2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season

The 2014 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 season began on August 23, 2014, and concluded with the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game played on January 10, 2015, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. North Dakota State won its fourth consecutive title, defeating Illinois State, 29–27.

2014 NCAA Division I FCS season
Regular season
Number of teams124
DurationAugust 23 – November 22
Payton AwardJohn Robertson, QB, Villanova
Buchanan AwardKyle Emanuel, DE, North Dakota State
Playoff
DurationNovember 29 – December 20
Championship dateJanuary 10, 2015
Championship siteToyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
ChampionNorth Dakota State
NCAA Division I FCS football seasons

Notable changes

Under a standard provision of NCAA rules, all FCS programs were allowed to play 12 regular-season games (not counting conference title games) in 2014. In years when the period starting with the Thursday before Labor Day and ending with the final Saturday in November contains 14 Saturdays, FCS programs may play 12 games instead of the regular 11. After this season, the next season in which 12-game seasons are allowed was 2019.[1]

On May 14, 2014, the NCAA announced its Academic Progress Rate (APR) sanctions for the 2014–15 school year. The acceptable minimum score was raised significantly for the first time since the APR was introduced, in 2004. A total of 36 programs in 11 sports were declared ineligible for postseason play after failing to meet the required APR benchmark, including the following seven FCS teams:[2] Alabama State, Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Florida A&M, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, Saint Francis (PA), and Savannah State.In addition these, the entire athletic program at Southern University, including the football team, was declared ineligible for postseason play for failing to supply usable academic data to the NCAA.

FCS team wins over FBS teams

(FCS rankings from the Sports Network poll; FBS rankings from the AP Poll)

August 30: No. 22 Bethune-Cookman 14, Florida International 12
August 30: No. 2 North Dakota State 34, Iowa State 14
September 6: Eastern Kentucky 17, Miami (OH) 10
September 13: Abilene Christian 38, Troy 35
September 13: Indiana State 27, Ball State 20—The Victory Bell Game
September 20: Northwestern State 30, Louisiana Tech 27
September 27: Yale 49, Army 43 OT
October 11: Liberty 55, Appalachian State 48 OT

Conference changes and new programs
Main article: 2010–13 NCAA conference realignment
School2013 Conference2014 Conference
Abilene ChristianFCS IndependentSouthland
Appalachian StateSoConSun Belt (FBS)
ElonSoConCAA
Georgia SouthernSoConSun Belt (FBS)
Houston BaptistFCS IndependentSouthland
Incarnate WordFCS IndependentSouthland
MercerPioneerSoCon
MonmouthFCS IndependentBig South
Old DominionFCS IndependentC-USA (FBS)
VMIBig SouthSoCon

