• OVC Football Report – November 18 (PDF)
This Week’s Schedule
Saturday, November 23
*Murray State at #13 Southeast Missouri, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
*Tennessee State at Tennessee Tech, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Eastern Illinois at #19 Austin Peay, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*UT Martin at Kentucky, 2:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
This Week’s OVC Highlights/Storylines
With one week to play Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri are tied for first place in the OVC...Austin Peay holds the tiebreaker (head-to-head win) over Southeast Missouri and would earn the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs if both teams win...If both teams finish tied they would be considered "co-champions"...Austin Peay has won only one OVC Championship (1977) and has never appeared in the Playoffs...If Austin Peay loses and SEMO wins, the Redhawks would lock up its second-straight (and third overall) FCS Playoff berth and win its second OVC title (2010 being the other)... The field for the 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship will be announced on Sunday, November 24 at 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPNU... SEMO nailed down its second-straight eight-win season marking the first time in program history where the Redhawks won eight games in back-to-back years; the eight-win season is SEMO's ninth all-time since its football program began in 1904...Austin Peay has eight wins for the second time in three years and for just the seventh time in program history; the Govs have never won nine games in a season...APSU also set the program record for single-season total offense (4,668)...APSU's Kordell Jackson scored his third defensive touchdown of the season with a fumble recovery on Saturday; he also has two interception returns and leads the FCS with seven total interceptions...Jacksonville State needs a win on Saturday to extend its streak of consecutive winning seasons to 17, the longest active streak in the FCS...A win by Tennessee Tech would give the program its seventh win of the season and its first winning season since 2011; the team had won seven previous games over the past three years...Austin Peay and UT Martin will at least share this year's Sgt. York title (and TSU could make it a three-way tie with a win over Tennessee Tech on Saturday); no matter what happens Austin Peay will keep the physical trophy this year...OVC play concludes with four Conference games this weekend while UT Martin plays at FBS foe Kentucky...Three games will air on ESPN+, one game is on ESPN3 and one on the SEC Network...This season 69 of 72 total OVC football games will air on ESPN Networks, including 52 on ESPN+ and 12 on ESPN3.....This year marks the 150th anniversary of the first college football game.
OVC Players of the Week
OFFENSIVE
Isaiah Hill, WR • 5-11, 190, So. • Shorewood, Ill. • Eastern Illinois
Hill caught 13 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown in Eastern Illinois' game against No. 15 Southeast Missouri. He caught a 26-yard touchdown in the first quarter to put the Panthers ahead for the entire first half. His 13 catches were the second-most he had grabbed in a game this season and tied for the third-most by an OVC player this season. It marked Hill's second-game this season of at least 150 receiving yards. Hill ranks 24th nationally in receptions/game (5.9).
Others Nominated: DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay; Daryl McCleskey, Jr., Eastern Kentucky; Andrew Knox, Tennessee State; Jaimiee Bowe, UT Martin.
DEFENSIVE
Zach Hall, LB • 6-0, 238, Sr. • Louisville, Ky. • Southeast Missouri
Hall, the reigning Buck Buchanan Award Winner, had 12 tackles (including 1.5 for loss), a sack, an interception and pass breakup as No.15 Southeast Missouri won 26-12 at Eastern Illinois to remain tied for first place in the OVC standings. HIs sack came on the opening possession of the third quarter, went for -10 yards and forced a punt which teammate Shabari Davis returned 46 yards for a touchdown to put the Redhawks on top for good. Hall's interception came in the fourth quarter and helped Southeast end the game. Hall went over 100 tackles for the second-straight season, the first SEMO player to achieve that since 2011-12. Hall ranks 24th nationally in tackles (9.3/game).
Others Nominated: Shaun Whittinghill, Austin Peay; Joe Caputo, Eastern Illinois; Corey Glass, Eastern Kentucky; TJ Porter, Murray State; Emmanuel Olenga, Tennessee State; Seth Carlisle, Tennessee Tech; TJ Jefferson, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Shabari Davis, RS • 6-0, 193, Sr. • Garden City, Ga. • Southeast Missouri
With his team trailing 7-6 early in the third quarter, Davis returned a punt 46 yards for a touchdown to put the No. 15 ranked Redhawks on top for good in the 26-12 win at Eastern Illinois. Davis became the first SEMO player to score on a punt return in four years. The win helped Southeast remain tied for first place in the OVC standings with a week to play.
