Week 3 within the FCS was an odd one to say the least. Whereas some outcomes panned out like most thought they could, a number of extra didn’t. Even among the heavy favorites that did find yourself successful didn’t have a look at all like themselves whereas doing so. Combine that in with one other wholesome quantity of upsets and it made for a bizarre and whacky weekend throughout the subdivision.
Harvard, Yale Start Push to Hopeful Playoff Return
Final 12 months the Ivy League despatched two of its groups to the postseason in its playoff-debut and, on Saturday, each of these groups made a powerful begin within the push to get again. Harvard kicked off its 2026 marketing campaign with a formidable 31-7 win at New Hampshire. The Crimson at the moment are formally within the post-Jaden Craig period with Charlie Smith. Smith accomplished 11 of his 19 passes towards the Wildcats for 71 yards and a landing. Harvard discovered most of its success on the bottom and on protection, although. Three totally different ball carriers scored and the D recorded seven sacks towards UNH sign caller Brooks Bentley. The unit additionally pressured three takeaways and made 11 third down stops. Harvard is 1-0 because it now turns its consideration to Brown.
Yale additionally bought its season underway with new head coach Kevin Cahill on Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 38-28 win over Holy Cross. The defending Ivy League champions rode the arm of quarterback Dante Reno who seemed as sharp as ever. Reno tossed 5 touchdowns and had 454 passing yards on 30 completions. He had no interceptions and averaged 10.6 yards per throw. Each Jaxton Santiago and Lucius Anderson had a number of receiving scores. The Bulldogs, regardless of the robust passing numbers, are adjusting to life with out star working again Josh Pitsenberger who graduated final 12 months. They solely ran for 70 yards with freshman Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni main the best way with 54 yards on 12 touches. Yale will face Cornell subsequent weekend.
St. Thomas, San Diego Take Down Huge Sky Foes
Each Southern Utah and Cal Poly fell sufferer to Pioneer League groups over the weekend in losses that change the notion about each being potential Huge Sky darkish horses. The Thunderbirds, who beforehand pushed Montana to the brink in Week 0 and defeated Weber State in a shootout every week later, dropped a head-scratcher at house on Saturday to St. Thomas and at the moment are all of the sudden 1-3. SUU gave up over 400 yards of offense to the Tommies and had no solutions specifically for receiver Quentin Cobb-Butler who went for 108 on 4 catches and had a TD. St. Thomas working again Gabriel Abel ran for 120 yards and a rating as nicely. Will Burns did join with Mark Bails on a late landing that might have tied the sport however the two-point strive failed.
In a while Saturday evening, Cal Poly additionally squandered their house sport towards San Diego. Toreros working again Adam Criter diced the Mustangs protection to the tune of 179 yards and it appeared like it doesn’t matter what Cal Poly did offensively, San Diego had a solution for. USD opened up a 35-21 lead early within the second half and from there the Mustangs had been enjoying from too far behind. A turnover on downs within the fourth quarter after 14-play drive that ate up over six minutes was a backbreaker. Toreros kicker Emiliano Salazar drilled 38-yard discipline aim within the waning seconds to safe the 38-35 win and ship Cal Poly to 2-2 on the 12 months. It’s a extremely ugly loss after what was a promising begin the season in San Luis Obispo.
Stony Brook Runs Via #8 Rhode Island
One of many actual stunners of the weekend was Stony Brook’s full domination of Rhode Island. The Rams protection bought gashed again and again by the Seawolves run sport which piled up 321 complete yards and accounted for seven touchdowns. All of these scores got here from two totally different guys in Jeremiah Coney and C.J. Hester. Quarterback Quinn Boyd additionally tore it up, working for 153 yards and throwing for an additional 198. It was as flat of a efficiency as Rhody has put out in fairly a while on either side of the ball. Nonetheless with out standard beginning quarterback Devin Farrell, Tyler Budge led the Rams offense. He threw for 209 yards with a landing but additionally had an interception and was sacked 4 instances. Rhode Island couldn’t get something going within the lopsided 56-24 loss and now sit 1-1 in CAA play with a date with North Carolina A&T on the horizon. Stony Brook is 1-0 in convention because it will get prepared for Fordham.
Central Connecticut State scares #1 Montana State
Rhode Island was not the one Prime 10 workforce was out of types in Week 3. The highest workforce within the nation needed to scrap and claw to flee with a puzzling 35-30 win at house. Montana State struggled all day with unranked Central Connecticut State in its personal constructing. An uncharacteristic fumble from working again Adam Jones within the third quarter resulted in a defensive landing for the visiting Blue Devils who went up 21-7. The MSU protection and Justin Lamson helped rally the Bobcats within the remaining 20 minutes, nevertheless. Aided by a flurry of CCSU penalties, Montana State scored 4 touchdowns following Jones’ fumble, two of them coming from Jones himself. Lamson threw two TD passes as nicely and the protection authored six tackles for loss. Although it was a win, MSU was dangerously near being on the mistaken finish of what would have been an all-time FCS upset. The Blue Devils had their probabilities however had been suffering from 14 penalties, most of them pre-snap. QB Brett Griffis threw for 228 yards and two scores with no picks within the gallant effort. Montana State strikes to 4-0 whereas CCSU stays winless at 0-3.
Southeastern Louisiana Downs ULM
Southeastern Louisiana turned the sixth FCS workforce to defeat an FBS opponent this 12 months when it beat Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. The Lions withstood a Warhawks rally within the fourth quarter and made a giant defensive cease within the closing seconds to protect the 38-35 victory. Senior defensive again Richard McKneely picked off ULM sign caller Austin Carlisle early within the fourth quarter and took it again 11 yards for the landing, placing a stamp on a giant evening for the protection that took the ball away thrice. Linebacker Carter Hanberry additionally had a powerful efficiency, logging 13 tackles (six solo). Regardless of their very own offensive shortcomings, SLU nonetheless managed to eek out the win even with out successful the time of possession battle and having fewer speeding and passing yards. The Lions are 2-2 and can play Northwestern State subsequent weekend.
South Carolina State Stays Unbeaten with 20-17 Win at Furman
One of many extra spectacular groups in the whole nation by means of the primary month has been #18 South Carolina State. The Bulldogs, winners of final 12 months’s Celebration Bowl, are off to a blazing 4-0 begin after taking down Furman in a giant in-state battle over the weekend. SC State jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead thanks to 2 fast touchdowns. Actually, the Bulldogs scored on their first play of the sport with a deep bomb from quarterback Keeley Watson to D.J. Maultsby. Maultsby would end his day with 118 yards on 4 catches. The Paladins did make a push within the second half however it was not sufficient. Furman misplaced QB Jake Garcia to an harm within the third quarter and backup Connor Ackerley got here in as his alternative. Ackerley tossed a landing and had 164 yards by means of the air. Furman is now 2-2 because it will get prepared for Richmond. SC State will look to make it 5-0 towards Bethune-Cookman subsequent Saturday.
