SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024
TIME WATCH SERIES
#20/23 UT MARTIN at #1/1 Montana State
2:00pm CT ESPN+
Montana State leads series, 1-0
Winner plays Idaho/Lehigh Winner in Quarterfinals on Dec. 13/14
2-MINUTE OFFENSE
OPENING KICKOFF: UT Martin is the first Big South-OVC Association member to advance in the FCS Playoffs, as the Skyhawks won at No. 16 seed New Hampshire, 41-10, to reach the Second Round. UTM is in the Second Round for the first time since 2021 and facing the same opponent from that season — Montana State.
1st DOWN: UT Martin is the first Big South-OVC Association member to play the No. 1-ranked FCS team, as the Skyhawks visit #1/1 Montana State in Bozeman on Saturday. The previous highest ranked opponent an Association member played was No. 2 — North Dakota State, which was this season when Co-Champion Tennessee State traveled to Fargo in Week 2.
2nd DOWN: UT Martin’s 31-point First Round Playoff win over New Hampshire was the largest margin of victory of the eight First Round contests. The Skyhawks were one of three teams to earn a Playoff road victory
3rd DOWN: UT Martin allowed a season-low 124 yards of offense in its First Round win over New Hampshire. The Skyhawks held UNH to 53 net rushing yards and 71 passing yards. UTM has limited six of its last seven opponents to less than 100 net rushing yards.
4th DOWN: UT Martin is seeking its first-ever trip to the FCS Quarterfinals. The last OVC member to reach the Quarterfinals was Jacksonville State in 2020, while the last Big South member to reach the Round of 8 was Kennesaw State in 2018.
OVERTIME: Southeast Missouri picked up its first conference championship since 2022, and its fourth overall (2010, 2019, 2022 and 2024) … Tennessee State picked up its first conference championship since 1999 and third overall (1998, 1999 and 2024) … Tennessee Tech picked up its first conference title since 2011, and 11th overall (1952, 1953, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1975, 2011 and 2024).
SLANT ROUTES
* CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Buccaneers concluded the season against an FBS opponent for the first time since 2021 … CSU suffered five losses this year by one possession for a combined total of 16 points (3.2 average).
* EASTERN ILLINOIS: The Panthers concluded the season with two wins in their final four games … Eastern Illinois finished third in the Big SouthOVC in passing offense at 266.17.
* GARDNER-WEBB: The Runnin’ Bulldogs concluded the season on the road for the first time since the 2021 campaign … GWU suffered five losses this year by one possession for a combined total of 18 points (3.6 average).
* LINDENWOOD: In the season finale, the Lions nearly knocked off their second nationally-ranked foe … Lindenwood finished with a .500 conference record for the first time as an FCS program.
* SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: The Redhawks made their fifth Playoff appearance this year, which was their fourth trip since the 2018 season.
* TENNESSEE STATE: The Tigers won nine games for the first time since 2013 when TSU was 10-4 and finished 6-2 in conference action … Tennessee State made its fourth Playoff appearance this year, and first since 2013.
* TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles concluded the season with their first 5-game win streak since winning 5-straight across the 2000 (4) and 2001 (1) seasons … TTU’s seven victories this year were its most since finishing 7-4 in 2011 as OVC Co-Champions.
* UT MARTIN: The Skyhawks won their fourth consecutive conference title this year and have advanced in the Playoffs for the second-straight time. UTM reached the Second Round in its last appearance in 2021 and is 2-2 all-time in the postseason — which have all been road contests.
* WESTERN ILLINOIS: The Leathernecks posted their most overall wins and conference victories since 2018 when WIU finished 5-6 overall and 4-4 in Missouri Valley games.
CONFERENCE NOTEBOOK
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE
UT Martin earned a convincing 41-10 First Round Playoff victory at New Hampshire to become the first Big South-OVC Association member to advance in the postseason. In the win, UTM did not allow an offense touchdown. The Skyhawks have now won nine games in a season under head coach JASON SIMPSON for the third time during his 19-year tenure.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The Association is facing a Big Sky Conference opponent for the second time in the Playoffs this Saturday, as the first time was last week in the First Round. The league is 1-3 all-time in the postseason in its 2-year history, and its opponents have hailed from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (Illinois State, 0-1), Coastal Athletic Association (New Hampshire, 1-0), Big Sky Conference (Montana, 0-1) and the SoCon (Mercer, 0-1).
