2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season

American college football season January 2016 December 2025 2015 NCAA logo.svg 125 August 29 – November 21 November 28 – December 19 January 9, 2016 Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas North Dakota State Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp Norfolk State linebacker Deon King The 2015 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 season began on August 29, 2015, and concluded with the 2016 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game played on January 9, 2016, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. North Dakota State won its fifth consecutive title, defeating Jacksonville State, 37–10. Conference changes and new programs 2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment School 2014 conference 2015 conferenceCharlotteFCS Independent C–USA (FBS)East Tennessee StateRevived programFCS IndependentKennesaw StateNew programBig South In addition, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced that they would decline their automatic bid for the FCS National Championship playoff from 2015 onwards. The conference's champion will now participate in the Celebration Bowl against the winners of the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game (the SWAC having abstained from the playoff since 1998 due to its conference season not ending until after the draw has been released), serving as the de facto national championship game for HBCUs. MEAC and SWAC teams who do not participate in the Celebration Bowl may still receive at-large bids to the FCS Championship. FCS team wins over FBS teams Italics denotes FBS teams. no no September 4 no 20 Fordham Army Michie Stadium West Point, New York no 37–35 22,523 FCS wins vs. FBS teams: All-time victories, upsets, wins vs. ranked teams https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/fcs-wins-vs-fbs-teams-all-time-victories-upsets NCAA.com September 7, 2025 October 2, 2025 September 5 no North Dakota Wyoming War Memorial Stadium Laramie, Wyoming no 24–13 23,669 September 5 no Portland State Washington State Martin Stadium Pullman, Washington no 24–17 24,302 September 5 no 16 South Dakota State Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, Kansas no 41–38 30,144 September 19 no Furman UCF Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, Florida no 16–15 36,484 September 26 no 9 James Madison SMU Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, Texas no 48–45 22,314 October 3 no 18 Liberty Georgia State Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia no 41–33 17,765 October 10 no 25 Portland State North Texas Apogee Stadium Denton, Texas no 66–7 19,801 November 21 no 25 The Citadel South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, South Carolina SEC Nation no 23–22 77,241 STATS poll released prior to the game Portland State became the first FCS team to defeat two FBS teams in the same season since the 2007 North Dakota State Bison football team.FCS Portland State Beat North Texas So Badly, the Mean Green Immediately Fired Their Head Coach Rodger Sherman https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/10/10/9494755/portland-state-vikings-football-washington-state-north-texas-fcs-win-records SB Nation October 10, 2015 July 15, 2026 Additionally, the Vikings' 59 point win over North Texas is the largest margin of victory by an FCS team over an FBS team.North Texas' Dan McCarney Fired Following Mean Green's 66–7 Loss to FCS School Brett Vito http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/headlines/20151010-north-texas-dan-mccarney-fired-following-mean-green-s-66-7-loss-to-fcs-school.ece The Dallas Morning News October 10, 2015 July 15, 2026 Conference standings Conference summaries Championship games ConferenceChampionRunner-upScoreOffensive Player of the YearDefensive Player of the YearCoach of the YearSWACAlcorn StateGrambling State49–21Johnathan Williams(Grambling)Kourtney Berry(Alabama State)Broderick Fobbs(Grambling) Other conference winners Note: Records are regular-season only, and do not include playoff games. ConferenceChampionRecordOffensive Player of the YearDefensive Player of the YearCoach of the YearBig SkySouthern Utah8–3 (7–1)Cooper Kupp(Eastern Washington)James Cowser(Southern Utah)Bruce Barnum(Portland State)Big SouthCharleston Southern9–2 (6–0)De'Angelo Henderson(Coastal Carolina)Chima Uzowihe(Liberty)Jamey Chadwell(Charleston Southern)CAAJames