2016 Samford Bulldogs football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2016
| team = Samford Bulldogs
| sport= football
| image = Samford Bulldogs wordmark.svg
| image_size= 250
| conference= Southern Conference
| division=
| short_conf= SoCon
| STATSRank = 23
| FCSCoachRank = 23
| record = 7–5
| conf_record = 5–3
| head_coach= Chris Hatcher
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach= Russ Callaway
| oc_year= 1st
| def_coach= Bill D'Ottavio
| dc_year = 10th
| off_scheme= Air raid
| def_scheme= 4–3
| stadium= Seibert Stadium
| champion =
| bowl = FCS playoffs first round
| bowl_result = L 24–38 vs. Youngstown State
}}
{{2016 Southern Conference football standings}}
The 2016 Samford Bulldogs football team represented Samford University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by second year head coach Chris Hatcher and played their home games at Seibert Stadium. They were a member of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 7–5, 5–3 in SoCon play to finish in fourth place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs where they lost to Youngstown State in the first round.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2016
| randivision = NCAA Division I FCS
| poll = STATS
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 1
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Mars Hill Lions|title=Mars Hill}}
| site_stadium = Seibert Stadium
| site_cityst = Homewood, AL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 77–7
| attend = 4,482
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 10
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Central Arkansas
| site_stadium = Estes Stadium
| site_cityst = Conway, AR
| tv = {{abbr|BNN|Bear Nation Network}}
| score = 35–29
| attend = 9,987
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| time = 1:00 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Chattanooga
| opprank = 5
| site_stadium = Finley Stadium
| site_cityst = Chattanooga, TN
| tv = {{abbr|SDN|SoCon Digital Network}}
| score = 21–41
| attend = 8,714
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 1
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = w
| opponent = Wofford
| site_stadium = Seibert Stadium
| site_cityst = Homewood, AL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 28–26
| attend = 8,509
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| time = 12:00 pm
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Furman
| site_stadium = Paladin Stadium
| site_cityst = Greenville, SC
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 38–21
| attend = 4,587
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 24
| opponent = VMI
| site_stadium = Seibert Stadium
| site_cityst = Homewood, AL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 55–21
| attend = 4,085
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 21
| opponent = Western Carolina
| site_stadium = Seibert Stadium
| site_cityst = Homewood, AL
| tv = ASN
| score = 30–17
| attend = 4,031
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| time = 2:30 pm
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 20
| opponent = Mississippi State
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| tv = SECN
| score = 41–56
| attend = 58,019
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| time = 1:00 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 20
| opponent = The Citadel
| opprank = 5
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 34–37
| overtime = OT
| attend = 15,015
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| time = 2:30 pm
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank = 22
| opponent = Mercer
| site_stadium = Seibert Stadium
| site_cityst = Homewood, AL
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 24–19
| attend = 8,379
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| time = 2:30 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| site_stadium = Kermit Tipton Stadium
| site_cityst = Johnson City, TN
| tv = SDN
| score = 14–15
| attend = 5,752
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 26
| time = 4:00 pm
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 23
| opponent = Youngstown State
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Stambaugh Stadium
| site_cityst = Youngstown, OH
| gamename = NCAA Division I first round
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 24–38
| attend = 5,322
}}
}}
Game summaries
=Mars Hill=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Mars Hill @ Samford
|Visitor = Mountain Lions
|V1 = 0
|V2 = 7
|V3 = 0
|V4 = 0
|Host = Bulldogs
|H1 = 14
|H2 = 14
|H3 = 21
|H4 = 28
|Date= September 1
|Location = Seibert Stadium
Homewood, AL
|StartTime = 6:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 4,482
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ESPN3
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|Mars Hill University}}
{{Clear}}
=At Central Arkansas=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Samford @ Central Arkansas
|Visitor = Bulldogs
|V1 = 7
|V2 = 21
|V3 = 7
|V4 = 0
|Host = Bears
|H1 = 3
|H2 = 7
|H3 = 0
|H4 = 19
|Date= September 10
|Location = Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
|StartTime = 6:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 9,987
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation =
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Central Arkansas Bears football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Chattanooga=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Samford @ Chattanooga
|Visitor = Bulldogs
|V1 = 0
|V2 = 7
|V3 = 7
|V4 = 7
|Host = #5 Mocs
|H1 = 7
|H2 = 14
|H3 = 10
|H4 = 10
|Date= September 24
|Location = Finley Stadium
Chattanooga, TN