NATIONAL BAROMETER
The Association is now 13-12 against non-conference FCS opponents this season following the First Round of the FCS Playoffs. The Big South-OVC completed the regular-season 12-10 (54.5 percent) against non-conference FCS opponents, which included two wins among six contests against nationally-ranked foes. Charleston Southern earned the league’s first victory of the season against a Top 25 squad when the Buccaneers defeated then-No. 15/16 Furman, 24-20, in Week 2. Two weeks later, SEMO downed then-No. 7/7 Southern Illinois for the Association’s first-ever triumph over a Top 10 program. In 2023, the Association was 20-15 against out-of-conference foes in the regular-season.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Big South-OVC is now 2-3 all-time when a nationally-ranked Association member plays a nationally-ranked non-conference foe. No. 20/23 UT Martin picked up the second win in that category with its First Round victory over No. 19/24 New Hampshire. Back in Week 4, SEMO recorded the Association’s first-ever win featuring a ranked Big South-OVC team against a ranked nonconference opponent, as the then-No. 21/21 Redhawks won at then-No. 7/7 Southern Illinois, 38-21. It was just the second-ever head-to-head match-up of a ranked Big South-OVC squad against a ranked out-of-conference foe, as the first was between the same two squads last season.
THREE-POINT STANCE
The Big South-OVC is one of five FCS conferences with three teams in the 2024 Playoffs, as Southeast Missouri, UT Martin and Tennessee State represented the league in the postseason. Meanwhile, all three schools entered the Playoffs nationally-ranked for the second-straight week — but it was the first time three members appeared in both National Top 25 rankings. Overall, the conference had multiple squads rated in the national polls seven times this season, and a total of 11 times in the two-year history of the Association.
TENNESSEE RIVER
Tennessee State’s four 40-point games this season were its most times scoring 40+ points in a campaign since five times in 2001. The 2024 Tigers scored 40 points each month of the season — with the first three times being the same exact point total — 41 vs. Mississippi Valley State on Aug. 31; 41 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 14, and 41 vs. Eastern Illinois on Oct. 12. TSU scored a season-high 45 points in Week 11 at Western Illinois.
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
In the 36 Association-conference games played in 2024, the home team won 23 times (63.89 winning percentage), while the overall average margin of victory was 13.19 points. Sixteen contests — or 44.44 percent — were one possession decisions. The 36 games had a combined point total of 1,959, for a per game average of 54.42 points. Last season, the 30 Big South-OVC Association-conference games were decided by 16.10 points and averaged 48.83 combined points (1,465 point scored).
THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS
UT Martin has established a Big South-OVC Association single-season record with four interception return touchdowns this season, as well as records for most interceptions (19) and INT return yards (319). Skyhawks LB TEVIN SHIPP owns two of those four pick-6’s, which ties the Association record as well. Meanwhile, Big South-OVC Association members have combined for 16 defensive touchdowns through the First Round of the FCS Playoffs (11 interception returns and 5 fumble returns). Last year, the 10-team Association membership combined for 19 defensive TDs (12 INT, 6 FUM).
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION…
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN – The Buccaneers suffered through the first 0-8 conference season in program history … CSU also suffered five single-possession defeats — four of which were Association games, and fell in those games by a combined 16 points (3.2 average) … In the Bucs’ season-finale loss at Florida State, KALEB JACKSON was 22-of-32 passing for 218 yards and a touchdown, as he connected with LANDON SAUERS on a 7-yard pass play that closed out the game’s scoring. DAVION WILLIAMS totaled eight tackles along with 2.5 TFL to finish the season with 10.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
EASTERN ILLINOIS – RB JAY PEARSON scored the Panthers’ lone touchdown in the season-finale defeat at Tennessee Tech, as his 2-yard rush into the end zone capped his 69-yard effort for the day. He had a long rush of 59 yards in the contest. QB PIERCE HOLLEY left the game with an injury but was still 14-of-20 for 129 yards. He finished the year with 3,125 passing yards to rank third in the Association and eighth in FCS. COOPER WILLMAN caught nine passes for 86 yards, and ANTHONY SHOCKEY led the defense with 11 stops.
