2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season
2020 NCAA Division I FCS season | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Regular season | |
Number of teams | 127 (101) |
Duration | Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 |
Payton Award | Cole Kelley, QB, Southeastern Louisiana |
Buchanan Award | Jordan Lewis, DL, Southern |
Playoff | |
Duration | April 24, 2021 – May 8, 2021 |
Championship date | May 16, 2021 |
Championship site | Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas |
Champion | Sam Houston State |
NCAA Division I FCS football seasons | |
«2019 2021» |
The 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, was organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.
The regular season and postseason were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Several FCS conferences moved their scheduled games from the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2021, and in August 2020, the NCAA announced that the FCS postseason would also be delayed.[1]
While the NCAA at one point announced a cancellation of the FCS playoff,[2] in late September 2020 a revised playoff schedule was announced, with the FCS Championship Game played on May 16, 2021.[3][4] Sam Houston State defeated South Dakota State for the title, 23-21.
Of the 127 programs in FCS for this season, 101 played at least one game in either the fall of 2020 or the spring of 2021. The remaining 26 schools opted not to participate. The Ivy League was the only FCS conference with no members competing in football in 2020–21.
Notable headlines
- May 19 – The NCAA declared four FCS football programs ineligible for postseason play in 2020 due to failure to meet the required Academic Progress Rate (APR) benchmarks: Howard, McNeese State, Prairie View A&M, and Stephen F. Austin.[5]
- July 8 – The Ivy League announced that it would play no sports until January 1, 2021, at the earliest, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
- July 13 – The Patriot League announced the cancellation of its fall sports season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [7]
- July 16 – The MEAC announced that it would not play sports in the fall.[8]
- July 17 – The Colonial Athletic Association announced that it would not play fall sports, but that teams still wishing to play football could compete as independents for the 2020 season.[9] Due to the cancellation of the MEAC season, ESPN Events announced that the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and Celebration Bowl had both been canceled.[10]
- July 19 – The SWAC announced that it had canceled fall sports but became the first conference to commit to playing football in the spring, with the announcement of a seven-game conference schedule preceded by an eight-week training schedule to start in January 2021.[11]
- July 27 – The Pioneer Football League announced that it would play a conference-only schedule in 2020.[12]
- July 29 – The Northeast Conference announced the postponement of all fall sports.[13]
- August 7 – The Pioneer Football League canceled its fall football season, with no announcement made with regard to playing in the spring.[14] The Big Sky Conference became second FCS conference to commit to playing football in the spring of 2021.[15]
- August 10 – The Missouri Valley Football Conference likewise announced that it would play its fall 2020 football season in spring of 2021.[16]
- September 22 – After several more conferences decided to play at least a limited spring football schedule, the NCAA announced that the 2020 FCS playoffs would be held in the spring of 2021, with bracket reduced from 24 teams to 16, culminating in the FCS Championship Game to be played on May 16, 2021.[3]
Rule changes
The following playing rule changes were approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel for 2020:[17]
- Players ejected for targeting will now be permitted to remain in the bench area. Previously, players ejected for targeting had to return to the locker room.
- Restricting the number of players on a team wearing the same uniform number to two; such players still cannot be on the field at the same time and must play different positions.
- Including the number "0" as a legal uniform number.
- Extending the official's jurisdiction prior to kickoff from 60 to 90 minutes, requiring a coach from each team be on the field during warm-ups, and identifying each player by number.
- Defensive teams are allowed to briefly have twelve players on the field to anticipate the offensive formation, however having twelve (or more) players on the field at the snap is a live-ball five-yard penalty for illegal substitution. Previously this foul was a dead-ball foul, called if the defense had twelve (or more) players on the field and the "snap is imminent".
- Adopting as a guideline a maximum of 2 minutes for instant replay reviews. Exceptions will be allowed in "exceptionally complicated" or end-of-game situations.
- On personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties committed by the defense during a play that results in a touchdown or after a touchdown but before the try, the offense has the option to enforce the penalty on the try, the ensuing kickoff, or on the succeeding spot (if in overtime).
- If the game clock expires at the end of a half, replay determines that time was remaining, and the game situation calls for the clock to start on the referee's signal, the half ends unless the replay determines that the clock should have stopped with 3 or more seconds left.
FCS team wins over FBS teams
October 23, 2020: Jacksonville State 19, FIU 10
February 21, 2021: Tarleton State 43, New Mexico State 17
Conference changes and new programs
School | 2019 conference | 2020–21 conference |
---|---|---|
Dixie State | RMAC (D-II) | FCS Independent |
North Dakota | FCS Independent | MVFC |
Tarleton State | LSC (D-II) | FCS Independent |
Presbyterian | Big South | FCS Independent |
Jacksonville | Pioneer | Dropped program |
Robert Morris | NEC | Big South |
Conference standings
All teams played spring schedules, except where noted. The Ivy League did not play in either the fall or spring.
