• 2017 OVC Football Report - Final (PDF)
JSU’s Jackson Becomes First OVC Player to Win Buck Buchanan Award: Jacksonville State senior defensive end
Darius Jackson became the first OVC player to win the Buck Buchanan Award, presented by STATS to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year. A national panel of 151 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries selected Jackson as the FCS defensive player of the year in the narrowest vote possible, his 304 points edging Western Illinois senior linebacker Brett Taylor’s 303, with James Madison senior defensive end Andrew Ankrah finishing third with 259 points. Jackson received 29 first-place, 18 second-place, 20 third-place, 11 fourth-place and five fifth-place votes. Jackson was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season and set a new JSU single-season record with 20.5 tackles-for-loss. JSU sophomore defensive back
Marlon Bridges finished 17th in the voting while Austin Peay sophomore defensive end
Jaison Williams finished 19th. Tennessee State senior defensive lineman
Ebenezer Ogundeko was on the list at the beginning of the year but was not among the finalists.
Healy Named Winner of 2017 Eddie Robinson Award: Austin Peay’s
Will Healy was named the winner of the Eddie Robinson Award, sponsored by STATS and presented to the FCS National Coach of the Year. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries voted on the winner following the regular season. He is the third OVC coach to win the award, joining Murray State’s Houston Nutt (1995) and Southeast Missouri’s Tony Samuel (2010). Healy received 49 first-place votes, 19 second-place votes, 11 third-place votes, six fourth-place votes and eight fifth-place votes to total 374 points. He finished 42 points ahead of James Madison coach Mike Houston who was second. After APSU had lost 29 games in a row, Healy led the team to an 8-4 record this season and 7-1 mark in the OVC. The eight total wins tied the school record established by the 1977 OVC Championship team, while the seven Conference wins were the most in program history. Along the way the team snapped a 21-game OVC losing streak and a 45-game road losing streak; the Govs finished the year with four road victories, which was more than the program won in the previous nine years combined. Jacksonville State’s
John Grass was also a finalist for the award, and finished eighth in the balloting.
NCAA Division I Playoff Information: Jacksonville State was the OVC’s lone qualifier for the 2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship. This season marked the fifth of an expanded 24-team field; in 2010 the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff field expanded to 20 teams, up from 16 previously, and in 2013 the field increased to 24 for the first time. The expansion in 2010 to 20 teams was the first since the field grew from 12 to 16 teams in 1997. The 24-team field is comprised of 10 automatic bids and 14 at-large berths. There are eight first round matchups (16 total teams), while eight (8) teams receive a bye into the second round. For the eighth time in 2017, the championship game was played in Frisco, Texas at Toyota Stadium, a 20,500-seat multi-purpose stadium. The Southland Conference served as the host of the championship, which was held on Saturday, January 6 (North Dakota State beat James Madison for the title).
OVC Teams in the Playoffs: OVC teams are 31-59 all-time in the NCAA Division I Football Championship, including winning the 1979 and 1982 National Championships (both by Eastern Kentucky). After going from 2000 through 2012 without a victory, the OVC won four total games and had two teams advance to the quarterfinals in 2013. In 2015 Jacksonville State won three times to advance to the national championship game, the first OVC team to accomplish that feat since 1982.
Jacksonville State Makes Eighth NCAA FCS Playoff Appearance: Jacksonville State earned the OVC’s automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs. It is the fifth-straight and eighth overall Division I playoff appearance for the program who has also appeared in 2003, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. JSU is 5-8 all-time in the playoffs including advancing to the national championship game in 2015. The programs also made 10 NCAA playoff appearances at the Division II level, including winning the 1992 National Championship.
Jacksonville State Wins Fourth-Straight OVC Championship: Jacksonville State finished the 2017 season a perfect 8-0 in OVC play to win its fourth-straight and seventh overall OVC Championship. The Gamecocks are the first OVC team to win four-straight OVC titles since Eastern Kentucky did from 1981-84, and one of just 29 teams in FCS history to accomplish the feat. JSU has also won OVC Championships in 2003, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The seven titles are tied with Eastern Illinois for the sixth-most in OVC history.
