2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season

American college football season

For the 2024 FBS season, see 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

2024 NCAA Division I FCS season

Regular season
Number of teams| 129
Duration| August 24 – December 7
Playoff
Duration| November 30 – December 21
Championship date| January 6, 2025
Championship site| Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
NCAA Division I FCS football seasons

«2023

The 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The regular season began on August 24 and ended in November. The postseason began in November and, aside from any all-star games that are scheduled, will end on January 6, 2025, with the 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.[1]

Due to the structure of the calendar in 2024, FCS teams will be allowed to play 12 regular-season games instead of the normal 11.[2]

## Notable headlines

[edit]

* April 25 – The NCAA approved an increase in the number of seeded teams in the FCS playoff bracket from 8 to 16, effective for the 2024 season. The number of qualifying teams and the bracket format will remain otherwise unchanged.[3]
* May 29 – Stephen F. Austin announced it would leave the United Athletic Conference (UAC) on July 1 to rejoin the Southland Conference (SLC) after a three-year absence.[4]
* October 9:[5]
* The NCAA Division I Council approved the recommended reduction of the FBS and FCS transfer portal to 30 days, though with a different schedule than recommended. The fall window, which opens on the Monday after the FBS conference championship games, will be open only for 20 days. A 10-day spring portal will open in mid-April.
* The Council also abolished the National Letter of Intent program effective immediately. Written offers of athletics aid will replace the NLI.
* The Council introduced a proposal that would shorten the transition periods for schools wishing to reclassify from Division II or Division III to Division I. If approved at the Council's January 2025 meeting, the transition periods for D-II and D-III schools would drop by a year, respectively to three and four years.
* November 7 – Texas A&M University-Commerce announced a name change to East Texas A&M University, effective immediately.[6]

## Conference changes and new programs

[edit]

School | 2023 conference | 2024 conference | Ref

|
|
|

Bryant Bulldogs | Big South–OVC | CAA | [7]
Kennesaw State Owls | FCS Independent | CUSA (FBS) | [8]
Mercyhurst Lakers | PSAC (D-II) | NEC | [9]
Merrimack Warriors | NEC | FCS Independent | [10]
Robert Morris Colonials | Big South–OVC | NEC | [11]
Sacred Heart Pioneers | NEC | FCS Independent | [12]
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks | UAC | Southland | [13]
West Georgia Wolves | Gulf South (D-II) | UAC | [14][15][16][17]
Western Illinois Leathernecks | MVFC | Big South–OVC | [18]

## Conference standings

[edit]

2024 Big Sky Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 1 Montana State $^  |  | 8  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 12  | - | 0  |
No. 5 UC Davis ^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  |
No. 7 Idaho ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 3  |
No. 17 Northern Arizona ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  |
No. 13 Montana ^  |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  |
Idaho State |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Eastern Washington |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Weber State |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Portland State |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 8  |
Cal Poly |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 8  |
Sacramento State |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Northern Colorado |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Big South–OVC football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 16 Southeast Missouri State +^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
Tennessee Tech \+  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
No. 23 UT Martin +^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
No. 21 Tennessee State +^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
Lindenwood*  |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Western Illinois |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Gardner–Webb |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Eastern Illinois |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Charleston Southern |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant
* Note: Lindenwood ineligible for Big South–OVC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 9 Richmond +^  |  | 8  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 3  |
No. 10 Rhode Island* +^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 2  |
No. 12 Villanova ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 3  |
Delaware*  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 2  |
No. 19 New Hampshire ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  |
No. 24 Stony Brook |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  |
Towson |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Elon |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
William & Mary |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Monmouth |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Maine |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Albany |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Hampton |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Campbell |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Bryant |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 10  |
North Carolina A&T |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |
* Delaware ineligible for rankings and 2024 FCS playoffs due to transition to the FBS. Richmond and Rhode Island named co-champions as Rhode Island's only CAA loss was to Delaware.