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Playoff qualifiers
Automatic berths for conference champions
Conference | Team | Appearance | Last bid | Result of last appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big Sky Conference | Weber State | 8th | 2019 | Semifinals (L – James Madison) |
Big South Conference | Monmouth | 3rd | 2019 | Second Round (L – James Madison) |
Colonial Athletic Association | Delaware | 17th | 2018 | First Round (L – James Madison) |
Missouri Valley Football Conference | South Dakota State | 10th | 2019 | Second Round (L – Northern Iowa) |
Northeast Conference | Sacred Heart | 3rd | 2014 | First Round (L – Fordham) |
Ohio Valley Conference | Jacksonville State | 10th | 2018 | Second Round (L – Maine) |
Patriot League | Holy Cross | 4th | 2019 | First Round (L – Monmouth) |
Pioneer Football League | Davidson | 1st | – | – |
Southern Conference | VMI | 1st | – | – |
Southland Conference | Sam Houston State | 12th | 2017 | Semifinals (L – North Dakota State) |
At large qualifiers
Conference | Team | Appearance | Last bid | Result of last appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big Sky Conference | Eastern Washington | 14th | 2018 | Championship Game (L – North Dakota State) |
Colonial Athletic Association | James Madison | 17th | 2019 | Championship Game (L – North Dakota State) |
Missouri Valley Football Conference | Missouri State | 3rd | 1990 | First Round (L – Idaho) |
North Dakota | 3rd | 2019 | First Round (L – Nicholls) | |
North Dakota State | 11th | 2019 | National Champions (W – James Madison) | |
Southern Illinois | 9th | 2009 | Quarterfinals (L – William & Mary) |
Abstentions
- Ivy League – None
- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – None
- Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alabama A&M
Postseason
In late September 2020, the NCAA announced that the FCS postseason would take place in April and May 2021.[3] Also announced was a reduction of participating teams from 24 to 16, with 10 automatic qualifiers. The first round of the playoffs was scheduled for April 24, with the Championship Game in mid-May,[3] later set for May 16.
Bowl game
Due to the MEAC cancelling all fall sports for the 2020 season, the MEAC/SWAC Celebration Bowl (the one FCS bowl game) was canceled.[10]
NCAA Division I playoff bracket
First Round April 24 Campus sites | Quarterfinals May 2 Campus sites | Semifinals May 8 Campus sites | National Championship Game May 16 Toyota Stadium Frisco, Texas | ||||||||||||||||
1 | South Dakota State* | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
Holy Cross | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
1 | South Dakota State* | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
Southern Illinois | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||
Southern Illinois | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
Weber State* | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||
1 | South Dakota State* | 33 | |||||||||||||||||
Delaware | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Delaware* | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sacred Heart | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
Delaware | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | Jacksonville State* | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
Davidson | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | Jacksonville State* | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | South Dakota State | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Sam Houston State | 23 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | James Madison* | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
VMI | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | James Madison | 34 | |||||||||||||||||
North Dakota | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
Missouri State | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
North Dakota* | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | James Madison | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Sam Houston State* | 38 | |||||||||||||||||
North Dakota State* | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||
Eastern Washington | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
North Dakota State | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | Sam Houston State* | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
Monmouth | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | Sam Houston State* | 21 |
* Host institution
Kickoff game
Saturday, August 29 – FCS Kickoff (Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama): Central Arkansas 24, Austin Peay 17.[18]
Coaching changes
Preseason and in-season
Table only includes coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2020. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2020, see 2019 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes.
School | Outgoing coach | Date | Reason | Replacement |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austin Peay | Mark Hudspeth | July 3 | Resigned | Marquase Lovings (interim) |
Jackson State | John Hendrick | August 31 | Fired | Deion Sanders |
Austin Peay | Marquase Lovings (interim) | October 27 | Permanent replacement | Scotty Walden |
Montana State | Jeff Choate | January 22 | Hired as Texas defensive coordinator | Brent Vigen |
End of season
School | Outgoing coach | Date | Reason | Replacement |
---|---|---|---|---|
Norfolk State | Latrell Scott | March 3 | Hired as East Carolina tight ends coach | Dawson Odums |
Western Carolina | Mark Speir | April 9 | Fired | Kerwin Bell |
Tennessee State | Rod Reed | April 11 | Retired | Eddie George |
Southern | Dawson Odums | April 20 | Hired by Norfolk State | Jason Rollins (interim) |
Presbyterian | Tommy Spangler | April 21 | Fired | Kevin Kelley |
See also
- 2020 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings
- 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season
- 2020–21 NCAA Division III football season
- 2020 NAIA football season
References
- ^ Martin, Jill (August 8, 2020). "The NCAA's FCS playoffs will not happen this fall after two more conferences postpone football". CNN. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ Sutherland, James (August 10, 2020). "NCAA FCS Football Playoffs Officially Cancelled". swimswam.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Kelley, Kevin (September 22, 2020). "FCS Playoff Schedule format for Spring 2021 football season set". fbschedules.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ Chiusano, Anthony (November 12, 2020). "How the 2020-21 FCS Football Season Will Work". NCAA.com. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ Borzello, Jeff (May 19, 2020). "NCAA: 15 Division I programs face postseason bans over APR results". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ^ West, Jenna. "Ivy League to Postpone Fall Athletics, No Date Set for Return". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Patriot League cancels fall sports due to virus". ESPN.com. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ "MEAC suspends all fall sports for indefinite period". ESPN.com. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ Singelais, Mark (July 16, 2020). "Reports: CAA football won't play this fall". Times Union. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "MEAC-SWAC 2020 football matchups in Atlanta canceled". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ^ Wilmer, Brian (July 21, 2020). "SWAC postpones 2020 football season to spring 2021". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Kelley, Kevin (July 27, 2020). "Pioneer Football League to play conference-only football schedule in 2020". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ Kelley, Kevin (July 30, 2020). "Northeast Conference postpones 2020 football season due to COVID-19". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ Kelley, Kevin (August 7, 2020). "Pioneer Football League postpones fall 2020 football schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ "Big Sky Postpones Football Conference Competition Until Spring". bigskyconf.com. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ Kelley, Kevin (August 10, 2020). "Missouri Valley Football Conference postpones season to Spring 2021". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Football players flagged for targeting will be able to remain in bench area" (Press release). NCAA. April 21, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ "Austin Peay Football to Open 2020 at Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff" (Press release). Ohio Valley Conference. January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.