GARDNER-WEBB – The Runnin’ Bulldogs lost for the first time this season scoring at least 28 points and allowed their most offensive yards in the season-finale at Western Illinois. The game was tied at 28-28 until WIU scored three times in the final quarter. QB TYLER RIDELL was 23-of-35 passing for 234 yards and three scores, with RB QUASEAN HOLMES catching six balls for 56 yards and two touchdowns.
LINDENWOOD – Lindenwood suffered its third Association loss by one possession in the season-finale against UT Martin. JARED RHODES’ 13-yard touchdown run with :32 remaining forced overtime. QB NATE GLANTZ was 28-of46 passing for 348 yards and a touchdown and led the Lions with 42 rushing yards. WR JEFF CALDWELL had eight receptions for 99 yards, which included a 21-yard TD grab. He caught a touchdown in seven games this season.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI – The Redhawks lost their Playoff game to Illinois State by one possession despite turning the ball over eight times. QB PAXTON DeLAURENT was 48-of-85 passing for 567 yards and four touchdowns but threw five picks. Three players gained 100 yards receiving — DONNIE CHEERS (12 for 119), CAM PEDRO (11 for 149) and TRISTAN SMITH (10 for 139). DORIAN ANDERSON had four receptions for 81 yards and caught two TDs to take over the Association lead with 12. The Redhawks held the Redbirds to 322 yards of offense (45 net rushing yards). LB BRYCE NORMAN finished with 11 tackles for his league-leading seventh game with 10-plus tackles.
TENNESSEE STATE – The Tigers lost their Playoff game at Montana after rallying from a 27-6 deficit and got within seven points at 34-27 with 3:03 remaining. QB DRAYLEN ELLIS was 29-of-39 passing for 296 yards and two touchdowns and added an 11-yard run for a score. It was his fifth-straight multi-TD pass game and eighth of the season, and his 24 TD passes rank second in the Association. Ellis connected with KARATE BRENSON 11 times for 122 yards and two scoring strikes (3 and 15 yards). On defense, SANDERS ELLIS made 10 tackles (seven solo), had 3.0 TFL including a sack, and recovered two fumbles and returned them for 35 yards.
TENNESSEE TECH – Tennessee Tech won its fifth consecutive game with its 23-6 win over Eastern Illinois in the season-finale. During the 5-game win streak, the TTU defense permitted just 65 points (13.0 average), 1,194 offensive yards (238.8 average) and 332 net yards rushing (66.4 average) in that span. The Golden Eagles finished the 2024 campaign holding their last three opponents to less than 10 points (7-9-6) … In the win over EIU, JALEN MITCHELL rushed for 131 yards and K DOM LeBLANC made three fi eld goals (46, 20, 22). TTU finished with 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage … Tech finished the season as the Association leader in rushing defense with a conference-record 82.9 yards allowed, which ranks second in FCS.
UT MARTIN UT – The Skyhawks won their Playoff game behind 20 unanswered points after the game was tied at 7-7 with 6:45 remaining in the opening quarter. After New Hampshire kicked a field goal in the third quarter, UTM outscored UNH 14-0 in the fourth stanza for the final margin. QB KINKEAD DENT was 17-of-26 passing for 246 yards, and UT Martin rushed 52 times for 236 yards and five TDs in the First Round victory … The Skyhawks have scored at least 40 points in a game six times this season and have held nine opponents to less than 100 net yards rushing … RB PATRICK SMITH is the Association leader in touchdowns (14) and rushing yards (1,194). He has scored a TD in nine of his 13 appearances this season.
WESTERN ILLINOIS – QB NATHAN LAMB finishes the 2024 season as the Association’s second-leading player in total offense at 306.17 yards per game, as well as second in passing yards with 3,332 … In the final six games of the year, the Leathernecks averaged 37.2 points and 515.0 yards of offense as the squad finished first overall in the conference in total offense (427.5) and second in both passing offense (304.33) and scoring offense (31.00).