MadisonRichmondWilliam & Mary9–2 (6–2)8–3 (6–2)8–3 (6–2)Vad Lee(James Madison)DeAndre Houston-Carson(William & Mary)Victor Ochi(Stony Brook)Danny Rocco(Richmond)IvyDartmouthHarvardPenn9–1 (6–1)9–1 (6–1)7–3 (6–1)Scott Hosch(Harvard)Tyler Drake(Yale)Ray Priore(Penn)MEACBethune-CookmanNorth Carolina A&TNorth Carolina Central9–2 (7–1)9–2 (7–1)8–3 (7–1)Tarik Cohen(North Carolina A&T)Javon Hargrave(South Carolina State)Terry Sims(Bethune-Cookman)MVFCIllinois StateNorth Dakota State9–2 (7–1)9–2 (7–1)Marshaun Coprich(Illinois State)Deiondre' Hall(Northern Iowa)Bob Nielson(Western Illinois)NECDuquesne8–3 (5–1)Ricardo McCray(Bryant)Christian Kuntz(Duquesne)Chris Villarrial(Saint Francis)OVCJacksonville State10–1 (8–0)Eli Jenkins(Jacksonville State)Dino Fanti(Eastern Illinois)Noah Spence(Eastern Kentucky)John Grass(Jacksonville State)PatriotColgate7–4 (6–0)Chase Edmonds(Fordham)Clayton Ewell(Bucknell)Dan Hunt(Colgate)PioneerDaytonSan Diego10–1 (7–1)9–2 (7–1)Austin Gahafer(Morehead State)Donald Payne(Stetson)Rick Chamberlin(Dayton)SouthernChattanoogaThe Citadel8–3 (6–1)8–3 (6–1)Jacob Huesman(Chattanooga)Mitchell Jeter(The Citadel)Mike Houston(The Citadel)SouthlandMcNeese State10–0 (9–0)Kade Harrington(Lamar)Wallace Scott(McNeese State)Matt Viator(McNeese State) a Playoff qualifiers Automatic berths for conference champions ConferenceTeamAppearanceLast bidResultBig Sky ConferenceSouthern Utah2nd2013First Round (L – Sam Houston State)Big South ConferenceCharleston Southern1st––Colonial Athletic AssociationRichmond 10th2014Second Round (L – Coastal Carolina)Missouri Valley Football ConferenceNorth Dakota State6th2014National Champions (W – Illinois State)Northeast ConferenceDuquesne1st––Ohio Valley ConferenceJacksonville State6th2014Second Round (L – Sam Houston State)Patriot LeagueColgate10th2012First Round (L – Wagner) Pioneer Football LeagueDayton1st––Southern ConferenceChattanooga3rd2014Quarterfinals (L – New Hampshire)Southland ConferenceMcNeese State16th2013Second Round (L – Jacksonville State) At large qualifiers ConferenceTeamAppearanceLast bidResultBig Sky ConferenceMontana24th2014Second Round (L – Eastern Washington)Portland State2nd2000First Round (L – Delaware)Big South ConferenceCoastal Carolina6th2014Quarterfinals (L – North Dakota State)Colonial Athletic AssociationJames Madison11th2014First Round (L – Liberty)New Hampshire14th2014Semifinals (L – Illinois State)William & Mary10th2010Second Round (L – Georgia Southern)Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceNoneMissouri Valley Football ConferenceIllinois State6th2014Championship Game (L – North Dakota State)Northern Iowa18th2014Second Round (L – Illinois State)South Dakota State5th2014Second Round (L – North Dakota State)Western Illinois10th2010Second Round (L – Appalachian State)Northeast ConferenceNoneOhio Valley ConferenceEastern Illinois16th2013Quarterfinals (L – Towson)Patriot LeagueFordham5th2014Second Round (L – New Hampshire)Pioneer Football LeagueNoneSouthern ConferenceThe Citadel4th1992Quarterfinals (L – Youngstown State)Southland ConferenceSam Houston State9th2014Semifinals (L – North Dakota State)Southwestern Athletic ConferenceNone Abstentions Ivy League – Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – North Carolina A&T Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alcorn State Postseason Bowl game GameDate/TVLocationWinning TeamLosing TeamScoreOffensive MVPDefensive MVPCelebration BowlDecember 19ABCGeorgia DomeAtlanta, GeorgiaNorth Carolina A&T10–2 (7–1)Alcorn State Braves9–4 (7–2)41–34Tarik Cohen(RB, North Carolina A&T)Denzel Jones(LB, North Carolina A&T) NCAA Division I playoff bracket y y First RoundNovember 28Campus sites Second RoundDecember 5Campus sites QuarterfinalsDecember 11 and 12Campus sites SemifinalsDecember 18 and 19Campus sites National ChampionshipJanuary 9Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas Chattanooga* 50 Fordham 20 Coastal Carolina* 38 The Citadel 41 Sam Houston State* 42 Southern Utah 39 New Hampshire* 20 Colgate 27 Dayton* 7 Western Illinois 24 William & Mary* 52 Duquesne 49 Montana* 24 South Dakota State 17 Northern Iowa* 53 Eastern Illinois 17 1 Jacksonville State* 41† Chattanooga 35 8 Charleston Southern* 14 The Citadel 6 4 McNeese State* 29 Sam Houston State 34 5 James Madison* 38 Colgate 44 2 Illinois State* 36 Western Illinois 19 7 Richmond* 48 William & Mary 13 3 North Dakota State* 37 Montana 6 6 Portland State* 17 Northern Iowa 29 1 Jacksonville State* 58 8 Charleston Southern 