Ohio Valley Conference

• 2021 OVC Football Report - Final (PDF)

All-Americans: This season four different OVC players earned a total of 14 All-American selections across the  eight teams. Austin Peay defensive back Koby Perry, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year, had the most selections (5). Additionally, 11 players earned Freshman All-American honors and six earned Sophomore All-American honors.
 
UT Martin Wins 2021 OVC Championship: UT Martin finished the year 5-1 in OVC play to win the 2021 OVC Championship. It marks the second overall title for the Skyhawks, joining one they won in 2006 (which was the first year under head coach Jason Simpson). This will also mark the Skyhawks second FCS Playoff appearance.
 
UT Martin in the FCS Playoffs: This year marked the second for UT Martin in the FCS Playoffs, joining an appearance by the team in 2006 (the first year under head coach Jason Simpson). After a win over Missouri State in the first round and a loss at Montana State in the second round, UTM is now 1-2 all-time in the playoffs.
 
Recent Playoff Success: Beginning with the 2001 season the OVC went until 2013 without a FCS Playoff victory. But over the past nine seasons OVC teams have performed well in the playoffs, winning 13 total games and advancing to the FCS Quarterfinals three times in the past six seasons. In 2013 the OVC placed three teams in the field for the first-time ever (each won a game) and in 2015 the league had a team advance to the National Championship game (the first for the league since 1982). Over the past nine years six different teams that have represented the OVC have won a playoff game (Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State and UT Martin).
 
Six Different OVC Teams With Playoff Wins Since 2013: The OVC is one of just four FCS Conferences to have six different teams win a playoff game over the past nine years (2013-2021). Over that time Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State and UT Martin have all won at least one game while representing the OVC. The other conferences to have six different teams win over that period are the CAA, Missouri Valley and Southern Conferences.
 
Road Playoff Victories: UT Martin was the lone road team to win in the first round of this year's playoff. Overall it was just the ninth road playoff victory in league history.
 
NCAA Division I Playoff Information: 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 11 automatic bids and 13 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 13th time in 2021, the championship game will be 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 8.
 
Top 25 Polls: UT Martin finished this season ranked No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 13 in the Stats Perform Poll. The 12th place ranking was the highest end-of-season finish in UTM history, besting a 13th place finish at the end of the 2006 season. During the year the Skyhawks were ranked as high as No. 8, which matched its highest-ever ranking (also accomplished in 2006). Every current OVC team has been ranked at least one week in the Top 25 over the past five years.
 
Simpson Moves Into Fourth Place in OVC Career Victories: With a 42-3 win at Tennessee Tech on November 13, UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson recorded his 99th career victory, tying him for 4th place in OVC history. He reached 100 wins with a first round playoff win over Missouri State. Including Simpson, only 22 active FCS coaches have 100 or more career wins.
            315 - Roy Kidd, Eastern Kentucky (1964-2002)
            154 - Boots Donnelly, Austin Peay & Middle Tennessee (1977-78, 79-98)
            117 - Charles Murphy, Middle Tennessee (1952-68)
            100 - Jason Simpson, UT Martin (2006-present)
            99 - Jimmy Feix, Western Kentucky (1968-81)
 
Simpson Finishes Eighth in Voting for Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year: UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson was named one of 17 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by Stats Perform to the FCS National Coach of the Year. He finished eighth in the final voting. Simpson guided the Skyhawks to a 9-2 regular season (10-3 after the playoffs) and 5-1 OVC record and the program's second-ever OVC Championship and first since 2006 (in what was his first season as UTM's head coach). Along the way the Skyhawks were ranked as high as No. 8 in the FCS Coaches Poll (matching the highest ranking in program history) and won a school record nine-straight games. The marks the fourth time Simpson has been a finalist for the award (2006, 2012, 2016 and 2021). He finished fourth in the voting in 2006. Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State and first presented in 1987, the Robinson Award is celebrating its 35th anniversary season. A 50-member, national media panel selected the winner, Jackson State's Deion Sanders.
 
Howard 12th, Hess 23rd in Walter Payton Award Voting: UT Martin quarterback Keon Howard and Southeast Missouri senior running back Geno Hess were two of 25 finalists for the Walter Payton Award by Stats Perform.  Named for the legendary Chicago Bears running back, the award is in its 35th season and is presented to the national offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.  The Payton, first awarded in 1987, has been won by OVC players twice (both Eastern Illinois quarterbacks), Tony Romo in 2002 and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2013. Howard finished 12th in the voting while Hess was 23rd. Eastern Washington QB Eric Barriere won the award.
 
