2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season

The 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, was organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The season began on August 29, 2015, and concluded with the 2016 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game played on January 9, 2016, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

2015 NCAA Division I FCS season
Regular season
DurationAugust 29 – November 21
Payton AwardCooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Buchanan AwardDeon King, LB, Norfolk State
Playoff
DurationNovember 28 – December 19
Championship dateJanuary 9, 2016
Championship siteToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
ChampionNorth Dakota State
NCAA Division I FCS football seasons

Conference changes and new programs
Main article: 2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment

One team left the FCS to transition to FBS while two schools added football at the FCS level, all moves officially taking effect on July 1, 2015.

School2014 conference2015 conference
CharlotteIndependentC–USA (FBS)
East Tennessee StateNo programIndependent
Kennesaw StateNo programBig South

Updated stadiums

No FCS schools opened new stadiums for the 2015 season, however two new programs debuted in the season:

FCS team wins over FBS teams

(FCS rankings from the STATS poll)

Conference standings
2015 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 18 Southern Utah $^  7 –1     8 –4  
No. 10 Portland State ^  6 –2     9 –3  
No. 14 Montana ^  6 –2     8 –5  
North Dakota  5 –3     7 –4  
Northern Arizona  5 –3     7 –4  
Eastern Washington  5 –3     6 –5  
Weber State  5 –3     6 –5  
Northern Colorado  3 –5     6 –5  
Montana State  3 –5     5 –6  
Cal Poly  3 –5     4 –7  
UC Davis  2 –6     2 –9  
Idaho State  1 –7     2 –9  
Sacramento State  1 –7     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Big South Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 6 Charleston Southern $^  6 –0     10 –3  
No. 16 Coastal Carolina ^  4 –2     9 –3  
Liberty  3 –3     6 –5  
Monmouth  3 –3     5 –6  
Kennesaw State  2 –4     6 –5  
Gardner–Webb *  2 –4     4 –7  
Presbyterian  1 –5     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * Gardner–Webb ineligible for postseason due to APR violations
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Colonial Athletic Association football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 4 Richmond +^  6 –2     10 –4  
No. 11 James Madison +^  6 –2     9 –3  
No. 12 William & Mary +^  6 –2     9 –4  
Towson  5 –3     7 –4  
New Hampshire ^  5 –3     7 –5  
Villanova  5 –3     6 –5  
Stony Brook  3 –5     5 –5  
Delaware  3 –5     4 –7  
Elon  3 –5     4 –7  
Maine  3 –5     3 –8  
Albany  2 –6     3 –8  
Rhode Island  1 –7     1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Ivy League football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 20 Harvard +  6 –1     9 –1  
No. 23 Dartmouth +  6 –1     9 –1  
Penn +  6 –1     7 –3  
Yale  3 –4     6 –4  
Brown  3 –4     5 –5  
Princeton  2 –5     5 –5  
Columbia  1 –6     2 –8  
Cornell  1 –6     1 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 21 North Carolina A&T +  7 –1     10 –2  
Bethune-Cookman +  7 –1     9 –2  
North Carolina Central +  7 –1     8 –3  
South Carolina State  6 –2     7 –4  
Hampton  5 –3     6 –5  
Morgan State  4 –4     4 –6  
Norfolk State  4 –4     4 –7  
Savannah State *  1 –7     1 –9  
Florida A&M *  1 –7     1 –10  
Delaware State  1 –7     1 –10  
Howard  1 –7     1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • Florida A&M and Savannah State ineligible for postseason due to APR violations
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 1 North Dakota State +^  7 –1     13 –2  
No. 5 Illinois State +^  7 –1     10 –3  
No. 8 Northern Iowa ^  5 –3     9 –5  