Others Nominated: Samuel Hayworth, Eastern Kentucky; Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State; Haidar Zaidan, Tennessee Tech; Zane Cox, UT Martin.
NEWCOMER
John Bachus III, QB • 6-2, 210, R-Fr. • Pulaski, Tenn. • UT Martin
Bachus completed 16-of-25 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns as UT Martin topped Tennessee State 28-17 to finish the home portion of its schedule 5-0. The redshirt freshman had touchdown passes of seven, 27 and nine yards on the afternoon, with one coming in the first, one in the third and one in the fourth quarter. He also had a 39-yard completion to Colton Dowell. Bachus ranks 19th nationally in passing yards/completion (13.99). This marks the fourth time this season Bachus, a candidate for the Jerry Rice Award, has been named OVC Newcomer of the Week.
Others Nominated: Isaiah Hill, Eastern Illinois; Parker McKinney, Eastern Kentucky; Josh Green, Tennessee State.
Notes From Around the Gridiron
The Championship Race: With one week left in the regular season, Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri are tied for first place with 6-1 records. If both win on Saturday they would be declared "co-champions" but Austin Peay would earn the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs due to its 28-24 head-to-head win over Southeast Missouri on Oct. 12. Austin Peay has only won one OVC Championship (1977) and has never appeared in the FCS Playoffs. Southeast Missouri has also only won a single OVC title (2010) and has appeared in the FCS Playoffs twice (2010, 2018).
NCAA Division I Playoff Information: The field for the 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship will be announced on Sunday, November 24 at 11:30 a.m. CT. This season marks the seventh 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 10th time in 2019, 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 11.
More on the Playoffs: In the previous 41 years of the FCS Playoffs (which started in 1979), the OVC has placed at least two teams in the field 22 times, including six of the last nine (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) and seven of the last 12 seasons.
Recent Playoff Success: Beginning with the 2001 season the OVC went until 2013 without a FCS Playoff victory. But over the past six seasons OVC teams have performed well in the playoffs. In 2013 the OVC placed three teams in the field for the first time and each won at least one game with Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State advancing to the quarterfinals (the first time that had happened in the league since 1991). In 2015 Jacksonville State (who during that year became the first OVC team ranked No. 1 in the Top 25 since 1999) won three playoff games to become the first OVC team to advance to the National Championship game since 1982. Along the way JSU set an OVC record for points in a playoff game with 58 against Charleston Southern in the quarterfinals, and then broke the record a week later in a 62-10 victory over Sam Houston State in the semifinals. A year ago Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri each won a game in the playoffs.
All-OVC Teams to Be Announced on November 26: The 2019 All-OVC football teams as well as the Offensive Player, Defensive Player, Freshman and Coach of the Year awards will be announced on Tuesday, November 20.
CFB150: This year marks the 150th anniversary of college football which began on November 6, 1869 when Princeton played Rutgers. The commemoration will showcase the rich history and traditions of the sport and its positive impact on lives and communities, while also promoting the opportunity it continues to provide to thousands of student-athletes across all levels of the sport. Follow the campaign @CFB150 and take part in the conversation with the hashtag #CFB150, and also visit www.OVCSports.com/CFB150.
Southeast Missouri and Austin Peay Ranked in National Polls: Southeast Missouri is now ranked No. 13 in the STATS Top 25 poll and No. 16 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 poll after its win over Eastern Illinois. After its win over Murray State, Austin Peay moved to No. 19 in the Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the STATS Poll. UT Martin is among the others receiving votes in both poll.
Austin Peay Matches Program Record For Wins in a Season: Austin Peay currently has eight victories, which is tied for the most in school history. It marks the seventh time the team has reached eight wins, including the second time in three years (2017).
Southeast Missouri Has First Back-to-Back Winning Seasons in Division I: Southeast Missouri has guaranteed its second-straight winning season, marking the first time the program has ever had back-to-back winning seasons in its Division I history (since 1991). The last time the Redhawks had back-to-back winning campaigns was 1989 and 1990 (which ended a string of five-straight winning years) when the program was a member of Division II. The Redhawks also have eight wins in back-to-back years, the first time that has happened in program history. The team has only reached eight or more wins nine times in its football history (since 1904).