APSU's Perry Finishes 22nd in Voting For Buck Buchanan Award: Austin Peay junior safety Koby Perry was one of 25 finalists nationally for the Buck Buchanan Award by Stats Perform. The award, now in its 27th season, is presented to the national defensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision and is named for the legendary defensive lineman. The OVC has had two winners of the award, Jacksonville State's Darius Jackson (2017) and Southeast Missouri's Zach Hall (2018). A 50-member, national media panel selected the winner, Florida A&M's Isaiah Land.
 
McCray 15th, Norman 20th in Jerry Rice Award Voting: A pair of OVC football players were among 23 players nationally named finalists for the Jerry Rice Award by Stats Perform. The award, now in its 11th season and named after the legendary receiver, is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision. The OVC finalists were Austin Peay wide receiver Drae McCray and Southeast Missouri linebacker Bryce Norman. McCray finished 15th in the voting with Norman placing 20th.  To be eligible for the Rice Award, a freshman can’t have surpassed four games played in one previous academic year – similar to the NCAA’s regular redshirt rule. A 50-member, national media panel select ed the winner, Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
 
OVC Award Winners: Three different schools took home the four major 2021 Ohio Valley Conference football awards in voting conducted by league head coaches and communication directors. UT Martin graduate student quarterback Keon Howard was named Offensive Player of the Year, while his coach, Jason Simpson was honored as the OVC Coach of the Year after the duo guided the Skyhawks to the 2021 OVC Championship. Austin Peay junior safety Koby Perry was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year while Murray State redshirt freshman quarterback DJ Williams was named Freshman of the Year. UT Martin led the way with 19 selections across the three teams, including nine first-team and eight second-team picks.
 
OVC Players on NFL Rosters: As of the end of the regular season, there are 15 former Ohio Valley Conference players on NFL rosters (11 active, 3 practice squad, 1 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, who he led to the Super Bowl in 2019. Six of the seven current OVC football schools have at least one player in the NFL.
 
Southeast Missouri Records Fourth-Straight Winning OVC Season: Southeast Missouri finished OVC play with a 4-2 record in 2021, marking its fourth-straight winning OVC record, a first in program history. The Redhawks have won 21-8 in OVC play (6-2, 7-1, 4-3, 4-2) over the past four years. Prior to this run, the team had not had a winning OVC record since 2010 and had not had back-to-back winning OVC campaigns since 2002-03.
 
Howard Named to CFPA FCS Performer of the Year Watch List: UT Martin quarterback Keon Howard is one of 34 players nationally named to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Midseason Watch List.
 
Two OVC Players Named to FCS Punter of the Year Watch List: Two OVC players have been named to the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year Award Watch List by the Augusta Sports Council. The OVC picks, who were among the 20 nationally on the list, were Southeast Missouri's Zach Haynes and Tennessee State's Kaleb Mosely. The 2021 watch list was compiled based on the 2020 FCS Punter of the Year watchlist, the 2020 All-Conference teams, the 2020 All-American Teams and the 2021 pre-season All-Conference Teams.
 
Zita Moves Into Third Place in Career Field Goals: Tennessee State redshirt junior kicker Antonio Zita made his 50th career field goal on September 18 against Kentucky State, moving him into sole possession of fourth place in OVC history. Zita now has 54 field goals (third in OVC history) and is five away from the OVC record (held by TSU's Jamin Godfrey). His 54 made field goals is second among active FCS players.
 
UT Martin Wins Sgt. York Trophy Presented by Delta Dental: UT Martin went 3-0 this season to claim the Sgt. York Trophy presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee. UT Martin had taken home the Sgt. York Trophy in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 and now 2021 and shared the title in 2012, 2018, 2019 and 2020. UTM is 32-13 all-time in Sgt. York games (the best record among the four teams). The trophy (founded in 2007 by the Nashville Sports Council) 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 the only traveling trophy that involves four teams in college sports; there are three others that involve three teams, including 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.
 
Two OVC Players Named Semifinalists for Campbell Trophy: Two OVC football student-athletes have been named semifinalists for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award. The selections were Austin Peay linebacker Jack McDonald and Tennessee Tech tight end Tavin Kilpatrick. The duo were among just 36 selections at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. Overall there were 176 selections across all levels of college football. Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
 
Two OVC Student-Athletes Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Team: A pair of OVC football players have been named to the 2021 Academic All-District® Football Teams as selected by CoSIDA. The OVC selections included Austin Peay graduate student linebacker Jack McDonald and Eastern Illinois senior defensive lineman Tim Varga. The teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution.
 
