• OVC Football Report – October 29 (PDF)
This Week’s Schedule
Saturday, November 3
*UT Martin at #10 Jacksonville State, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Tennessee State at #24 Southeast Missouri, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Murray State at Tennessee Tech, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Eastern Kentucky at Austin Peay, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
This Week’s OVC Highlights/Storylines
There is now a three-way tie at the top of the OVC standings as Jacksonville State, Murray State and Southeast Missouri each have one loss...Southeast Missouri beat Jacksonville State two weeks ago, and JSU topped Murray State this past week; SEMO and Murray State will play in two weeks...Southeast Missouri's Kristian Wilkerson netted 263 receiving yards in the Redhawks win at UT Martin; it established a new SEMO single-game record and is the third-most by a FCS player this season...Jacksonville State wide receiver Josh Pearson had three touchdown catches in his team's win at Murray State; Pearson now has 15 touchdowns on the season, most in the FCS and third-most in OVC single-season history (four away from the record)...Southeast Missouri is ranked in the Top 25 poll for the first time since October 6, 2014 (when they were No. 23 in the Sports Network poll); the Redhawks come in at No. 24 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll (its first appearance in that poll since 2010) and No. 25 in the STATS poll...Jacksonville State is the only team nationally to rank in the Top 5 in both total offense (539.3 yards/game) and total defense (252.6 yards/game)...The OVC currently ranks first nationally in total offensive per team (416.61 yards/game) and second in scoring average (31.02 points/game)...This week's games include UT Martin at Jacksonville State, Tennessee State at Southeast Missouri, Murray State at Tennessee Tech and Eastern Kentucky at Austin Peay in the OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3...Eastern Illinois will have a bye this week...This season 36 OVC football games will be streamed on ESPN+, after the OVC agreed to an extension on its media rights deal with ESPN; the ESPN+ broadcasts replace games formerly on the OVC Digital Network.
OVC Players of the Week
OFFENSIVE
Kristian Wilkerson, WR • 6-1, 210, Jr. • Memphis, Tenn. • Southeast Missouri
Wilkerson caught eight passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns as Southeast Missouri improved to 6-2 on the season and remaining in first place in the OVC with a 56-33 win at UT Martin. The 263 receiving yards established a new Southeast Missouri single-game record, is the most by an OVC player this season and ranks third among all FCS players in 2018. Wilkerson averaged 32.9 yards per catch including a 58-yard touchdown on the Redhawks opening drive, a 15-yard touchdown at the end of the second quarter and a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Wilkerson broke the previous SEMO record for receiving yards of 211 set by Art Miller in 1969; the junior is one of just three Redhawks to reach the 200-yard receiving plateau in a game. Wilkerson currently ranks 11th nationally in receiving touchdowns (8) and 39th in receiving yards (608).
Others Nominated: Jeremiah Oatsvall, Austin Peay; Isaiah Johnson, Eastern Illinois; Jaelin Carter, Eastern Kentucky; Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State.
DEFENSIVE
Zach Hall, LB • 6-0, 230, Jr. • Louisville, Ky. • Southeast Missouri
Hall had 15 tackles, an interception and forced a fumble in Southeast Missouri's 56-33 victory at UT Martin. Six of Hall's 15 tackles were solo stops and he combined for half a tackle-for-loss. In the process Hall, who ranks second nationally in tackles (13.4/game), went over 100 tackles for the season and has posted double-digit tackles in six of eight games this season (including three games of 15 or more tackles). His interception came in the fourth quarter and led to a SEMO touchdown three plays later. He helped key a Southeast defense that forced four total turnovers that led to 16 points. On the season the Redhawks rank second nationally in turnovers gained (22) and turnover margin (+1.88/game).
Others Nominated: Nate Howard, Austin Peay; Dytarious Johnson, Eastern Illinois; Cornelius Floyd, Eastern Kentucky; Zack Woodard, Jacksonville State; Quincy Williams, Murray State.
SPECIALIST
Kendrick Tiller, K • 5-10, 175, So. • Lebanon, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
Tiller connected on 3-of-3 field goals and added five extra points to total 14 points in Southeast Missouri's 56-33 win at UT Martin. The sophomore, who entered the game without a collegiate field goal attempt, connected on field goals of 36, 41 and 38 yards in the win.