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Ivy League football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
Dartmouth \+  |  | 5  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 2  |
No. 25 Harvard \+  |  | 5  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 2  |
Columbia \+  |  | 5  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 3  |
Yale |  | 4  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 3  |
Cornell |  | 3  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 6  |
Penn |  | 2  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 6  |
Brown |  | 2  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 7  |
Princeton |  | 2  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 7  |

* \+ - Conference co-champions

Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 20 South Carolina State $  |  | 5  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 2  |
North Carolina Central |  | 4  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  |
Morgan State |  | 3  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Norfolk State |  | 2  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Howard |  | 1  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Delaware State |  | 0  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |

* $ - Conference champion

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 2 South Dakota State +^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  |
No. 3 North Dakota State +^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  |
No. 4 South Dakota +^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 2  |
Missouri State*  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  |
No. 11 Illinois State ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 3  |
Youngstown State |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Indiana State |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
North Dakota |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Southern Illinois |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Northern Iowa |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Murray State |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |
* Ineligible for 2024 FCS playoffs due to transition to the FBS

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Northeast Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
Central Connecticut +^  |  | 5  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 6  |
Duquesne \+  |  | 5  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  |
Robert Morris |  | 4  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
LIU |  | 3  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Wagner |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Saint Francis (PA) |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Mercyhurst*  |  | 0  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Stonehill*  |  | 0  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 10  |

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant
* * – Stonehill and Mercyhurst are ineligible for NEC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Patriot League football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
Lehigh +^  |  | 5  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 3  |
Holy Cross \+  |  | 5  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Bucknell |  | 4  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Lafayette |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Georgetown |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |
Fordham |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 10  |
Colgate |  | 1  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 10  |

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Pioneer Football League standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
Drake $^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  |
San Diego |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  |
Butler |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 3  |
Morehead State |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
St. Thomas (MN)*  |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Dayton |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Davidson |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Presbyterian |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Valparaiso |  | 2  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Marist |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 10  |
Stetson |  | 0  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  |

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - FCS playoff participant
* * – St. Thomas (MN) ineligible for FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division III

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Southern Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 8 Mercer $^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  |
Western Carolina |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Chattanooga |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
East Tennessee State |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Samford |  | 3  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
The Citadel |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Wofford |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Furman |  | 2  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 8  |
VMI |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Southland Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 6 Incarnate Word $^  |  | 7  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  |
Southeastern Louisiana |  | 6  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Stephen F. Austin |  | 4  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Lamar |  | 4  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
McNeese |  | 3  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Houston Christian |  | 3  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
East Texas A&M*  |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Nicholls |  | 2  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Northwestern State |  | 0  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 0  | - | 12  |

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - FCS playoff participant
* * – East Texas A&M is ineligible for FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
East Division
No. 18 Jackson State xy  |  | 8  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  |
Florida A&M |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Alabama State |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Alabama A&M |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Bethune–Cookman |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 10  |
Mississippi Valley State |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |
West Division
Southern xy  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  |
Alcorn State |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Texas Southern |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |
Prairie View A&M |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Grambling State |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Arkansas–Pine Bluff |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Championship: Southern at Jackson State

* $ - Conference champion
* x - Division champion/co-champions
* y - Championship game participant

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 United Athletic Conference standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 15 Abilene Christian $^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
No. 14 Tarleton State ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 3  |
No. 22 Eastern Kentucky ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  |
Southern Utah |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Central Arkansas |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Austin Peay |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
North Alabama |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
West Georgia*  |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Utah Tech |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 11  |

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - FCS playoff participant
* Note: West Georgia is ineligible for the UAC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.

As of December 5, 2024
Rankings from STATS Poll
2024 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
Sacred Heart |  |  | - |  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |
Merrimack |  |  | - |  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |

## Playoff qualifiers

[edit]

### Automatic berths for conference champions

[edit]

Conference  | Team  | Appearance  | Last bid  | Result of last appearance

|
|
|
|

Big Sky Conference | Montana State | 14th | 2023 | Second round - (L - North Dakota State)
Big South–OVC | Southeast Missouri State | 5th | 2022 | First round - (L - Montana)
CAA Football | Richmond | 14th | 2023 | Second round - (L - Albany)
Missouri Valley Football Conference | South Dakota State | 14th | 2023 | National Champion \- (W - Montana)
Northeast Conference |  Central Connecticut | 3rd | 2019 | First round - (L - Albany)
Patriot League |  Lehigh | 12th | 2017 | First round - (L - Stony Brook)
Pioneer Football League | Drake | 2nd | 2023 | First round - (L - North Dakota State)
Southern Conference | Mercer | 2nd | 2023 | Second round - (L - South Dakota State)
Southland Conference | Incarnate Word | 4th | 2022 | Semifinal - (L - North Dakota State)
United Athletic Conference | Abilene Christian | 1st | None | None

