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

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.

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
School 2013 Conference 2014 Conference
Abilene Christian FCS Independent Southland
Appalachian State SoCon Sun Belt (FBS)
Elon SoCon CAA
Georgia Southern SoCon Sun Belt (FBS)
Houston Baptist FCS Independent Southland
Incarnate Word FCS Independent Southland
Mercer Pioneer SoCon
Monmouth FCS Independent Big South
Old Dominion FCS Independent C-USA (FBS)
VMI Big South SoCon

Conference standings

2014 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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
Conf Overall
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 Conference GP Record Win % PF PA PD
Ivy League 1 1–0 1.000 49 43 +6
MVFC 12 2–10 .167 212 384 –172
Southland 13 2–11 .154 235 656 –421
Big South 8 1–7 .125 123 348 –225
OVC 11 1–10 .091 159 495 –336
MEAC 14 1–13 .071 146 673 –527
Pioneer 1 0–1 .000 0 66 –66
Patriot 2 0–2 .000 41 72 –31
NEC 2 0–2 .000 31 72 –41
SWAC 5 0–5 .000 40 224 –184
Southern 11 0–11 .000 154 443 –289
CAA 11 0–11 .000 121 487 –366
Big Sky 17 0–17 .000 266 696 –430
FCS Independents 0 0–0 – 0 0 0
TOTAL 108 8–100 .074 1577 4659 –3082
FBS Conference GP Record Win % PF PA PD
SEC 14 14–0 1.000 685 131 +554
ACC 14 14–0 1.000 636 173 +463
Big Ten 11 11–0 1.000 391 156 +235
MWC 10 10–0 1.000 354 157 +197
American 8 8–0 1.000 352 81 +271
Pac-12 8 8–0 1.000 410 142 +268
Big 12 8 7–1 .875 357 156 +201
MAC 13 11–2 .846 462 196 +266
Sun Belt 9 7–2 .778 445 165 +280
C-USA 9 7–2 .778 367 126 +241
FBS Independents 4 3–1 .750 200 94 +106
TOTAL 108 100–8 .926 4659 1577 +3082

Playoff qualifiers

Automatic berths for conference champions

Conference Team Appearance Last bid Result
Big Sky Conference Eastern Washington 11th 2013 Semifinals (L – Towson)
Big South Conference Liberty 1st – –
Colonial Athletic Association New Hampshire 13th 2013 Semifinals (L – North Dakota State)
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Morgan State 1st – –
Missouri Valley Football Conference North Dakota State 5th 2013 National Champions (W – Towson)
Northeast Conference Sacred Heart 2nd 2013 First Round (L – Fordham)
Ohio Valley Conference Jacksonville State 5th 2013 Quarterfinals (L – Eastern Washington)
Patriot League Fordham 4th 2013 Second Round (L – Towson)
Pioneer Football League San Diego 1st – –
Southern Conference Chattanooga 2nd 1984 First Round (L – Arkansas State)
Southland Conference Sam Houston State 8th 2013 Second Round (L – Southeastern Louisiana)

At large qualifiers

Conference Team Appearance Last bid Result
Big Sky Conference Montana 23rd 2013 Second Round (L – Coastal Carolina)
Montana State 8th 2012 Quarterfinals (L – Sam Houston State)
Big South Conference Coastal Carolina 5th 2013 Quarterfinals (L – North Dakota State)
Colonial Athletic Association James Madison 10th 2011 Second Round (L – North Dakota State)
Richmond 9th 2009 Quarterfinals (L – Appalachian State)
Villanova 11th 2012 First Round (L – Stony Brook)
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference None
Missouri Valley Football Conference Illinois State 5th 2012 Quarterfinals (L – Eastern Washington)
Indiana State 3rd 1984 Quarterfinals (L – Middle Tennessee State)
Northern Iowa 17th 2011 Quarterfinals (L – Montana)
South Dakota State 4th 2013 Second Round (L – Eastern Washington)
Northeast Conference None
Ohio Valley Conference Eastern Kentucky 21st 2011 First Round (L – James Madison)
Patriot League None
Pioneer Football League
Southern Conference
Southland Conference Southeastern Louisiana 2nd 2013 Quarterfinals (L – New Hampshire)
Stephen F. Austin 6th 2010 Second 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. ^ a b "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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