2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season


The 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season, the 2009 season of college football for teams in the Football Championship Subdivision, began in August 2009 and concluded with the 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game on December 18, 2009, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, won by Villanova 23–21 over Montana.

Rule changes for 2009

The NCAA football rules committee proposed several rule changes for 2009. Before these rules were officially adopted, the proposals had to be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel. The rule changes include the following:
In the 2009 season, FCS teams played a total of 91 games against FBS opponents. Notably, four of the five victorious FCS teams—all except Central Arkansas—were members of the Colonial Athletic Association. All four made that season's playoffs and advanced to the quarterfinals. Richmond lost in that round to Appalachian State, while Villanova defeated both New Hampshire and William & Mary on its way to the national title.

Dropped programs

After Northeastern's final game of the season, a 33–27 win over Rhode Island on November 21, the school announced that it was dropping the football program. The Huskies ended their 74th season with a 3–8 record, but school officials cited that losing seasons were not the determining factor.
On December 3, Hofstra also announced that it was dropping their football program in favor of academic funding. The football team, which finished the season 5–6 after a 52–38 win over Massachusetts, ended their program after 73 years.
The Colonial Athletic Association, where both teams played, decided to replace the two teams with new programs at Old Dominion and Georgia State in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Old Dominion started its program during the 2009 season; Georgia State started theirs in 2010.

Conference changes

Eastern Illinois coach's death

On Saturday, November 28, just hours after Eastern Illinois lost to Southern Illinois 48–7 in the first round of the FCS playoffs, Eastern Illinois' offensive coordinator Jeffrey O. Hoover, age 41, was killed in a car accident. The single-vehicle accident occurred south of Effingham when Hoover, his family and EIU strength coach Eric Cash struck a deer while driving home from Carbondale, the home of SIU.
Hoover's death was the second Eastern Illinois coaching death within a month. On November 4, women's basketball assistant coach Jackie Moore, 28, died after collapsing during a workout on campus.

Conference standings

Conference champions

Automatic berths

In order to be eligible for the playoffs, these teams must have a minimum of eight Division I wins, with at least two against teams in automatic bid conferences. They also must be ranked an average of 16 or better in the national rankings, made up of the following components:
No team in the invitational conferences qualified. Starting in 2010, the Big South and NEC will become automatic bid conferences with the expansion of the playoff field to 20 teams.

Abstains

NCAA FCS Playoff bracket

* Host institution

[SWAC Championship Game]

Gridiron Classic

The Gridiron Classic is an annual game between the champions of the Northeast Conference and the Pioneer Football League that has been held since December 2006.
DateLocationVenueNEC ChampionPFL ChampionResult
December 5IndianapolisButler BowlCentral Connecticut StateButlerButler 28–23

Final poll standings

Standings are from The Sports Network final poll.
RankTeamRecord
1Villanova Wildcats14–1
2Montana Grizzlies14–1
3Appalachian State Mountaineers11–3
4William & Mary Tribe11–3
5Richmond Spiders11–2
611–2
7New Hampshire Wildcats10–3
810–2
99–3
1010–3
118–4
129–3
13Eastern Washington Eagles8–4
14Holy Cross Crusaders9–3
159–1
168–3
17Weber State Wildcats7–5
18Northern Iowa Panthers7–4
198–4
20Penn Quakers8–2
219–2
22Liberty Flames8–3
238–3
24Lafayette Leopards8–3
25Texas State Bobcats7–4

Standings are from the FCS Coaches final poll.
RankTeamRecord
1Villanova Wildcats14–1
2Montana Grizzlies14–1
T-3Appalachian State Mountaineers11–3
T-3William & Mary Tribe11–3
5Richmond Spiders11–2
611–2
7New Hampshire Wildcats10–3
810–2
910–3
109–3
118–4
129–3
13Eastern Washington Eagles8–4
14Holy Cross Crusaders9–3
158–4
168–3
17Weber State Wildcats7–5
18Northern Iowa Panthers7–4
199–1
209–2
21Liberty Flames8–3
228–3
23Penn Quakers8–2
24Texas State Bobcats7–4
25Lafayette Leopards8–3