### At large qualifiers

[edit]

Conference  | Team  | Appearance  | Last bid  | Result of last appearance

|
|
|
|

Big Sky Conference | Idaho | 14th | 2023 | Quarterfinals - (L - Albany)
UC Davis | 3rd | 2021 | First round - (L - South Dakota State)
Montana | 29th | 2023 | National Runner-up - (L - South Dakota State)
Northern Arizona | 7th | 2017 | First round - (L - San Diego)
Big South–OVC | UT Martin | 3rd | 2021 | Second round - (L - Montana State)
Tennessee State | 7th | 2013 | Second round - (L - Eastern Illinois)
CAA Football | New Hampshire | 18th | 2022 | Second round - (L - Holy Cross)
Villanova | 16th | 2023 | Quarterfinals - (L - South Dakota State)
Rhode Island | 4th | 1985 | Quarterfinals - (L - Furman)
Missouri Valley Football Conference | North Dakota State | 15th | 2023 | Semifinals - (L - Montana)
South Dakota | 4th | 2023 | Quarterfinals - (L - North Dakota State)
Illinois State | 9th | 2019 | Quarterfinals - (L - North Dakota State)
United Athletic Conference | Tarleton State | 1st | None | None
Eastern Kentucky | 22nd | 2022 | Second round - (L - Gardner–Webb)

### Abstentions

[edit]

* Ivy League – Harvard
* Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State
* Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State/Southern

## Postseason

[edit]

The FCS again features a 24-team postseason bracket: 10 teams decided via automatic bids issued to conference champions, and 14 at-large bids (see above). Where previously the top eight teams were seeded, the top 16 teams were seeded this year, a change from the 2023 season.[3]

### Bowl game

[edit]

Date  | Time (EST)  | Game  | Site  | Television  | Teams  | Affiliations  | Results

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|
|
|
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|

Dec. 14  | Noon  | Celebration Bowl | Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia | USA: ABC
Canada: TSN1/4 | TBD
South Carolina State | SWAC
MEAC |

Note: South Carolina State will face the winner of the SWAC Championship Game on December 7 – either Jackson State or Southern.

### NCAA Division I playoff bracket

[edit]

| First Round
November 30
Campus sites
ESPN+, ESPN2 | | | Second Round
December 7
Campus sites
ESPN+ | | | Quarterfinals
December 13/14
Campus sites
ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ | | | Semifinals
December 21
Campus sites
ABC | | | National Championship
January 6
7 p.m. EST
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
ESPN |

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Montana State |  | | | |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 10 | | |  | UT Martin |  |
|  | UT Martin | 41 | | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | 8 | Idaho |  | | | |
| 9 | Richmond | 16 | | |  | Lehigh |  |
|  | Lehigh | 20 | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | 5 | UC Davis |  | | | |
| 12 | Illinois State | 35 | | | 12 | Illinois State |  |
|  | Southeast Missouri State* | 27 | | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | 4 | South Dakota |  | |
| 13 | Tarleton State | 43 | | | 13 | Tarleton State |  |
|  | Drake | 29 | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | 3 | South Dakota State |  | | | |
| 14 | Montana | 41 | | | 14 | Montana |  |
|  | Tennessee State | 27 | | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | 6 | Incarnate Word |  | | | |
| 11 | Villanova | 22 | | | 11 | Villanova |  |
|  | Eastern Kentucky | 17 | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | 7 | Mercer |  | |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 21 | | | 10 | Rhode Island |  |
|  | Central Connecticut | 17 | | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | | |  |  |  |
| | | | 2 | North Dakota State |  | |
| 15 | Abilene Christian | 24 | | | 15 | Abilene Christian |  |
|  | Northern Arizona | 0 | |

* Hosted despite being the unseeded team (Illinois State unable to host due to facilities conflicts)[19]

Source:[20]

## Rankings

[edit]

Main article: 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings

The top 25 from the Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches Polls.