Conference standings
2014 Big Sky Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Eastern Washington $^  7 –1   11 –3  
No. 13 Montana ^  6 –2   9 –5  
No. 20 Montana State ^  6 –2   8 –5  
No. 25 Idaho State  6 –2   8 –4  
Cal Poly  5 –3   7 –5  
Northern Arizona  5 –3   7 –5  
Sacramento State  4 –4   7 –5  
North Dakota  3 –5   5 –7  
Southern Utah  3 –5   3 –9  
Northern Colorado  2 –6   3 –8  
Portland State  2 –6   3 –9  
Weber State  2 –6   2 –10  
UC Davis  1 –7   2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Big South Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Coastal Carolina +^  4 –1   12 –2  
No. 17 Liberty +^  4 –1   9 –5  
Charleston Southern  3 –2   8 –4  
Presbyterian  3 –2   6 –5  
Monmouth  1 –4   6 –5  
Gardner–Webb  0 –5   4 –8  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Colonial Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 New Hampshire $^  8 –0   12 –2  
No. 7 Villanova ^  7 –1   11 –3  
No. 18 James Madison ^  6 –2   9 –4  
No. 16 Richmond ^  5 –3   9 –5  
William & Mary  4 –4   7 –5  
Delaware  4 –4   6 –6  
Maine  4 –4   5 –6  
Stony Brook  4 –4   5 –7  
Albany  3 –5   7 –5  
Towson  2 –6   4 –8  
Rhode Island  1 –7   1 –11  
Elon  0 –8   1 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Ivy League football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 15 Harvard $  7 –0   10 –0  
Dartmouth  6 –1   8 –2  
Yale  5 –2   8 –2  
Princeton  4 –3   5 –5  
Brown  3 –4   5 –5  
Penn  2 –5   2 –8  
Cornell  1 –6   1 –9  
Columbia  0 –7   0 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from The Sports Network Poll
2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 23 Bethune–Cookman +  6 –2   9 –3  
North Carolina A&T +  6 –2   9 –3  
South Carolina State +  6 –2   8 –4  
North Carolina Central +  6 –2   7 –5  
Morgan State +^  6 –2   7 –6  
Norfolk State  4 –4   4 –8  
Howard  3 –5   5 –7  
Florida A&M *  3 –5   3 –9  
Hampton  2 –6   3 –9  
Delaware State  2 –6   2 –10  
Savannah State *  0 –8   0 –12  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * Florida A&M and Savannah State ineligible for FCS Playoffs due to APR violations
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 North Dakota State +^  7 –1   15 –1  
No. 2 Illinois State +^  7 –1   13 –2  
No. 10 Northern Iowa ^  6 –2   9 –5  
No. 12 South Dakota St. ^  5 –3   9 –5  
No. 19 Indiana State ^  4 –4   8 –6  
No. 22 Youngstown State  4 –4   7 –5  
Southern Illinois  3 –5   6 –6  
Western Illinois  3 –5   5 –7  
Missouri State  1 –7   4 –8  
South Dakota  0 –8   2 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Northeast Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Sacred Heart +^  5 –1   9 –3  
Wagner +  5 –1   7 –4  
Bryant  4 –2   8 –3  
Saint Francis (PA) *  3 –3   5 –6  
Duquesne  2 –4   6 –6  
Central Connecticut  1 –5   3 –9  
Robert Morris  1 –5   1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * – Saint Francis (PA) ineligible for FCS playoffs due to APR violation
2014 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 9 Jacksonville State $^  8 –0   10 –2  
No. 21 Eastern Kentucky ^  6 –2   9 –4  
UT Martin  5 –3   6 –6  
Eastern Illinois  5 –3   5 –7  
Tennessee Tech  4 –4   5 –7  
Tennessee State  3 –5   6 –6  
SE Missouri State  3 –5   5 –7  
Murray State  1 –7   3 –9  
Austin Peay  1 –7   1 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Patriot League football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 11 Fordham $^  6 –0   11 –3  
Bucknell  4 –2   8 –3  
Lafayette  3 –3   5 –6  
Colgate  3 –3   5 –7  
Holy Cross  2 –4   4 –8  
Lehigh  2 –4   3 –8  
Georgetown  1 –5   3 –8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Pioneer Football League standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
San Diego $^  7 –1   9 –3  
Jacksonville *  7 –1   9 –2  
Dayton  6 –2   8 –3  
Drake  6 –2   7 –4  
Campbell  4 –4   5 –7  
Marist  4 –4   4 –7  
Stetson  3 –5   5 –7  
Morehead State  3 –5   4 –8  
Butler  2 –6   4 –7  
Valparaiso  2 –6   4 –8  
Davidson  0 –8   1 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • *Jacksonville ineligible for PFL title and FCS playoffs due to matters regarding the PFL's financial aid rules
2014 Southern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 8 Chattanooga $^  7 –0   10 –4  
Samford  5 –2   7 –4  
Western Carolina  5 –2   7 –5  
Wofford  4 –3   6 –5  
The Citadel  3 –4   5 –7  
Furman  2 –5   3 –9  
Mercer  1 –6   6 –6  
VMI  1 –6   2 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network Poll
2014 Southland Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 6 Sam Houston St +^  7 –1   11 –5  
No. 14 SE Louisiana +^  7 –1   9 –4  
Lamar  5 –3   8 –4  
Stephen F. Austin ^  5 –3   8 –5  
Central Arkansas  5 –3   6 –6  
McNeese State  4 –4   6 –5  
Abilene Christian *  4 –4   6 –6  
Northwestern State  4 –4   6 –6  
Incarnate Word *  2 –6   2 –9  
Houston Baptist  1 –7   2 –9  
Nicholls State  0 –8   0 –12  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * – ineligible for FCS playoffs due to transition from NCAA Division II
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Alcorn State x$  7 –2   10 –3  
Alabama State *  5 –4   7 –5  
Jackson State  3 –6   5 –7  
Alabama A&M  3 –6   4 –8  
Mississippi Valley State *  1 –8   2 –9  
West Division
Southern xy  8 –1   9 –4  
Grambling State  7 –2   7 –5  
Prairie View A&M *  5 –4   5 –5  
Texas Southern  3 –6   5 –6  
Arkansas–Pine Bluff *  3 –6   4 –7  
Championship: Alcorn State 38, Southern 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – ineligible for postseason due to APR violations
2014 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Charlotte   –   5 –6  
  • Charlotte ineligible for FCS playoffs as part of FBS transition

