Perhaps the NCAA needed to embody an additional week on the 2024 FCS school soccer schedule to accommodate the overflowing variety of terrific groups and video games.
OK, it’s because of the calendar, with an additional regular-season recreation allowed in years when there are 14 Saturdays from the primary permissible taking part in date in August via the final taking part in date in November. (Because of this, FCS groups can have 12 regular-season video games as an alternative of the standard 11.)
Nevertheless it’s the proper yr for it to occur:
South Dakota State is searching for a three-peat of the nationwide championship.
North Dakota State is attempting to reclaim the FCS throne.
Montana is again in a giant method.
Storylines abound.
With 129 applications (the second-most all-time) and 13 leagues, the schedule is primed to thrill followers all season lengthy.
Right here’s a week-by-week information to the most effective FCS video games through the common season (convention video games marked in parentheses; unmarked video games are nonconference):
Week 0: Norfolk State vs. Florida A&M in Atlanta – Aug. 24
The pageantry of the MEAC-SWAC Problem is half the story for the FCS’ two HBCU conferences, whose champions face off within the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. Norfolk State seeks to finish the MEAC’s two-game dropping streak within the season-opening basic in its first look, however the convention holds a 10-5 lead over the SWAC. Reigning SWAC champ FAMU went 1-1 in it as a member of the MEAC.
However Don’t Miss: Montana State at New Mexico
Week 1: North Dakota State at Colorado – Aug. 29
There was nice anticipation for a matchup in opposition to North Dakota State when Colorado coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders had been at Jackson State. Now they open their second season in Boulder in opposition to the FCS powerhouse Bison, who’re 9-4 all-time in opposition to FBS opponents. Tim Polasek will make his head teaching debut with the Bison – one of many FCS’ 30 new hires.
However Don’t Miss: Youngstown State at Villanova – Aug. 29; South Dakota State at Oklahoma State – Aug. 31
Week 2: UIW at South Dakota State – Sept. 7
UIW doesn’t have an FBS opponent this season, however a visit to the two-time defending FCS champion could also be harder. Jackrabbits coach Jimmy Rogers has 10 previous starters returning, none greater than quarterback Mark Gronowski as he seeks to change into the third repeat winner of the Walter Payton Award.
However Don’t Miss: UT Martin at Southeast Missouri (Huge South-OVC); Southern Illinois at Austin Peay
Week 3: UAlbany at Idaho – Sept. 14
One of many common season’s six rematches from the 2023 FCS playoffs, UAlbany heads again to the Kibbie Dome, the place it outscored Idaho 23-6 over the ultimate 37 minutes of a 30-22, quarterfinal-round victory. It gave the Nice Danes 5 wins over ranked opponents final season, whereas the Vandals had 4.
However Don’t Miss: Mercer at Chattanooga (SoCon); Nicholls at Sacramento State; Southern at Jackson State
Week 4: Furman at William & Mary – Sept. 21
The season’s stable nonconference schedule continues with the primary assembly between these applications since 2000. William & Mary quarterback Darius Wilson and operating backs Bronson Yoder and Malachi Imoh have mixed to hurry for over 6,000 yards of their careers, however defending Southern Convention champion Furman ranked eighth nationally in opposition to the run final season.
However Don’t Miss: Japanese Illinois at Illinois State; Southeast Missouri at Southern Illinois; Western Carolina at Montana
Week 5: Montana at Japanese Washington (Huge Sky) – Sept. 28
This yr’s assembly is the fiftieth between the rival applications, with Montana holding a 30-18-1 collection lead. The Eagles rolled out their pink carpet, er turf, with a 36-27 victory over Montana in 2010, they usually’ve since prolonged the house successful streak in opposition to the Grizzlies to 6.Â
However Don’t Miss: Richmond at Elon (CAA); Idaho at UC Davis (Huge Sky); Southern Illinois at South Dakota (MVFC); Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M in Dallas (SWAC)
Week 6: Lafayette at Fordham (Patriot) – Oct. 5
Even with a 1 p.m. kickoff, there will likely be fireworks within the air within the Patriot League opener for each applications. Lafayette’s Jamar Curtis is the FCS’ top-returning rusher, whereas Fordham quarterback CJ Montes reached 3,000 yards (precisely) on his ultimate cross final November.
However Don’t Miss: South Dakota State at Northern Iowa (MVFC); North Dakota at North Dakota State (MVFC); Weber State at Montana (Huge Sky); Gardner-Webb at UT Martin (Huge South-OVC)
Week 7: Nicholls at UIW (Southland) – Oct. 12
Nicholls is taking part in at UIW for the second consecutive season. Final yr? No drawback, Colonels operating backs Collin Guggenheim (4 touchdowns) and Jaylon Spears mixed for 313 yards in a 45-32 win over UIW and quarterback Zach Calzada. The host Cardinals, who had been FCS semifinalists in 2022, completed final season because the highest-ranked crew (No. 22) to not seem within the postseason.
