2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season
The 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, was organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. The FCS Championship Game was played on January 11, 2020, in Frisco, Texas. North Dakota State entered the season as the defending champion, and after completing the regular season undefeated, successfully defended their title and secured their eighth championship in nine seasons.
Conference changes and new programs
Membership changes
The 2019 season was the last for Presbyterian in Big South Conference football. The school announced in 2017 that it had begun a transition to non-scholarship football. Presbyterian will play the 2020 season as an FCS independent before joining the non-scholarship FCS Pioneer Football League in 2021; it will remain a full but non-football Big South member.This was also the final season for Jacksonville football, as the school announced shortly after the end of the season that it was dropping the sport.
Rule changes
The following playing rule changes have been recommended by the NCAA Football Rules Committee for 2019:- Requiring replay reviews on targeting calls be either confirmed or overturned by reviewing all aspects of the play. If the review shows not all elements of targeting exist or if there is no indisputable video evidence, the call will be overturned.
- Players who commit a second targeting penalty in the same season will not only have to sit out the remainder of that game, but will also have to sit out their team's entire next scheduled game.
- Eliminating the two-man wedge on kickoffs.
- Starting with the fifth overtime period, each team will line up to attempt a two-point conversion instead of snapping the ball from the 25-yard-line. Successful plays are scored as conversions.
- Adding a two-minute break after the second and fourth overtime period.
- Blindside blocks delivered with forcible contact will draw a 15-yard penalty. If elements of targeting exist, the player delivering the block will be subject to ejection as with any other targeting foul.
"Week Zero"
The regular season began with two games on Saturday, August 24:- Villanova def. No. 13 Colgate, 34–14
- FCS Kickoff : Youngstown State def. Samford, 45–22
FCS team wins over FBS teams
- August 29:
- *Central Arkansas 35, Western Kentucky 28
- September 7:
- *Southern Illinois 45, UMass 20
- September 14:
- *The Citadel 27, Georgia Tech 24 OT
Non-DI team wins over FCS teams
- September 7:
- *Kentucky State 13, Robert Morris 7
- *East Stroudsburg 24, Wagner 14
- *Virginia Union 36, Hampton 17
- *Truman 10, Drake 7
- *Midwestern State 33, Northwestern State 7
- *Tarleton State 37, Stephen F. Austin 26
- September 14:
- *Taylor 17, Butler 14
- September 21:
- *Truman 38, Valparaiso 7
- September 28:
- *Charleston 19, Valparaiso 13
- *Kentucky State 33, Jackson State 25
- October 12:
- *Missouri S&T 23, Texas Southern 20
Conference standings
Postseason
A 24-team single-elimination tournament bracket culminated in the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. Champions of the following 10 conferences automatically received playoff bids:- Big Sky
- Big South
- Colonial Athletic Association
- Missouri Valley Football Conference
- Northeast Conference
- Ohio Valley Conference
- Patriot League
- Pioneer Football League
- Southern Conference
- Southland Conference
NCAA FCS Playoff bracket
Source:Bowl games
Coaching changes
Preseason and in-season
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2019. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2019, see 2018 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes.| School | Outgoing coach | Date | Reason | Replacement |
| Howard | Ron Prince | November 6 | Placed on administrative leave | Aaron Kelton |
Prince was placed on administrative leave by the university, "after allegations of verbal abuse and intimidation of players."