The FCS Daily Dose is a blog-style article series featuring an assortment of news, rumblings, quick hitters, and commentary on various topics.
A new Daily Dose will be published multiple times a week.
Sun Belt Admits Officiating Error In UCA-Arkansas State Game-Winning TD
The Sun Belt released a Tuesday statement saying there was an officiating error when the refs overturned an Arkansas State incomplete pass into a game-winning touchdown against Central Arkansas.
Here’s the play:
It potentially cost Central Arkansas a chance at an FBS win. There were three seconds on the clock, so Arkansas State would have had another chance at the end zone if the on-field ruling was not overturned.
Down 27-10 early in the fourth quarter, UCA stormed back to take a 31-27 lead on a Darius Hale 4-yard touchdown run with 55 seconds left. Arkansas State then went 70 yards in seven plays and 52 seconds to score on the controversial call.
Sun Belt Statement:
The Sun Belt Conference, upon review of the complete pass call with 3 seconds remaining in the Central Arkansas at Arkansas State football game, has announced an incorrect application of the replay review process.
The replay official was focused on the firm control and body part down aspects of the act of a catch and failed to evaluate the surviving the ground aspect of a catch during the review of the play in question.
The right end zone camera shows the receiver did not survive the ground, but this camera angle was not consulted by the replay official. The replay ruling should have confirmed the on-field call of an incomplete pass.
1-Score FCS vs. FBS Losses
The FCS did not get a win over an FBS opponent in Week 1, keeping the total at one so far this season (Montana State over New Mexico in Week 0).
While there were plenty of blowouts (which is usual and nothing new), there were also a lot of close games. There were probably 25-30 games at halftime where the FCS team either led an FBS opponent, were tied, or trailed by one score. In most of those games, the depth of the FBS and its 22 more scholarships took over in the second half. But multiple games saw close finishes, a play or two away from more FCS over FBS wins.
Week 1 saw seven one-score FCS vs. FBS losses:
- Colorado 31, NDSU 26
- Arkansas State 34, UCA 31
- Middle TN State 32, TN Tech 25
- Texas Tech 52, ACU 51 (OT)
- LA Tech 25, Nicholls 17
- Texas State 34, Lamar 27
- New Mexico State 23, SEMO 16
The FCS is coming off a low number of FBS wins in 2023 with just four. There were eight in 2022 and 12 in 2021.
We’ll need another year or two before we know if the low number is a trend or not.
That’s because the number of FCS over FBS victories has always fluctuated. There were only six in 1993, three in 1997, and six in 1998 and 1999. It went up to 15 in 2000, then back down to six in 2004. There were only two in 2008 and five in 2009. It ballooned to 16 in 2013, then went back to single digits for most of the 2010s.
When the FCS had 20 combined FBS wins in 2021 and 2022, a talking point was could the portal even things out with so many FBS guys looking for more playing time in the FCS? Now that there are fewer FCS over FBS victories, a talking point is these wins will become less common because all the top talent trickles up. This is somewhat true as many FCS standouts transfer to the FBS. But it’s also exaggerated as most FCS All-Conference players with eligibility remaining stay with their FCS team.
With the freedom to transfer without sitting out a year, the NIL money in the Power 4, and scholarship limits increasing, it seems likely that it will get more challenging for FCS teams to beat FBS programs. Plus, the FBS has gotten smarter about which FCS teams they choose to schedule.
One thing that’s certain is that the depth of the FBS was on display in the second half of these FCS-FBS matchups.
Past Daily Doses
Idaho QB Jack Layne Out Several Weeks With Broken Collarbone + SEMO QB Paxton DeLaurent Returns From Shoulder Injury … READ MORE
FCS Teams Bringing In The Most 2024 Division 1 Transfers … READ MORE
2024 Postseason Games Won’t Count Toward 4-Game Redshirt Rule … READ MORE