Others Nominated: Phillip Richards, Eastern Kentucky; Ryan Courtwright, UT Martin
NEWCOMER
Zerrick Cooper, QB • 6-4, 225, So. • Jonesboro, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Cooper, the transfer from Clemson, completed 21-of-28 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 51 yards and another score as Jacksonville State rebounded from its first OVC loss in over four years with a 42-15 win over Murray State. He helped the Gamecocks tally 577 yards of total offense while throwing touchdown passes of four yards, nine yards and 25 yards, all of which went to Josh Pearson (the national leader with 15 touchdowns this season). Cooper completed 11 of his first 12 passes in the game and was 18-for-21 for 201 yards and two scores in the first half alone. He now has 19 touchdown passes this season, tying him with Ryan Perrilloux (2008) for fifth-most in a season in school history. Cooper currently ranks seventh nationally in passing touchdowns (19), ninth in points responsible for/game (18.3), 12th in passing efficiency (155.3), 17th in passing yards (1,958), 23rd in passing yards/game (244.8), 24th in completion percentage (62.7%), 26th in total offense (273.0 yards/game) and 28th in completions/game (17.88).
Others Nominated: Daniel Santacaterina, Southeast Missouri; Joe Hudson, UT Martin
Notes From Around the Gridiron
Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri Ranked in National Polls: After its 6-2 start, Southeast Missouri jumped into the Top 25 polls on October 29, coming in at No. 24 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and No. 25 in the STATS poll. It marks the first national ranking for the Redhawks since they were No. 23 in the Sports Network (now STATS) poll on October 6, 2014 (after a 4-2 start that saw they top a pair of Top 25 teams). It marks the first time SEMO has been ranked in the Coaches Poll since the final poll of the 2010 season (No. 13). Jacksonville State moved up two spots to No. 10 in both major polls. The team has now been ranked in the Top 10 in 66 of the past 69 weeks and ranked in the Top 25 for 70 consecutive weeks.
Offensive Valley Conference: Last season (2017), the league featured defense, as three teams ranked in the top seven nationally in total defense. This year the OVC has shifted back to an offensive juggernaut, with five teams in the Top 33 overall in total offense (last year only one team was in the Top 50 nationally in offense). There have been several big offensive weeks during the 2018 season, including Week 6 which saw eight OVC teams combine for 343 points and 4,185 yards of total offense. So far this season three teams (Austin Peay, Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri) have scored 70 or more points in a game. The OVC currently ranks first nationally in total offensive per team (416.61 yards/game) and second in scoring average (31.02 points/game).
OVC in NCAA Statistical Leaders: Entering this week, Jacksonville State ranks first in third down defense (21.8%), second in total offense (539.3 yards/game) and rush defense (70.5 yards/game), third in total defense (252.6 yards/game), fifth in scoring offense (43.1 points/game) and third down conversion (50.5%), sixth in blocked kicks (5), seventh in time of possession (32:53) and 10th in passing offense (297.4 yards/game). Southeast Missouri is second in turnover margin (+1.88/game), turnovers gained (22), passes intercepted (14) and fumbles lost (2), fourth in blocked punts (3), ninth in turnovers lost (7) and 10th in scoring offense (39.6 points/game). Eastern Kentucky is fourth in passes intercepted (13) and turnovers gained (21), fifth in time of possession (33:02) and ninth in kickoff returns (25.21 yards/return). Murray State is sixth in defensive touchdowns (3), eighth in punt return yardage defense (2.67 yards/return) and ninth in net punting (39.08 yards/punt). UT Martin is fifth in kickoff return defense (8.88 yards/return) while Eastern Illinois is fifth in passing offense (322.2 yards/game) and Tennessee State is seventh (316.2 yards/game). Individually, Tennessee State's
Chris Rowland is first in receptions/game (9.2) and fifth in all-purpose yards (163.8 yards/game) and receiving yards/game (123.0). Southeast Missouri's
Marquis Terry is eighth in all-purpose yards (153.75/game), 10th in total rushing yards (914), 11th in rushing touchdowns (10) and 12th in rushing yards/game (114.3). Jacksonville State's
Josh Pearson is first in receiving touchdowns (15), second in total touchdowns (15) and third in scoring (11.3 points/game). Eastern Illinois'