Conference summaries

Championship games
Conference Champion Runner-up Score Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Coach of the Year
SWAC Alcorn State Southern 38–24 Malcolm Cyrus (RB, Alabama State)
John Gibbs, Jr. (QB, Alcorn State)		 Jerome Howard (LB, Prairie View A&M) Broderick Fobbs (Grambling State)

Other conference winners

Note: Records are regular-season only, and do not include playoff games.

Conference Champion Record Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Coach of the Year
Big Sky Eastern Washington 10–2 (7–1) Vernon Adams (QB, Eastern Washington) Zack Wagenmann (DE, Montana) Mike Kramer (Idaho State)
Big South Coastal Carolina
Liberty		 11–1 (4–1)
8–4 (4–1)		 Alex Ross (QB, Coastal Carolina) Quinn Backus (LB, Coastal Carolina) Joe Moglia (Coastal Carolina)
Harold Nichols (Presbyterian)
CAA New Hampshire 10–1 (8–0) John Robertson (QB, Villanova) Mike Reilly (DL, William & Mary) Sean McDonnell (New Hampshire)
Ivy Harvard 10–0 (7–0) Tyler Varga (RB, Yale) Zack Hodges (DE, Harvard)
Mike Zeuli (LB, Princeton)		 Tim Murphy (Harvard)
MEAC Bethune-Cookman
Morgan State
North Carolina A&T
North Carolina Central
South Carolina State		 9–3 (6–2)
7–5 (6–2)
9–3 (6–2)
7–5 (6–2)
8–4 (6–2)		 Tarik Cohen (RB, North Carolina A&T)
Greg McGhee (QB, Howard)		 Javon Hargrave (DT, South Carolina State) Lee Hull (Morgan State)
MVFC Illinois State
North Dakota State		 10–1 (7–1)
11–1 (7–1)		 Marshaun Coprich (RB, Illinois State) Kyle Emanuel (DE, North Dakota State) Brock Spack (Illinois State)
NEC Sacred Heart
Wagner		 9–2 (5–1)
7–4 (5–1)		 Khairi Dickson (RB, Saint Francis (PA)) Jeff Covitz (DE, Bryant) Mark Nofri (Sacred Heart)
OVC Jacksonville State 10–1 (8–0) Dy'Shawn Mobley (RB, Eastern Kentucky) Devaunte Sigler (DT, Jacksonville State) John Grass (Jacksonville State)
Patriot Fordham 10–2 (6–0) Mike Nebrich (QB, Fordham) Evan Byers (LB, Bucknell) Joe Susan (Bucknell)
Pioneer San Diego 9–1 (7–1) Connor Kacsor (RB, Dayton) Donald Payne (S, Stetson) Dale Lindsey (San Diego)
Southern Chattanooga 9–3 (7–0) Jacob Huesman (QB, Chattanooga) Davis Tull (DL, Chattanooga) Russ Huesman (Chattanooga)
Southland Sam Houston State
Southeastern Louisiana		 8–4 (7–1)
9–3 (7–1)		 Bryan Bennett (QB, Southeastern Louisiana)
Gus Johnson (RB, Stephen F. Austin)		 Jonathan Woodard (DE, Central Arkansas) Clint Conque (Stephen F. Austin)

