2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season
{{Short description|American college football season}}
{{for|the 2024 FBS season|2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA Division I FCS season
| year = 2024
| image = NCAA logo.svg
| image_caption =
| number_of_teams = 129
| preseason_stats =
| regular_season = August 24 – December 7
| playoffs = November 30 – December 21
| nc_date = January 6, 2025
| championship = Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
| champions = North Dakota State
| payton = Tommy Mellott, QB, Montana State
| buchanan = David Walker, DE, Central Arkansas
| stats_poll =
| coaches_poll =
}}
The 2024 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 regular season began on August 24 and ended in November. The postseason began in November and, aside from any scheduled all-star games, ended on January 6, 2025 with the 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.{{cite web|title=FCS Championship: Future dates and sites|url=https://www.ncaa.com/championships/football/fcs/future-info|website=NCAA.com|access-date=January 24, 2024}}
Due to the structure of the calendar in 2024, FCS teams were allowed to play 12 regular-season games instead of the normal 11.{{cite web |url=https://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D124.pdf |title=Bylaw 17.11.6.1: Number of Contests (FBS/FCS): Maximum Limitations – Institutional |work=2023–24 NCAA Division I Manual |publisher=NCAA |page=263 |date=August 5, 2023 |access-date=August 2, 2024 |quote=In championship subdivision football . . . Twelve football contests shall be permissible during those years in which there are 14 Saturdays from the first permissible playing date through the last playing date in November (e.g., 2024, 2025).}}
Notable headlines
- April 19 - The NCAA approved numerous technology rules such as teams having the option of using tablets to view in-game video for the 2024 season. {{Cite web |date=2024-04-19 |title=Technology rules approved in football |url=https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/4/19/media-center-technology-rules-approved-in-football.aspx |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=NCAA.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=NCAA Football Sideline Tablet Technology Ruling Updates |url=https://www.gamestrat.com/blog/ncaa-football-sideline-tablet-technology-ruling-updates |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.gamestrat.com |language=en}}
- Numerous conferences such as the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), Big Sky Conference, United Athletic Conference, Patriot League, Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference partnered with a company called [https://www.gamestrat.com/ GameStrat] for their teams to utilize in-game video technology. {{Cite web |title=Missouri Valley Football Conference Chooses GameStrat - Sideline Tablet Technology |url=https://www.gamestrat.com/blog/mvfc-chooses-gamestrat-sideline-tablet-technology |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.gamestrat.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Big Sky Football Conference Chooses GameStrat - Sideline Tablet Technology |url=https://www.gamestrat.com/blog/big-sky-football-conference-chooses-gamestrat-sideline-tablet-technology |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.gamestrat.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=United Athletic Conference Chooses GameStrat - Sideline Tablet Technology |url=https://www.gamestrat.com/blog/uac-chooses-gamestrat-sideline-tablet-technology |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.gamestrat.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Southwestern Athletic Conference Chooses GameStrat - Sideline Tablet Technology |url=https://www.gamestrat.com/blog/swac-chooses-gamestrat-sideline-tablet-technology |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.gamestrat.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Patriot League Chooses GameStrat - Sideline Tablet Technology |url=https://www.gamestrat.com/blog/patriot-league-chooses-gamestrat-sideline-tablet-technology |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.gamestrat.com |language=en}}
- 7 out of the final 8 playoff teams leveraged GameStrat's in-game video technology. {{Cite web |title=GameStrat: The Market Leader for In-Game Video Technology in NCAA D1 FCS Football |url=https://www.gamestrat.com/blog/gamestrat-the-market-leader-for-in-game-video-technology-in-ncaa-d1-fcs-football |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.gamestrat.com |language=en}}
- April 25 – The NCAA approved an increase in the number of seeded teams in the FCS playoff bracket from 8 to 16, effective for the 2024 season. The number of qualifying teams and the bracket format will remain otherwise unchanged.{{cite web|author=Herder, Sam|title=Seeded Teams In 24-Team FCS Playoff Bracket Increases From 8 To 16|url=https://herosports.com/fcs-playoffs-seed-16-bzbz/|website=HeroSports.com|date=April 25, 2024|access-date=May 9, 2024}}
- May 29 – Stephen F. Austin announced it would leave the United Athletic Conference (UAC) on July 1 to rejoin the Southland Conference (SLC) after a three-year absence.{{cite press release |url=https://www.southland.org/news/2024/5/29/general-sfa-athletics-accepts-invitation-to-join-southland-conference-in-2024-25.aspx |title=SFA Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25 |publisher=Southland Conference |date=May 29, 2024 |access-date=May 29, 2024}}
- October 9:{{cite press release |url=https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/10/9/media-center-di-council-approves-changes-to-notification-of-transfer-windows-in-basketball-football.aspx |title=DI Council approves changes to notification-of-transfer windows in basketball, football |publisher=NCAA |date=October 9, 2024 |access-date=October 9, 2024}}
- The NCAA Division I Council approved the recommended reduction of the FBS and FCS transfer portal to 30 days, though with a different schedule than recommended. The fall window, which opens on the Monday after the FBS conference championship games, will be open only for 20 days. A 10-day spring portal will open in mid-April.
