American college football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season, the 2008 season of college football for teams in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), began on August 28, 2008, and concluded on December 19, 2008, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, where the Richmond Spiders defeated the Montana Grizzlies to win the NCAA Division I Football Championship.[3]
Rule changes for 2008
The NCAA football rules committee made several rule changes for 2008, and includes the following:[4][5]
- The 25-second play clock was replaced by a 40-second version similar to one that was used in the NFL until 2005.
- The penalty for kicking the ball out of bounds on the kickoff is increased, placing the ball at the 40-yard line, similar to the NFL.
- All face-mask penalties result in a 15-yard penalty. Incidental contact with the face mask is no longer penalized.
- All horse-collar tackles are now subject to a 15-yard penalty.
- If a coach challenges a play and they win the challenge, they are given a second challenge to use later in the game, and each coach has a maximum of two challenges per game even if both are decided in their favor.
In addition to the rules changes, this was the first season in which a standard provision of NCAA rules allowed FCS teams to schedule 12 regular-season games (not counting conference championship games). In years when the period starting with the Thursday before Labor Day and ending with the final Saturday in November contains 14 Saturdays, FCS programs may play 12 games instead of the regular 11.
FCS team wins over FBS teams
August 30 – Cal Poly 29, San Diego State 27
September 6 – New Hampshire 28, Army 10
Notable upsets
- August 30 – Arkansas–Monticello 21, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0 (Division II over Division I FCS)
- August 31 – Fayetteville State 33, North Carolina Central 22 (Division II over Division I FCS)
- September 4 – St. Francis (IL) 21, Valparaiso 0 (NAIA over Division I FCS non-scholarship)
- September 4 – Washburn 35, Missouri State 27 (Division II over Division I FCS)
- September 5 – Stonehill 14, Wagner 13 (Division II over Division I FCS)
- September 6 – Methodist 32, Campbell 21 (Division III over Division I FCS non-scholarship)
- September 6 – UNC Pembroke 21, Davidson 9 (Division II over Division I FCS non-scholarship)
- September 6 – Henderson State 34, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0 (Division II over Division I FCS)
- September 13 – Franklin (IN) 31, Butler 28 (Division III over Division I FCS non-scholarship)
- September 20 – UNC Pembroke 22, Jacksonville 21 (Division II over Division I FCS non-scholarship)
- September 20 – Marian (IN) 13, Valparaiso 10 (NAIA over Division I FCS non-scholarship)
- October 4 – Tuskegee 34, Alabama A&M 24 (Division II over Division I FCS)
- October 11 – Wesley (DE) 23, Iona 12 (Division III over Division I FCS non-scholarship)
Conference changes and new programs
Conference standings
Conference champions
Automatic berths
Invitation
Abstains
*Overall record, Conference record
Postseason
NCAA Division I playoff bracket
* Host institution
SWAC Championship Game
Gridiron Classic
The Gridiron Classic is an annual game between the champions of the Northeast Conference and the Pioneer Football League that has been held since December 2006.
Final poll standings
Standings are from The Sports Network final 2008 poll.
References
- ^ "Armanti Edwards wins 2008 Walter Payton Award". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ "Greg Peach captures 2008 Buck Buchanan Award". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Associated Press (December 19, 2008). "Richmond cruises to first football title". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ "NCAA Football Rules Committee Proposes Rules to Enhance Student-Athlete Safety and Encourage Consistent Pace of Play" (Press release). NCAA. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Olin Buchanan (February 13, 2008). "More new timing rules among NCAA proposal". Rivals. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ "2008 Playoff Bracket". NCAA. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
- ^ Associated Press (December 13, 2008). "Grambling St. 41, Jackson St. 9". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ Associated Press (December 6, 2008). "Albany, N.Y. 28, Jacksonville 0". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ "Final Sports Network's 2008 FCS College Football Poll". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