However Don’t Miss: Chattanooga at Furman (SoCon); Idaho at Montana State (Huge Sky); Duquesne at Saint Francis (NEC)
Week 8: South Dakota State at North Dakota State (MVFC) – Oct. 19
At the least one among these FCS powers has completed atop the MVFC standings since 2011. The Dakota Marker is at stake, with the regular-season collection tied 10-10 for the reason that trophy was launched in 2004 as a part of a rivalry that dates to 1903. Courting to the ultimate regular-season weekend of the spring 2021 season, NDSU is 0-5 in opposition to SDSU and 38-5 in opposition to all different opponents.
However Don’t Miss: Florida A&M at Jackson State (SWAC); Western Carolina at Furman (SoCon); The Citadel at VMI (SoCon); Weber State at Sacramento State (Huge Sky); UC Davis at Japanese Washington (Huge Sky)
Week 9: South Dakota at South Dakota State (MVFC) – Oct. 26
No relaxation for the weary, ought to the Jackrabbits even be that as they face a second consecutive rivalry recreation (this one dates to 1889). The Jacks misplaced back-to-back conferences to South Dakota in 2019 and ‘21 by three factors every, in order that they solved that by limiting the Coyotes to simply three factors in every of the previous two matchups.
However Don’t Miss: Japanese Illinois at UT Martin (Huge South-OVC); Holy Cross at Lafayette (Patriot); Elon at William & Mary (CAA); Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State in Birmingham, Alabama (SWAC)
Week 10: Chattanooga at Western Carolina (SoCon) – Nov. 2
This might have been thought-about to be final yr’s finest FCS regular-season recreation, with the Catamounts successful 52-50 on a walk-off subject purpose after Chattanooga scored a landing, then a go-ahead two-point conversion within the recreation’s ultimate minute. Quarterbacks Chase Artopoeus (UTC) and Cole Gonzales (WCU) will hold the factors coming.
However Don’t Miss: Lamar at UIW (Southland); Montana State at Japanese Washington (Huge Sky); Davidson at San Diego (Pioneer); Northern Iowa at North Dakota State (MVFC)
Week 11: Central Arkansas at Tarleton State (United Athletic) – Nov. 9
Each rosters are loaded up offensively for a run on the UAC title and the FCS playoffs (Tarleton State, in its fifth Division I season, is eligible for the primary time). The Texans denied UCA of a two-point try with 14 seconds left to carry on 25-23 in final yr’s matchup.
However Don’t Miss: Sacramento State at Montana State (Huge Sky); UC Davis at Montana (Huge Sky); Drake at St. Thomas (Pioneer)
Week 12: Howard at North Carolina Central (MEAC) – Nov. 15
To say it’s a bit heated between the final two MEAC champions is an understatement. Howard scored on a two-point conversion with 2:38 left to get to 50 factors in its win final November, matching the 50 NCCU racked up within the 2022 matchup. The Bison are 0-4 in journeys to Durham.
However Don’t Miss: Montana State at UC Davis (Huge Sky) – Nov. 16; Harvard at Penn (Ivy) – Nov. 16
Week 13: Montana at Montana State (Huge Sky) – Nov. 23
That is rivalry week throughout FCS soccer, and the fiercest collection has seen lopsided wins traded throughout the final 4 conferences (a 2-2 cut up with the common margin of win at 29.3 factors). Final yr’s assembly was the primary when each groups entered with a top-five rating, and UM prolonged its general result in 74-42-5 for the reason that first assembly in 1897.
However Don’t Miss: William & Mary at Richmond (CAA); Delaware at Villanova (CAA); Yale at Harvard (Ivy); UC Davis at Sacramento State (Huge Sky); Lafayette at Lehigh (Patriot); North Dakota State at South Dakota (MVFC); Howard at Morgan State (MEAC)
Week 14: Grambling State vs. Southern in New Orleans (SWAC) – Nov. 24
The SWAC’s ultimate regular-season recreation instructions a highlight, and practically 65,000 followers, like final November. Terrance Graves, as Southern’s interim coach, grew to become the primary coach to information each applications to wins, with the Jaguars’ 27-22 triumph tying the Bayou Traditional portion of the all-time collection 25-25. Graves is now Southern’s full-time coach, whereas Mickey Joseph has taken over with the G-Males.
However Don’t Miss (unlikely): FCS playoffs
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