### Pre-season polls

[edit]

| Stats Perform

Ranking  | Team
1  | South Dakota State (52)
2  | North Dakota State (3)
3  | Montana
4  | Montana State (1)
5  | South Dakota
6  | Villanova
7  | Idaho
8  | Sacramento State
9  | Chattanooga
10  | Southern Illinois
11  | Central Arkansas
12  | Furman
13  | Richmond
14  | Incarnate Word
15  | William & Mary
16  | Albany
17  | Lafayette
18  | UC Davis
19  | Illinois State
20  | Western Carolina
21  | Tarleton State
22  | Weber State
23  | Nicholls
24  | North Dakota
25  | Youngstown State
| USA Today Coaches

Ranking  | Team
1  | South Dakota State (25)
2  | North Dakota State
3  | Montana
4  | Montana State
5  | South Dakota
6  | Villanova
7  | Idaho
8  | Chattanooga
9  | Furman
10  | Sacramento State
11  | Southern Illinois
12  | Richmond
13  | Central Arkansas
14  | Albany
15  | Incarnate Word
16  | William & Mary
17  | UC Davis
18  | Lafayette
19  | Western Carolina
20  | Illinois State
21  | Tarleton State
22  | North Dakota
23  | Youngstown State
24  | Nicholls
25  | Florida A&M (1)

STATS source:[21]
AFCA source:[22]

## Kickoff games

[edit]

The regular season began on Saturday, August 24 with four games in Week 0:

* FCS Kickoff (Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama): Southeast Missouri State 37, North Alabama 15
* Hawaii 35, Delaware State 14
* No. 4 Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
* MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta): Florida A&M 24, Norfolk State 23

## Regular season top 10 matchups

[edit]

Rankings reflect the Stats Perform Poll.

* Week 6
* No. 2 North Dakota State defeated No. 7 North Dakota, 41–17 (Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota)
* Week 7
* No. 3 Montana State defeated No. 7 Idaho, 38–7 (Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, Montana)
* Week 8
* No. 2 North Dakota State defeated No. 1 South Dakota State, 13–9 (Dakota Marker \- Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota)
* Week 9
* No. 3 South Dakota State defeated No. 4 South Dakota, 20–17OT (Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, South Dakota)
* Week 11
* No. 4 UC Davis defeated No. 7 Montana, 30–14 (Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Montana)
* Week 12
* No. 2 Montana State defeated No. 4 UC Davis, 30–28 (UC Davis Health Stadium, Davis, California)
* Week 13
* No. 4 South Dakota defeated No. 1 North Dakota State, 29–28 (DakotaDome, Vermillion, South Dakota)
* No. 2 Montana State defeated No. 9 Montana, 34–11 (Brawl of the Wild – Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, Montana)

## Upsets

[edit]

This section lists instances of unranked teams defeating ranked teams during the season.

### Regular season

[edit]

During the regular season, thirty-four unranked teams defeated ranked teams.

* September 7, 2024
* Wofford 26, No. 14 Richmond 19
* Charleston Southern 24, No. 15 Furman 20
* Campbell 24, No. 17 Western Carolina 16
* September 14, 2024
* Lamar 17, No. 20 Weber State 16
* Duquesne 28, No. 21 Youngstown State 25
* Western Carolina 24, No. 22 Elon 17
* September 21, 2024
* Columbia 31, No. 18 Lafayette 20
* September 28, 2024
* Northern Arizona 34, No. 10 Sacramento State 16
* Maine 34, No. 21 Albany 20
* McNeese 28, No. 25 Weber State 26
* October 4, 2024
* Harvard 28, No. 21 New Hampshire 23
* October 5, 2024
* Weber State, 55, No. 8 Montana 48OT
* Towson 34, No. 12 William & Mary 27
* Houston Christian 43, No. 22 McNeese 22
* Chattanooga 17, No. 23 East Tennessee State 10
* October 12, 2024
* North Alabama 47, No. 10 Abilene Christian 34
* Missouri State 41, No. 16 Illinois State 7
* Eastern Washington 35, No. 18 Sacramento State 28
* Northern Colorado 21, No. 20 Weber State 17
* Stephen F. Austin 27, No. 22 Lamar 20
* October 19, 2024
* Maine 35, No. 5 Villanova 7
* Samford 55, No. 7 Mercer 35
* Jackson State 35, No. 25т Florida A&M 21
* October 26, 2024
* Youngstown State 41, No. 7 North Dakota 40OT
* Stony Brook 35, No. 16 William & Mary 13
* October 31, 2024
* South Carolina State 24, No. 19 North Carolina Central 21
* November 2, 2024
* Utah Tech 34, No. 11 Central Arkansas 21
* Eastern Kentucky 17, No. 13 Tarleton State 13
* Indiana State 35, No. 15 North Dakota 31
* Western Carolina 38, No. 18 Chattanooga 34
* Harvard 31, No. 22 Dartmouth 27
* UT Martin 28, No. 25 Tennessee State 21
* November 9, 2024
* Lindenwood 24, No. 6 Southeast Missouri State 12
* Delaware 24, No. 11 Rhode Island 21
* Eastern Kentucky 31, No. 16 Central Arkansas 24
* Elon 40, No. 20 William & Mary 36
* East Tennessee State 24, No. 22 Western Carolina 21
* November 16, 2024
* Monmouth 40, No. 9 Villanova 33
* New Hampshire 31, No. 16 Stony Brook 30
* Tennessee Tech 10, No. 18 UT Martin 9
* Samford 36, No. 19 Chattanooga 13
* Furman 24, No. 21 East Tennessee State 21
* Southern Utah 38, No. 24 Central Arkansas 31
* November 23, 2024
* Stephen F. Austin 32, No. 11 Abilene Christian 19
* Tennessee State 28, No. 12 Southeast Missouri State 21
* Yale 34, No. 17 Harvard 29
* Monmouth 55, No. 18 Stony Brook 47
* Central Connecticut 21, No. 19 Duquesne 14