All-Americans: 13 different OVC players earned All-American honors in 2017. The 13 players were selected to a total of 41 times with Jacksonville State’s
Darius Jackson appearing on all seven (7) teams and teammate
Justin Lea appearing on six. In addition seven other players were named Freshman All-Americans and four earned Sophomore All-American honors.
OVC Award Winners: In year-end voting, Jacksonville State senior running back
Roc Thomas was named OVC Offensive Player of the Year, while JSU senior defensive end
Darius Jackson was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season (the first time since 1980-81 that a player repeated winning that award). Austin Peay quarterback
Jeremiah Oatsvall was named OVC Freshman of the Year (the first APSU player to win that award) while his coach
Will Healy was named the Roy Kidd OVC Coach of the Year. Jacksonville State led the way with 16 total selections across the three teams (first-team, second-team, All-Newcomer), while Austin Peay had nine, UT Martin eight and Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State had seven selections apiece. The All-OVC first-team included 13 seniors, five juniors and two sophomores while the second-team included 11 seniors, 12 juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen.
JSU’s Lea Sets OVC Record for Consecutive Starts: With his 50th consecutive start on November 16 against Tennessee State, Jacksonville State senior All-American
Justin Lea set the OVC career record for consecutive starts. He is passed former teammate Max Holcombe (49-straight starts from 2011-14). Lea finished his career with 51-straight starts.
Jacksonville State Sets OVC Record For Consecutive Conference Wins: With a victory over Eastern Kentucky on October 14, Jacksonville State won its 27th consecutive Conference game (dating back to the end of the 2013 season) which set the OVC all-time record, breaking the mark of 26 previously held by Eastern Kentucky (26 from 1992-95). The now 32-game streak is the second-longest in FCS history, trailing only 39-straight wins by Duquesne in the MAAC from 1999-2006. The streak is currently the longest active streak in Division I. Below is a list of active Conference winning streaks in the FCS.
32 - Jacksonville State
25 - Grambling
21 - San Diego
19 - James Madison
Jacksonville State Finishes No. 9/10 in National FCS Polls: Jacksonville State finished the 2017 season ranked No. 9 in the STATS poll and No. 10 in the FCS Coaches poll. It marked the 59th-straight week JSU had been ranked in the Top 10, dating back to final polls of 2013 (North Dakota State) only other team to do that during the stretch). JSU was ranked as high as No. 2 in the polls this season. The Gamecocks were the only team ranked, although Austin Peay received votes for the final nine weeks of the season, climbing to the first spot outside the Top 25 STATS polls and ultimately finishing 27th in both polls. Prior to this year, APSU had not received votes in the poll since 2011.
League Shifts From Offense to Defense: At the end of the season three OVC teams ranked in the top seven nationally in total defense: Jacksonville State (2nd), UT Martin (6th) and Tennessee State (7th). In the past five years there have never been more than two OVC teams rank in the Top 25 in total defense at the end of the season. On the flip side, only one team (Austin Peay) finished in the Top 50 nationally in total offense (49th).
Attendance: Jacksonville State ranked sixth in the FCS in average attendance in 2017 (18,388 for six home games). Earlier this season the 23,944 fans for JSU’s home opener against Liberty marked the largest crowd in Burgess-Snow Field history.
Austin Peay Streaks: With an improved team this season, it was a season of streaks for Austin Peay. On Sept. 23 the Governors topped Morehead State 69-13 to snap an overall 29-game losing streak, which was the longest in OVC history and the longest active streak in Division I at the time. A week later (Sept. 30) the Govs beat Murray State 27-7 to snap a 21-game OVC losing streak dating back to 2014, and a 45-game road losing streak dating back to Sept. 18, 2010. It also marked the team’s first back-to-back victories since Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 2011. On Sept. 30 the team made it three wins in a row for the first time since 1986 when they beat No. 18 UT Martin 7-0. It was also the first time the program had beaten three-straight Division I opponents since 1980 (that season they won six in a row) and snapped a 12-game losing streak to in-state OVC foes. It was also the team’s first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since 2009 (No. 20 Eastern Kentucky). The 7-0 shutout against UTM was the first regulation shutout against a Division I opponent since 1980 (Murray State). With a win over Tennessee State on October 14, APSU made it back-to-back road wins for the first time since 2007. The team has four road wins, more than the past nine seasons combined. The Govs seven OVC victories were the most in school history, while the eight overall wins ties the mark held by the 1977 OVC Championship team.
