FCS vs FBS Non-AQ

In the 2012 season when a FCS Team (63 scholarships) has stepped up to take on a FBS (85 scholarships) Non AQ Conference Team, they have won 8 times,  lost 34, and have one game left to play! Please note, an FCS Program can give up to 63 scholarships, they may give fewer if they meet other NCAA requirements for FCS status, but they can not give more then the 63 allotted. All FBS teams must give 85 scholarships to maintain their Football Bowl Subdivision status; irrespective of their BCS membership or not… they must provide 85 rides. Not negotiable! So an FBS program has a clear advantage when playing an FCS squad. Why then, you ask, should an FCS program play an FBS program … the answer is simple…. $$$$$$$! A quarter to half of a million dollars may be the pay out for an FCS school willing to take on a Wisconsin or Alabama! Also, you will see that FCS teams will play more games against FBS AQ teams that FBS non AQ teams … because the pay out is greater vs Michigan (Big Ten) than say a Marshall (C-USA)!

The thirteen FCS conferences have won 19% (8-34) of the games they played against FBS Non AQ teams in 2012, as compared to 4% (2-52) vs BCS affiliates (ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big 10, PAC 12, SEC, & ND). The Missouri Valley was the only FCS Conference with a winning record, 2-1, against Non AQ competition, while the Southland Conference played the most 10 (with one to go) and lost the most (8) to Non AQ FBS teams!

A Football Bowl Subdivision  (FBS) team can count one win against a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) toward the needed six wins to become bowl eligible. So most FBS teams will schedule one game vs a FCS opponent…. write the check and get the win! Go to the site, an FCS team is indicated by a Blue Dot on the team and conference pages!

Here is your breakdown by FCS conference vs FBS Non BCS Conferences (Conference-USA, Mid-American Conference, Western Athletic Conference, Mountain West, Sun Belt and the Independents: Army, BYU, & Navy)!

Big Sky 3-7: Cal Poly Beat Wyoming 24-22; Eastern Washington Beat Idaho 20-3; Idaho State lost to Air Force 49-21; North Dakota lost to San Diego State 45-37; Northern Arizona Beat UNLV 17-14; Sacramento State lost to New Mexico State 49-19; Southern Utah lost to Utah State 34-3; UC Davis lost to San Jose State 45-13; Weber State lost to Fresno State 37-10 & BYU 45-13! Schedule Complete!

Big South 1-2: Coastal Carolina lost to Toledo 38-28; Stony Brook Beat Army 23-3; VMI lost to Navy 41-3! Schedule Complete!

Colonial Athletic Association 0-3: Georgia State lost to the University of Texas San Antonio 38-14; Rhode Island lost to Bowling Green 48-8; Towson lost to Kent State 41-21!  Schedule Complete!

Ivy League: Do not play a FBS Non AQ Team in 2012!

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 0-3: Morgan State lost to Buffalo 56-34 & Akron 66-6; Norfolk State lost to Ohio 44-10! Schedule Complete!

Missouri Valley Conference 2-1: Illinois State Beat Eastern Michigan 31-14; North Dakota State Beat Colorado State 22-7; Southern Illinois lost to Miami OH 30-14: Schedule Complete!

Northeastern Conference 0-1: Wagner University lost to Florida Atlantic 7-3!  Schedule Complete!

Ohio Valley Conference 1-4: Austin Peay lost to Western Kentucky 49-10; Eastern Illinois lost to Western Michigan 52-21; Southeast Missouri State lost to Central Michigan 38-27; Tennessee Martin Beat Memphis 20-17 and lost to Northern Illinois 35-7!  Schedule Complete!

 Patriot League: Do not play a FBS Non AQ in 2012

Pioneer Conference: Did not play a FBS Non AQ in 2012

Southern Conference 0-2: Appalachian State lost to East Carolina 35-27; Western Carolina lost to Marshall 52-14! Schedule Complete!

Southland Conference 1-8: Lamar University lost to Louisiana Lafayette 40-0 & Hawaii 54-2; McNeese State Beat Middle Tennessee 27-21; Nicholls State lost to South Alabama 9-3 & Tulsa 66-16; Northwestern State lost to Nevada 45-34; Southeastern Louisiana lost to UAB 52-3; Stephan Austin lost to MSU 52-0 & Texas State San Marcus 41-37! One game left on the schedule, University of Texas San Antonio vs McNeese State 11/10/12

Southwestern Athletic Conference 0-3: Alcorn State lost to Arkansas State 56-0; Southern University lost to New Mexico 66-21; Texas Southern lost to North Texas 34-7!