## FCS team wins over FBS teams

[edit]

* August 24:
* No. 4 Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
* September 7:
* Saint Francis (PA) 23, Kent State 17
* No. 7 Idaho 17, Wyoming 13
* Southern Utah 27, UTEP 24OT
* September 21:
* Monmouth 45, FIU 42
* September 28:
* UT Martin 24, Kennesaw State 13

## Coaching changes

[edit]

### Preseason and in-season

[edit]

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2024, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2024, see 2023 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes.

School  | Outgoing coach  | Date  | Reason  | Replacement

|
|
|
|

### End of season

[edit]

This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.

School  | Outgoing coach  | Date  | Reason  | Replacement  | Previous position

|
|
|
|
|

Northern Iowa | Mark Farley | November 10, 2024  | Retired[23] | Todd Stepsis[24] | Drake head coach (2019–2024)
Valparaiso | Landon Fox | November 24, 2024  | Contract not renewed[25] |  |
Prairie View A&M | Bubba McDowell | November 24, 2024  | Fired[26] |  |
McNeese | Gary Goff | November 25, 2024  | Contract not renewed[27] | Matt Viator[28] | Louisiana senior defensive analyst (2021–2024)
Davidson | Scott Abell | November 26, 2024  | Hired by Rice[29] |  |
Norfolk State | Dawson Odums | November 26, 2024  | Fired[30] |  |
North Dakota | Bubba Schweigert | November 30, 2024  | Resigned[31] |  |
Nicholls | Tim Rebowe | December 1, 2024  | Retired[32] | Tommy Rybacki | Nicholls defensive coordinator (2015–2024)
Colgate | Stan Dakosty | December 2, 2024  | Fired[33] |  |
Alabama A&M | Connell Maynor | December 2, 2024  | Fired[34] |  |
Drake | Todd Stepsis | December 3, 2024  | Hired by Northern Iowa[24] |  |
Delaware State | Lee Hull | December 3, 2024  | Fired[35] |  |
Butler | Mike Uremovich | December 4, 2024  | Hired by Ball State[36] |  |
North Carolina A&T | Vincent Brown | December 4, 2024  | Fired[37] |  |
Mississippi Valley State | Kendrick Wade | December 4, 2024  | Fired[38] |  |

## See also

[edit]

* 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season
* 2024 NCAA Division II football season
* 2024 NCAA Division III football season
* 2024 NAIA football season
* 2024 U Sports football season