Alexander Hollins is second in receiving touchdowns (13), fourth in total touchdowns (13), sixth in receptions/game (7.8) and seventh in total receiving yards (899). JSU's
Zerrick Cooper is seventh in passing touchdowns (19) and ninth in points responsible for (18.3/game) while Southeast Missouri's
Daniel Santacaterina is seventh in passing touchdowns (19). Austin Peay's
Jeremiah Oatsvall is second in passing yards/completion (17.09) and eighth in passing efficiency (160.5) while teammate
Kentel Williams is first in rushing yards/carry (9.25) and third in all-purpose yards (170.83/game). UT Martin's
Terry Williams is seventh in punt returns (15.6 yards/return) and 10th in receptions/game (7.3). Murray State's
Gabriel Vicente is fifth in field goal percentage (91.7%), while Tennessee State's
Antonio Zita is eighth (90.0%) and UTM's
Ryan Courtwright is ninth (88.9%). Southeast Missouri's
Zach Hall is second in tackles (13.4/game), Murray State's
Kenney Wooten is seventh in sacks (1.06/game) and UTM's
Kevin Prather, Jr. is 10th in tackles-for-loss (1.9/game). TSU's
Dajour Nesbeth and Eastern Kentucky's
Cornelius Floyd are tied for seventh in interceptions (0.5/game); Nesbeth is also third in passes defended (1.7/game). JSU's
Randy Robinson is first in blocked kicks (4).
OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3: For the sixth-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. 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 six 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. 29 - Austin Peay at Jacksonville State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 6 - Tennessee State at Austin Peay, 6 p.m.
Oct. 13 - Eastern Illinois at Jacksonville State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 20 - UT Martin at Eastern Illinois, 2 p.m.
Oct. 27 - Jacksonville State at Murray State, 3 p.m.
Nov. 3 - Eastern Kentucky at Austin Peay, 4 p.m.
Nov. 10 - Southeast Missouri at Murray State, 11 a.m.
Nov. 17 - Wild Card
Jacksonville State Sets OVC Record For Consecutive Conference Wins; Sees Win Streak End at 36: With a victory over Eastern Kentucky on October 14, 2017, 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 (1992-95). The team extended that streak to 36 games (the second-longest in FCS history) until a loss to Southeast Missouri on October 20, 2018. The 36-game conference winning streak was second behind only 39-straight wins by Duquesne in the MAAC from 1999-2006.
#StandWithChristion: Tennessee State sophomore linebacker
Christion Abercrombie suffered a serious injury in the Sept. 29 game at Vanderbilt and remained at the Vanderbilt Medical Center until Oct. 17 when he was transferred to the Shepherd Center near his home in Atlanta. The Tennessee State Department of Athletics has setup an official GoFundMe page to assist the family with the costs of his medical care. Information on that and Abercrombie can be found at this link:
http://bit.ly/2E6n9hG.
TTU'S Fisher Named to Rice Award Watch List: Tennessee Tech freshman quarterback
Bailey Fisher is one of 15 players nationally named to the initial Jerry Rice Award Watch List by STATS. The Rice Award, named after the Mississippi Valley State and NFL legend and now in its eighth year, is given to the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the award following the regular season. An OVC player has not yet won the award.
Two OVC Players on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List: Jacksonville State junior safety
Marlon Bridges and Austin Peay junior defensive end
Jaison Williams are two of 25 players nationally named to the preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The award, sponsored by STATS, is given to the top defensive player in the FCS. A national panel of sports information/media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the winner following the regular season. Last season JSU defensive end Darius Jackson became the first OVC player to win the award since the award began in 1995.
EIU's Hollins, SEMO’s Marquis Terry on Walter Payton Award Watch List: Eastern Illinois senior wide receiver
Alexander Hollins was one of seven midseason additions to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, joining Southeast Missouri senior RB
Marquis Terry, who was on the preseason list. The award, sponsored by STATS, is given to the top offensive player in the FCS. A national panel of sports information/media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the winner following the regular season. Two OVC players, Eastern Illinois’ Tony Romo (2002) and Jimmy Garoppolo (2013), have previously won the award, which began in 1987.
