American college football season
The 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season , part of college football in the United States, is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The regular season began on August 24 and ended in November. The postseason began in November and, aside from any all-star games that are scheduled, will end on January 6, 2025, with the 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas .[ 1]
Due to the structure of the calendar in 2024, FCS teams were allowed to play 12 regular-season games instead of the normal 11.[ 2]
April 25 – The NCAA approved an increase in the number of seeded teams in the FCS playoff bracket from 8 to 16, effective for the 2024 season. The number of qualifying teams and the bracket format will remain otherwise unchanged.[ 3]
May 29 – Stephen F. Austin announced it would leave the United Athletic Conference (UAC) on July 1 to rejoin the Southland Conference (SLC) after a three-year absence.[ 4]
October 9:[ 5]
The NCAA Division I Council approved the recommended reduction of the FBS and FCS transfer portal to 30 days, though with a different schedule than recommended. The fall window, which opens on the Monday after the FBS conference championship games, will be open only for 20 days. A 10-day spring portal will open in mid-April.
The Council also abolished the National Letter of Intent program effective immediately. Written offers of athletics aid will replace the NLI.
The Council introduced a proposal that would shorten the transition periods for schools wishing to reclassify from Division II or Division III to Division I. If approved at the Council's January 2025 meeting, the transition periods for D-II and D-III schools would drop by a year, respectively to three and four years.
November 7 – Texas A&M University-Commerce announced a name change to East Texas A&M University, effective immediately.[ 6]
December 18 - The Ivy League announced starting in the 2025 season, the league champion will participate in the NCAA Division I Championship.[ 7]
Conference changes and new programs [ edit ]
Conference standings [ edit ]
Automatic berths for conference champions [ edit ]
At-large qualifiers [ edit ]
The FCS again features a 24-team postseason bracket: 10 teams decided via automatic bids issued to conference champions, and 14 at-large bids (see above). Where previously the top eight teams were seeded, the top 16 teams were seeded this year, a change from the 2023 season .[ 3]
NCAA Division I playoff bracket [ edit ]
* Hosted despite being the unseeded team (Illinois State unable to host due to facilities conflicts)[ 20]
Source:[ 21]
The top 25 from the Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches Polls.
STATS source:[ 22]
AFCA source:[ 23]
The regular season began on Saturday, August 24 with four games in Week 0 :
Regular season top 10 matchups [ edit ]
Rankings reflect the Stats Perform Poll .
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
This section lists instances of unranked teams defeating ranked teams during the season.
During the regular season, thirty-four unranked teams defeated ranked teams.
September 7, 2024
September 14, 2024
September 21, 2024
September 28, 2024
October 4, 2024
October 5, 2024
October 12, 2024
October 19, 2024
October 26, 2024
October 31, 2024
November 2, 2024
November 9, 2024
November 16, 2024
Monmouth 40, No. 9 Villanova 33
New Hampshire 31, No. 16 Stony Brook 30
Tennessee Tech 10, No. 18 UT Martin 9
Samford 36, No. 19 Chattanooga 13
Furman 24, No. 21 East Tennessee State 21
Southern Utah 38, No. 24 Central Arkansas 31
November 23, 2024
Stephen F. Austin 32, No. 11 Abilene Christian 19
Tennessee State 28, No. 12 Southeast Missouri State 21
Yale 34, No. 17 Harvard 29
Monmouth 55, No. 18 Stony Brook 47
Central Connecticut 21, No. 19 Duquesne 14
FCS team wins over FBS teams [ edit ]
August 24:
September 7:
September 21:
September 28:
Preseason and in-season [ edit ]
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2024, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2024, see 2023 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes .
School
Outgoing coach
Date
Reason
Replacement
This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.