38 Sam Houston State* 48 Colgate 21 2 Illinois State* 27 7 Richmond 39 3 North Dakota State* 23 Northern Iowa 13 1 Jacksonville State* 62 Sam Houston State 10 7 Richmond 7 3 North Dakota State* 33 1 Jacksonville State 10 3 North Dakota State 37 * Home team    † Overtime    Winner Updated stadiums Home facilities for the two new FCS programs in the 2015 season: East Tennessee State played at Kermit Tipton Stadium, located on the campus of Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee.http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Local/2014/11/25/ETSU-looks-to-Science-Hill-for-home-field-advantage-over-next-2-seasons Nathan Baker ETSU looks to Science Hill for home field advantage over next 2 seasons Johnson City Press November 25, 2014 May 13, 2018 Kennesaw State played on campus at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, capacity 8,318 (planned expansion to over 10,000). Coaching changes Preseason and in-season This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2015. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2015, see 2014 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes. SchoolOutgoing coachDateReasonReplacementJackson StateHarold JacksonOctober 7FiredDerrick McCall (interim)Ray Coleman JSU fires Harold Jackson as football coach http://www.wapt.com/sports/jsu-fires-harold-jackson-as-football-coach/35686168 WAPT October 7, 2015 May 13, 2018Tony HughesAntonio Morales Jackson State hires Tony Hughes as next coach http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/jackson-state/2015/12/14/report-jsu-plans-hire-tony-hughes-next-coach/77275104/ The Clarion-Ledger December 14, 2015 May 13, 2018 End of season SchoolOutgoing coachDate announcedReasonReplacementSouth DakotaJoe Glenn Joe Glenn (American football)November 22RetiredMick Garry USD's Joe Glenn to retire http://www.argusleader.com/story/sports/college/university-of-south-dakota/2015/11/22/usds-joe-glenn-retire/76224742/ Argus Leader November 22, 2015 May 13, 2018Bob NielsonBrad Pautsch South Dakota AD Herbster finds new football coach at conference rival December 16, 2015 http://www.ktiv.com/story/30770668/2015/12/16/south-dakota-ad-herbster-finds-new-football-coach-at-conference-rival KTIV May 13, 2018Austin PeayKirby CannonNovember 23FiredAutumn Allison Austin Peay football coach Cannon is out http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/sports/college/apsu/football/2015/11/23/apsu-football-coach-cannon-out/76282302/ The Leaf Chronicle November 23, 2015 May 13, 2018Will HealyWill Healy, head football coach http://letsgopeay.com/coaches.aspx?rc=484&path=football Austin Peay Governors May 13, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20170622010028/http://letsgopeay.com/coaches.aspx?rc=484&path=football June 22, 2017 deadMontana StateRob AshNovember 23FiredJon Maletz MSU ousts Ash as head football coach https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/montana_state_university/msu-fires-head-football-coach-rob-ash/article_70470436-318d-53a1-a07c-61f30d377f56.html Bozeman Daily Chronicle November 23, 2015 May 13, 2018 Jeff ChoateJeff Choate Joins Montana State University as Bobcat Head Football Coach http://msubobcats.com/news/2015/12/4/FB_1204153650.aspx?path=football May 13, 2018Eastern KentuckyDean HoodNovember 23FiredMark Cornelison EKU Relieves Dean Hood As Head Football Coach http://www.ekusports.com/news/2015/11/23/FOOTBALL_1123154315.aspx EKU Athletics November 23, 2015 May 13, 2018Mark Elder Mark Elder (American football)Josh Moore ‘Humbled’ Mark Elder introduced as new Eastern Kentucky football coach http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/article49079410.html Lexington Herald Leader December 10, 2015 May 13, 2018MaineJack Cosgrove Jack Cosgrove (American football)November 24Transferred to Senior Associate Director of Athletics for UMaineJack Cosgrove to transfer to Senior Associate Director of Athletics for UMaine https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2015/11/24/jack-cosgrove-to-transfer-into-senior-associate-director-of-athletics-role/ GoBlackBears.com November 24, 2015 May 13, 2018Joe HarasymiakPete Warner UMaine selects new head football coach https://bangordailynews.com/2015/12/16/sports/umaine-names-joe-harasymiak-new-head-football-coach/ Bangor Daily News December 16, 2015 May 13, 2018Texas SouthernDarrell AsberryNovember 29ResignedMark Berman Darrell Asberry resigns as head football coach at Texas Southern