Three OVC Players on Senior Bowl Watch List: Three OVC players have been named to the Senior Bowl Watch List, that includes student-athletes from every level of college football. The Senior Bowl will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The OVC players on the preseason list were Jacksonville State offensive lineman
B.J. Autry, Murray State quarterback
Drew Anderson and JSU defensive lineman
Denzil Ware.
TTU's Madonia Named to Fred Mitchell Award Watch List: Tennessee Tech senior
Nick Madonia has been named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List, which honors the most outstanding kicker in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA levels. The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community.
Sgt. York Trophy Presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee Enters 12th Season: This year marks the 12th 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).
NCAA Division I Playoff Information: This season marks the sixth of an expanded 24-team field for the NCAA Division I Football Championship; 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 ninth time in 2018, the championship game will be played in Frisco, Texas at Toyota Stadium, a 20,500-seat multi-purpose stadium. The Southland Conference serves as the host of the championship, which will be held on Saturday, January 5.
#FearTheFCS: So far in 2018 seven Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams have topped opponents from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). In 2017, FCS teams won nine games against FBS opponents.
UC Davis 44, San Jose State 38 (Aug. 30)
Villanova 19, Temple 17 (Sept. 1)
Nicholls 26, Kansas 23 (OT) (Sept. 1)
Northern Arizona 30, UTEP 10 (Sept. 1)
North Carolina A&T 28, East Carolina 23 (Sept. 2)
Maine 31, Western Kentucky 28 (Sept. 8)
Illinois State 35, Colorado State 19 (Sept. 22)
OVC Teams Against FBS Opponents: OVC teams played 10 total games against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents in 2018. OVC teams are now a combined 35-287-1 all-time against FBS foes, including wins over FBS teams in five of the past seven seasons.
EIU's Brantley Establishes OVC Record for Consecutive Passes Without an Interception: On October 13 Eastern Illinois junior quarterback
Johnathan Brantley established a new OVC record for consecutive passes without an interception, breaking the old mark of 207 set by Murray State's Casey Brockman (2012). Brantley extended the record to 230 passes until throwing an interception on his first pass against Eastern Kentucky on October 20.
Terry Sets OVC Records for Rushing Yards and All-Purpose Yards in a Game: Southeast Missouri senior running back
Marquis Terry established new OVC records for rushing yards in a game (311) and all-purpose yards (438) in a game in the team's 48-44 victory over Southern Illinois on Sept. 15. Terry carried the ball 30 times for his 311 yards (10.4 ypc) and scored on touchdown runs of 74, 23, 11 and 10 yards. He broke the former OVC rushing record of 310 yards set by Murray State's Steve Chaney in 2005. The 311 yards is the most by a player at any level of NCAA football (FBS, FCS, II, III) this season. The senior also caught one pass for 13 yards and had five kickoff returns for 114 yards, breaking the former OVC all-purpose yardage mark of 399 set by Austin Peay's Kentel Williams in 2016. The 438 all-purpose yards is the most by a NCAA football player this season (no other player has reached 400 yards, and no other FCS player has reached 300 yards).
Austin Peay Sets OVC Record For Points Against a Division I Opponent: Austin Peay scored 78 points in a win at Morehead State on Sept. 15. That marked the most points scored by an OVC football team against a Division I opponent, breaking the mark of 76 by UT Martin over Murray State in 2007.
Anderson Named National Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15): Murray State senior quarterback
Drew Anderson was named National Offensive Player of the Week by STATS after accounting for six touchdowns (5 passing, 1 rushing) in the Racers 45-21 win over Tennessee State on Oct. 13. Anderson completed 33-of-51 passes for 348 yards and five scores and rushed 10 times for 63 yards including scoring on a 19-yard keeper. His play helped the Racers improve to 3-0 in the OVC for the first time since 1997.
