Wayne Cavadi | NCAA.com | September 8, 2019 DII football: Week 1 schedule, scores, and what to watch Watch Daniel McCants rumble 99 yards to tie a DII football record Share The DII football season opened Thursday night and it was nothing short of exciting. Ferris State clung to a one-point win, Ouachita Baptist got a game-winning field goal to hold off Harding 16-14, and a kickoff return for the ages highlighted opening night. WATCH: You won't believe Minot State's wild, 104-yard kickoff return touchdown Reigning champion Valdosta State opened its season with a commanding win over Albany State, but it was the six DII football upsets over FCS programs that made headlines. Due to Hurricane Dorian, we have one more day of DII football this week as Florida Tech and Savannah State were moved to Sunday. DII vs. FCS UPSETS: We tracked every upset and here's how they happened | Kentucky State's first win since 2017 Week 1 DII football schedule Here's the complete schedule for the top 25 as well as those receiving votes on Sunday, as well as the results from Thursday's and Friday's opening weekend games. 2019 SEASON PREVIEW: 5 bold predictions for DII football in 2019 Sunday, Sept. 8 Florida Tech 23, Savannah State 22 (This game was moved due to Hurricane Dorian.) Thursday, Sept. 5 (all times ET): No. 10 Slippery Rock 62, Wayne State (MI) 37 No. 16 Indianapolis 24, No. 23 Ashland 9 No. 21 Wingate 42, Johnson C. Smith 6 Charleston (WV) 42, No. 25 Fairmont State 39 Carson-Newman 20, West Florida 13 Concordia-St. Paul 41, Sioux Falls 17 Southern Arkansas 34, Southern Nazarene 14 Angelo State 45, Western Oregon 20 No. 2 Ferris State 24, Findlay 23 No. 6 Northwest Missouri State 45, Missouri Western 35 Central Missouri 34, No. 11 Fort Hays State 30 No. 5 Ouachita Baptist 16, No. 18 Harding 14 Pittsburg State 37, Central Oklahoma 35 Emporia State 51, Northeastern State 14 No. 14 Minnesota Duluth 52, Minot State 7 Friday, Sept. 6 (all times ET): California (PA) 59, Saint Anselm 13 Saturday, Sept. 7 (all times ET): No. 4 Notre Dame (OH) 33, Concord 10 No. 22 West Chester 14, Bentley 7 No. 15 West Georgia 37, Catawba 9 American International 34, Bowie State 20 Kutztown 54, Assumption 16 Michigan Tech 29, No. 19 Hillsdale 14 Indiana (Pa) 24, New Haven 13 Ohio Dominican 24, Shepherd 21 Augustana (SD) 52, Upper Iowa 0 Winona State 37, Wayne State (Neb.) 20 No. 17 Colorado School of Mines 41, Adams State 10 Colorado Mesa 37, South Dakota Mines 33 Eastern Washington 59, Lindenwood 31 No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne 68, St. Augustine’s 7 Virginia Union 36, Hampton 17 No. 12 Grand Valley State 35, Edinboro 10 No. 3 Minnesota State 38, Southwest Minnesota State 23 No. 20 Midwestern State 33, Northwestern State 7 No. 7 Tarleton 37, Stephen F. Austin 26 Texas A&M-Commerce 83, Selección Nuevo León 0 No. 1 Valdosta State 38, Albany State 3 No. 24 West Alabama 35, Limestone 18 Fayetteville State 35, Benedict 21 West Texas A&M 35, Azusa Pacific 16 Chadron State 48, Black Hills State 31 Eastern New Mexico 35, Missouri S&T 28 No. 9 Colorado State-Pueblo 36, Dixie State 7 Saginaw Valley State 35, Texas A&M-Kingsville 14 Idaho 41, Central Washington 31 DII football season preview: What to expect 1. Can Valdosta State reach the DII football championship tournament? Every preseason No. 1 since 2014 has two things in common. One is they were all the defending champions, and the second was they all made the DII football championship tournament that same year. The last team to enter a season No. 1 and not make the DII tournament was Valdosta State in 2013. Despite a brand new coach in Gary Goff, the Blazers are stacked with returners and there is little reason to think we won't see them vying for a spot in McKinney, Texas at the national championship game on Dec. 21. 2019 PRESEASON TOP 25: Here's what we learned in the first poll | Complete top 25 2. What does Notre Dame (OH)'s Jaleel McLaughlin do next? The Falcons running back set rookie records in DII football in 2018, cruising to 2,421 yards and leading Notre Dame to the semifinals. A bulk of that team returns, including big offensive linemen Jimmy Burchett and Brandon Nicholson. McLaughlin is set up perfectly to make a run at Danny Woodhead's single-season record of 2,756 yards rushing set in 2006 at Chadron State. FIRST-TIME CHAMPS? NDC, Ferris State amongst 5 teams who can win it all in 2019 3. Does Ferris State take home that elusive title? There are several teams currently on multiple-season DII football tournament runs but few have been as successful as Ferris State's. The Bulldogs have reached at least the quarterfinals