Three OVC Players Named to FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team: Three OVC football student-athletes were named to the 2021 FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team. The trio included Austin Peay linebacker Jack McDonald, Murray State offensive lineman Levi Nesler and Tennessee Tech linebacker Seth Carlisle. The trio were among 50 players nationally selected to the team. Football players from all FCS institutions are eligible for the award. Each of the nominees was required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate or graduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials.
 
OVC and Southland Announce Scheduling Alliance: On October 11, the OVC and Southland Conference announced plans for a football scheduling alliance between the two NCAA Division I FCS leagues in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The planned collaboration will see institutions from each conference fill available non-conference dates on schedules in the next two years with a focus toward competitive balance and reasonable travel.  In addition to providing quality Division I FCS non-conference matchups, the alliance will allow increased visibility, exposure and branding for each Conference. Both the OVC and Southland have longstanding ESPN broadcast agreements.
 
Academic Success: During the past academic year (2020-21) there were 187 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, 17 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 Austin Peay for 2020-21.
 
UTM Named Team of the Week: UT Martin was named the Stats Perform and Athlon Sports Team of the Week on November 8 after its 41-20 win over Tennessee State. It marks UTM's eighth-straight victory and came against the top-ranked defense in the OVC.
 
Tennessee Tech Wins OVC Team Sportsmanship Award: Tennessee Tech is the recipient of the 2021-22 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 2021-22 school year marks the 17th year the team sportsmanship honors have been awarded. It marks the fourth-straight and fifth overall award for the Golden Eagles program (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).
 
Williams Named National Freshman of the Week (Nov. 15): Murray State quarterback DJ Williams was named National Freshman of the Week by Stats Perform on November 15 after his performance in a win over Southeast Missouri. Williams accounted for 296 yards of total offense and two touchdowns against SEMO. He completed 10-of-17 passes for 175 yards and carried the ball 11 times for a game-high 121 yards and two touchdowns. Williams scored on a 58-yarder in the first quarter and added a one-yard score early in the second frame. He had a 73-yard completion, which marked the ninth-longest pass in school history. Williams led scoring drives of 65, 83, 61 and 71 yards on the day.
 
Anoma Named National Defensive Player of the Week by Stats Perform (Nov. 1): UT Martin DL/LB Eyabi Anoma was named National Defensive Player of the Week by Stats Perform on November 1. The transfer from Alabama wrecked havoc against Austin Peay in the Skyhawks 17-16 come-from-behind victory. He had eight tackles (5 solo) including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The 4.5 tackles for loss were the most by a Skyhawk since 2013 (5.0 by Tony Bell) and most by an OVC player since 2018 (5.5 by EIU's Dytarious Johnson). His biggest play of the day came when he blocked a 49-yard potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds to clinch the team's seventh-straight victory.
 
Doak Named National Specialist of the Week (Sept. 27): Southeast Missouri kicker Kenny Doak was named National Specialist of the Week by Stats Perform on September 27 after tallying a career-high 17 points in the Redhawks win over Tennessee State. The graduate student was 4-of-4 on field goals, connecting from 33, 40, 39 and 45 yards, and 5-of-5 on PAT's. The four made field goals was tied for the most by a FCS player in a game this season. Doak also kicked off four times for an average of 54 yards per kickoff with one touchback.
 
A Look at the Coaches: Entering 2021, six of seven head coaches returned to lead their teams from a season ago. The lone new coach is former Heisman Trophy winner and Tennessee Titans standout Eddie George, who was named Tennessee State's head coach in April. The former Heisman Trophy winner and member of the College Football Hall of Fame was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers Ring of Honor. The longest tenured coach in the league is UT Martin’s Jason Simpson who is in his 16th season with the Skyhawks in 2021.
 
Alexander on NCAA Committee on Ethical Conduct and Sportsmanship: Beginning this season Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander is on the NCAA’s Committee on Ethical Conduct and Sportsmanship. The committee's mission is to improve the condition of sportsmanship and ethical conduct in all aspects of college athletics by developing and implementing strategies that foster greater acceptance of the value of respect, fairness, civility, honesty and responsibility. Since the establishment of the committee, the group has focused on two areas: (1) provide best practices and creative tools (e.g., the RESPECT campaign) for campus and conference implementation and (2) increase the awareness and profile of the NCAA Sportsmanship Awards.
 