OVC in NCAA Statistical Leaders: In the latest NCAA statistical rankings, Austin Peay ranks third in fumbles lost (3), fourth in rushing defense (79.8 yards/game), fifth in sacks allowed (0.73/game), eighth in defensive touchdowns (3), 10th in passes intercepted (14), 11th in total defense (308.1 yards/game), 15th in scoring offense (35.4 points/game) and 16th in red zone offense (88.6%). Southeast Missouri ranks 11th in pass efficiency defense (113.11), 15th in passes intercepted (13) and 19th in red zone defense (73.3%). UT Martin ranks fifth in punt returns (16.9 yards/return), seventh in blocked kicks (5) and blocked punts (2), eighth in defensive touchdowns (3), 15th in punt return defense (4.15 yards/return), 18th in red zone defense (73.0%) and 19th in fewest penalties/game (5.0). Eastern Kentucky ranks third in fumbles lost (3), fourth in kickoff returns (25.0 yards/return) and fourth down defense (30.0%), sixth in kickoff return defense (15.80 yards/return) and red zone offense (91.1%), eighth in third down defense (31.4%), ninth in red zone defense (68.6%), 12th in tackles for loss (7.9/game), 15th in total defense (319.3 yards/game), 16th in pass efficiency defense (116.73) and 21st in rushing (205.7 yards/game). Murray State is fourth in fumbles recovered (14), sixth in turnovers gained (24) and 10th in punt returns (15.40 yards/return). Tennessee Tech is first in kickoff return defense (12.79 yards/return). Individually, Tennessee State's
Chris Rowland is first nationally receiving yards/game (117.2) and total receiving yards (1,289) and second in receptions/game (8.4) and all-purpose yards (177.18/game). Jacksonville State's
Zerrick Cooper is seventh in total offense (306.3 yards/game), eighth in total passing yards (3,093), 12th in passing touchdowns (25) and 14th in points responsible for (16.9/game). JSU's
Josh Pearson is third in receiving touchdowns (13) while Austin Peay's
DeAngelo Wilson is second in total receiving yards (1,184) and receiving yards/game (107.6) and eighth in receiving touchdowns (11). Southeast Missouri's
Kristian Wilkerson is fourth in total receiving yards (1,141), sixth in receiving yards/game (103.7) and 23th in receiving touchdowns (9). Eastern Kentucky's
Daryl McCleskey Jr. is 10th in total rushing yards (1,128) and 15th in rushing yards/game (102.5) while teammate
Alonzo Booth is 15th in rushing touchdowns (13). Tennessee Tech's
Bailey Fisher is 11th in points responsible for (17.5/game) while teammate
Metrius Fleming is 12th in kickoff returns (26.8 yards/return). UT Martin's
Peyton Logan is fourth in rushing yards/carry (7.19) while teammate
Terry Williams is sixth in punt returns (16.9 yards/return). Tennessee State's
Antonio Zita is fourth in field goals made/game (1.73) and 11th in field goal percentage (82.6%). APSU's
Kordell Jackson is first in total interceptions (7) and second interceptions/game (0.6), Murray State's
Anthony Koclanakis is 12th in tackles (10.3/game) and EIU's
Dytarious Johnson is third in forced fumbles (0.36/game). UTM's Korbin Harmon is first in blocked kicks (3)
Attendance: Jacksonville State ranks ninth in the FCS in average attendance so far this season, averaging 17,221 fans per game (6 total games).
Sgt. York Trophy Presented by Delta Dental and Farm Bureau Health Plans: This year marks the 13th of the Sgt. York Trophy presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee and Farm Bureau Health Plans. 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).
TSU's Rowland Joins JSU's Cooper and Pearson on Walter Payton Award Watch List: On November 6 Tennessee State senior
Chris Rowland was added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. He joins Jacksonville State junior quarterback
Zerrick Cooper and senior wide receiver
Josh Pearson who were on the initial list from the preseason. The award, sponsored by STATS and first awarded in 1987, is given to the top offensive player in the FCS and has twice been won by an OVC player: Eastern Illinois’ Tony Romo (2002) and Jimmy Garoppolo (2013). The Payton Watch List can undergo revision during the season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the winner following the regular season.
Three OVC Players on Buck Buchanan Award Watch List: Three OVC players have been named to the 2019 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List by STATS. The award is given to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The OVC selections were Jacksonville State senior defensive back
Marlon Bridges, Southeast Missouri senior linebacker
Zach Hall and Eastern Kentucky senior defensive lineman
Aaron Patrick. The watch list will have updates during the season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on 25 finalists following the regular season. The award was first bestowed in 1995 and the first OVC player to win the honor was Jacksonville State's Darius Jackson in 2017. A year ago it became back-to-back OVC winners as SEMO's Hall won the honor. Hall is seeking to become the second two-time winner of the Buck Buchanan Award (Appalachian State linebacker Dexter Coakley in 1995-96).