- The Council also abolished the National Letter of Intent program effective immediately. Written offers of athletics aid will replace the NLI.
- The Council introduced a proposal that would shorten the transition periods for schools wishing to reclassify from Division II or Division III to Division I. The Council would approve this proposal at its January 2025 meeting, thereby reducing the transition periods for D-II and D-III schools by a year, respectively to three and four years.{{cite press release |url=https://www.ncaa.org/news/2025/1/15/media-center-division-i-adopts-new-reclassification-criteria.aspx |title=Division I adopts new reclassification criteria |publisher=NCAA |date=January 15, 2025 |access-date=January 16, 2025}}
- November 7 – Texas A&M University–Commerce announced a name change to East Texas A&M University, effective immediately.{{cite press release |url=https://www.tamuc.edu/texas-am-university-system-board-of-regents-approves-name-change-for-texas-am-university-commerce/ |title=Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Approves Name Change for Texas A&M University-Commerce |publisher=East Texas A&M University |date=November 7, 2024 |access-date=November 7, 2024}}
- December 18 - The Ivy League announced starting in the 2025 season, the league champion will participate in the NCAA Division I Championship.{{cite web |title=Ivy League To Begin Participating in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Starting With 2025 Season |url=https://ivyleague.com/news/2024/12/18/football-fb-fcs-announcement.aspx |website=The Ivy League |access-date=2024-12-18 |ref=IVY}}
Conference changes and new programs
Conference standings
| cellpadding="5"
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Big Sky Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Big South–OVC football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Coastal Athletic Association football standings}} |
| valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Ivy League football standings}}
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings}} |
| valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Northeast Conference football standings}}
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Patriot League football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Pioneer Football League standings}} |
| valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Southern Conference football standings}}
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Southland Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings}} |
| valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 United Athletic Conference standings}}
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2024 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings}} |
Playoff qualifiers
=Automatic berths for conference champions=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Conference !Team ! Record ! data-sort-type="number" |Appearance !Last bid !Result of last appearance | |||||
| Big Sky Conference | Montana State | 12–0 (8–0) | 14th | 2023 | Lost to North Dakota State in second round |
| Big South–OVC | Southeast Missouri State | 9–3 (6–2) | 5th | 2022 | Lost to Montana in first round |
| CAA Football | Richmond | 10–2 (8–0) | 14th | 2023 | Lost to Albany in second round |
| Missouri Valley Football Conference | South Dakota State | 10–2 (7–1) | 14th | 2023 | Won National Championship against Montana |
