime rival at your place, there is a sense of pride to protect your home turf. If you can't get up for that game, it is pretty sad and somewhat surprising. While Portland State may not have been given much of a chance to win, the game should have been much more competitive that it was, and Montana and Idaho State both had a lot to play for and both just had to win at home (and could not do it).
The Weber/ISU game does not have an official rivalry name, but it's been called the Border War, the Battle of I-15 and the Railroad Rumble by both fanbases over the last few years. There was an attempt to get a traveling trophy created for the game but it never happened. Some argue that it isn't much of a rivalry anymore since Weber has basically dominated the series for the last 30 years, winning 27 of the last 30 matchups. But there is still some animosity shown by both schools and the atmosphere at Holt Saturday felt like a rivalry game atmosphere.
JALMOND wrote:I look forward every week for your breakdowns. It is much appreciated and well thought out.
That said, while the NAU win was surprising, I would have maybe done a collective "surprising result" for the Big Sky with this. Three of the four major rivalry games, the Dam Cup, the Brawl, and Weber/ISU were all won by the visiting team (the Causeway was technically won by the "home" team, but was played at a neutral site). When you are playing your longtime rival at your place, there is a sense of pride to protect your home turf. If you can't get up for that game, it is pretty sad and somewhat surprising. While Portland State may not have been given much of a chance to win, the game should have been much more competitive that it was, and Montana and Idaho State both had a lot to play for and both just had to win at home (and could not do it).
The Weber/ISU game does not have an official rivalry name, but it's been called the Border War, the Battle of I-15 and the Railroad Rumble by both fanbases over the last few years. There was an attempt to get a traveling trophy created for the game but it never happened. Some argue that it isn't much of a rivalry anymore since Weber has basically dominated the series for the last 30 years, winning 27 of the last 30 matchups. But there is still some animosity shown by both schools and the atmosphere at Holt Saturday felt like a rivalry game atmosphere.
ISU got back from a 16-0 halftime to 23-13 and had the ball on the 2, but Gueller threw a pick and that iced it. Weber is very good and better than I thought.
LEH 34-3 LAF FORD 17-14 BUCK
COLG 14-28 ARMY HC 32-31 GTOWN
NConf Record: 0-1 Overall: 8-26
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 8-21
Best Performance: (#8) Colgate 14, (FBS) Army 28 - The Raiders were denied a signature win, but their performance against a solid FBS squad was good enough for the committee to give them a seed.
Worst Performance: Lafayette 3, Lehigh 34 - The Leopards are 9-34 over the past 4 seasons.
Most Surprising Result: Lafayette 3, Lehigh 34 - This was the most lopsided result in this rivalry since 2001 and the fewest points scored by the loser since 1981.
Best Performance: Duquesne 38, Central Connecticut St. 31 - The Dukes finish the regular season 5-1 in one-score games and clinch their second playoff berth.
Worst Performance: Robert Morris 7, Wagner 41 - The Colonials get "Fulsed" to death as they allow him 303 yards and 3 TDs on the ground.
Most Surprising Result: Bryant 56, Howard 55 - The Bulldogs get kick-return touchdowns from two different players as they win a wild game in the nation's capital.
CAA
SBU 23-25 ALB
ELON 26-27 MAINE
UNH 21-24 URI NOVA 42-21 UD JMU 38-17 TOW RICH 10-6 W&M
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 22-14
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 20-4
Best Performance: (#7) James Madison 38, (#15) Towson 17 - The Dukes get three 100-yard rushers in a surprisingly easy win.
Worst Performance: William & Mary 6, Richmond 10 - Not the best way to send off a 39-year retiring head coach.
Most Surprising Result: (#10) Stony Brook 23, Albany 25 - The playoff-bound Seawolves took the lead with 17 seconds left and still couldn't beat the worst team in the conference.
Best Performance: (#2) Kennesaw St. 60, (#6) Jacksonville St. 52 (5OT) - Chandler Burks accounts for 5 total touchdowns as the Owls win a classic.
Worst Performance: Campbell 7, Charleston Southern 12 - The Camels lose despite not allowing an offensive touchdown.
Most Surprising Result: Campbell 7, Charleston Southern 12 - It was an odd inaugural scholarship season for Campbell as they went 6-5 overall, but just 1-4 in Big South play.
SoCon
VMI 14-77 ODU
WCU 26-49 UNC
PRESBY 21-45 WOFF
CIT 17-50 BAMA FUR 35-30 MER SAM 38-27 ETSU
UTC 9-49 SCAR
NConf Record: 1-4 Overall: 11-14
vs. FCS: 1-0 Overall: 7-4
Best Performance: Samford 38, (#19) East Tennessee St. 27 - The Bulldogs deny ETSU the outright conference title by outscoring them 21-3 in the second half.
