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Last Friday night’s ESPN prime time FCS college football game from Hanover, New Hampshire featured earlier-than-expected Christmas holiday colors and gift exchanges.
The unbeaten 6-0 Harvard Crimson visited the Big Green of Dartmouth in what was a difficult battle for those of us dealing with red-green colorblindness.
Harvard junior defensive back Xaden Benson was overcome with holiday joy.
He received three interceptions courtesy of Dartmouth’s woeful (5 of 12 for 42 yards and 3 interceptions) passing game.
In the spirit of the season, Harvard reciprocated with five holiday gifts for the Dartmouth defense in return.
Crimson quarterback Charlie Smith completed 23 of 37 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed five passes to the Big Green’s defense as Dartmouth handed Harvard its first loss off the season by a 24-14 score.
Harvard dropped to 6-1 overall and is now in a three-way tie for first place in the Ivy League. Dartmouth (5-4), Princeton (5-2), and Harvard are all 3-1 in conference play after last weekend’s games.
Dartmouth travels to Princeton on Saturday (11AM CST on ESPN+). Harvard will host 4-3 Columbia at 12 Noon.
Don’t look now, but South Dakota State is on a roll!
The 7-2 Jackrabbits won the FCS national championship in both 2022 and 2023.
This season got underway with a tough 34-18 loss at FBS Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois. The Northwestern Wildcats have been quite impressive. They are 6-2 in the Big Ten Conference and have been ranked in the Top 25 for much of the season.
South Dakota State trails Missouri Valley Football Conference leader Youngstown State by only ½ game. The Jackrabbits defeated the Penguins 27-20 earlier this season and hold a tie-breaker advantage.
Saturday’s convincing 31-21 win over arch-rival South Dakota (now 7-3) has given SDSU a clear path to the Missouri Valley Football Conference title.
The Jackrabbits must travel to 4-4 Northern Iowa for a game this Saturday at 1PM (ESPN+). Their two remaining regular season games are at 4-5 Southern Illinois and at home against 2-7 Indiana State.
Southland Conference Showdown in Beaumont, Texas happens this Saturday
The red-hot 9-0 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks chopped down another opponent on Halloween in Nacogdoches, Texas.
SFA won its 18th consecutive regular season game by obliterating Houston Christian (now 4-5) 37-6.
Wide receiver and return specialist “Lightning” Bugs Mortimer returned a punt for a touchdown to spark the Lumberjacks’ latest victory. The speedy wide receiver now has seven touchdowns this season.
SFA will load the busses for a 2½ hour road trip to play long-time Southland Conference foe Lamar University in Beaumont this Saturday.
The Cardinals are 7-2 overall and 5-1 in Southland Conference action.
They are coming off an impressive 52-23 road win at 4-5 UT-Rio Grande last Saturday.
Lamar sophomore wide receiver and kick-off return specialist Blake Thomas took the second half kick-off 97 yards for a touchdown to break open this game. Thomas won the Southland Conference “Special Teams Player of the Week” award.
The Cardinals’ only conference loss came in a 34-31 defeat at Southeastern Louisiana.
A sell-out crowd is possible at Lamar’s 16,000 seat football stadium Saturday for this Southland showdown. Kickoff is at 3PM with television coverage available on ESPN+.
The So-Con has four teams with just one conference loss!
Tennessee Tech’s first season as a member of the Southern Conference (So-Con) has been quite successful.
They were long-time members of the Ohio Valley Conference prior to the 2026 football season. The Golden Eagles have soared to a 8-1 overall record (5-1 in conference) with just three regular season games to go.
However, that one loss may loom large by season’s end. Tennessee Tech lost to So-Con member 4-5 Western Carolina by a surprising 44-20 margin in October.
The Chattanooga Mocs are in hot pursuit.
They are 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the So-Con. The Mocs’ only conference blemish came at the hands of Tennessee Tech in a 24-9 home loss.
Mercer (7-2 overall – 4-1 in conference) and East Tennessee State (6-3 overall and 4-1 in the So-Con) are poised to make a November challenge, too.
The Mercer Bears’ lone conference blemish was a surprising 20-13 loss to 2-7 Furman.
ETSU’s only defeat in the So-Con came in a 24-17 loss to Tennessee Tech.
Tennessee Tech currently has the inside track. The Golden Eagles will host long-time So-Con football power Mercer on Saturday, November 14. A Mercer win would create even more chaos in this year’s So-Con title chase.
Towson finally wins!
The Towson Tigers became a winner last weekend!
This suburban Baltimore school opened the 2026 season with eight consecutive losses. Towson wasted no time last Saturday as they vanquished Coastal Athletic Association foe Hampton.
The Tigers pounced on Hampton (now 1-8) from the opening kickoff in taking a 30-6 halftime advantage.
The visiting Pirates were the ones being forced to walk the plank during this lopsided 44-13 game.
Congratulations to Towson for breaking through with its first win of the season!
That leaves Virginia Military Institute and Northwestern State University (LA) as the two remaining FCS teams without a win this season. The Keydets and Demons are both 0-9.
VMI has scored the fewest points in the FCS (just 74 in nine games).
Northwestern State has given up the most points in the FCS this season (424 in nine games).
Ouch and double ouch!
It’s time to visit the SwampSwamiSports.com FCS Top 25 for the week ending Saturday, October 31, 2026.