| Northeast Conference | Central Connecticut | 7–5 (5–1) | 3rd | 2019 | Lost to Albany in first round |
| Patriot League | Lehigh | 8–3 (5–1) | 12th | 2017 | Lost to Stony Brook in first round |
| Pioneer Football League | Drake | 8–2 (7–1) | 2nd | 2023 | Lost to North Dakota State in first round |
| Southern Conference | Mercer | 10–2 (7–1) | 2nd | 2023 | Lost to South Dakota State in second round |
| Southland Conference | Incarnate Word | 10–2 (7–0) | 4th | 2022 | Lost to North Dakota State in semifinal |
| United Athletic Conference | Abilene Christian | 8–4 (7–1) | 1st | N/A | N/A |
=At-large qualifiers=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Conference !Team ! Record ! data-sort-type="number" |Appearance !Last bid !Result of last appearance | |||||
| rowspan=4|Big Sky Conference | Idaho | 9–3 (6–2) | 14th | 2023 | Lost to Albany in quarterfinals |
| UC Davis | 10–2 (7–1) | 3rd | 2021 | Lost to South Dakota State in first round | |
| Montana | 8–4 (5–3) | 29th | 2023 | Lost to South Dakota State in National Championship | |
| Northern Arizona | 8–4 (6–2) | 7th | 2017 | Lost to San Diego in first round | |
| rowspan=2|Big South–OVC | UT Martin | 8–4 (6–2) | 3rd | 2021 | Lost to Montana State in second round |
| Tennessee State | 9–3 (6–2) | 7th | 2013 | Lost to Eastern Illinois in second round | |
| rowspan=3|CAA Football | New Hampshire | 8–4 (6–2) | 18th | 2022 | Lost to Holy Cross in second round |
| Villanova | 9–3 (6–2) | 16th | 2023 | Lost to South Dakota State in quarterfinals | |
| Rhode Island | 10–2 (7–1) | 4th | 1985 | Lost to Furman in quarterfinals | |
| rowspan=3|Missouri Valley Football Conference | North Dakota State | 10–2 (7–1) | 15th | 2023 | Lost to Montana in semifinal |
| South Dakota | 9–2 (7–1) | 4th | 2023 | Lost to North Dakota State in quarterfinals | |
| Illinois State | 9–3 (6–2) | 9th | 2019 | Lost to North Dakota State in quarterfinals | |
| rowspan=2|United Athletic Conference | Tarleton State | 9–3 (6–2) | 1st | N/A | N/A |
| Eastern Kentucky | 8–4 (6–2) | 22nd | 2022 | Lost to Gardner–Webb in second round |
=Abstentions=
Postseason
The FCS again features a 24-team postseason bracket: 10 teams decided via automatic bids issued to conference champions, and 14 at-large bids (see above). Where previously the top eight teams were seeded, the top 16 teams were seeded this year, a change from the 2023 season.
=Bowl game=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" |
| Date
!Time (EST) !Game !Site !Television !Teams !Affiliations !Results |
|---|
| Dec{{nbsp}}14
|Noon |Mercedes-Benz Stadium |Jackson State Tigers |{{nowrap|Jackson State 28 |
=NCAA Division I playoff bracket=
{{anchor|Bracket}}
{{24TeamBracket-Byes2|compact=y|nowrap=y
| RD1=First Round
November 30
Campus sites
USA: ESPN+, ESPN2
Canada: TSN+
| RD2=Second Round
December 7
Campus sites
ESPN+
| RD3=Quarterfinals
December 13/14
Campus sites
USA: ABC, ESPN, ESPN+
Canada: TSN+
| RD4=Semifinals
December 21
Campus sites
USA: ABC/ESPN+
Canada: TSN+
| RD5=National Championship
January 6
7 p.m. EST
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
USA: ESPN/ESPN+
Canada: TSN2/TSN+
| boldwinner = high
| RD1-seed1= 16
| RD1-team1 = New Hampshire
| RD1-score1= 10
| RD1-team2 = UT Martin
| RD1-score2= 41
| RD1-seed3= 9
| RD1-team3 = Richmond
| RD1-score3= 16
| RD1-team4 = Lehigh
| RD1-score4= 20
| RD1-seed5= 12