Austin Peay Wins 2017 Sgt. York Trophy Presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee: In compiling a 3-0 record, Austin Peay claimed its first Sgt. York Trophy championship in 2017. This year marked the 11th of the Sgt. York Trophy presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee. The trophy (founded in 2007 by the Nashville Sports Council and OVC) goes to the winner of the quadrangular season football series between the four OVC football-playing schools located in the state of Tennessee (Austin Peay, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin). The award is only the second traveling trophy that involves more than two teams in college sports; the other is the Commander in Chief’s Trophy which has been contested between Air Force, Army and Navy annually since 1972. The award is named in honor of Alvin C. York, the most noted Soldier of World War I. As a corporal in the 2nd battalion, 328th Infantry, in the Battle of the Meuse River-Argonne (Oct. 8, 1918), York and seven other soldiers captured 132 prisoners, was promoted to sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor, the Croce di Guerra of Italy and the War Medal of Montenegro. Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor. The trophy goes to the team with the best record against the other schools (in case of a tie there will be co-champions and the actual trophy will be retained by the defending champion if they are involved in the tie or if the defending champion is not involved in the tie it will go to the institution that has gone the most seasons without winning the trophy).
Thomas Named Finalist for Walter Payton Award: Jacksonville State senior running back
Roc Thomas was one of 27 finalists nationally for the Walter Payton Award Watch List. The award, sponsored by STATS, is given to the FCS Offensive Player of the Year. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries voted on the winner following the regular season. Thomas finished 14th in the balloting. Sam Houston State quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe was named the winner of the award for the second-straight season.
TSU’s Sellers Finalist for Jerry Rice Award Watch List: Tennessee State freshman safety
Vincent Sellers was one of 20 finalists nationally for the Jerry Rice Award, given by STATS to the National Freshman of the Year and finished 15th in the balloting. The Rice Award, named for the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver, has been presented to the FCS freshmen player of the year since 2011. Eastern Illinois defensive back
Mark Williams was a nominee for the award earlier in the season but did not make the finalist list. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries voted on 20 finalists following the regular season. Kennesaw State’s Bryston Armstrong was named winner of the award.
Tennessee State Tops FBS Georgia State In Week 1: For the fifth time in the past six years and sixth time in the past eight seasons, an OVC beat has beaten a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as Tennessee State topped Georgia State 17-10 on Aug. 31. It marked the first win for the Tigers over a FBS team since 1984 (prior to joining the OVC). OVC teams are now 35-225-1 all-time against FBS opponents. The recent success is impressive considering OVC teams went from 2004 to 2010 without a win over a FBS team (a 50-game losing streak). Here is a list of OVC wins over FBS teams over the past eight years:
Jacksonville State 49, Ole Miss 48 (2OT) (2010)
UT Martin 20, Memphis 17 (2012)
Eastern Illinois 40, San Diego State 19 (2013)
Jacksonville State 32, Georgia State 26 (OT) (2013)
Eastern Kentucky 17, Miami (Ohio) 10 (2014)
Eastern Illinois 21, Miami (Ohio) 17 (2016)
Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10 (2017)
#FearTheFCS: So far in 2017 nine Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams have topped opponents from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10 (Aug. 31)
James Madison 34, East Carolina 14 (Sept. 2)
Liberty 48, Baylor 45 (Sept. 2)
Howard 43, UNLV 40 (Sept. 2)
New Hampshire 22, Georgia Southern 12 (Sept. 9)
South Dakota 35, Bowling Green 27 (Sept. 9)
North Carolina A&T 35, Charlotte 31 (Sept. 16)
Idaho State 30, Nevada 28 (Sept. 16)
Western Illinois 52, Coastal Carolina 10 (Sept. 23)
JSU’s Lea Named to NFF National Scholar-Athlete Classic and Finalist for Campbell Trophy: Jacksonville State senior offensive lineman Justin Lea was named one of 13 finalists for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy as well as a member of the National Football Foundation’s National Scholar-Athlete Class (and recipient of an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship). The Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation and is prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 28th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Previously three other OVC student-athletes had been named semifinalists for the award including Eastern Illinois punter
Cody Edwards, Eastern Kentucky linebacker
Jeffrey Canady and Tennessee Tech wide receiver
Dontez Byrd.
