It’s not necessarily the season of giving in the FCS playoffs. The quarterfinalists have found success this season in winning the battle on turnovers.
The belief that turnovers decide football games is being shouted across the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs.
How the teams have arrived to the Elite Eight reflects with their disruptive ways, ball security or with gaining and avoiding turnovers at just the right time.
Led by Tarleton State, the quarterfinalists have a plus-84 turnover margin this season, including plus-16 in their combined 11 playoff games.
Their turnover storyline:
No. 7 Seed Stephen F. Austin (11-2) at No. 2 Seed Montana State (11-2)
If it seems Montana State safety Caden Dowler has a long interception return in every game, it’s basically been the case for the last month. The Big Sky defensive player of the year has an interception in four straight games, including a pair against UC Davis. Two have gone for touchdowns while he’s totaled 230 return yards in that time, which is just three shy of the conference record for a season.
Behind Dowler, the Bobcats’ +14 turnover margin ranks fourth out of 129 FCS teams, and their 23 turnovers gained are tied for the eight most.
SFA has forced 21 turnovers, tying for the 16th most in the FCS and a staple during the Colby Carthel coaching era. The Southland champion’s rush defense has been one of the stingiest nationally, but cornerbacks Charles Demmings and Jalen Mayo have stopped passing attacks with four interceptions each.
(FCS Playoffs: Stephen F. Austin vs. Montana State Game Preview)
No. 12 Seed Villanova (11-2) at No. 4 Seed Tarleton State (12-1)
No FCS team has come close to Tarleton’s ability to take the ball away from opponents. The United Athletic Conference co-champ ranks No. 1 in the FCS in turnovers gained (38), interceptions (23), fumble recoveries (15) and turnover margin (+30). There’s a considerable drop to North Dakota State’s second-best totals of 28 turnovers gained and a +18 margin.
Defensive back Kasyus Kurns is tied for the FCS high with six interceptions and has one fumble recovery.
Meanwhile, no FCS team has protected the ball better than Villanova. The CAA squad has committed only five turnovers, which is tied for the FCS season low (sans the shortened 2020 season) set by Kennesaw State in 2023, when the Owls only played nine games. Quarterback Pat McQuaide has thrown just two interceptions in 338 attempts – a 0.6 rate that is the third lowest among FCS signal callers with 200+ attempts.
(FCS Playoffs: Villanova vs. Tarleton State Game Preview)
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3 months ago Craig HaleyNo. 11 Seed South Dakota (10-4) at No. 3 Seed Montana (12-1)
South Dakota defines the importance of ball security with just nine turnovers, which is tied for the sixth fewest in the FCS. To open the season, the Coyotes turned the ball over eight times while losing three of their first five games. Since then, they’ve committed one turnover while winning eight of nine games.
Oh yes, the MVFC squad just posted a 47-0 second-round win at Mercer while intercepting Jerry Rice Award recipient Braden Atkinson four times and turning the picks into 24 points.
Montana is known for an explosive offense this season, but the defense has given the ball back to it. The Big Sky power has intercepted 20 passes, the second most in the FCS and the Grizzlies’ single-season high since 2009. Safety TJ Rausch has contributed a team-high four takeaways to their 24 overall (they also have four fumble recoveries), which leads to the Grizzlies’ +12 turnover margin. Their 12 giveaways are their fewest since 2011.
(FCS Playoffs: South Dakota vs. Montana Game Preview)
Illinois State (10-4) at No. 8 Seed UC Davis (9-3)
Illinois State’s defense has intercepted 17 passes to tie for the fourth most in the FCS – cornerback Shadwel Nkuba II leads the way with five – while overall the Redbirds have gained 23 turnovers, tying for eighth nationally and their highest total since 2019. The breakdown is telling: 20 turnovers gained in the 10 wins and just three in the four losses.
Key defensive injuries have contributed to UC Davis being even on turnover margin this season, but the breakdown is similar to Illinois State’s storyline. The Aggies have gained 15 turnovers in the nine wins and just three in the three losses. They’ve also scored 38 points off the turnovers in the wins and just a field goal in the losses.
Linebacker Nate Ruchena leads UC Davis with four takeaways. One of his two fumble recoveries this season set up the Aggies for a touchdown in the second-round win over Rhode Island.
(FCS Playoffs: Illinois State vs. UC Davis Game Preview)
Top photos via Grant Cohen/Tarleton State Athletics; graphic photo via UC Davis Athletics.
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