School
Outgoing coach
Date
Reason
Replacement
Previous position
Northern Iowa
Mark Farley
November 10, 2024
Retired[ 24]
Todd Stepsis [ 25]
Drake head coach (2019–2024)
Valparaiso
Landon Fox
November 24, 2024
Contract not renewed[ 26]
Andy Waddle [ 27]
Marietta head coach (2013–2024)
Prairie View A&M
Bubba McDowell
November 24, 2024
Fired[ 28]
McNeese
Gary Goff
November 25, 2024
Contract not renewed[ 29]
Matt Viator [ 30]
Louisiana senior defensive analyst (2021–2024)
Davidson
Scott Abell
November 26, 2024
Hired by Rice [ 31]
Saj Thakkar [ 32]
Bentley head coach (2023–2024)
Norfolk State
Dawson Odums
November 26, 2024
Fired[ 33]
Michael Vick [ 34]
Atlanta Legends advisor (2019)
North Dakota
Bubba Schweigert
November 30, 2024
Resigned[ 35]
Eric Schmidt [ 36]
San Diego State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2024)
Nicholls
Tim Rebowe
December 1, 2024
Retired[ 37]
Tommy Rybacki
Nicholls defensive coordinator (2015–2024)
Colgate
Stan Dakosty
December 2, 2024
Fired[ 38]
Alabama A&M
Connell Maynor
December 2, 2024
Fired[ 39]
Drake
Todd Stepsis
December 3, 2024
Hired by Northern Iowa [ 25]
Delaware State
Lee Hull
December 3, 2024
Fired[ 40]
Stetson
Brian Young
December 3, 2024
Resigned[ 41]
Michael Jasper [ 42]
Bethel (TN) head coach (2019–2024)
Butler
Mike Uremovich
December 4, 2024
Hired by Ball State [ 43]
Kevin Lynch [ 44]
Ball State assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach (2021–2024)
North Carolina A&T
Vincent Brown
December 4, 2024
Fired[ 45]
Shawn Gibbs [ 46]
Fort Valley State head coach (2022–2024)
Mississippi Valley State
Kendrick Wade
December 4, 2024
Fired[ 47]
Sacramento State
Andy Thompson
December 6, 2024
Resigned[ 48]
East Tennessee State
Tre Lamb
December 8, 2024
Hired by Tulsa [ 49]
Will Healy [ 50]
Georgia State running backs coach (2024)
Idaho
Jason Eck
December 14, 2024
Hired by New Mexico [ 51]
Thomas Ford [ 52]
Oregon State running backs coach (2024)
^ "FCS Championship: Future dates and sites" . NCAA.com . Retrieved January 24, 2024 .
^ "Bylaw 17.11.6.1: Number of Contests (FBS/FCS): Maximum Limitations – Institutional" (PDF) . 2023–24 NCAA Division I Manual . NCAA. August 5, 2023. p. 263. Retrieved August 2, 2024 . In championship subdivision football . . . Twelve football contests shall be permissible during those years in which there are 14 Saturdays from the first permissible playing date through the last playing date in November (e.g., 2024, 2025).
^ a b Herder, Sam (April 25, 2024). "Seeded Teams In 24-Team FCS Playoff Bracket Increases From 8 To 16" . HeroSports.com . Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
^ "SFA Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25" (Press release). Southland Conference. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024 .
^ "DI Council approves changes to notification-of-transfer windows in basketball, football" (Press release). NCAA. October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024 .
^ "Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Approves Name Change for Texas A&M University-Commerce" (Press release). East Texas A&M University. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 .
^ "Ivy League To Begin Participating in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Starting With 2025 Season" . The Ivy League . Retrieved December 18, 2024 .
^ "Coastal Athletic Association adding Bryant University in '24" . ESPN.com . August 10, 2023.
^ "Kennesaw State to join Conference USA in July 2024" . ESPN.com . October 14, 2022.
^ "Mercyhurst University marks new era in athletics with move to Division I" . hurstathletics.com . Mercyhurst University. April 4, 2024.
^ "Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference" . merrimack.edu . Merrimack College. October 23, 2023.
^ "RMU Football to Rejoin Northeast Conference for 2024 Season" . rmucolonials.com . Robert Morris University. November 28, 2023.
^ "Sacred Heart University Joining the MAAC" . sacredheartpioneers.com . Sacred Heart University. March 14, 2024.
^ "SFA Accepts Bid to Southland Conference for 2024-25 Season" . sfajacks.com . Stephen F. Austin State University. May 29, 2024.
^ "UWG, United Athletic Conference Reveal 2024 Conference Football Slate" . uwgathletics.com . University of West Georgia. November 14, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024 .
^ "UWG Athletics to Transition to NCAA Division I" . westga.edu . Retrieved May 30, 2024 .
^ "UAC Welcomes West Georgia as its 11th Member" . uacfootball.com . United Athletic Conference. August 8, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024 .
^ Chavkin, Daniel (September 8, 2023). "University of West Georgia Announces Move to NCAA Division I" . SI.com .
^ "Western Illinois University to Join the OVC in 2023-24" . ovcsports.com . December 5, 2023.
