THIS WEEK’S GAMES
(All times ET)
Week One
Thursday – Aug. 29
NO. 18/17 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT BUFFALO BULLS (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Buffalo, N.Y./UB Stadium
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Anthony Lima; Analyst – Jordan Reid
SERIES HISTORY: Lafayette and Buffalo will meet for the eighth time in series history, with the Leopards holding a 6-1 series advantage. Lafayette is 4-0 in Buffalo.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 19, 1998) – Buffalo 16, at Lafayette 14
FORDHAM RAMS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Bowling Green, Ohio/Doyt Perry Stadium
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Joey Lindstrom; Analyst – Ryan Cavanaugh
RADIO BROADCAST (WFUVSports.org/90.7 FM): PxP – Lou Orlando; Analyst – Evan Harkin
SERIES HISTORY: Fordham and Bowling Green will meet for the first time.
LAST MEETING: N/A
Friday – Aug. 30
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
West Point, N.Y./Michie Stadium
6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Dave Ryan; Analyst – Adam Breneman; Sideline – Tina Cervasio
RADIO BROADCAST (Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM/LVFoxSports): PxP – Matt Kerr; Analyst – Matt Markus and Connor Brown
SERIES HISTORY: Lehigh and Army West Point will meet for the 12th time in series history. The Mountain Hawks trail the series 8-2-1. Lehigh won the first meeting between the programs in 1893.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 9, 1995) – At Army 42, Lehigh 9
COLGATE RAIDERS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT MAINE BLACK BEARS (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
Orono, Maine
7 p.m. (FloSports)
BROADCAST (FloSports)
SERIES HISTORY: Colgate and Maine meet for the sixth time in series history, with the Raiders holding a 3-2 edge.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 10, 2022) – Colgate 21, at Maine 18
Saturday – Aug. 31
BUCKNELL BISON (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
Annapolis, Md./Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Noon (CBS Sports Network)
BROADCAST (CBS Sports Network): PxP – Carter Blackburn; Analyst – Randy Cross
SERIES HISTORY: Bucknell and Navy will meet for the 15th time in series history, all between 1898 and 1925. The Bison trail the series 9-4-1.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 14, 1925) – At Navy 13, Bucknell 7
DAVIDSON WILDCATS (0-0, 0-0 PIONEER) AT GEORGETOWN HOYAS (0-0, 0-0 PL)
Cooper Field/Washington, D.C
12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Jeremy Huber; Analyst – Christian Taylor
SERIES HISTORY: Georgetown and Davidson meet for the 14th time in series history. The Hoyas hold a 9-4 series advantage.
LAST MEETING: (Aug. 31, 2019) At Davidson 27, Georgetown 20
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT RHODE ISLAND RAMS (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
Meade Stadium/Kingston, R.I.
7 p.m. (FloSports)
BROADCAST (FloSports)
SERIES HISTORY: Holy Cross and Rhode Island will meet for the 11th time in series history. The Crusaders hold a 9-1 advantage in the series.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 3, 1988) At Holy Cross 49, Rhode Island 7
Patriot League Notebook
•This week kicks off the 39th season of Patriot League football, with all seven teams in action, including three games on ESPN+, two games on CBS Sports Network and two games on FloSports. League teams will meet four FBS opponents in Week One. •Defending League Champion Lafayette enters the 2024 season ranked No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and No. 18 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. Holy Cross is receiving votes in both polls. •2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll: 1. Lafayette, 2. Holy Cross, 3. Fordham, 4. Colgate, 5. Georgetown, 6. Lehigh, 7. Bucknell. •2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Major Awards: Offensive Player of the Year – Lafayette Jr. RB Jamar Curtis; Defensive Player of the Year – Fordham Sr., DL Matt Jaworski *Three League football student-athletes were selected to the 2024 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List for the FCS offensive player of the year, including Fordham’s C.J. Montes (Jr., QB), Holy Cross’s Jordan Fuller (Sr., RB) and Lafayette’s Curtis. •Two League players were selected to the 2024 Buck Buchanan Preseason Award Watch List for the FCS defensive player of the year, including Fordham’s James Conway (Sr., LB) and Lafayette’s Saiku White (Sr., S). •Holy Cross 5th OL Christo Kelly was one of 178 nominees for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, awarded since 1992 to college football athletes for their “good works” off the field. •Lehigh Gr. LB Mike DeNucci and Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller are nominees for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented annually to college football’s premier student-athlete.
Patriot League Notebook (WEEK ONE)
LAFAYETTE ENTERS THE SEASON NO. 17 AND 18 IN STATS PERFORM AND COACHES POLLS; HOLY CROSS RECEIVING VOTES IN BOTH
Lafayette, the reigning Patriot League champion, enters the 2024 season ranked No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and No. 18 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches Poll. The Leopards finished the 2023 season No. 21 in the Stats Perform Poll and No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll after a 9-3 overall record and a 5-1 League mark for a share of the League crown and an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs. Holy Cross enters the season receiving votes in both polls after finishing ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The Crusaders also received votes in the Stats Perform Poll after finishing 7-4 overall and 5-1 in League play to claim a share of the League title for a record fifth-straight season.
PATRIOT LEAGUE VICTORIES VS. FBS OPPONENTS
Since 2000, Patriot League football programs have recorded six victories over FBS (formerly I-A) teams. Holy Cross leads the League with three wins, defeating Buffalo, 40-37, in 2022 after beating UConn, 38-28, in 2021. The Crusaders also defeated Army West Point, 30-21, in 2002. Fordham outlasted Buffalo in a 40-37 shootout last season. Colgate and Lehigh also recorded victories against the Bulls, winning in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
CONWAY ENTERS SEASON AS FCS ACTIVE TACKLES LEADER
Fordham Sr. LB James Conway is the NCAA DI FCS active leader in total tackles, entering the 2024 season with 387. The Omaha, Neb. native ranks 10th in Patriot League history, 45 total tackles behind Holy Cross great Jacob Dobbs, who broke the League’s career tackles record during the 2023 season.
THREE OF THE FCS TOP-12 RUSHING LEADERS RETURN
Three returning Patriot League running backs finished among the FCS’s top-12 rushers when the 2023 season concluded. Lafayette So. RB Jamar Curtis finished second, averaging 132.7 yards per game, including a pair of 200-yard rushing performances. The Leopards boasted the No. 17 rushing offense (189.7) in the FCS. Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller finished 11th in the FCS in rushing average (104.6) and led the nation in rushing touchdowns (19). Fordham Sr. RB Julius Loughridge was one of four League players top eclipse 1,000 rushing yards, finishing 12th in the FCS with 104.2 rushing yards per game
LEOPARDS RANK NO. 13 IN CBS SPORTS FCS POWER RANKINGS
Ranked No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and No. 18 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, defending Patriot League champion Lafayette was picked No. 13 in the CBS Sports FCS Power Rankings, released weekly by analyst Emory Hunt. “The Leopards were one of the great stories of the 2023 season. They were solid on both sides of the ball and really could beat you any type of way,” Hunt noted. Future Patriot League associate member Richmond was ranked No. 17.
