FCS Kickoff

Last updated

FCS Kickoff
FCS Kickoff logo.png
Stadium Cramton Bowl (2017–present)
Location Montgomery, Alabama
Previous stadiumsCampus sites (2014–2016)
Operated2014–present
Sponsors
Guardian Credit Union (2017–2020)
2024 matchup
Southeast Missouri State 37, North Alabama 15
2025 matchup
TBA vs. TBA

The FCS Kickoff is an annual college football game played on the Saturday before the opening weekend of the college football season. The game showcases teams from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). For the game's first three editions, it was played at campus sites; since 2017, the game has been played at a neutral site, the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game is televised nationally by ESPN.

Contents

History

In February 2013, ESPN announced that the 2014 college football season would begin at its earliest point in 11 years with the creation of the "FCS Kickoff", an annual game which would showcase two top-level teams from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. ESPN stated that during meetings with FCS conference commissioners there was an interest in creating a "tentpole type" event around FCS football [1] and to showcase the quality and depth of FCS football to a national audience. [2]

Under current NCAA rules, FCS teams are not allowed to play their first regular-season game until the Thursday preceding Labor Day. However, an exception to this rule has been carved out for nationally televised events (on either over-the-air or cable networks); teams may participate in such an event against an out-of-conference opponent on the Saturday or Sunday preceding the standard season start date. No more than one team from a conference can participate in such an event in a given season, and no team can appear in such a game in three consecutive seasons. [3]

The 2017 edition marked several changes for the event. First, ESPN took ownership of the event through its ESPN Events division. The event was moved to a neutral site (the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama); received a name sponsorship by Guardian Credit Union, a small Montgomery-based credit union; was co-branded as the Montgomery Kickoff Classic; and also took on Alabama FCS member Jacksonville State University as a partner for the 2017 and 2018 editions. As such, JSU participated in both editions of the event. [4] [5] With Jacksonville State barred from a third consecutive FCS Kickoff appearance by NCAA rule, ESPN chose another Alabama program, Samford, as the de facto home team for the 2019 edition. [6]

The 2020 edition, which saw Central Arkansas defeat Austin Peay, was the first since ESPN took ownership of the event that did not feature an Alabama school. [7]

The game would not be held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] When the game returned in 2022, it would not be sponsored by Guardian Credit Union and would only be known as the FCS Kickoff.

2022 would feature Jacksonville State's third appearance in the Week 0 game as they took on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. The Gamecocks would win 42-17 as the game ended prematurely with 13:18 left in the 4th quarter due to weather. [9]

The 2023 rendition would feature the Mercer Bears and the North Alabama Lions. The Bears would defeat the Lions 17-7. The game was also the second FCS Kickoff game to feature a weather delay as lightning would halt play for 76 minutes in the 3rd quarter. [10]

The Lions would return in 2024 to face off against Southeast Missouri State. The Lions would once again fall as they were defeated by the Redhawks 37-15. [11]

Game results

SeasonDateWinning teamLosing teamVenueAttendance
2014 August 23 No. 1 Eastern Washington 56No. 17 Sam Houston State 35 Roos Field (Cheney, WA)10,310 [12]
2015 August 29 No. 13 Montana 38No. 1 North Dakota State 35 Washington–Grizzly Stadium (Missoula, MT)26,472 [13]
2016 August 27No. 1 North Dakota State 24No. 7 Charleston Southern 17 Fargodome (Fargo, ND)18,881 [14]
2017 August 26No. 6 Jacksonville State 27No. 12 Chattanooga 13 Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, AL)12,952 [15]
2018 August 25No. 14 North Carolina A&T 20No. 6 Jacksonville State 1713,500 [16]
2019 August 24 Youngstown State 45 Samford 2212,560 [17]
2020 August 29No. 11 Central Arkansas 24 No. 13 Austin Peay 172,000 [18]
2022 August 27 Jacksonville State 42No. 10 Stephen F. Austin 175,235 
2023 August 26No. 20 Mercer 17 North Alabama 75,566 [19]
2024 August 24 Southeast Missouri State 37 North Alabama 154,358 [20]

Rankings are from the STATS FCS Poll.


Records

By team

RankTeamAppsRecordWin %PFPA
1 Central Arkansas 11–01.0002417
Eastern Washington 11–01.0005635
Mercer 11–01.000177
Montana 11–01.0003835
North Carolina A&T 11–01.0002017
Southeast Missouri State 11–01.0003715
Youngstown State 11–01.0004522
7 Jacksonville State [a] 32–1.6678650
8 North Dakota State 21–1.5005955
9 Austin Peay 10–1.0001724
Charleston Southern 10–1.0001724
Chattanooga 10–1.0001327
North Alabama 20–2.0002254
Sam Houston [a] [b] 10–1.0003556
Samford 10–1.0002245
Stephen F. Austin 10–1.0001742
  1. 1 2 Now playing in Division I FBS.
  2. ↑ Sam Houston dropped "State" from its athletic branding in 2020.

By conference

RankConferenceAppsRecordWin %PFPA
1 Big Sky 22–01.0009470
ASUN 11–01.0004217
MEAC 11–01.0002017
4 MVFC 32–1.66710477
5 OVC 42–2.5009872
Southland 21–1.5005973
6 Southern 31–2.3335279
7 Big South 10–1.0001724
UAC 20–2.0002254
WAC 10–1.0001742

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References

  1. ↑ "ESPN to give college football season an early start in 2014". usatoday.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ "College football season to kick off with FCS battle between Sam Houston State and Eastern Washington on August 23". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bylaw 17.10.3.2: First Contest, Exception—Nationally Televised Contest—Championship Subdivision" (PDF). 2018–19 NCAA Division I Manual. NCAA. July 2018. p. 272. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  4. ↑ Rankin, Duane; Stevens, Matthew (October 12, 2016). "ESPN announces Montgomery Kickoff Classic for 2017". Montgomery Advertiser . Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Guardian Credit Union Joins FCS Kickoff as Title Sponsor" (Press release). ESPN. March 21, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ Haley, Craig (September 25, 2018). "Samford, Youngstown State to meet in 2019 FCS Kickoff". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Austin Peay Football to Open 2020 at Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff" (Press release). Ohio Valley Conference. January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ "North Alabama And Southeast Missouri State To Meet In FCS Kickoff". montgomerykickoffgames.com. Montgomery Kickoff Games. March 1, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024. The 2021 FCS Kickoff was cancelled due to COVID
  9. ↑ Travis, Justin (August 27, 2022). "Gamecocks thrash the Lumberjacks, win 2022 FCS Kickoff Game". The Chanticleer. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Mercer Defense Shines in FCS Kickoff". montgomerykickoffgames.com. Montgomery Kickoff Games. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Lions slip in fourth quarter to SEMO at FCS Kickoff". roarlions.com. North Alabama Athletics. August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Sam Houston State Bearkats vs. Eastern Washington Eagles Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  13. ↑ "North Dakota State Bison vs. Montana Grizzlies Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs. North Dakota State Bison Box Score". ESPN.com. August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Chattanooga Mocs vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks Box Score". ESPN.com. August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  16. ↑ "North Carolina A&T Aggies vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks Box Score". ESPN.com. August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Youngstown State Penguins vs. Samford Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Austin Peay vs. Central Arkansas - Game Summary - August 29, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Gamecase: FCS Kickoff". ESPN.com. August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  20. ↑ Prather, Carl (August 25, 2024). "UNA falls to SEMO in FCS Kickoff at Cramton Bowl". WAFF 48 . Retrieved August 25, 2024.
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