Cinderella is still alive, right? Yeah, long live Cinderella. At least these four teams hope that’s the case come the FCS football playoffs as they try to invade the blueblood programs.
One of the great aspects of the FCS playoffs is also what’s great about all collegiate postseasons – it’s the opportunity to see Cinderella crash the ball.
Even the FBS finally caught on, changing its title model to a 12-team playoff.
In the FCS, the 2000s seemed to be the Golden Era of Cinderellas, as it often felt like glass slippers were being handed out in the playoffs, which had 16 qualifiers at that time. Since 2013, it’s been 24.
In 2002, Western Kentucky only had a No. 15 national ranking at the end of the regular season before being unseeded for the playoffs, but it marched through the field, defeating powerhouse Georgia Southern in a national semifinal and McNeese State in the final.
In 2004, James Madison was unranked going into the playoffs (with a No. 8 national ranking poll-wise), then went on to beat Montana in the national championship game.
In 2008, Richmond was unseeded with a No. 7 national ranking before the playoffs yet waltzed all the way to a victory over Montana in the final.
While Western Kentucky and James Madison have since become FBS programs, their legacies are cemented by the FCS playoff runs and the championships are still celebrated for their unexpected nature. Nobody loves an opportunity to be an underdog more than college football fans, and those fanbases now have a fantastic story they will pass on forever.
Since Richmond’s 2008 championship, Cinderella’s presence has been scarce at the ball. The 2016 Youngstown State Penguins are the only team outside a top-eight seed to appear in the national championship in the last 15 years. In 2021, Montana State reached the final as an eight-seed. Neither team pulled off a victory.
This season, the top five teams in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll have appeared to stand out. North Dakota State and South Dakota State are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively – they’re set to face each other on Oct. 25 – while Montana and Montana State are at No. 4 and 5. Tarleton State is basically a newcomer set directly in the middle of the bluebloods with a No. 3 ranking.
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11 months ago Craig HaleyThe question, becomes which teams this season could resurrect Cinderella and make a run to Nashville, Tennessee, which hosts the national championship game on Jan. 5? One will surely need to score often and keep the opposing rushing attack under control – trademarks of many champions.
Here are four candidates to be Cinderella in the FCS playoffs:
Tennessee Tech (6-0)
Coach Bobby Wilder’s eighth-ranked Eagles have been fantastic on both sides of the football. It has led to the OVC-Big South squad outscoring opponents by 39.6 points on average – the highest scoring margin in the FCS. Their 56.6 points per game also are best in the FCS, while their defense – extremely stout against the run – is tied for the No. 2 average in allowing just 12.0 per game.
They allow an FCS-low 51.2 rushing yards per game, and an even more stunning 1.67 yards per carry.
The offense is only ranked 80th out of 129 FCS teams in time of possession because it’s been so quick strike with scoring from anywhere on the field. That would normally be a problem for a defense, but the Eagles do such a good job of getting the opposing offense off the field.
These four coaches seek to add to their program’s history in the FCS playoffs. Only Monmouth’s Kevin Callahan has guided his current program to its appearances. Tennessee Tech’s Bobby Wilder guided Old Dominion to the 2011 and 2012 playoffs.Monmouth (5-1)
Throughout the years under coach Kevin Callahan, the Hawks always find a way to be one of the better offensive teams in the country. They do not care how they do it.
There have been years where they were dominant on the ground with one of the best rushing teams in the FCS. This season, they are airing it out, as the CAA Football squad’s 385.2 yards per game through the air is tops in the FCS.
The 11th-ranked Hawks also have a knack for taking the ball away from opponents, including a tie for second in the FCS with eight fumbles recoveries. They can take the ball away and put pressure on an opponent to score with a Derek Robertson-led passing attack that creates quick touchdowns.
The Monmouth Hawks are ranked No. 1 in the FCS in total offense. Jeff Gallo serves as the team’s offensive coordinator.North Dakota (4-2)
The Fighting Hawks have flown under the radar because of the success of North Dakota State and South Dakota State in their region, the Missouri Valley Football Conference and nationally.
In coach Eric Schmidt’s first season, No. 9 UND has one of the more challenging schedules in the FCS – it played Big 12 member Kansas State to a close, 38-35 loss and also came up one point short at Montana. The Fighting Hawks have defeated their other four opponents by an average of 31.8 points.
Their 39.3 points per game put them 10th in the FCS, and their rush defense is sixth while holding opponents to just 95.5 yards per game. When an opponent tries to pass the ball, it has to beware of the Hawks’ ability to get to the quarterback, as they are tied for 19th nationally with 16 sacks.
Harvard (4-0)
The Crimson, like every team in the Ivy League, starts their season a few weeks after the traditional start of college football, but unlike past years, the league champion will participate in the FCS playoffs for the first time. Many have pondered what type of impact the Ivies could have on the playoffs; now they will find out.
Coach Andrew Aurich’s squad is averaging 48.3 points per game to rank third in the FCS, while it’s surrendering just 12.0 on average, tying for second nationally. The Crimson limit teams to an average of 69.0 yards per game on the ground, which places them second in the FCS.
The questions for No. 18 Harvard may center around the competition – how good is it in the Ivy League, and will it get them prepared for the elite level necessary during the FCS playoffs?
Of course, that will be something these four hopefuls or any potential Cinderella will need to figure out for themselves come the FCS playoffs.
Photos from Harvard, Monmouth, North Dakota and Tennessee Tech Athletics. For more FCS coverage, follow on social media at X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
Come the FCS Playoffs, These Four Teams Say Cinderella Will Be Dressed in Cleats Opta Analyst.
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