Worst Performance: VMI 14, (FBS) Old Dominion 77 - The SoCon teams that played Power-5 squads didn't get beat anywhere near this bad.
Most Surprising Result: The Citadel 17, (FBS) Alabama 50 - The final score wasn't surprising, but the Bulldogs somehow had the best team in the nation tied at halftime.
COR 21-24 COLUM
BROWN 7-49 DART
YALE 27-45 HARV
PENN 14-42 PRINCE
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 18-6
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 18-6
Best Performance: (#11) Princeton 42, Penn 14 - The Tigers win rushing 296-2 as they cap off their first perfect season since 1964.
Worst Performance: Yale 27, Harvard 45 - The Bulldogs allow 578 yards as they finish the season losing 3 of 4.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
MEAC
vul 7-41 DSU BRY 56-55 HOW MORG 44-27 NFOLK NCAT 45-0 NCCEN
SAV 17-21 SCSU
FAMU 19-33 BCU(in Orlando, FL)
NConf Record: 1-1 Overall: 11-21
vs. FCS: 0-1 Overall: 4-8
Best Performance: Bethune-Cookman 33, Florida A&M 19 - Tydarius Peters picks off 2 passes and returns one 90 yards for a game-clinching score as his Wildcats deny FAMU the MEAC title.
Worst Performance: Norfolk St. 27, Morgan St. 44 - Though they dominated passing yards, the Spartans were outrushed 333-46.
Most Surprising Result: Howard 55, Bryant 56 - Caylin Newton accounted for 445 yards of total offense and 3 passing TDs, but that wasn't enough for the Bison to overcome lousy defense & special teams.
Best Performance: Alcorn St. 24, Jackson St. 3 - The Braves hold JSU to 195 yards and hand interim-coach John Hendrick his first loss.
Worst Performance: Texas Southern 10, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 15 - Field position killed the Tigers as they averaged nearly 20 fewer yards-per-punt than Pine Bluff did.
Most Surprising Result: Arkansas-Pine Bluff 15, Texas Southern 10 - The Golden Lions, a team who lost a game to Mississippi Valley & gave up 90 in another game, somehow don't go winless against DI opponents.
Independents
stdrew 17-44 HAMP
Non-Ind. Record: 1-0 Overall: 14-6
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 5-5
Best Performance: Hampton 44, (NAIA) St. Andrews 17 - The Pirates finish the season a rather misleading 7-3.
COR 21-24 COLUM
BROWN 7-49 DART
YALE 27-45 HARV
PENN 14-42 PRINCE
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 18-6
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 18-6
Best Performance: (#11) Princeton 42, Penn 14 - The Tigers win rushing 296-2 as they cap off their first perfect season since 1964.
Worst Performance: Yale 27, Harvard 45 - The Bulldogs allow 578 yards as they finish the season losing 3 of 4.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
MEAC
vul 7-41 DSU BRY 56-55 HOW MORG 44-27 NFOLK NCAT 45-0 NCCEN
SAV 17-21 SCSU
FAMU 19-33 BCU(in Orlando, FL)
NConf Record: 1-1 Overall: 11-21
vs. FCS: 0-1 Overall: 4-8
Best Performance: Bethune-Cookman 33, Florida A&M 19 - Tydarius Peters picks off 2 passes and returns one 90 yards for a game-clinching score as his Wildcats deny FAMU the MEAC title.
Worst Performance: Norfolk St. 27, Morgan St. 44 - Though they dominated passing yards, the Spartans were outrushed 333-46.
Most Surprising Result: Howard 55, Bryant 56 - Caylin Newton accounted for 445 yards of total offense and 3 passing TDs, but that wasn't enough for the Bison to overcome lousy defense & special teams.
Best Performance: Alcorn St. 24, Jackson St. 3 - The Braves hold JSU to 195 yards and hand interim-coach John Hendrick his first loss.
Worst Performance: Texas Southern 10, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 15 - Field position killed the Tigers as they averaged nearly 20 fewer yards-per-punt than Pine Bluff did.
Most Surprising Result: Arkansas-Pine Bluff 15, Texas Southern 10 - The Golden Lions, a team who lost a game to Mississippi Valley & gave up 90 in another game, somehow don't go winless against DI opponents.
Independents
stdrew 17-44 HAMP
Non-Ind. Record: 1-0 Overall: 14-6
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 5-5
Best Performance: Hampton 44, (NAIA) St. Andrews 17 - The Pirates finish the season a rather misleading 7-3.
Worst Performance: (none)
Most Surprising Result: (none)
Hendrick is the new head coach at JSU but he is not starting out on the right foot.