    FCS results by conference against FBS opponents
    FCS ConferenceGPRecordWin %PFPAPD
    Ivy League11–01.0004943+6
    MVFC122–10.167212384–172
    Southland132–11.154235656–421
    Big South81–7.125123348–225
    OVC111–10.091159495–336
    MEAC141–13.071146673–527
    Pioneer10–1.000066–66
    Patriot20–2.0004172–31
    NEC20–2.0003172–41
    SWAC50–5.00040224–184
    Southern110–11.000154443–289
    CAA110–11.000121487–366
    Big Sky170–17.000266696–430
    FCS Independents00–0–000
    TOTAL1088–100.07415774659–3082
    FBS ConferenceGPRecordWin %PFPAPD
    SEC1414–01.000685131+554
    ACC1414–01.000636173+463
    Big Ten1111–01.000391156+235
    MWC1010–01.000354157+197
    American88–01.00035281+271
    Pac-1288–01.000410142+268
    Big 1287–1.875357156+201
    MAC1311–2.846462196+266
    Sun Belt97–2.778445165+280
    C-USA97–2.778367126+241
    FBS Independents43–1.75020094+106
    TOTAL108100–8.92646591577+3082

    Playoff qualifiers

    Automatic berths for conference champions
    Conference Team Appearance Last bid Result
    Big Sky ConferenceEastern Washington11th2013Semifinals (L – Towson)
    Big South ConferenceLiberty1st––
    Colonial Athletic AssociationNew Hampshire13th2013Semifinals (L – North Dakota State)
    Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceMorgan State1st––
    Missouri Valley Football ConferenceNorth Dakota State5th2013National Champions (W – Towson)
    Northeast ConferenceSacred Heart2nd2013First Round (L – Fordham)
    Ohio Valley ConferenceJacksonville State5th2013Quarterfinals (L – Eastern Washington)
    Patriot LeagueFordham4th2013Second Round (L – Towson)
    Pioneer Football LeagueSan Diego1st––
    Southern ConferenceChattanooga2nd1984First Round (L – Arkansas State)
    Southland ConferenceSam Houston State8th2013Second Round (L – Southeastern Louisiana)

    At large qualifiers
    Conference Team Appearance Last bid Result
    Big Sky ConferenceMontana23rd2013Second Round (L – Coastal Carolina)
    Montana State8th2012Quarterfinals (L – Sam Houston State)
    Big South ConferenceCoastal Carolina5th2013Quarterfinals (L – North Dakota State)
    Colonial Athletic AssociationJames Madison10th2011Second Round (L – North Dakota State)
    Richmond9th2009Quarterfinals (L – Appalachian State)
    Villanova11th2012First Round (L – Stony Brook)
    Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceNone
    Missouri Valley Football ConferenceIllinois State5th2012Quarterfinals (L – Eastern Washington)
    Indiana State3rd1984Quarterfinals (L – Middle Tennessee State)
    Northern Iowa17th2011Quarterfinals (L – Montana)
    South Dakota State4th2013Second Round (L – Eastern Washington)
    Northeast ConferenceNone
    Ohio Valley ConferenceEastern Kentucky21st2011First Round (L – James Madison)
    Patriot LeagueNone
    Pioneer Football League
    Southern Conference
    Southland ConferenceSoutheastern Louisiana2nd2013Quarterfinals (L – New Hampshire)
    Stephen F. Austin6th2010Second Round (L – Villanova)

