Best Performance: Sacramento St. 40, (#25) Northern Arizona 10 - After a poor game against EWU, Hornet QB Jeff Fleming throws for 333 yards and 3 TDs while the defense holds NAU to just 166 yards.
Worst Performance: Northern Colorado 6, South Dakota 34 - I guess this is one way to avoid heartbreaking losses. Jace Davis did have 7 catches for 185 yards and a TD in the defeat, though.
Most Surprising Result: (#25) Northern Arizona 10, Sacramento St. 40 - It's too early to tell if this is another late-season collapse for the 'Jacks, but their playoff chances are toast even if they rebound quickly.
Southland
TXST 27-24 SFA
SELA 23-30 UCA
SHSU 20-23 NWST(2OT)
NICH 14-24 MCNSE
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 15-17
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 11-5
Best Performance: Texas St. 27, (#4) Stephen F. Austin 24 - Tim Hawkins amasses 315 yards of total offense and also scores 3 total TDs in the fourth quarter in leading a stunning comeback.
Worst Performance: Sam Houston St. 20, Northwestern St. 23 (2OT) - After a nice turnaround, the Bearkats see their playoff hopes come to a sudden end.
Most Surprising Result: (#4) Stephen F. Austin 24, Texas St. 27 - After a fourth-straight loss to Texas State, one wonders what it will take for the Lumberjacks to beat them. A 24-0 fourth quarter lead wasn't even enough in this case.
Best Performance: Indiana St. 41, South Dakota St. 30 - Sycamores put up 500 yards on a solid Jackrabbit defense.
Worst Performance: Illinois St. 38, Western Illinois 65 - Redbirds allow WIU QB Matt Barr to get a 319.1 efficiency rating (22/25, 452 yards, 6 TDs)
Most Surprising Result: The whole MVFC - Since when did the Missouri Valley become the shootout conference? All 8 teams playing this week averaged 41.25 points & none scored less than 30. The conference has an average ranking of 33rd. in scoring offense, but an average ranking of 73rd. in scoring defense.
OVC
UTM 17-24 SEMO
AP 10-28 EIU
MUR 21-28 EKU
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 12-15
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 7-6
Best Performance: (#11) Southeast Missouri St. 24, Tennessee-Martin 17 - The Redhawks struggle on offense, but hold UTM to 67 passing yards & just 2.9 ypa.
Worst Performance: Austin Peay 10, Eastern Illinois 28 - Thanks to 4 turnovers, the Governors waste two 100-yard rushers & lose handily to a winless team.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
Patriot League
COLG 14-44 LEH LAF 33-22 BUCK
GTOWN 19-24 FORD
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 12-22
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 12-20
Best Performance: Lehigh 44, Colgate 14 - Chris Lum throws for 310 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 22 attempts (a 225.6 efficiency rating) as the Mountain Hawks put a stranglehold on the Patriot League race.
Worst Performance: Bucknell 22, Lafayette 33 - Despite a down year for the Leopards, the Bison still find a way to lose #9 in a row in the series.
Most Surprising Result: Colgate 14, Lehigh 44 - Even with QB Greg Sullivan injured, the Raiders still have enough talent that these sorts of losses shouldn't happen.
Best Performance: Robert Morris 34, Duquesne 11 - Myles Russ becomes RMU's all-time leading rusher and the Colonials continue to roll as they get ready for their NEC title-deciding tilt with Central Connecticut.
Worst Performance: Monmouth 25, Sacred Heart 26 - Hawks gain 474 yards, give up 313, and commit just 1 turnover, but somehow lose.
Most Surprising Result: Monmouth 25, Sacred Heart 26 - Hawks lose to SHU for the first time since 2002.
CAA
RICH 7-28 NOVA URI 30-20 TOW
W&M 17-21 UNC UMASS 21-14 JMU
NConf Record: 0-1 Overall: 19-11
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 17-3
Best Performance: (#3) William & Mary 17, (FBS) North Carolina 21 - The Tribe maintained a lead for the majority of the game, but gave up a 67-yard TD run with 5:27 to play and fell to 0-13-2 all-time against the 'Heels.
Worst Performance: Towson 20, Rhode Island 30 - Tigers fall to 10-43 in conference games since joining the A-10/CAA and are 3-26 since 2007.
Most Surprising Result: (#18) Massachusetts 21, (#15) James Madison 14 - In a battle of reeling playoff hopefuls, the Minutemen may have totally saved their season.
Big South
CHSO 21-41 SBU
VMI 7-29 ARMY CCU 30-27 GWEBB (OT) LIB 34-24 PRESBY
NConf Record: 0-1 Overall: 10-22
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 3-14
Best Performance: Coastal Carolina 30, Gardner-Webb 27 (OT) - The Chants win their 7th. straight over the Bulldogs.
Worst Performance: Charleston Southern 21, Stony Brook 41 - The Bucs returned 18 starters this year, but still have yet to win an FCS game.