| RD1-team5 = Illinois State
| RD1-score5= 35
| RD1-team6 = Southeast Missouri State{{asterisk}}
| RD1-score6= 27
| RD1-seed7= 13
| RD1-team7 = Tarleton State
| RD1-score7= 43
| RD1-team8 = Drake
| RD1-score8= 29
| RD1-seed9= 14
| RD1-team9 = Montana
| RD1-score9 = 41
| RD1-team10 = Tennessee State
| RD1-score10= 27
| RD1-seed11= 11
| RD1-team11 = Villanova
| RD1-score11= 22
| RD1-team12 = Eastern Kentucky
| RD1-score12= 17
| RD1-seed13= 10
| RD1-team13 = Rhode Island
| RD1-score13= 21
| RD1-team14 = Central Connecticut
| RD1-score14= 17
| RD1-seed15= 15
| RD1-team15 = Abilene Christian
| RD1-score15= 24
| RD1-team16 = Northern Arizona
| RD1-score16= 0
| RD2-seed1 = 1
| RD2-team1 = Montana State
| RD2-score1= 49
| RD2-team2 = UT Martin
| RD2-score2= 17
| RD2-seed3 = 8
| RD2-team3 = Idaho
| RD2-score3= 34
| RD2-team4 = Lehigh
| RD2-score4= 13
| RD2-seed5 = 5
| RD2-team5 = UC Davis
| RD2-score5= 42
| RD2-seed6 = 12
| RD2-team6 = Illinois State
| RD2-score6= 10
| RD2-seed7 = 4
| RD2-team7 = South Dakota
| RD2-score7= 42
| RD2-seed8 = 13
| RD2-team8 = Tarleton State
| RD2-score8= 31
| RD2-seed9 = 3
| RD2-team9 = South Dakota State
| RD2-score9 = 35
| RD2-seed10 = 14
| RD2-team10 = Montana
| RD2-score10= 18
| RD2-seed11 = 6
| RD2-team11 = Incarnate Word
| RD2-score11= 13
| RD2-seed12 = 11
| RD2-team12 = Villanova
| RD2-score12= 6
| RD2-seed13 = 7
| RD2-team13 = Mercer
| RD2-score13= 17
| RD2-seed14 = 10
| RD2-team14 = Rhode Island
| RD2-score14= 10
| RD2-seed15 = 2
| RD2-team15 = North Dakota State
| RD2-score15= 51
| RD2-seed16 = 15
| RD2-team16 = Abilene Christian
| RD2-score16= 31
| RD3-seed1 = 1
| RD3-team1 = Montana State
| RD3-score1= 52
| RD3-seed2 = 8
| RD3-team2 = Idaho
| RD3-score2= 19
| RD3-seed3 = 4
| RD3-team3 = South Dakota
| RD3-score3= 35
| RD3-seed4 = 5
| RD3-team4 = UC Davis
| RD3-score4 = 21
| RD3-seed5 = 3
| RD3-team5 = South Dakota State
| RD3-score5= 55
| RD3-seed6 = 6
| RD3-team6 = Incarnate Word
| RD3-score6= 14
| RD3-seed7 = 2
| RD3-team7 = North Dakota State
| RD3-score7= 31
| RD3-seed8 = 7
| RD3-team8 = Mercer
| RD3-score8= 7
| RD4-seed1 = 1
| RD4-team1 = Montana State
| RD4-score1= 31
| RD4-seed2 = 4
| RD4-team2 = South Dakota
| RD4-score2= 17
| RD4-seed3 = 3
| RD4-team3 = South Dakota State
| RD4-score3= 21
| RD4-seed4 = 2
| RD4-team4 = North Dakota State
| RD4-score4= 28
| RD5-seed1 = 1
| RD5-team1 = Montana State
| RD5-score1= 32
| RD5-seed2 = 2
| RD5-team2 = North Dakota State
| RD5-score2= 35
}}
{{asterisk}} Hosted despite being the unseeded team (Illinois State unable to host due to facilities conflicts){{cite web |last1=Tock |first1=Olivia |last2=Randle |first2=Luke |title=SEMO Redhawks selected to host Illinois State in FCS Playoffs |url=https://www.kfvs12.com/2024/11/24/semo-redhawks-qualify-fcs-playoffs/ |website=KFVS-TV |access-date=November 26, 2024 |date=November 23, 2024}}
:Source:{{cite news |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/fcs-playoff-bracket-live-updates-selections-2024/6789f1d8fd728d6d6bea19c0 |title=FCS playoff bracket: Full list of selections, schedule and seeds for 2024 college football playoffs |first=Dan |last=Treacy |website=The Sporting News |date=November 24, 2024 |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}
Rankings
{{main|2024 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings}}
The top 25 from the Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches Polls.