Two OVC Players on Jerry Rice Award Watch List: Tennessee Tech wide receiver
Metrius Fleming and UT Martin quarterback
John Bachus III are two of 24 players nationally on the initial Jerry Rice Award Watch list. The award is presented by STATS to the National FCS Freshman of the Year. Following the season 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. The Rice Award, along with the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at a banquet in Frisco, Texas the night prior to this year's National Championship game. The award, named after the Hall of Fame wide receiver who played at Mississippi Valley State, was first presented in 2011. Jacksonville State's Marlon Bridges is the highest-ever finisher in the voting, finishing fifth in 2016.
OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3: For the seventh-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 ESPN Clarksville, will provide analysis. The duo has worked together each of the past seven years in the league’s TV package.
Sept. 28 - Tennessee Tech at Eastern Illinois, 4 p.m. CT
Oct. 5 - UT Martin at Eastern Kentucky, 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT
Oct. 19 - Southeast Missouri at Jacksonville State, 3 p.m. CT
Oct. 26 - Murray State at Jacksonville State, 3 p.m. CT
Nov. 2 - Southeast Missouri at Tennessee State, 2 p.m. CT
Nov. 9 - Eastern Kentucky at Southeast Missouri, 1 p.m. CT
Nov. 16 - Austin Peay at Murray State, 12 p.m. CT
Nov. 23 - Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State, 1 p.m. CT
ESPN+: The OVC enters year two with ESPN+, the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company's Direct-to-Consumer & International segment, being the exclusive home of regular season and OVC Championship broadcasts. This season 52 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 ESPN App and (on mobile and connected devices) and ESPN.com. More information can be found at
www.OVCSports.com/ESPN.
OVC Teams Against FBS Opponents: OVC teams will play nine total games against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents in 2019. OVC teams are now a combined 35-245-1 all-time against FBS foes, including wins over FBS teams in six of the past nine seasons (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).
SEMO's Jake Reynolds Ties OVC Single-Game Punts Record: Southeast Missouri junior punter
Jake Reynolds tied the OVC single-game record with 14 punts against Missouri on September 14. Reynolds now shares the record with Austin Peay's Mike Johnson (1971) and UT Martin's Bubba Beasley (1993).
Murray State Sees 156 Game Scoring Streak Snapped; Streak Ranks Ninth-Longest in FCS History: In a 45-0 loss to Toledo on September 14, Murray State failed to score for the first time in 156 games dating back to a loss at Illinois State on September 24, 2005. The 156-game streak was the ninth-longest in FCS history.
Three OVC Quarterbacks on CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List: Three OVC quarterbacks are among the 40 players named to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List. The selections were Austin Peay junior
Jeremiah Oatsvall, Jacksonville State junior
Zerrick Cooper and Southeast Missouri senior
Daniel Santacaterina. The 2019 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy is a 22-inch K-9 optic crystal tower with eight-inch crystal football on top. All FCS players are eligible for the award. The award winner will be announced January 15, 2020.
Two OVC Punters Named to FCS Punter of the Year Watch List: Murray State's
Steve Dawson and Southeast Missouri's
Jake Reynolds are two of 28 players nationally named to the inaugural FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watchlist by the Augusta Sports Council. The 2019 season will be the first for the FCS Punter of the Year Award which is presented by the Augusta Sports Council. Based in Augusta, Georgia, the Council is also home to the Ray Guy Award, which honors the nation's top FBS punter each year. The FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watchlist was chosen based on 2018 All-Americans, 2018 All-Conference selections, and conference nominations. Players were reviewed based on their eligibility and inclusion on their team's 2019 roster.
Cherry Named National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS (Nov. 4): UT Martin linebacker
Cecil Cherry was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS on November 4 after his performance against No. 18 Jacksonville State. Cherry came off the bench to record a season-high 14 tackles, including 2.0 for loss and 0.5 a sack, as well as recording a game-high five quarterback hurries. With his team leading by five points late in the game, he had four tackles, including a sack and tackle-for-loss, and three quarterback hurries on the Skyhawks' final two defensive stands, both of which ended with Jacksonville State turning the ball over on downs.