No. 15 South Dakota State ^  5 –3     8 –4  
Western Illinois ^  5 –3     7 –6  
Indiana State  3 –5     5 –6  
Youngstown State  3 –5     5 –6  
South Dakota  3 –5     5 –6  
Southern Illinois  2 –6     3 –8  
Missouri State  0 –8     1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Northeast Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Duquesne $^  5 –1     8 –4  
Saint Francis (PA)  4 –2     6 –4  
Sacred Heart  3 –3     6 –5  
Bryant  3 –3     5 –6  
Central Connecticut  3 –3     4 –7  
Robert Morris  2 –4     4 –7  
Wagner  1 –5     1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
2015 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 2 Jacksonville State $^  8 –0     13 –2  
No. 25 Eastern Illinois ^  7 –1     7 –5  
UT Martin  6 –2     7 –4  
Eastern Kentucky  5 –3     6 –5  
SE Missouri State  3 –4     4 –7  
Tennessee Tech  3 –5     4 –7  
Murray State  2 –6     3 –8  
Tennessee State  1 –6     4 –6  
Austin Peay  0 –8     0 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Patriot League football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 17 Colgate $^  6 –0     9 –5  
No. 19 Fordham ^  5 –1     9 –3  
Lehigh  4 –2     6 –5  
Holy Cross  3 –3     6 –5  
Georgetown  2 –4     4 –7  
Bucknell  1 –5     4 –7  
Lafayette  0 –6     1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll
2015 Pioneer Football League standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Dayton +^  7 –1     10 –2  
San Diego +  7 –1     9 –2  
Jacksonville *  6 –2     9 –2  
Morehead State  6 –2     7 –4  
Butler  4 –4     6 –5  
Drake  4 –4     5 –6  
Marist  4 –4     5 –6  
Campbell  3 –5     5 –6  
Stetson  1 –7     3 –8  
Valparaiso  1 –7     2 –9  
Davidson  1 –7     2 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * Jacksonville ineligible for PFL title and FCS playoffs due to matters regarding the PFL's financial aid rules
2015 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 9 Chattanooga +^  6 –1     9 –4  
No. 13 The Citadel +^  6 –1     9 –4  
Western Carolina  5 –2     7 –4  
Samford  3 –4     6 –5  
Wofford  3 –4     5 –6  
Mercer  2 –5     5 –6  
Furman  2 –5     4 –7  
VMI  1 –6     2 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS FCS Poll
2015 Southland Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 7 McNeese State $^  9 –0     10 –1  
No. 3 Sam Houston State ^  7 –2     11 –4  
Central Arkansas  7 –2     7 –4  
Incarnate Word*  5 –4     6 –5  
Northwestern State  4 –5     4 –7  
Lamar  4 –5     5 –6  
Stephen F. Austin  4 –5     4 –7  
Nicholls State  3 –6     3 –8  
Abilene Christian*  3 –6     3 –8  
SE Louisiana  3 –6     4 –7  
Houston Baptist  0 –8     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word ineligible for FCS Playoffs due to transition from Division II
Rankings from STATS FCS Poll
2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East
Alcorn State xy$  7 –2     9 –4  
Alabama State*  5 –4     6 –5  
Alabama A&M  3 –6     3 –8  
Jackson State  3 –6     3 –8  
Mississippi Valley State  1 –8     1 –10  
West
No. 24 Grambling State xy  9 –0     9 –3  
Prairie View A&M  8 –1     8 –2  
Southern  6 –3     6 –5  
Texas Southern  2 –7     3 –7  
Arkansas–Pine Bluff  1 –8     2 –9  
Championship: Alcorn State 49, Grambling State 21
December 5, 2015
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Alabama State ineligible for postseason due to APR violations
Rankings from STATS FCS Poll
2015 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Tennessee State   –     2 –9  

Conference summaries

Championship games
Conference Champion Runner-up Score Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Coach of the Year
SWAC Alcorn State Grambling State 49–21 Johnathan Williams
(Grambling)		 Kourtney Berry
(Alabama State)		 Broderick Fobbs
(Grambling)

Other conference winners

Note: Records are regular-season only, and do not include playoff games.