=Pre-season polls=
| style="vertical-align:top;"
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !colspan=2| Stats Perform |
| Ranking
!Team |
|---|
| 1
| align=left| South Dakota State (52) |
| 2
| align=left| North Dakota State (3) |
| 3
| align=left| Montana |
| 4
| align=left| Montana State (1) |
| 5
| align=left| South Dakota |
| 6
| align=left| Villanova |
| 7
| align=left| Idaho |
| 8
| align=left| Sacramento State |
| 9
| align=left| Chattanooga |
| 10
| align=left| Southern Illinois |
| 11
| align=left| Central Arkansas |
| 12
| align=left| Furman |
| 13
| align=left| Richmond |
| 14
| align=left| Incarnate Word |
| 15
| align=left| William & Mary |
| 16
| align=left| Albany |
| 17
| align=left| Lafayette |
| 18
| align=left| UC Davis |
| 19
| align=left| Illinois State |
| 20
| align=left| Western Carolina |
| 21
| align=left| Tarleton State |
| 22
| align=left| Weber State |
| 23
| align=left| Nicholls |
| 24
| align=left| North Dakota |
| 25
| align=left| Youngstown State |
|
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=2| USA Today Coaches |
| Ranking
!Team |
|---|
| 1
| align=left| South Dakota State (25) |
| 2
| align=left| North Dakota State |
| 3
| align=left| Montana |
| 4
| align=left| Montana State |
| 5
| align=left| South Dakota |
| 6
| align=left| Villanova |
| 7
| align=left| Idaho |
| 8
| align=left| Chattanooga |
| 9
| align=left| Furman |
| 10
| align=left| Sacramento State |
| 11
| align=left| Southern Illinois |
| 12
| align=left| Richmond |
| 13
| align=left| Central Arkansas |
| 14
| align=left| Albany |
| 15
| align=left| Incarnate Word |
| 16
| align=left| William & Mary |
| 17
| align=left| UC Davis |
| 18
| align=left| Lafayette |
| 19
| align=left| Western Carolina |
| 20
| align=left| Illinois State |
| 21
| align=left| Tarleton State |
| 22
| align=left| North Dakota |
| 23
| align=left| Youngstown State |
| 24
| align=left| Nicholls |
| 25
| align=left| Florida A&M (1) |
|}
=Final rankings=
Kickoff games
The regular season began on Saturday, August 24 with four games in Week 0:
- FCS Kickoff (Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama): Southeast Missouri State 37, North Alabama 15
- Hawaii 35, Delaware State 14
- No. 4 Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
- MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta): Florida A&M 24, Norfolk State 23
Regular season top 10 matchups
Rankings reflect the Stats Perform Poll.
- Week 6
- No. 2 North Dakota State defeated No. 7 North Dakota, 41–17 (Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota)
- Week 7
- No. 3 Montana State defeated No. 7 Idaho, 38–7 (Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, Montana)
- Week 8
- No. 2 North Dakota State defeated No. 1 South Dakota State, 13–9 (Dakota Marker – Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota)
- Week 9
- No. 3 South Dakota State defeated No. 4 South Dakota, 20–17OT (Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, South Dakota)
- Week 11
- No. 4 UC Davis defeated No. 7 Montana, 30–14 (Washington–Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Montana)
- Week 12
- No. 2 Montana State defeated No. 4 UC Davis, 30–28 (UC Davis Health Stadium, Davis, California)
- Week 13
- No. 4 South Dakota defeated No. 1 North Dakota State, 29–28 (DakotaDome, Vermillion, South Dakota)
- No. 2 Montana State defeated No. 9 Montana, 34–11 (Brawl of the Wild – Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, Montana)
Upsets
This section lists instances of unranked teams defeating ranked teams during the season.
