(STATS) – FCS powers James Madison, North Dakota State and Jacksonville State have continued their dominance this season, but the 2017 campaign also has been one for the underdogs.
Perhaps no team has surprised more than Austin Peay, which was mired in a 29-game losing streak after it opened the season with two losses to FBS opponents, but it turned everything around to go 8-4 under second-year coach Will Healy. Saturday’s 28-13 triumph over Eastern Illinois has put the Ohio Valley Conference runner-up in contention for an at-large bid in the FCS playoffs, whose field will be announced Sunday morning.
The surprises also have come at two other programs that, like Austin Peay, had been among the worst in the FCS in the last decade. Ivy League member Columbia finished 8-2 for its first winning season since 1996, while Pioneer Football League member Valparaiso went 6-5 to post its first winning season since 2003.
Playoff hopeful Elon was picked to finish 11th in the CAA preseason poll, but improved by six wins from a year ago to finish 8-3 in coach Curt Cignetti’s first season. Big South runner-up Monmouth, also waiting on a possible at-large bid, is 9-2 one year after going winless in conference play and 4-7 overall.
Howard posted just its second winning record in 16 years, finishing 7-4 and in a second-place tie in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
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