Conference Champion Record Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Coach of the Year
Big Sky Southern Utah 8–3 (7–1) Cooper Kupp
(Eastern Washington)		 James Cowser
(Southern Utah)		 Bruce Barnum
(Portland State)
Big South Charleston Southern 9–2 (6–0) De'Angelo Henderson
(Coastal Carolina)		 Chima Uzowihe
(Liberty)		 Jamey Chadwell
(Charleston Southern)
CAA James Madison
Richmond
William & Mary		 9–2 (6–2)
8–3 (6–2)
8–3 (6–2)		 Vad Lee
(James Madison)		 DeAndre Houston-Carson
(William & Mary)
Victor Ochi
(Stony Brook)		 Danny Rocco
(Richmond)
Ivy Dartmouth
Harvard
Penn		 9–1 (6–1)
9–1 (6–1)
7–3 (6–1)		 Scott Hosch
(Harvard)		 Tyler Drake
(Yale)		 Ray Priore
(Penn)
MEAC Bethune-Cookman
North Carolina A&T
North Carolina Central		 9–2 (7–1)
9–2 (7–1)
8–3 (7–1)		 Tarik Cohen
(North Carolina A&T)		 Javon Hargrave
(South Carolina State)		 Terry Sims
(Bethune-Cookman)
MVFC Illinois State
North Dakota State		 9–2 (7–1)
9–2 (7–1)		 Marshaun Coprich
(Illinois State)		 Deiondre' Hall
(Northern Iowa)		 Bob Nielson
(Western Illinois)
NEC Duquesne 8–3 (5–1) Ricardo McCray
(Bryant)		 Christian Kuntz
(Duquesne)		 Chris Villarrial
(Saint Francis)
OVC Jacksonville State 10–1 (8–0) Eli Jenkins
(Jacksonville State)		 Dino Fanti
(Eastern Illinois)
Noah Spence
(Eastern Kentucky)		 John Grass
(Jacksonville State)
Patriot Colgate 7–4 (6–0) Chase Edmonds
(Fordham)		 Clayton Ewell
(Bucknell)		 Dan Hunt
(Colgate)
Pioneer Dayton
San Diego		 10–1 (7–1)
9–2 (7–1)		 Austin Gahafer
(Morehead State)		 Donald Payne
(Stetson)		 Rick Chamberlin
(Dayton)
Southern Chattanooga
The Citadel		 8–3 (6–1)
8–3 (6–1)		 Jacob Huesman
(Chattanooga)		 Mitchell Jeter
(The Citadel)		 Mike Houston
(The Citadel)
Southland McNeese State 10–0 (9–0) Kade Harrington
(Lamar)		 Wallace Scott
(McNeese State)		 Matt Viator
(McNeese State)

    Playoff qualifiers

    Automatic berths for conference champions
    Conference Team Appearance Last bid Result
    Big Sky ConferenceSouthern Utah2nd2013First Round (L – Sam Houston State)
    Big South ConferenceCharleston Southern1st––
    Colonial Athletic AssociationRichmond10th2014Second Round (L – Coastal Carolina)
    Missouri Valley Football ConferenceNorth Dakota State6th2014National Champions (W – Illinois State)
    Northeast ConferenceDuquesne1st––
    Ohio Valley ConferenceJacksonville State6th2014Second Round (L – Sam Houston State)
    Patriot LeagueColgate10th2012First Round (L – Wagner)
    Pioneer Football LeagueDayton1st––
    Southern ConferenceChattanooga3rd2014Quarterfinals (L – New Hampshire)
    Southland ConferenceMcNeese State16th2013Second Round (L – Jacksonville State)