Murray State’s Shipley Named CoSIDA Academic All-American: Murray State senior defensive back
Zach Shipley was named an Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Shipley was a second-team selection on the Academic All-America Team, which is comprised of players from both the FBS and FCS levels of Division I football. Overall he is the 263rd OVC student-athlete to earn Academic All-American honors since the program began in 1977. He is the 33rd all-time OVC football student-athlete to claim the prestigious honor and the first Murray State football player to earn Academic All-American honors since 1979. The CoSIDA Academic All-America Team is composed of Division I student-athletes that are at least a sophomore on the field, carry at least a 3.3 grade point average and are starters or significant reserves on their teams. Shipley, a health and physical education major, graduated last May with a 3.97 GPA.
4 OVC Players Named to FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team: Four OVC football student-athletes were among the 49 named to the 20th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team. The selections included Eastern Kentucky linebacker
Jeffrey Canady, Jacksonville State offensive lineman
Justin Lea and quarterback
Bryant Horn and Murray State defensive back
Zach Shipley. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. He must have reached his second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. He must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at his designated position.
Alexander Named TTU Head Coach: Following the season,
Dewayne Alexander was named the 12th football coach in Tennessee Tech history. Alexander played at TTU, served as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles and was even the acting head coach for a period in 2015. He most recently served as the offensive line coach at East Tennessee State.
Murray State Earns OVC Team Sportsmanship Award: Murray State was named the recipient of the 2017-18 Team Sportsmanship Award for football. Voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports, the team awards are bestowed upon the Conference squads deemed to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans. The 2017-18 school year marks the 13th year the team sportsmanship honors have been awarded. This marks the second-straight award for the MSU football program.
UTM’s Cook Named to CFPA Performer of the Year Watch List: UT Martin senior quarterback
Troy Cook was the lone OVC player (and one of 42 nationally) on the preseason FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). The goal of the CFPA is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. The 2017 FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy is a 22-inch K-9 optic crystal trophy with 8-inch crystal football on top. All FCS players are eligible for the award. The award winner will be announced January 10, 2018.
Two OVC Kickers Named to Fred Mitchell Award Watch List: Tennessee State senior
Lane Clark and Tennessee Tech junior
Nick Madonia have been named to the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List. The Fred Mitchell Award is given to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker and takes into consideration excellence on the field and in the community. Overall 35 kickers were named to the initial watch list, including just six from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The winner will be announced in December.
Five OVC Players Named to Reece’s Senior Bowl Watch List: Five OVC football student-athletes have been named to the 2017-18 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List. The selections included Jacksonville State running back
Roc Thomas, defensive end
Darius Jackson and defensive back
Reggie Hall and Tennessee State wide receiver
Patrick Smith and defensive end
Ebenezer Ogundeko. The five are among 31 FCS players on the watch list which includes over 400 total players form nearly every level of college football. These players are looking to fill the 110 roster spots that form the North and South squads for the nation’s premier all-star game. The game will be played on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, inside Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. and will be televised on the NFL Network.
Sellers Ties FCS Record With Two Interception Returns for Touchdowns in a Game: Tennessee State freshman
Vincent Sellers tied the FCS record for interception returns for touchdowns in a game when he returned two against Eastern Kentucky on October 7. Sellers returned his first pick 34 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and less than three minutes later picked off a pass and returned it 44 yards for a score. He is now one of 29 players at the FCS level to achieve the feat.
Austin Peay Sets OVC Single-Game Record for Rushing Touchdowns: Austin Peay established a new OVC single-game record for team rushing touchdowns with 10 in its 69-13 victory over Morehead State on Sept. 16. It broke the previous mark of nine by UT Martin against Bethel in 1995.
Week Zero Games: Jacksonville State became the first OVC team to compete in “Week Zero” this season when they opened the season with a 27-13 win over No. 12 ranked Chattanooga on Aug. 26 at the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The FCS Kickoff began in 2014 and allows teams to play a game a week ahead of the start of the season if the game is broadcast on national television. It was one of three FCS games (and five FBS games) to be played in Week Zero. JSU will also play in the second annual Guardian Kickoff Classic on Aug. 25, 2018, against an opponent yet to be announced.
OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3: For the fifth-straight year the OVC is producing a “Game of the Week” package that will air on ESPN3 this fall. The eight-game schedule is once again in conjunction with Tupelo Raycom (formerly WebStream Sports), an Indianapolis-based company which is a proven leader in video production, streaming video and content creation Kevin Ingram, host of “The Wake Up Zone” on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, will handle play-by-play duties while Bob Belvin, on-air talent and contributor at 104.1 FM/AM 540 (ESPN Clarksville), will provide analysis. The duo has worked together each of the past five years in the league’s TV package. Four of the eight contests are “Wildcard Selections” which will be announced 12 days before the game, guaranteeing the top matchups will be broadcast.
Sept. 23 - Tennessee State at UT Martin, 4 p.m.
Sept. 30 - Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14 - Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 21 - Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois, 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 - Eastern Illinois at UT Martin, 2 p.m.
Nov. 4 - Austin Peay at Tennessee Tech, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 - Jacksonville State at UT Martin, 2:00 p.m.
Nov. 16 - Tennessee State at Jacksonville State, 6:00 p.m.
Stuart Named National Specialist of the Week (Nov. 20): Austin Peay sophomore
Devin Stuart was named National Specialist of the Week by STATS on Nov. 20 after his performance in a win against Eastern Illinois. In tough weather conditions, Stuart averaged 40.0 yards on four punts, including a season-long of 58 yard and pinning two inside the EIU two-yard line. He also converted a fake punt attempt by running for 21 yards on a 4th and 15 play in the first quarter.
Jackson Named National Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 13): Jacksonville State senior
Darius Jackson was named National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS on November 13 after his performance against UT Martin. Jackson had five tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks (for losses of 20 yards), forced a fumble and had two quarterback hurries as Jacksonville State topped UT Martin 14-7 to claim its fourth-straight OVC Championship. He keyed a defense that limited the Skyhawks to just 176 yards of total offense.
Moore Named National Specialist of the Week (Oct. 30): Austin Peay senior RS/WR
Kyran Moore was named National Specialist of the Week by STATS on October 30 following his performance against No. 17 ranked FBS foe UCF. Moore accounted for 363 all-purpose yards against UCF; the total is the most by a Division I player (FBS or FCS) in 2017. The senior caught five passes for 130 yards (including a 35-yard touchdown) and amassed 233 kick return yards on eight attempts (29.1 ypr) including a 93-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The 233 kick return yards were the fourth-most in program history.
Sellers Named National Freshman of the Week (Oct. 9): Tennessee State safety Vincent Sellers was named National Freshman of the Week by STATS on Oct. 9 following his performance in a 45-21 win over Eastern Kentucky. Sellers tied the NCAA FCS record with two interception returns for touchdowns. With TSU clinging to a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter, Sellers picked off a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown with 6:40 to play. Less than three minutes later, Sellers once again picked off Boyle and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. Sellers became the 29th person in FCS history to achieve the feat. The freshman also added eight tackles (seven solo) and added a pass breakup in the win.
Grace Named National Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 25): Eastern Kentucky senior safety
Kobie Grace was named National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS on Sept. 25 following his play in the Colonels 24-21 win over Tennessee Tech. Grace had seven tackles, an interception, forced a fumble and recovered two fumbles in the win. The senior forced and recovered a fumble on TTU’s first possession which Eastern Kentucky turned into three points. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Grace intercepted a pass at the EKU 19-yard line to end a Tennessee Tech drive. The Colonels offense would score six plays later in what proved to be the game-winning score.
Collins Named National Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4): Tennessee State senior linebacker
Chris Collins was named National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS on September 4 after his play in the Tigers win over FBS Georgia State. Collins recorded 12 tackles (9 solo), had three tackles-for-loss, a sack and forced a fumble in the win. With GSU driving on the opening series of the game, Collins knocked the ball loose two yards behind the scrimmage, allowing TSU to recover the ball on its own 25-yard line. In the third quarter the senior stopped a Georgia State runner at the four-yard line on fourth and goal to give TSU possession of the ball.