http://www.fox26houston.com/sports/darrell-asberry-resigns-as-head-football-coach-at-texas-southern KRIV November 29, 2015 May 13, 2018Michael HaywoodTexas Southern hiring Michael Haywood as football coach USA Today AP https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/12/03/texas-southern-hiring-michael-haywood-as-football-coach/76737114/ May 13, 2018Southern IllinoisDale LennonNovember 30FiredZach Barnett Southern Illinois head coach Dale Lennon will not return http://footballscoop.com/news/southern-illinois-head-coach-dale-lennon-will-not-return/ Football Scoop May 13, 2018Nick HillDale Lennon Fired/Nick Hill hired as SIU's football coach http://thesouthern.com/dale-lennon-fired-nick-hill-hired-as-siu-s-football/article_56a9695c-7cfd-5398-acd6-e99300565a2d.html The Southern Illinoisan May 13, 2018Tennessee TechWatson Brown American footballDecember 2RetiredMike Organ Watson Brown retires as a college football coach https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2015/12/02/report-watson-brown-tech/76668686/ The Tennessean December 2, 2015 May 13, 2018Marcus SatterfieldSatterfield selected Tennessee Tech's new coach http://columbiadailyherald.com/sports/college/satterfield-selected-tennessee-tech-s-new-coach Columbia Daily Herald January 4, 2016 May 13, 2018 JacksonvilleKerwin BellDecember 3FiredGene Frenette Kerwin Bell out as Jacksonville University football coach http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/college/jacksonville-dolphins/2015-12-03/story/kerwin-bell-out-jacksonville-university Florida Times Union December 3, 2015 May 13, 2018Ian ShieldsJeff Elliott Coach Ian Shields bringing new approach to JU football http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/jacksonville-dolphins/2015-12-08/story/coach-ian-shields-bringing-new-approach-ju Florida Times Union December 8, 2015 May 13, 2018FordhamJoe MoorheadDecember 12Hired as offensive coordinator by Penn Statehttp://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/14350817/penn-state-hires-joe-moorhead-new-offensive-coordinator Joe Moorhead to take over Nittany Lions' offense ESPN.com ESPN December 12, 2015 May 13, 2018Andrew BreinerAndrew Breiner Named Head Football Coach at Fordham http://fordhamsports.com/news/2015/12/17/FB_1217152411.aspx Fordham Sports December 17, 2015 May 13, 2018McNeese StateMatt ViatorDecember 14Hired as head coach by Louisiana–MonroeMatt Viator named head football coach at ULM http://www.ulm.edu/news/2015/matt-viator-named-head-football-coach-at-ulm.html ulm.edu December 14, 2015 May 13, 2018Lance GuidryLance Guidry named McNeese head coach http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/2015/12/17/lance-guidry-named-mcneese-head-coach/77505772/ The Advertiser December 17, 2015 May 13, 2018Western Illinois Bob NielsonDecember 16Hired as head coach by South DakotaCharlie FisherWestern Illinois tabs Charlie Fisher new football coach http://www.pjstar.com/article/20160102/SPORTS/160109957 Peoria Journal-Star January 2, 2016 May 13, 2018 Southern UtahEd LambDecember 26Hired as assistant head coach by BYUSUU football: Ed Lamb accepts position at BYU https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2015/12/26/suu-football-ed-lamb-accepts-position-byu/77919022/ The Spectrum Gannett Company December 26, 2015 May 13, 2018Demario WarrenJames MadisonEverett WithersJanuary 7Hired as head coach by Texas StateMike Houston Mike Houston (American football)Scott Eisberg and Sam Tyson Citadel head football coach Houston leaving for James Madison http://abcnews4.com/sports/college-football/citadel-head-football-coach-houston-leaving-for-james-madison WCIV May 13, 2018The CitadelMike Houston Mike Houston (American football)January 18Hired as head coach by James MadisonBrent Thompson Brent Thompson (American football)Jeff Hartsell January 18, 2016 Citadel names Brent Thompson new head football coach http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20160119/PC20/160119295/1032/citadel-names-brent-thompson-new-head-football-coach https://web.archive.org/web/20160123035447/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20160119/PC20/160119295/1032/citadel-names-brent-thompson-new-head-football-coach dead January 23, 2016 The Post and Courier May 13, 2018Morgan StateLee HullFebruary 8, 2016ResignedFred Farrier (interim) See also 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season 2015 NCAA Division II football season 2015 NCAA Division III football season References