Best Performance: (#13) Eastern Washington 21, Northern Arizona 14 - Taiwan Jones does nothing and the Eagles commit 5 turnovers, but EWU's defense holds down the 'Jacks to preserve a win.
Worst Performance: Northern Colorado 7, Sacramento St. 42 - A Bear team that played a competitive September is suddenly desperate for answers. Poor run defense plus QB & RB injuries aren't helping things.
Most Surprising Result: Idaho St. 28, (#12) Montana 47 - The Bengals gain a whopping 202 yards against the Griz. That is sadly their best offensive output in Big Sky play.
Southland
NWST 24-19 UCA
TXST 24-49 SELA SFA 32-27 MCNSE SHSU 26-7 NICH
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 15-16
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 11-5
Best Performance: Southeastern Louisiana 49, (#17) Texas St. 24 - Tyler Beatty thows for 368 yards and 5 touchdowns as the Lions finally look like Southland contenders.
Worst Performance: Central Arkansas 19, Northwestern St. 24 - After 2 straight blowout wins over the Demons, the Bears get run over this time.
Most Surprising Result: Southeastern Louisiana 49, (#17) Texas St. 24 - After starting 0-12 against the Bobcats, the Lions have now won 2 in a row.
Best Performance: (#23) Southern Illinois 45, (#15) Northern Iowa 38 (OT) - The Salukis lose the rushing battle 325-85, but still manage in impressive win thanks to 4 forced turnovers & a good game from QB Chris Dieker.
Worst Performance: Illinois St. 24, Indiana St. 59 - The Redbirds lost to Indiana State by 35 points. How could that not be a "Worst"?
Most Surprising Result: Indiana St. 59, Illinois St. 24 - *yawn* Another Indiana State blowout… Wait, are you sure you don't have that score flip-flopped?
Best Performance: Murray St. 72, Missouri St. 59 - Normally when a team gives up 607 yards and 59 points, their coach is frantically trying to pacify those fans calling for his head. When that same team gets 816 yards and 72 points of their own, however, that coach is probably thrilled.
Worst Performance: Eastern Illinois 7, Eastern Kentucky 35 - Thanks to 6 turnovers, the defending OVC champs are now 0-6 and have a commanding lead for the "Most Disappointing Team in FCS" award.
Most Surprising Result: Murray St. 72, Missouri St. 59 - As one would expect, there were some insane stat lines in this contest. Racer QB Casey Brockman threw for 570 yards and 7 TDs and had 8 total touchdowns. In addition, RB Mike Harris had 212 yards and 2 TDs rushing while WR Marcus Harris had 213 yards and 5 TDs receiving.
Patriot League
FORD 17-21 LEH
LAF 28-42 COLUM PENN 31-10 BUCK COLG 44-10 PRINCE
BROWN 13-17 HC WAG 22-16 GTOWN (2OT)
NConf Record: 2-3 Overall: 9-19
vs. FCS: 2-3 Overall: 9-17
Best Performance: Holy Cross 17, Brown 13 - The Crusaders obviously aren't playing at last year's level, but they have won 2 in a row and look noticeably improved from September.
Worst Performance: Georgetown 16, Wagner 22 (2OT) - After averaging 27.7 ppg the first 3 weeks, the Hoyas are averaging just 12 ppg over the last 3.
Most Surprising Result: Holy Cross 17, Brown 13 - Now that Dominic Randolph's gone, the Crusaders need 2 quarterbacks in order to break 300 yards passing.
Best Performance: Wagner 22, Georgetown 16 (2OT) - The Seahawk defense bails out their mistake-prone offense with an 80-yard pick-six from Keith Davis in the second overtime.
Worst Performance: St. Francis (PA) 0, Albany 48 - The Red Flash continue their eternal dreadfulness by gaining just 81 yards against the Danes.
Most Surprising Result: Wagner 22, Georgetown 16 (2OT) - The Seahawks are 3-1 since losing to DII Assumption.
CAA
RICH 0-17 UNH
MAINE 7-26 UD JMU 17-13 TOW
URI 7-26 W&M
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 19-10
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 17-3
Best Performance: (#22) New Hampshire 17, (#11) Richmond 0 - The Wildcat defense pick-sixes Richmond QB Aaron Corp, then gets 5 more picks off punter/third-string QB Nick Hicks.
Worst Performance: Rhode Island 7, (#4) William & Mary 26 - Rams fall to 2-12 against the Tribe.
Most Surprising Result: (#7) James Madison 17, Towson 13 - The Dukes did pick up win number 7 in a row over the Tigers, but it was a bit more more dicey than most anyone expected.