Carlisle and Horton Named to Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group: Tennessee Tech junior linebacker Seth Carlisle and Tennessee State junior defensive tackle Raymond Horton have been selected to participate in the Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group (SACG). The connection group consists of 52 current players and its goal is to gather broad-based feedback from Division I football student-athletes on issues the Football Oversight Committee is reviewing. Among the priorities for the 2020-21 academic year are COVID-19 health and safety measures, transfer policies, name, image and likeness topics and social justice issues. Each Division I football conference has chosen two student-athlete representatives who will serve either one or two-year terms. The committee will meet quarterly to discuss issues and provide feedback to the Football Oversight Committee.
 
Week Zero: Eastern Illinois began this season with a Week Zero contest at Indiana State. It marked the fourth time an OVC team played during the week (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021). OVC teams are 1-3 all-time in games during Week Zero.
 
OVC Teams Against FBS Opponents: In seven of the past 12 seasons an OVC team has knocked off a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020). OVC teams are 36-259-1 all-time against FBS opponents.
 
2021 Schedule: The 2021 OVC football schedule features a round robin format with the seven teams playing a six-game schedule. Additionally, some OVC schools will play other OVC opponents in designated matchups that will not count in the Conference standings (four games total).
 
Murray State Tabbed Preseason OVC Favorite: Murray State has been picked the preseason football favorites in the OVC for the 2021 season. The Racers picked up seven of a possible 14 first-place votes in a poll of league head coaches and communications directors. It marks only the third time the Racers have been tabbed the preseason favorites and first time since 1996, when Houston Nutt was the head coach and the program was coming off an OVC Championship and NCAA Playoff appearance. The only other year the team was tabbed the favorite (dating back to the first preseason poll in 1978), was in 1980 when Mike Gottfried was head coach, and the team was once again coming off an OVC title and playoff appearance. Murray State totaled 64 points to finish just ahead of Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri, who tied for second-place with 60 points. The Governors and Redhawks were 2019 OVC Co-Champions and both appeared in the FCS Playoffs that season. UT Martin was tabbed fourth (38) and followed by Tennessee State (32), Tennessee Tech (28) and Eastern Illinois (12).
 
APSU's Ellis and Jackson Headline Preseason All-OVC Team: Austin Peay sophomore quarterback Draylen Ellis and Austin Peay graduate student nickelback Kordell Jackson were named the 2021 OVC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and communications directors. Murray State led the way with 10 preseason selections, followed by Tennessee State with eight and Southeast Missouri with seven. Austin Peay and UT Martin had six selections apiece while Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech each had two. Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last year (25 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year.
 
Romo Becomes Sixth College Football Hall of Famer With OVC Connections: In January 2021 it was announced that former Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo had been selected to the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class. Romo is the third player that played in the OVC to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame joining Jim Youngblood from Tennessee Tech and George Floyd Jr., from Eastern Kentucky. Three former head coaches from the OVC have also been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame with Roy Kidd (Eastern Kentucky), James “Boots” Donnelly (Middle Tennessee/Austin Peay) and Frank Beamer (Murray State). At EIU Romo was the winner of the 2002 Walter Payton Award as the top player in the FCS. After going undrafted in 2003, he would put together a standout NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-16. The four-time Pro Bowl selection holds Cowboy records for career passing yards and passing touchdowns. Since retiring with the Cowboys, Romo has served as the lead color analyst for CBS’ NFL telecasts, working alongside Jim Nantz.
 
Four With OVC Connections in the Super Bowl: At the end of the NFL regular season, there were 11 former OVC players on active rosters and five others on active rosters. For Super Bowl LV, there were four individuals with connections to the OVC taking part in the game. Former Jacksonville State All-American wide receiver Josh Pearson was a member of the Tampa Bay practice squad while former Austin Peay head coach and quarterback Rick Christophel was the tight ends coach for the Buccaneers. Former Murray State player and OVC official Jabir Walker was an alternate on this year's officiating crew and former Eastern Illinois and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo broadcasted his second Super Bowl for CBS alongside Jim Nantz.
 
Let’s Get It Started: The 74th season of Ohio Valley Conference football got underway on Saturday, August 28 when Eastern Illinois played at Indiana State in a Week Zero game. The OVC is made up of seven football-playing schools in 2021. 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 playoff at the end of the season to determine the national champion.
 
FCS All-In: Each Saturday during the 2021 football season, "FCS All-In" will debut a new episode at 9am CT and be available on-demand on YouTube. The program is a collaborative effort of the NCAA's 15 Division I FCS Conferences, bringing weekly segments from each league. For more information visit www.youtube.com/c/FCSAllin.
 
ESPN+: The season every Conference football game (and select non-conference contests) will be broadcast on ESPN+. This marks the fourth year of the OVC’s deal with ESPN+, the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment.   Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) or as part of a bundle with Disney+ and ad-supported Hulu ($13.99/month). 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.