^ Tock, Olivia; Randle, Luke (November 23, 2024). "SEMO Redhawks selected to host Illinois State in FCS Playoffs" . KFVS-TV . Retrieved November 26, 2024 .
^ Treacy, Dan (November 24, 2024). "FCS playoff bracket: Full list of selections, schedule and seeds for 2024 college football playoffs" . The Sporting News . Retrieved November 24, 2024 .
^ "The Champ's Still No. 1: South Dakota State Sits on Top of FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll" . theanalyst.com . STATS Perform. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024 .
^ "Two-time defending champs South Dakota State lead 2024 preseason FCS Coaches' Poll" . ncaa.com . NCAA. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024 .
^ "UNI Football head coach Mark Farley to retire at conclusion of 2024 season" . unifootball.com . Northern Iowa Panthers. November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024 .
^ a b "Todd Stepsis named University of Northern Iowa Football head coach" . unifootball.com . Northern Iowa Panthers. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024 .
^ "Valpo Athletics Announces Change in Leadership of Football Program" (Press release). Valparaiso Beacons. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024 .
^ "Andy Waddle Named Head Coach of Valpo Football Program" . valpoathletics.com . Valparaiso Beacons. December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024 .
^ Kleinpeter, Jim (November 24, 2024). "Prairie View fires football coach Bubba McDowell" . The Advocate . Retrieved November 25, 2024 .
^ "McNeese Announces Football Leadership Change" . McNeese State University Athletics. November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024 .
^ Bonnette, Matthew (December 2, 2024). "McNeese hires Matt Viator to return Pokes to the Glory Days" (Press release). McNeese Cowboys. Retrieved December 2, 2024 .
^ "Abell Named Owls' New Head Football Coach" (Press release). Rice University Athletics. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024 .
^ "Davidson Names Saj Thakkar Head Football Coach" (Press release). Davidson Wildcats. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024 .
^ MacDonald, Madie (November 26, 2024). "Norfolk State fires football coach after four seasons" . WAVY-TV . Retrieved November 26, 2024 .
^ "Michael Vick Named Norfolk State University Head Football Coach" (Press release). Norfolk State Spartans. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024 .
^ "Head Coach Bubba Schweigert to Step Down, Move into senior administrative role with UND athletics" . fightinghawks.com . November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024 .
^ Johnson, Alec Stocker (December 8, 2024). "Eric Schmidt named head coach of North Dakota football program" (Press release). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Retrieved December 9, 2024 .
^ "Rebowe Announces Retirment, Rybacki to be named head coach" . geauxcolonels.com . Nicholls Colonels. December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024 .
^ "Colgate Announces Change in Football Leadership" (Press release). Colgate Raiders. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024 .
^ "Alabama A&M Football Announces Change in Leadership" (Press release). Alabama A&M Athletics. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024 .
^ "Delaware State University Announces Leadership Changes in Athletics" (Press release). Delaware State Athletics. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024 .
^ "Young Resigns as Head Football Coach" (Press release). Stetson Hatters. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024 .
^ "Mike Jasper Named Head Football Coach" (Press release). Stetson Hatters. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024 .
^ "Mike Uremovich Named 19th Head Coach in Ball State Football History" . getsomemaction.com . December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024 .
^ Dedman, John (December 12, 2024). "Kevin Lynch Selected to Lead Butler Football Program as Head Coach" (Press release). Butler Bulldogs. Retrieved December 13, 2024 .
^ "North Carolina A&T Makes Change at Head Football Coach" (Press release). North Carolina A&T Aggies. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024 .
^ "Shawn Gibbs Returns to Aggieland as New Head Football Coach" (Press release). North Carolina A&T Aggies. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024 .
^ Gaither, Steven J. (December 4, 2024). "HBCU fires football coach after two seasons" . hbcugameday.com . Retrieved December 4, 2024 .
^ "SACRAMENTO STATE ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGE IN FOOTBALL" (Press release). Sacramento State Hornets. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024 .
^ Thamel, Pete (December 8, 2024). "Tulsa names East Tennessee State's Tre Lamb next football coach" . ESPN . Retrieved December 8, 2024 .
^ "Will Healy Named New Head Coach of ETSU Football" (Press release). East Tennessee State Buccaneers. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024 .
^ Mercogliano, Frank (December 14, 2024). "Jason Eck Named 34th Head Football Coach" (Press release). New Mexico Lobos. Retrieved December 14, 2024 .
^ "Ford Named Idaho's 37th Head Football Coach" (Press release). Idaho Vandals. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024 .