    At large qualifiers
    Conference Team Appearance Last bid Result
    Big Sky ConferenceMontana24th2014Second Round (L – Eastern Washington)
    Portland State2nd2000First Round (L – Delaware)
    Big South ConferenceCoastal Carolina6th2014Quarterfinals (L – North Dakota State)
    Colonial Athletic AssociationJames Madison11th2014First Round (L – Liberty)
    New Hampshire14th2014Semifinals (L – Illinois State)
    William & Mary10th2010Second Round (L – Georgia Southern)
    Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceNone
    Missouri Valley Football ConferenceIllinois State6th2014Championship Game (L – North Dakota State)
    Northern Iowa18th2014Second Round (L – Illinois State)
    South Dakota State5th2014Second Round (L – North Dakota State)
    Western Illinois10th2010Second Round (L – Appalachian State)
    Northeast ConferenceNone
    Ohio Valley ConferenceEastern Illinois16th2013Quarterfinals (L – Towson)
    Patriot LeagueFordham5th2014Second Round (L – New Hampshire)
    Pioneer Football LeagueNone
    Southern ConferenceThe Citadel4th1992Quarterfinals (L – Youngstown State)
    Southland ConferenceSam Houston State9th2014Semifinals (L – North Dakota State)
    Southwestern Athletic ConferenceNone

    Abstentions

    Postseason

    NCAA FCS Playoff bracket
      First Round
    November 28
    Campus Sites    		     Second Round
    December 5
    Campus Sites    		     Quarterfinals
    December 11 and 12
    Campus Sites    		     Semifinals
    December 18 and 19
    Campus Sites    		     National Championship
    January 9
    Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
                                                   
          1 Jacksonville State* 41†  
      Chattanooga* 50     Chattanooga 35    
      Fordham 20         1 Jacksonville State* 58  
        8 Charleston Southern 38    
          8 Charleston Southern* 14    
      Coastal Carolina* 38     The Citadel 6  
      The Citadel 41         1 Jacksonville State* 62  
          Sam Houston State 10    
          4 McNeese State* 29  
      Sam Houston State* 42     Sam Houston State 34    
      Southern Utah 39         Sam Houston State* 48    
        Colgate 21  
          5 James Madison* 38    
      New Hampshire* 20     Colgate 44  
      Colgate 27         1 Jacksonville State 10
          3 North Dakota State 37
          2 Illinois State* 36  
      Dayton* 7     Western Illinois 19    
      Western Illinois 24         2 Illinois State* 27  
        7 Richmond 39    
          7 Richmond* 48    
      William & Mary* 52     William & Mary 13  
      Duquesne 49         7 Richmond 7    
          3 North Dakota State* 33  
          3 North Dakota State* 37  
      Montana* 24     Montana 6    
      South Dakota State 17         3 North Dakota State* 23    
        Northern Iowa 13  
          6 Portland State* 17    
      Northern Iowa* 53     Northern Iowa 29  
      Eastern Illinois 17  

    * Home team   
     † Overtime   
     Winner

    Bowl Games
    Game Date/TV Location Winning Team Losing Team Score Offensive MVP Defensive MVP
    Celebration Bowl December 19
    ABC    		 Georgia Dome
    Atlanta, Georgia    		 North Carolina A&T
    10–2 (7–1)    		 Alcorn State Braves
    9–4 (7–2)    		 41–34 Tarik Cohen
    (RB, North Carolina A&T)    		 Denzel Jones
    (LB, North Carolina A&T)

    Coaching changes

    Preseason and in-season

    This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2015. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2015, see 2014 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes.

    School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement
    Jackson StateHarold JacksonOctober 7FiredDerrick McCall (interim)[3]
    Tony Hughes[4]

    End of season
    School Outgoing coach Date announced Reason Replacement
    South DakotaJoe GlennNovember 22Retired[5]Bob Nielson[6]
    Austin PeayKirby CannonNovember 23Fired[7]Will Healy[8]
    Montana StateRob AshNovember 23Fired[9]Jeff Choate[10]
    Eastern KentuckyDean HoodNovember 23Fired[11]Mark Elder[12]
    MaineJack CosgroveNovember 24Transferred to Senior Associate Director of Athletics for UMaine[13]Joe Harasymiak[14]
    Texas SouthernDarrell AsberryNovember 29Resigned[15]Michael Haywood[16]
    Southern IllinoisDale LennonNovember 30Fired[17]Nick Hill[18]
    Tennessee TechWatson BrownDecember 2Retired[19]Marcus Satterfield[20]
    JacksonvilleKerwin BellDecember 3Fired[21]Ian Shields[22]
    FordhamJoe MoorheadDecember 12Hired as offensive coordinator by Penn State[23]Andrew Breiner[24]
    McNeese StateMatt ViatorDecember 14Hired as head coach by Louisiana–Monroe[25]Lance Guidry[26]
    Western IllinoisBob NielsonDecember 16Hired as head coach by South Dakota[6]Charlie Fisher[27]
    Southern UtahEd LambDecember 26Hired as assistant head coach by BYU[28]Demario Warren
    James MadisonEverett WithersJanuary 7Hired as head coach by Texas StateMike Houston[29]
    The CitadelMike HoustonJanuary 18Hired as head coach by James Madison[29]Brent Thompson[30]
    Morgan State Lee Hull February 8, 2016 Resigned Fred Farrier (interim)