    Abstentions

    Postseason

    NCAA Division I playoff bracket
    First Round
    November 29
    Campus sites         		Second Round
    December 6
    Campus sites         		Quarterfinals
    December 12 and 13
    Campus sites         		Semifinals
    December 19 and 20
    Campus sites         		National Championship
    January 10
    Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
    Fordham 19
    Sacred Heart 22 1 New Hampshire* 44
    Fordham* 44 1 New Hampshire* 35
    8 Chattanooga 30
    Indiana State 14
    Indiana State 36 8 Chattanooga* 35
    Eastern Kentucky* 16 1 New Hampshire* 18
    5 Illinois State 21
    Montana 20
    San Diego 14 4 Eastern Washington* 37
    Montana* 52 4 Eastern Washington* 46
    5 Illinois State 59
    Northern Iowa 21
    Stephen F. Austin 10 5 Illinois State* 41
    Northern Iowa* 44 5 Illinois State 27
    2 North Dakota State 29
    South Dakota State 24
    South Dakota State 47 2 North Dakota State* 27
    Montana State* 40 2 North Dakota State* 39
    7 Coastal Carolina 32
    Richmond 15
    Morgan State 24 7 Coastal Carolina* 36
    Richmond* 46 2 North Dakota State* 35
    Sam Houston State 3
    Sam Houston State 37
    Southeastern Louisiana 17 3 Jacksonville State* 26
    Sam Houston State* 21 Sam Houston State 34
    6 Villanova* 31
    Liberty 22
    Liberty 26 6 Villanova* 29
    James Madison* 21

    * Home team   
     Winner
    All times in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−05:00)

    Preseason bowl game
    Game Date/TV Location Winning Team Losing Team Score MVP
    Legacy Bowl March 21, 2015 KINCHO Stadium
    Osaka, Japan    		 Princeton
    5–5 (4–3)    		 Kwansei Gakuin (JAFA)
    9–1 (7–0)    		 36–7 Chad Kanoff
    (QB, Princeton)

    Coaching changes

    Preseason and in-season

    This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2014. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2014, see 2013 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes.

    School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement
    Nicholls State Charlie Stubbs September 14 Resigned[3] Steve Axman (interim)[4]
    Florida A&M Earl Holmes October 29 Fired[5] Corey Fuller (interim)[5]

    End of season
    School Outgoing coach Date announced Reason Replacement
    Nicholls State Steve Axman November 20 Resigned[6] Tim Rebowe[7]
    VMI Sparky Woods November 24 Fired[8] Scott Wachenheim[9]
    Bethune-Cookman Brian Jenkins December 16 Hired by Alabama State[10] Terry Sims[11]
    Florida A&M Corey Fuller December 23 Permanent Replacement Alex Wood[12]

    See also

    References
    1. "Bylaws 17.9.3 and 17.9.5.1" (PDF). 2012–13 NCAA Division I Manual. NCAA. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
    2. "Student-Athleties Continue To Achieve Academically" (Press release). NCAA. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
    3. "Nicholls State football coach Charlie Stubbs resigns" (Press release). NOLA.com. September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
    4. "Axman is interim Nicholls State football coach". USA Today. Associated Press. September 17, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
    5. "Florida A&M fires Earl Holmes". ESPN. Associated Press. October 29, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
    6. Johnson, Luke. "Tim Rebowe introduced as Nicholls State coach". theadvocate.com/. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
    7. "Tim Rebowe named Colonels coach". espn.com. November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
    8. King, Randy. "VMI declines to extend new contract to football coach Sparky Woods". Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
    9. "Scott Wachenheim Named VMI Head Football Coach". VMIKeydets.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
    10. "Bethune-Cookman names Brian Jenkins Head Football Coach". Omnidian Online. December 21, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
    11. "Bethune-Cookman promotes Terry Sims as new head football coach". The Orlando Sentinel. December 22, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
    12. "FAMU announces Alex Wood as new head football coach". Tallahassee Democrat. December 23, 2014. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
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