The NCAA Division I FCS (smaller college) football teams have just one week remaining in the regular season.

This Sunday at 11AM CST, the FCS Playoff Committee will announce the 24 teams which will participate in this year’s playoffs beginning on Friday, November 28.

There are three FCS teams which have already locked-up a place in the playoff field by virtue of clinching their conference races last weekend.  The remaining 21 places in the field will be determined after this Saturday’s games conclude.

Three down and 21 more to go!

Congratulations to North Dakota State, Mercer, and Stephen F. Austin for securing the first three invitations to late November’s FCS playoffs.

Defending FCS champion North Dakota State is now 11-0 and has a two-game lead in the Big Sky Conference with only one game remaining.  Bison head coach Tim Polasek is likely hearing overtures from some of the 11 major colleges seeking a new football coach.  Can Coach Polasek and his very talented herd of Bison remain focused, run the table, and close out a perfect season with yet another FCS title?

The red-hot 9-1 Mercer Bears of the Southern Conference own a two-game lead over their closest competitor, Western Carolina.  Mercer clobbered UT-Chattanooga 63-17 Saturday to wrap-up a spot in the FCS playoffs for the third straight season.  The Mercer Bears from Macon, Georgia have won nine games in a row and have tallied 38 or more points in their last eight contests.  The coachless Auburn Tigers of the SEC will try to end the Bears’ winning streak this Saturday (1PM on the SEC+ Network) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in eastern Alabama.

Surprising Stephen F. Austin disposed of Texas rival Lamar University 26-15 Saturday night to claim its first Southland Conference football title since 2010.  The Lumberjacks have sawed through nine straight opponents to move to 9-2 and grab their spot in the upcoming FCS playoffs.  SFA finishes on the road Thursday night (6:30PM on ESPN+) to play the struggling 1-10 Northwestern State Demons with the rivalry’s 7-foot wooden trophy called “The Chief” going home with the victor.

Let’s review some of the “Win and you’re in” games coming on Saturday

Coastal Athletic Association – The 9-2 Rhode Island Rams have never won the regular season title in the CAA.

They have a chance to finish with a perfect 8-0 conference record at home this Saturday (11AM CST on ESPN+) with a victory over the struggling 2-9 Hampton Pirates.  A win gives the Rams a ticket into the FCS playoffs.  An upset loss by Rhode Island would open the door for 9-2 Monmouth and/or 8-2 Villanova to become involved in a complicated tiebreaker to determine the CAA champion.

Ivy League – It’s hard to believe, but this is the first season in which the Ivy League champion will be participating in the FCS playoffs.  Historically, the Ivy League wanted its student/athletes to concentrate on academics (gasp!) as final exams occur during the FCS playoff season.

Boston’s famed Fenway Park baseball stadium will host “The Game” this Saturday (11AM CST on ESPNU) between 9-0 Harvard and 7-2 Yale.  This annual football contest was first played in 1875. Saturday’s winner also claims the Ivy League’s first guaranteed spot in the FCS playoffs.  Pressure, anyone?

Northeast Conference – The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils are 7-4 coming off Saturday’s 38-33 loss to Duquesne in Pittsburgh.

The Blue Devils are 5-1 in conference action and control their chances to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2019.  A home win on Saturday (11AM CST on ESPN+) against the 5-6 Mercyhurst Lakers will give the NEC title to Central Connecticut.  If the Blue Devils lose, a tiebreaker may be needed with Duquesne.

Ohio Valley/Big South Alliance – Tennessee Tech’s perfect 10-0 start ended last Saturday after the fast-improving SEC Kentucky Wildcats prevailed 42-10 in Lexington.

The Golden Eagles return home to Cookeville on Saturday to face rival UT-Martin (6-5 overall but 6-1 in conference).

Saturday’s winner receives an automatic bid into the FCS playoffs.  The game also marks Tennessee Tech’s final Ohio Valley Conference football game as the Golden Eagles fly into the Southern Conference next season in 2026.

Patriot League – This weekend of big games wouldn’t be complete without the annual game pitting Lehigh (11-0) against Lafayette (8-3).  The game called “the Rivalry” has been played since 1884.  This year’s “Rivalry #161” takes place on Saturday at 11:30 AM CST (on ESPN+) in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Lafayette’s Leopards are at home and will try to ruin the season for the unbeaten Mountain Hawks from nearby Bethlehem.  The winner takes home the Patriot League title and its automatic bid into the FCS playoffs.

Pioneer Football League – The 7-3 Drake Bulldogs have surrendered only 10 points per game over its last seven games.  They are playing exceptional defense!  

Drake controls its own fate to receive an automatic FCS playoff bid if the Bulldogs are able to take down Morehead State (6-5 overall and 4-3 in conference) on Saturday at 12Noon CST (ESPN+).

Presbyterian College is 9-2 and still has a chance to take the top spot if (a) Drake loses and (b) the Blue Hose de-“feet” (ha ha!) Marist (5-6) on Saturday.

United Athletic Conference – Abilene Christian’s upset of formerly unbeaten Tarleton State a few weeks ago has provided the Wildcats a one-game lead in the UAC.

A win this Saturday by Abilene Christian (now 7-4) at Central Arkansas (3-8) would give ACU the UAC automatic playoff bid.  If da’ Bears are able to spring an upset in Conway, Arkansas, Tarleton State (currently 10-1) would win the league title with a home victory over 7-4 Austin Peay.

The MEAC and SWAC have their own title on the line in December

Winners of two FCS conferences featuring historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) will face-off in Atlanta on December 13 for the annual Celebration Bowl.

The victor in this Saturday’s MEAC final regular season game between 8-3 South Carolina State at 8-3 Delaware State will receive an invitation to Atlanta to play in the Celebration Bowl.

The SWAC holds its title game between the East Division winner vs. Prairie View A&M (the newly-crowned West Division champ) on Saturday, December 6.  That winner receives the other invitation to play in December’s Celebration Bowl.

Alabama State’s Hornets (Montgomery, AL) and Jackson State’s Tigers share the SWAC’s East Division lead.  Both teams have identical 8-2 overall and 6-1 conference records.  Jackson State defeated Alabama State 38-34 earlier this season and may prevail in a tiebreaker.  

Let’s reveal the latest SwampSwamiSports.com FCS Top 25 rankings for the week ending Saturday, November 15, 2025:

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