|StartTime = 1:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 8,714
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = SDN
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Chattanooga Mocs football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Wofford=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Wofford @ Samford
|Visitor = Terriers
|V1 = 7
|V2 = 10
|V3 = 3
|V4 = 6
|Host = Bulldogs
|H1 = 7
|H2 = 14
|H3 = 0
|H4 = 7
|Date= October 1
|Location = Seibert Stadium
Homewood, AL
|StartTime = 2:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 8,509
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ESPN3/SDN
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Wofford Terriers football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Furman=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Samford @ Furman
|Visitor = Bulldogs
|V1 = 14
|V2 = 10
|V3 = 7
|V4 = 7
|Host = Paladins
|H1 = 0
|H2 = 14
|H3 = 0
|H4 = 7
|Date= October 8
|Location = Paladin Stadium
Greenville, SC
|StartTime = 12:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 4,587
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ESPN3
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Furman Paladins football team}}
{{Clear}}
=VMI=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = VMI @ Samford
|Visitor = Keydets
|V1 = 7
|V2 = 7
|V3 = 7
|V4 = 0
|Host = #24 Bulldogs
|H1 = 28
|H2 = 10
|H3 = 0
|H4 = 17
|Date= October 15
|Location = Seibert Stadium
Homewood, AL
|StartTime = 2:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 4,085
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ESPN3
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 VMI Keydets football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Western Carolina=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Western Carolina @ Samford
|Visitor = Catamounts
|V1 = 7
|V2 = 0
|V3 = 3
|V4 = 7
|Host = #21 Bulldogs
|H1 = 7
|H2 = 6
|H3 = 14
|H4 = 3
|Date= October 22
|Location = Seibert Stadium
Homewood, AL
|StartTime = 6:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 4,031
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ASN
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Western Carolina Catamounts football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Mississippi State=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Samford @ Mississippi State
|Visitor = #20 Bulldogs (SAM)
|V1 = 13
|V2 = 7
|V3 = 13
|V4 = 8
|Host = Bulldogs (MSU)
|H1 = 21
|H2 = 7
|H3 = 21
|H4 = 7
|Date= October 29
|Location = Davis Wade Stadium
Starkville, MS
|StartTime = 2:30 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 58,019
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = SECN
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At The Citadel=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Samford @ The Citadel
|Visitor = #20 Bulldogs (SAM)
|V1 = 7
|V2 = 13
|V3 = 0
|V4 = 14
|VOT = 0
|Host = #5 Bulldogs (CIT)
|H1 = 7
|H2 = 7
|H3 = 7
|H4 = 13
|HOT = 3
|Date= November 5
|Location = Johnson Hagood Stadium
Charleston, SC
|StartTime = 1:00 PM
|TimeZone = CDT
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 15,015
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ESPN3
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 The Citadel Bulldogs football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Mercer=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Mercer @ Samford
|Visitor = Bears
|V1 = 0
|V2 = 10
|V3 = 0
|V4 = 9
|Host = #22 Bulldogs
|H1 = 21
|H2 = 0
|H3 = 0
|H4 = 3
|Date= November 12
|Location = Seibert Stadium
Homewood, AL
|StartTime = 2:30 PM
|TimeZone = CST
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 8,379
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ESPN3
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Mercer Bears football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At East Tennessee State=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Samford @ East Tennessee State
|Visitor = #18 Bulldogs
|V1 = 7
|V2 = 0
|V3 = 7
|V4 = 0
|Host = Buccaneers
|H1 = 0
|H2 = 3
|H3 = 6
|H4 = 6
|Date= November 19
|Location = Kermit Tipton Stadium
Johnson City, TN
|StartTime = 2:30 PM
|TimeZone = CST
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 5,752
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = SDN
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team}}
{{Clear}}
FCS playoffs
=First round – Youngstown State=
{{AFB game box start
|Title = Samford @ Youngstown State
|Visitor = #23 Bulldogs
|V1 = 7
|V2 = 0
|V3 = 0
|V4 = 17
|Host = #13 Penguins
|H1 = 7
|H2 = 3
|H3 = 14
|H4 = 14
|Date= November 26
|Location = Stambaugh Stadium
Youngstown, OH
|StartTime = 4:00 PM
|TimeZone = CST
|ElapsedTime =
|Attendance = 5,322
|Weather =
|Referee =
|TVAnnouncers =
|TVStation = ESPN3
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|2016 Youngstown State Penguins football team}}
{{Clear}}
Ranking movements
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = STATS FCS
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 13
| poll1_0=RV
| poll1_1=RV
| poll1_2=RV
| poll1_3=RV
| poll1_4=RV
| poll1_5=RV
| poll1_6=24
| poll1_7=21
| poll1_8=20
| poll1_9=20
| poll1_10=22
| poll1_11=18
| poll1_12=23
| poll1_13=23
| poll1_14=
| poll1_15=
| poll1_16=
| poll1_17=
| poll1_18=
| poll1_19=
| poll1_20=
| poll2title = Coaches
| poll2firstweek = 0
| poll2lastweek = 13
| poll2_0=RV
| poll2_1=RV
| poll2_2=RV
| poll2_3=RV
| poll2_4=RV
| poll2_5=RV
| poll2_6=24
| poll2_7=20
| poll2_8=19
| poll2_9=18
| poll2_10=21
| poll2_11=18
| poll2_12=24
| poll2_13=23
| poll2_14=
| poll2_15=
| poll2_16=
| poll2_17=
| poll2_18=
| poll2_19=
| poll2_20=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Samford Bulldogs football navbox}}
Category:Samford Bulldogs football seasons
{{Collegefootball-2016-season-stub}}