FCS football

Rhode ‌Island Faces ‌UC Davis in Pivotal FCS Playoff matchup

KINGSTON, R.I. – ​The Rhode Island Rams travel to face the UC ⁣Davis Aggies on ‌Saturday night wiht a chance ‌to reach⁢ the final eight ⁤of the FCS Playoffs⁤ and ⁣solidify their status as a rising power in the Coastal⁣ Athletic Association (CAA). The Rams have secured back-to-back league⁢ titles and playoff appearances as the CAA undergoes significant conference realignment.

UC Davis ​enters the contest with ‍an 8-3 record from the Big Sky Conference, ⁢despite⁤ battling injuries. Freshman quarterback Caden pinnick has⁢ led the Aggies’ offense, while their defense ⁢has proven strong against the run. UC⁣ Davis‍ has only lost once at home this season ​and benefitted from​ an⁣ extra week of planning.

Rhode Island, led by 12th-year head coach Jim Fleming, achieved​ an 8-0 conference record⁤ this season – their first since Fleming’s arrival. Quarterback Devin ‌Farrell ranks ⁣second ⁤in ​the FCS with 3,451 passing yards, connecting frequently with receiver Marquis Buchanan, who ‌leads the nation with 1,224 receiving yards.

The Rams ​also boast a formidable linebacking corps featuring A.J.​ Pena, Moses Meus,‌ and ‍Rohan Davy. Meus and Davy have combined for 199 tackles, while Pena has recorded ⁣ten sacks and 19 tackles for loss. UC Davis will be without defensive back Rex Connors.

The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to‌ face the winner of the matchup ⁤between #1 North Dakota State and Illinois State. A victory ‍for rhode⁣ Island would likely set‍ up a contest against North Dakota State and represent the ⁤program’s deepest ⁤playoff run in four decades.

Rhode Island and UC Davis will kick⁤ off at 10:00 ⁣PM (ET) on Saturday, ‌with the game broadcast on ESPN2.

Weather‍ Washes Away Highly-Anticipated FCS Showdown, Creates Playoff Complications

The highly-ranked matchup between #11 Mercer and #8 UC ‍Davis in Montgomery, Alabama, delivered on its promise of excitement, but ultimately ended in a frustrating “no contest” due to a lengthy weather delay. UC Davis freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick led the Aggies to a dominant 23-3‌ advantage, only to ⁢watch Mercer​ mount a furious comeback, narrowing the gap to six points late in the game. Momentum appeared to be swinging towards​ the Bears after a crucial blocked field goal, setting​ them up with a promising drive near midfield.

However, just as the game reached a fever pitch, a ‍lightning strike⁤ forced a halt to play.⁤ What began ​as a standard weather delay‍ stretched on for hours, extending into the early hours of Sunday morning, before officials finally called‌ the game, declaring⁤ it a no contest. The result? All statistics are nullified, and neither​ team receives a win or ⁣loss ‌- a bizarre outcome for a game that very much was played.

The cancellation carries notable weight beyond ⁢the immediate disappointment. Both Mercer and UC Davis entered the season as legitimate contenders for their respective conference championships – the​ Southern Conference and Big Sky – ‌and were widely projected to earn playoff berths. The absence of a completed⁢ result throws a wrench into the FCS ⁢playoff picture.

With the FCS‌ regular season consisting of 12 games, both programs are now deprived of a ​crucial chance to bolster their postseason resumes. A win in this high-profile⁢ non-conference clash would‍ have been​ a valuable asset for the‍ playoff selection committee, providing a quality⁢ victory to weigh when evaluating at-large bids.

The impact could be especially acute for whichever team ultimately finds itself on the playoff bubble.Without a completed game,both Mercer and UC Davis will‌ have one⁢ fewer division‍ I win to showcase,potentially impacting​ their⁤ at-large chances. ⁢The selection committee heavily considers both ‌the quantity and quality of victories when determining at-large selections.

Fortunately, the cancellation doesn’t affect either teamS pursuit of a conference title. The game‌ had no bearing on league standings, and the path to the SoCon or big Sky championship remains unchanged. Both teams will enter Week 1 with a fresh start.

Despite this silver lining, the ⁤situation in⁣ Montgomery represents a significant disruption. It’s highly ⁣probable that this no contest will influence playoff seeding, potentially determining home-field advantage, bye weeks, or ‌even which teams qualify for the postseason altogether. The outcome of a ⁢game that⁣ was so⁤ compellingly played may ultimately⁤ be felt throughout the FCS landscape.