Craig Named National FCS Performer of the Week by CFPA (Oct. 28): Austin Peay senior quarterback
JaVaughn Craig was named the FCS National Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) after his performance against Tennessee Tech. Craig accounted for seven touchdowns (5 passing, 2 rushing) in the 58-21 victory. He completed 16-of-23 passes for 294 yards and a program record tying five passing touchdowns (46, 30, 5, 53, 9) and rushed seven times for a game-high 84 yards and two scores (1 and 27 yards). He was involved in seven of the Govs eight touchdowns in the win as APSU scored 58 points, its most points ever in a Conference road game.
Bridges Named National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS (Sept. 16): Jacksonville State senior defensive back
Marlon Bridges was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS on September 16 for his play in the Gamecocks win over No. 4 Eastern Washington. With the team trailing 28-7 after one quarter, Bridges intercepted a pass on the first play of the second quarter and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown to ignite the comeback. It marked his third career interception return for a touchdown, tying the school record. Bridges also forced a fumble, had nine tackles (3.0 for loss) and added a sack as JSU would win 49-45.
Fisher Named National Player of the Week (Sept. 2): Tennessee Tech sophomore quarterback
Bailey Fisher was named the FCS National Offensive Player of the Week by STATS on Sept. 2 after his performance in a 59-58 double overtime victory over Samford. Fisher accounted for 463 yards of total offense, five touchdowns (2 passing, 3 rushing) and three two-point conversions as Tennessee Tech overcame a 23-point second half deficit. From the 0:51 mark in the third quarter, Fisher threw two touchdowns passes, rushed for three touchdowns, then also completed three of four 2-point conversions, including the game-tying (rush) to send the game to overtime. The final two touchdowns and two-point conversions came in the final 1:18 of regulation, as Tech had trailed 44-28 with 2:20 to play. After the teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, Samford took a lead on the first possession of the second extra period. Following a touchdown run by Andrew Fleming, Bailey converted the winning two-point conversion, a pass to David Gist, to give his team the win. Fisher finished the game 31-of-44 for 415 yards and two touchdowns (no interceptions) and rushed 13 times for 48 yards and three touchdowns. The 415 passing yards and the 463 yards of total offense were each the third-best performances in TTU history. In addition, Fisher also punted the ball twice for 76 yards, pinning both inside the Samford 20-yard line. Fisher was responsible for 36 points, the most of any Division I player (FBS or FCS) in the country in week one.
Academic Success: During the past academic year (2018-19) there were 106 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 Murray State for 2018-19.
A Look at the Coaches: Seven of the nine OVC coaches from last season return to their respective teams in 2019. Jacksonville State's
John Grass, Tennessee State's
Rod Reed and Tennessee Tech's
Dewayne Alexander are currently coaching at their alma maters. The longest tenured coach in the league is UT Martin’s
Jason Simpson who is in his 14th season with the Skyhawks in 2019. Simpson has 87 overall victories in his career, sixth-most in OVC history (five away from tying for fifth-place).
NFL Connections: As of November 15, there are 18 former Ohio Valley Conference players on NFL rosters (12 active, 4 practice squad, 3 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 San Francisco 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 (he is currently on IR with the Redskins). Seven of the nine current OVC football schools have at least one player in the NFL.
Preseason Forecasts: For the sixth-straight year and eighth time in the past 10 years, Jacksonville State has been picked the preseason football favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference for 2019. The Gamecocks, who have won five-straight OVC Championships and 39 of its last 40 OVC 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 Southeast Missouri, who ended the Gamecocks 36-game OVC win streak a season ago and earned an at-large berth into the FCS playoffs, who picked up the other four first-place votes and was tabbed second (115 points). Eastern Kentucky was picked third (98) and followed by Austin Peay (70), Murray State and Tennessee State (61), UT Martin (60), Eastern Illinois (35) and Tennessee Tech (22).
JSU's Cooper, SEMO's Hall Headline Preseason All-OVC Team: Jacksonville State junior quarterback
Zerrick Cooper and Southeast Missouri State senior linebacker
Zach Hall were named the 2019 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 seven total preseason selections, while Southeast Missouri followed with six picks, Tennessee State had four selections, Eastern Kentucky, Murray State and UT Martin had three apiece, Austin Peay had two picks and Eastern Illinois had one. Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last year (15 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included eight players who were second-team picks in 2018. Of the 29 total selections, 26 were seniors and three were juniors.
Let’s Get It Started: The 72nd season of Ohio Valley Conference football got underway on Thursday, August 29. 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 third-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.