Terry Named National Player of the Week (Sept. 17): Southeast Missouri senior running back
Marquis Terry was named the STATS National Offensive Player of the Week and the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Week after his performance against Southern Illinois on Sept. 15. Terry set OVC records for rushing yards (311) and all-purpose yards (438) as Southeast Missouri won 48-44 at rival Southern Illinois, marking its first victory in Carbondale since 2010. Terry carried the ball 30 times (10.4 ypc) and scored on touchdown runs of 74, 23, 11 and 10 yards. The senior also caught one pass for 13 yards and had five kickoff returns for 114 yards. Terry, who had an upset stomach before the game, became the first running back in SEMO's Division I era to rush for 200 yards in back-to-back games.
Hall Named STATS National Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 3): Southeast Missouri junior linebacker
Zach Hall was named the STATS National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS on Sept. 3. Hall had 22 tackles in his team's game against Arkansas State on September 1. At the time (and for the first four weeks of the season) it was is the most tackles by an FCS player during the season and most by an OVC player since the 2008 season. He also added a tackle-for-loss and forced a fumble.
Academic Success: During the past academic year (2017-18) there were 103 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, 11 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 Jacksonville State for 2017-18.
A Look at the Coaches: There is only one new head coach in the OVC this season as
Dewayne Alexander, taking over at his alma mater (Tennessee Tech), after having previously been an assistant coach. He is one of three OVC coaches, joining Jacksonville State’s
John Grass and Tennessee State’s
Rod Reed, who are currently coaching at their alma mater. The longest tenured coach in the league is UT Martin’s
Jason Simpson who is in his 13th season with the Skyhawks in 2018. Simpson has 79 overall victories in his career, seventh-most in OVC history.
Week Zero Games: For the second-straight season, Jacksonville State competed in a “Week Zero” game when they opened the season against nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T on Aug. 25 in 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 the only FCS vs. FCS game during the week (there were four other games involving FBS teams on the schedule).
Preseason Forecasts: For the fifth-straight year and seventh time in the past nine years, Jacksonville State was picked the preseason football favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference for 2018. The Gamecocks, who have won four-straight OVC Championships and 32-straight Conference games, received 14 of a possible 18 first-place votes in a poll of league head coaches and communications directors. The Gamecocks totaled 126 total points to out-distance Austin Peay, last year’s league runner-up, who picked up the other four first-place votes and was tabbed second (112 points). The second-place prediction is the highest-ever for the Governors program. UT Martin was picked third (95) and followed by Eastern Illinois (73), Eastern Kentucky (69), Tennessee State (64), Southeast Missouri (62), Murray State (24) and Tennessee Tech (23).
SEMO’s Terry and JSU’s Bridges Headline Preseason All-OVC Team: Southeast Missouri senior running back
Marquis Terry and Jacksonville State junior defensive back
Marlon Bridges were named the 2018 OVC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and communications directors. Jacksonville State led the way with six total preseason selections, while Austin Peay followed with five picks. Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State and UT Martin had three picks apiece while Murray State and Tennessee Tech had two selections each. Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last year (seven in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included 16 players who were second-team picks in 2017. Of the 30 total selections, 18 were seniors, seven were juniors and five were sophomores.
NFL Connections: As of October 15, there are 15 former Ohio Valley Conference players on NFL rosters (10 active, 3 practice squad, 2 injured reserve). Those players include former Eastern Illinois standout quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has won two Super Bowl Championship with the Patriots and is now the starter for the 49ers, 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. Six of the nine current OVC football schools have at least one player in the NFL.
Let’s Get It Started: The 71st season of Ohio Valley Conference football got underway earlier than usual this season as Jacksonville State will play in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff in Week Zero on Saturday, August 25. Three other OVC teams will play on Thursday, August 30 while the final five teams will play on Saturday, September 1. The OVC is made up of nine football-playing schools; since its beginning, 15 of the 18 total schools that have played football in the league have claimed at least one championship.
Instant Replay: For the second-straight year, 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.
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.
ESPN+: The OVC has announced an extension of its media rights deal with ESPN that will make ESPN+, the first multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company Direct-to-Consumer & International segment, the exclusive home of regular season and OVC Championship broadcasts. This season 36 OVC football games will air on ESPN+ (eight other games will be on ESPN3). Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year). ESPN+ is an integrated part of the completely redesigned ESPN App and also available on the web, iPhone, iPad, tvOS, Android Handset, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast and FireTV. More information can be found at
www.OVCSports.com/ESPN.