American college football season
The 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season , part of college football in the United States, was organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The FCS Championship Game was played on January 6, 2018, in Frisco, Texas . The North Dakota State Bison beat the James Madison Dukes , 17–13, to capture their sixth title in seven years.
Notable changes
On April 14, the NCAA Division I Council approved a suite of rule changes affecting the recruiting process. The changes most significant to FCS football were to take effect with the 2017–18 school year. A national early signing period for high school players was to be introduced for FBS and FCS, at a time in December to be announced later, and FCS programs would no longer have any restriction on the number of new players that may be signed to letters of intent or financial aid agreements. Previously, FCS teams were limited to signing 30 new players per year.[ 1] [ 2]
FCS team wins over FBS teams
(FCS rankings from the STATS poll)
August 31: Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10
September 2: Howard 43, UNLV 40
September 2: No. 1 James Madison 34, East Carolina 14
September 2: Liberty 48, Baylor 45
September 9: No. 12 New Hampshire 22, Georgia Southern 12
September 9: South Dakota 35, Bowling Green 27
September 16: Idaho State 30, Nevada 28
September 16: No. 25 North Carolina A&T 35, Charlotte 31
September 23: No. 19 Western Illinois 52, Coastal Carolina 10
Conference changes and new programs
For the first time since 2012 (and just the second time ever), there were no independent programs in FCS during the 2017 season.
Conference standings
Conference summaries
Championship games
Conference
Champion
Runner-up
Score
Offensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Coach of the Year
SWAC
Grambling State 11–1 (8–0)
Alcorn State 7–5 (5–2)
40–32
Devante Kincade (Grambling State)
De’Arius Christmas (Grambling State)
Broderick Fobbs (Grambling State)
Other conference winners
Note: Records are regular-season only, and do not include playoff games.
Playoff qualifiers
Automatic berths for conference champions
At large qualifiers
Abstentions
Postseason
Bowl game
NCAA Division I playoff bracket
* Home team Winner All times in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−05:00 )
Kickoff games
Awards and honors
Walter Payton Award
Buck Buchanan Award
Jerry Rice Award
Coaches
New stadiums
Coaching changes
In-season
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2017. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2017, see 2016 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes .
^ Interim for remainder of season; interim tag removed on December 7, 2017.
End of season
See also
References
^ Kercheval, Ben (April 14, 2017). "NCAA DI Council approves early signing period for football, prohibits oversigning" . CBSSports.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ Stephenson, Creg (April 14, 2017). "NCAA adopts 10th assistant, restricts off-field staff hires, satellite camps in sweeping vote" . The Birmingham News . Retrieved September 4, 2017 .
^ "Thomas had 190 yards, Jacksonville St tops Chattanooga 27–13" . ESPN. Associated Press. August 26, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017 .
^ "Mangum, Canada lead BYU to 20–6 win over Portland State" . ESPN. Associated Press. August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017 .
^ "Colgate fends off Cal Poly 20–14 behind Holland" . ESPN. Associated Press. August 26, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017 .
^ "Stanley accounts for 2 TDs, FAMU beats Texas Southern 29–7" . ESPN. Associated Press. August 26, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017 .
^ O'Neill, Kane (September 2, 2017). "ETSU tops Limestone 31–10 in season opener at new stadium" . Johnson City, TN: WJHL-TV . Retrieved September 17, 2017 .
^ "Abilene Christian inaugurates new stadium with 24–3 win" . ESPN. Associated Press. September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017 .
^ "Spady not returning to Alabama A&M as head football coach" . Alabama A&M Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2017 .
^ Nuanez, Colter (November 20, 2017). "Bob Stitt out as head coach of Griz football" . Skyline Sports.
^ "A&T's Broadway retires; Washington promoted" . ESPN.com . ESPN. Retrieved January 9, 2018 .
^ "Head football coach Marcus Satterfield relieved of duties, national search to begin immediately" . Tennessee Tech Athletics. November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2017 .