three years running, with a semifinals appearance in 2016 and the national runner-up in 2018. The one thing the program doesn't have is that national championship. With dual-threat quarterback Jayru Campbell back under center, this may be the Bulldogs best chance at a national title. NFL 2019: DII players of NFL rosters DII football players to watch in 2019 Ferris State's Jayru Campbell enters the 2019 season as the defending winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy. The Harlon Hill Trophy has been awarded annually since 1986 to the division's national player of the year, making it the Heisman Trophy of DII football. Campbell joins names like Valdosta State's Rogan Wells, Notre Dame (OH)'s Jaleel McLaughlin, and Mars Hill's Craig Rucker. Be sure to see our complete 28-player preseason watchlist by clicking on the link below: The DII football players that could win the 2019 Harlon Hill Trophy DII football preseason rankings: The top 25 The AFCA preseason poll was released on Aug. 26. The four semifinalists from 2015 all begin the year as the top four teams — No. 1 Valdosta State, No. 2 Ferris State, No. 3 Minnesota State and No. 4 Notre Dame (OH) — while the national quarterfinalists all populate the top 10. DII FOOTBALL HISTORY: Programs with the most titles | Complete history Here's a look at the top 25 and be sure to check out our instant reaction to the AFCA preseason rankings release. Rank School 2018 record Points 2018 final ranking 1 Valdosta State (29) 14-0 792 1 2 Ferris State (3) 15-1 768 2 3 Minnesota State 13-1 686 3 4 Notre Dame (Ohio) 13-1 623 4 5 Ouachita Baptist 12-1 585 6 6 Northwest Missouri State 10-3 580 10 7 Tarleton State 12-1 549 5 8 Lenoir-Rhyne 12-2 524 8 9 CSU-Pueblo 11-2 463 7 10 Slippery Rock 11-3 446 12 11 Fort Hays State 9-3 419 22 12 Grand Valley State 10-2 418 14 13 Texas A&M-Commerce 10-3 385 9 14 Minnesota Duluth 11-1 342 13 15 West Georgia 10-2 330 16 16 Indianapolis 10-2 319 11 17 Colorado School of Mines 10-2 288 18 18 Harding 9-3 223 20 19 Hillsdale 10-3 220 15 20 Midwestern State 8-2 214 25 21 Wingate 9-4 175 24 22 West Chester 10-1 134 17 23 Ashland 6-4 129 NR 24 West Alabama 8-4 116 NR 25 Fairmont State 9-2 78 NR DII football Week 1 preview: Top games to watch FINAL: No. 1 Valdosta State 38, Albany State 3 The Blazers have the longest current winning streak in DII football at 15 straight games. Albany State, which is receiving votes, is an in-state foe, which brings a little extra to the table. All eyes will be on every Valdosta State game this season, especially in a Gulf South Conference with three top 25 teams, so be sure to watch how it gets the Gary Goff era underway on opening night. FINAL: No. 16 Indianapolis 24, No. 23 Ashland 9 UIndy has been top 25 and DII football tournament regulars the past two seasons. Ashland is back in the top 25 after missing out in 2018. The Eagles are no strangers to the spotlight, however, ending 2017 in the top 25 after a DII football tournament win against Northwest Missouri State. FINAL: Central Missouri 34, No. 11 Fort Hays State 31 While Northwest Missouri State is ranked higher in the top 25, the Tigers have given the Bearcats fits the past two seasons, winners of the last two meetings, making them serious contenders for another MIAA title. Central Missouri, no matter its ranking, is always a challenge in the MIAA. This is a good early-season test for both teams and a chance for the Tigers to make a statement right out of the gate. FINAL: No. 5 Ouachita Baptist 16, No. 18 Harding 14 This checks all the boxes for a great opening night showdown. Great American Conference rivals. Check. A top 20 matchup on opening night. Check. DII football championship regulars. Check. What more do you need? Harding is riding a streak of three-straight seasons in the DII tournament, while Ouachita has gone two years in a row. It may only be Game 1, but there is a whole lot resting on the outcome of this game. ALL WE DO IS WIN: Longest DII football winning streaks | Longest home winning streaks 2021 AFCA FCS All-America teams announced for the spring The AFCA announced the 2021 Spring FCS Coaches' All-America teams on Friday, May 14. READ MORE 2020-21 Stats Perform FCS All-America Team announced Here is the complete 2020-21 Stats Perform FCS All-America Team, featuring 83 players representing 45 schools. READ MORE South Dakota State vs. Sam Houston: Preview, all-time history, how to watch the 2020-21 FCS championship game No. 1 South Dakota State faces No. 2 Sam Houston in the 2020-21 FCS championship game in Frisco, Texas on May 16. Here's everything you need to know. READ MORE