Most Surprising Result: (#16) Liberty 34, Presbyterian 24 - Just like 2008, the Flames suffer a scare in Clinton. They dodged the bullet this time, however.
Best Performance: Florida A&M 31, Morgan St. 17 - Philip Sylvester runs for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Rattlers stay in MEAC title contention.
Worst Performance: Howard 9, Norfolk St. 10 - It's yet another loss for the Bison, but they've got to feel good about the fact they nearly won a game with just 78 yards of offense.
Most Surprising Result: Hampton 14, Old Dominion 28 - The Pirates prove their hot start was hollow with an uncompetitive loss to a second-year program.
SoCon
FUR 26-37 APP
CIT 0-35 WOFF SAM 20-13 GASO ELON 49-35 UTC
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 15-10
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 11-2
Best Performance: Elon 49, (#20) Tennessee-Chattanooga 35 - The Phoenix pull a nice upset thanks to 5 interceptions and 4 A.J. Harris rushing touchdowns.
Worst Performance: The Citadel 0, (#9) Wofford 35 - The Bulldogs solve the turnover problem, but not the anemic offense problem in experiencing their second consecutive shutout.
Most Surprising Result: Elon 49, (#20) Tennessee-Chattanooga 35 - The Phoenix finally win a big game now that it's way too late to matter.
SUU 55-24 UCD
SFPA 33-41 CP
LAM 6-31 UND
NOCO 6-34 SDK
NConf Record: 3-0 Overall: 13-15
vs. FCS: 3-0 Overall: 8-7
Best Performance: Southern Utah 55, UC Davis 24 - QB Brad Sorenson goes 30/36 for 397 yards and 5 TDs to help the T-Birds sweep the Great West.
Worst Performance: UC Davis 24, Southern Utah 55 - The defending Great West champions suffer their worst non-FBS loss in 3 years.
Most Surprising Result: (#22) Cal Poly 41, St. Francis (PA) 33 - A ranked team struggling with one of the worst teams in FCS is one thing, but struggling with them despite 0 turnovers is mystifying.
Ivy League
BROWN 7-24 PENN HARV 30-14 DART
PRINCE 19-21 COR
COLUM 28-31 YALE
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 14-10
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 14-10
Best Performance: Harvard 30, Dartmouth 14 - Crimson nearly get two 100-yard rushers & move to 13-1 against Dartmouth since 1997.
Worst Performance: Princeton 19, Cornell 21 - As you'd expect from a battle for the basement, the losing Tigers fell primarily due to a missed extra point. They got a 92-yard TD reception from Trey Peacock in the fourth quarter, but the subsequent 2-point conversion failed.
Most Surprising Result: Dartmouth 14, Harvard 30 - Star RB Nick Schwieger is held to 69 yards on just 16 carries as an early 24-0 deficit takes the Big Green running game out of play.
SWAC
MVSU 7-38 TXSO GRAM 35-25 UAPB (in Little Rock, AR)
AAMU 10-31 ALST(in Birmingham, AL)
PVAMU 13-30 JSU
SU 20-27 ALCORN
NConf Record: 1-0 Overall: 8-9
vs. FCS: 1-0 Overall: 3-2
Best Performance: Jackson St. 30, Prairie View A&M 13 - The Tigers shut down the Panther offense & overcome a series of special teams miscues.
Worst Performance: Alabama A&M 10, Alabama St. 31 - The Bulldogs lose to ASU for just the second time in the last 12 years.
Most Surprising Result: Prairie View A&M 13, Jackson St. 30 - The preseason faves fall to fourth place in the SWAC West.
Pioneer League
USD 17-38 DRAKE BUT 48-0 VALPO DAY 37-13 DVDSN MARIST 42-14 CAMP JU 61-17 MHEAD
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 10-18
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 4-14
Best Performance: Drake 38, San Diego 17 - Bulldogs quietly move to 6-3 thanks to a 5-0 turnover advantage.
Worst Performance: Campbell 14, Marist 42 - Camels fall to 3-18 in Pioneer League play since restarting football 2 years ago.
Most Surprising Result: Lack of Home Field Advantage - Given how spread out this conference is, it's strange to see 4 out of 5 road teams win in blowout fashion.
Independents
LAM 6-31 UND ODU 28-14 HAMP
GSU 34-39 USA
Non-Ind. Record: 1-2 Overall: 12-11
vs. FCS: 1-1 Overall: 9-8
Best Performance: Old Dominion 28, Hampton 14 - Neither team's offense does much aside from lose the ball, but the Monarchs still get a solid road win.
Worst Performance: Lamar 6, North Dakota 31 - Andre Bevil throws for just 113 yards and 3 picks.
Most Surprising Result: Old Dominion 28, Hampton 14 - Monarchs move to 14-5 since restarting football.
Jace Davis did have 7 catches for 185 yards and a TD in the defeat, though.