Academic Success: During the past academic year (2016-17) there were 114 OVC football student-athletes who were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll for having a 3.25 grade point average or higher. In addition, 10 student-athletes were awarded the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs. The OVC also awards a Team Academic Award for the football program with the highest percentage of players with a 3.25 grade point average or higher; that award went to Eastern Illinois for 2016-17.
A Look at the Coaches: For the first time since 2011, all nine OVC head football coaches returned this season. Two OVC coaches, Jacksonville State’s
John Grass and Tennessee State’s
Rod Reed, are currently coaching at their alma mater. The longest tenured coach in the league is UT Martin’s
Jason Simpson who enters his 12th season with the Skyhawks in 2017. Simpson now has 78 overall victories in his career, seventh-most in OVC history.
Preseason Forecasts: For the fourth-straight year and sixth time in the past eight years, Jacksonville State has been picked the preseason football favorite in the OVC in a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors. The Gamecocks, who have won three-straight OVC Championships and 24-straight Conference games, received 16 of a possible 18 first-place votes in a poll of league head coaches and sports information directors. The Gamecocks totaled 128 total points to out-distance UT Martin, who picked up the other two first-place votes and was tabbed second (107 points). Tennessee State was picked third (96) and followed by Eastern Illinois (81), who was the last league team to beat Jacksonville State (at the end of the 2013 season). Eastern Kentucky was picked fifth (68) and followed by Tennessee Tech (64), Southeast Missouri (42), Murray State (41) and Austin Peay (21).
TSU’s Smith and JSU’s Jackson Headline Preseason All-OVC Team: Tennessee State senior wide receiver
Patrick Smith and Jacksonville State senior defensive lineman
Darius Jackson were named the 2017 OVC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and sports information directors. Jacksonville State led the way with nine total preseason selections. UT Martin had six picks, followed by five picks from Tennessee State, two picks apiece from Eastern Kentucky, Murray State and Southeast Missouri and one apiece from Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech. Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last year (17 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included five players who were second-team picks in 2016. Of the 28 total selections, 19 were seniors, six were juniors and three were sophomores.
Instant Replay: Beginning this season the OVC will have instant replay for all non-conference and conference home football contests. The league has partnered with DVSport to implement replay which is defined by Rule 12 of the NCAA Football Rule Book.
NFL Connections: As of November 27, there are 14 former Ohio Valley Conference players on NFL rosters (8 active, 2 practice squad, 4 injured reserve). Those players include former Eastern Illinois standout quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has won two Super Bowl Championship with the Patriots, and Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a former First Round Draft pick who was a starter for the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII and who has been a Pro Bowl selection. Seven of the nine current OVC football schools have at least one player in the NFL.
Let’s Get It Started: The 70th season of Ohio Valley Conference football got underway earlier than usual this season as Jacksonville State played in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff in Week Zero on Saturday, August 26. Six other OVC teams will play on Thursday, August 31 while the final two teams will play on Saturday, September 2. The OVC is made up of nine football-playing schools in 2016. Since its beginning, 15 of the 18 total schools that have played football in the league have claimed at least one championship.
I-AA No More: Although some people may still refer to it as I-AA football, the term that represents the level of Division I football in which the Ohio Valley Conference competes has been long retired. Beginning with the 2006 National Championship game, the term Football Championship Subdivision (or FCS) is to be used. Teams who play at the FCS level can offer a maximum of 63 scholarships (Football Bowl Subdivision teams can offer 85) and compete in a 24-team playoff at the end of the season to determine the national champion.
OVC Digital Network: The OVC launched the OVC Digital Network (OVCDN) in August 2012. The OVCDN is the exclusive home for live web streamed athletic contests involving OVC schools. Overall 2017-18 marks the 12th year the OVC has streamed live events. Starting with the re-branding of the streaming in 2012-13, events were offered free of charge and in an HD format and featured improved quality thanks to an investment in new equipment conference-wide. Fans also find it easier to log onto OVCDigitalNetwork.com and access the streams and can do so without any registration. The events are available on any computer, tablet or smart phone without needing any special downloads or apps; the league has also launched a Roku channel so fans can watch even more easily on their televisions. The games are also available on-demand immediately following the end of the contest. Approximately 36 OVC football games will be available on the OVCDN this season.