=Regular season=
During the regular season, thirty-four unranked teams defeated ranked teams.
- September 7, 2024
- Wofford 26, No. 14 Richmond 19
- Charleston Southern 24, No. 15 Furman 20
- Campbell 24, No. 17 Western Carolina 16
- September 14, 2024
- Lamar 17, No. 20 Weber State 16
- Duquesne 28, No. 21 Youngstown State 25
- Western Carolina 24, No. 22 Elon 17
- September 21, 2024
- Columbia 31, No. 18 Lafayette 20
- September 28, 2024
- Northern Arizona 34, No. 10 Sacramento State 16
- Maine 34, No. 21 Albany 20
- McNeese 28, No. 25 Weber State 26
- October 4, 2024
- Harvard 28, No. 21 New Hampshire 23
- October 5, 2024
- Weber State, 55, No. 8 Montana 48OT
- Towson 34, No. 12 William & Mary 27
- Houston Christian 43, No. 22 McNeese 22
- Chattanooga 17, No. 23 East Tennessee State 10
- October 12, 2024
- North Alabama 47, No. 10 Abilene Christian 34
- Missouri State 41, No. 16 Illinois State 7
- Eastern Washington 35, No. 18 Sacramento State 28
- Northern Colorado 21, No. 20 Weber State 17
- Stephen F. Austin 27, No. 22 Lamar 20
- October 19, 2024
- Maine 35, No. 5 Villanova 7
- Samford 55, No. 7 Mercer 35
- Jackson State 35, No. 25т Florida A&M 21
- October 26, 2024
- Youngstown State 41, No. 7 North Dakota 40OT
- Stony Brook 35, No. 16 William & Mary 13
- October 31, 2024
- South Carolina State 24, No. 19 North Carolina Central 21
- November 2, 2024
- Utah Tech 34, No. 11 Central Arkansas 21
- Eastern Kentucky 17, No. 13 Tarleton State 13
- Indiana State 35, No. 15 North Dakota 31
- Western Carolina 38, No. 18 Chattanooga 34
- Harvard 31, No. 22 Dartmouth 27
- UT Martin 28, No. 25 Tennessee State 21
- November 9, 2024
- Lindenwood 24, No. 6 Southeast Missouri State 12
- Delaware 24, No. 11 Rhode Island 21
- Eastern Kentucky 31, No. 16 Central Arkansas 24
- Elon 40, No. 20 William & Mary 36
- East Tennessee State 24, No. 22 Western Carolina 21
- November 16, 2024
- Monmouth 40, No. 9 Villanova 33
- New Hampshire 31, No. 16 Stony Brook 30
- Tennessee Tech 10, No. 18 UT Martin 9
- Samford 36, No. 19 Chattanooga 13
- Furman 24, No. 21 East Tennessee State 21
- Southern Utah 38, No. 24 Central Arkansas 31
- November 23, 2024
- Stephen F. Austin 32, No. 11 Abilene Christian 19
- Tennessee State 28, No. 12 Southeast Missouri State 21
- Yale 34, No. 17 Harvard 29
- Monmouth 55, No. 18 Stony Brook 47
- Central Connecticut 21, No. 19 Duquesne 14
=Postseason=
FCS team wins over FBS teams
- August 24:
- No. 4 Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
- September 7:
- Saint Francis (PA) 23, Kent State 17
- No. 7 Idaho 17, Wyoming 13
- Southern Utah 27, UTEP 24OT
- September 21:
- Monmouth 45, FIU 42
- September 28:
- UT Martin 24, Kennesaw State 13
Coaching changes
=Preseason and in-season=
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2024, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2024, see 2023 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| School
! Outgoing coach ! Date ! Reason ! Replacement |
|---|
=End of season=
This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.