Big South
VMI 9-27 SBU
CHSO 20-44 LIB
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 10-20
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 3-13
Best Performance: (#19) Liberty 44, Charleston Southern 20 - Thanks to 4 fourth-quarter TDs, the Flames move to 16-2 all-time against the Bucs.
Worst Performance: VMI 9, Stony Brook 27 - The Keydets lose their 10th. straight against Big South teams not named Presbyterian.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
MEAC
HOW 14-56 FUR HAMP 27-13 NCCEN MORG 27-14 NCAT
NFOLK 13-34 SCSU
SAV 21-55 GSU
DSU 24-47 BCOOK
NConf Record: 0-1 Overall: 7-18
vs. FCS: 0-1 Overall: 1-9
Best Performance: (#9) South Carolina St. 34, Norfolk St. 13 - The Bulldogs don't do much on offense, but the D holds Norfolk to 96 yards.
Worst Performance: Howard 14, Furman 56 - Bison get hammered & lose number 12 in a row against FCS teams.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
SoCon
SAM 38-7 WCU
ELON 31-34 APP
HOW 14-56 FUR UTC 28-10 CIT WOFF 33-31 GASO
NConf Record: 1-0 Overall: 15-10
vs. FCS: 1-0 Overall: 11-2
Best Performance: (#21) Wofford 33, (#16) Georgia Southern 31 - In the Battle of the Southern Flexbone, the Terriers outrush the Eagles 302-243.
Worst Performance: Western Carolina 7, Samford 38 - The Catamounts are now 1-7 all-time against Samford & have failed to reach double digits in 6 of those 8 contests.
Most Surprising Result: Western Carolina 7, Samford 38 - After playing so well the last few weeks, the Catamounts give up 502 yards and commit 5 turnovers at home.
Best Performance: (#14) Cal Poly 50, Old Dominion 37 - The Mustang offense shreds ODU, averaging 6.3 ypc and 15.1 yards-per-pass.
Worst Performance: South Dakota 13, UC Davis 17 - The Coyote running game performs well, but QB Dante Warren goes just 7/26 for 89 yards.
Most Surprising Result: UC Davis 17, South Dakota 13 - The Aggies allowed 39 ppg in their first three games, but have allowed just 15.3 ppg in their last three.
Ivy League
PENN 31-10 BUCK
LAF 28-42 COLUM YALE 23-20 DART
COR 17-31 HARV
BROWN 13-17 HC COLG 44-10 PRINCE
NConf Record: 2-2 Overall: 12-8
vs. FCS: 2-2 Overall: 12-8
Best Performance: Yale 23, Dartmouth 20 - Dartmouth is definitely improved, but the Bulldogs still manage their 8th. consecutive win over the Big Green.
Worst Performance: Princeton 10, Colgate 44 - Tigers allow four 60+ yard rushers and an 87.5% completion percentage.
Most Surprising Result: Brown 13, Holy Cross 17 - The Bears are 0-2 since the big Harvard upset.
Best Performance: Texas Southern 30, Alcorn St. 20 - Marcus Wright runs for 123 yards and a touchdown to help the Tigers win their 3rd. straight over Alcorn.
Worst Performance: Mississippi Valley St. 20, Southern 38 - Delta Devils outgained 471-163 by a team on a 3-game losing streak.
Most Surprising Result: Texas Southern 30, Alcorn St. 20 - After a near-decade of ineptitude, the Tigers start 3-1 in SWAC play for the second straight year.
Pioneer League
DAY 21-20 USD MARIST 51-7 VALPO BUT 24-8 DVDSN
DRAKE 34-39 JU
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 10-18
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 4-14
Best Performance: Jacksonville 39, Drake 34 - The Dolphins get 3 interceptions—including one for a TD—to overcome 3 missed PATs and 12 penalties.
Worst Performance: Valparaiso 7, Marist 51 - It must feel good for the Crusaders to be back in their comfort zone.
Most Surprising Result: Butler 24, Davidson 8 - Bulldogs hold the Wildcats to 185 yards in regaining a piece of last year's magic.
Independents
LANG 0-14 LAM CP 50-37 ODU
SAV 21-55 GSU
Non-Ind. Record: 2-1 Overall: 10-8
vs. FCS: 1-1 Overall: 7-7
Best Performance: Georgia St. 55, Savannah St. 21 - With a blowout of Savannah State, the Panthers are officially initiated into the Southern FCS fraternity.
Worst Performance: Lamar 14, (NAIA) Langston 0 - Granted Langston is a ranked NAIA team, but the Cardinals still clearly need to improve if they want to be consistently competitive in FCS.