    See also

    References
    1. Nathan Baker (November 25, 2014). "ETSU looks to Science Hill for home field advantage over next 2 seasons". Johnson City Press. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    2. Rodger Sherman (October 10, 2015). "FCS Portland State beat North Texas so badly, the Mean Green immediately fired their head coach". SB Nation. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    3. Ray Coleman (October 7, 2015). "JSU fires Harold Jackson as football coach". WAPT. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    4. Antonio Morales (December 14, 2015). "Jackson State hires Tony Hughes as next coach". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    5. Mick Garry (November 22, 2015). "USD's Joe Glenn to retire". Argus Leader. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    6. Brad Pautsch (December 16, 2015). "South Dakota AD Herbster finds new football coach at conference rival". KTIV. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    7. Autumn Allison (November 23, 2015). "Austin Peay football coach Cannon is out". The Leaf Chronicle. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    8. "Will Healy, head football coach". Austin Peay Governors. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    9. Jon Maletz (November 23, 2015). "MSU ousts Ash as head football coach". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    10. "Jeff Choate Joins Montana State University as Bobcat Head Football Coach". Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    11. Mark Cornelison (November 23, 2015). "EKU Relieves Dean Hood As Head Football Coach". EKU Athletics. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    12. Josh Moore (December 10, 2015). "'Humbled' Mark Elder introduced as new Eastern Kentucky football coach". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    13. "Jack Cosgrove to transfer to Senior Associate Director of Athletics for UMaine". GoBlackBears.com. November 24, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    14. Pete Warner (December 16, 2015). "UMaine selects new head football coach". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    15. Mark Berman (November 29, 2015). "Darrell Asberry resigns as head football coach at Texas Southern". KRIV. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    16. "Texas Southern hiring Michael Haywood as football coach". USA Today. AP. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    17. Zach Barnett. "Southern Illinois head coach Dale Lennon will not return". Football Scoop. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    18. "Dale Lennon Fired/Nick Hill hired as SIU's football coach". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    19. Mike Organ (December 2, 2015). "Watson Brown retires as a college football coach". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    20. "Satterfield selected Tennessee Tech's new coach". Columbia Daily Herald. January 4, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    21. Gene Frenette (December 3, 2015). "Kerwin Bell out as Jacksonville University football coach". Florida Times Union. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    22. Jeff Elliott (December 8, 2015). "Coach Ian Shields bringing new approach to JU football". Florida Times Union. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    23. "Joe Moorhead to take over Nittany Lions' offense". ESPN.com. ESPN. December 12, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    24. "Andrew Breiner Named Head Football Coach at Fordham". Fordham Sports. December 17, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    25. "Matt Viator named head football coach at ULM". ulm.edu. December 14, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    26. "Lance Guidry named McNeese head coach". The Advertiser. December 17, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    27. "Western Illinois tabs Charlie Fisher new football coach". Peoria Journal-Star. January 2, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    28. "SUU football: Ed Lamb accepts position at BYU". The Spectrum. Gannett Company. December 26, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    29. Scott Eisberg and Sam Tyson. "Citadel head football coach Houston leaving for James Madison". WCIV. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
    30. Jeff Hartsell (January 18, 2016). "Citadel names Brent Thompson new head football coach". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
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