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "FCS Championship: Future dates and sites". NCAA.com. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
2. ^ "Bylaw 17.11.6.1: Number of Contests (FBS/FCS): Maximum Limitations – Institutional" (PDF). 2023–24 NCAA Division I Manual. NCAA. August 5, 2023. p. 263. Retrieved August 2, 2024. "In championship subdivision football . . . Twelve football contests shall be permissible during those years in which there are 14 Saturdays from the first permissible playing date through the last playing date in November (e.g., 2024, 2025)."
3. ^ a b Herder, Sam (April 25, 2024). "Seeded Teams In 24-Team FCS Playoff Bracket Increases From 8 To 16". HeroSports.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
4. ^ "SFA Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25" (Press release). Southland Conference. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
5. ^ "DI Council approves changes to notification-of-transfer windows in basketball, football" (Press release). NCAA. October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
6. ^ "Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Approves Name Change for Texas A&M University-Commerce" (Press release). East Texas A&M University. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
7. ^ "Coastal Athletic Association adding Bryant University in '24". ESPN.com. August 10, 2023.
8. ^ "Kennesaw State to join Conference USA in July 2024". ESPN.com. October 14, 2022.
9. ^ "Mercyhurst University marks new era in athletics with move to Division I". hurstathletics.com. Mercyhurst University. April 4, 2024.
10. ^ "Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference". merrimack.edu. Merrimack College. October 23, 2023.
11. ^ "RMU Football to Rejoin Northeast Conference for 2024 Season". rmucolonials.com. Robert Morris University. November 28, 2023.
12. ^ "Sacred Heart University Joining the MAAC". sacredheartpioneers.com. Sacred Heart University. March 14, 2024.
13. ^ "SFA Accepts Bid to Southland Conference for 2024-25 Season". sfajacks.com. Stephen F. Austin State University. May 29, 2024.
14. ^ "UWG, United Athletic Conference Reveal 2024 Conference Football Slate". uwgathletics.com. University of West Georgia. November 14, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
15. ^ "UWG Athletics to Transition to NCAA Division I". westga.edu. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
16. ^ "UAC Welcomes West Georgia as its 11th Member". uacfootball.com. United Athletic Conference. August 8, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
17. ^ Chavkin, Daniel (September 8, 2023). "University of West Georgia Announces Move to NCAA Division I". SI.com.
18. ^ "Western Illinois University to Join the OVC in 2023-24". ovcsports.com. December 5, 2023.
19. ^ Tock, Olivia; Randle, Luke (November 23, 2024). "SEMO Redhawks selected to host Illinois State in FCS Playoffs". KFVS-TV. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
20. ^ Treacy, Dan (November 24, 2024). "FCS playoff bracket: Full list of selections, schedule and seeds for 2024 college football playoffs". The Sporting News. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
21. ^ "The Champ's Still No. 1: South Dakota State Sits on Top of FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll". theanalyst.com. STATS Perform. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
22. ^ "Two-time defending champs South Dakota State lead 2024 preseason FCS Coaches' Poll". ncaa.com. NCAA. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
23. ^ "UNI Football head coach Mark Farley to retire at conclusion of 2024 season". unifootball.com. Northern Iowa Panthers. November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
24. ^ a b "Todd Stepsis named University of Northern Iowa Football head coach". unifootball.com. Northern Iowa Panthers. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
25. ^ "Valpo Athletics Announces Change in Leadership of Football Program" (Press release). Valparaiso Beacons. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
26. ^ Kleinpeter, Jim (November 24, 2024). "Prairie View fires football coach Bubba McDowell". The Advocate. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
27. ^ "McNeese Announces Football Leadership Change". McNeese State University Athletics. November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
28. ^ Bonnette, Matthew (December 2, 2024). "McNeese hires Matt Viator to return Pokes to the Glory Days" (Press release). McNeese Cowboys. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
29. ^ "Abell Named Owls' New Head Football Coach" (Press release). Rice University Athletics. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
30. ^ MacDonald, Madie (November 26, 2024). "Norfolk State fires football coach after four seasons". WAVY-TV. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
31. ^ "Head Coach Bubba Schweigert to Step Down, Move into senior administrative role with UND athletics". fightinghawks.com. November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
32. ^ "Rebowe Announces Retirment, Rybacki to be named head coach". geauxcolonels.com. Nicholls Colonels. December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
33. ^ "Colgate Announces Change in Football Leadership" (Press release). Colgate Raiders. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
34. ^ "Alabama A&M Football Announces Change in Leadership" (Press release). Alabama A&M Athletics. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
35. ^ "Delaware State University Announces Leadership Changes in Athletics" (Press release). Delaware State Athletics. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
36. ^ "Mike Uremovich Named 19th Head Coach in Ball State Football History". getsomemaction.com. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
37. ^ "North Carolina A&T Makes Change at Head Football Coach" (Press release). North Carolina A&T Aggies. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
38. ^ Gaither, Steven J. (December 4, 2024). "HBCU fires football coach after two seasons". hbcugameday.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024.

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*[Ref]: References
*[v]: View this template
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*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
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