2020-21 Football Report Austin Peay | Eastern Illinois | Eastern Kentucky | Jacksonville State | Murray State | Southeast Missouri | Tennessee State | Tennessee Tech | UT Martin February 16, 2021 Ohio Valley Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 215 Centerview Drive, Suite 115 Contact: Kyle Schwartz Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone: (615) 690-6685 OVCSports.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @OVCSports

OVC STANDINGS (In games through November 21)

OVC OVERALL W L PCT. PF PA W L PCT. PF PA Home Away Neutral Streak Austin Peay 0 0 .000 0 0 0 3 .000 37 134 0-0 0-2 0-1 L3 Eastern Illinois 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - Jacksonville State 0 0 .000 0 0 3 1 .750 101 96 1-0 2-1 0-0 W3 Murray State 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - Southeast Missouri 0 0 .000 0 0 0 1 .000 17 20 0-0 0-1 0-0 L1 Tennessee State 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - Tennessee Tech 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - UT Martin 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - Eastern Kentucky - - - - - 3 6 .333 217 299 2-2 1-4 0-0 W1

The Conference portion of the 2020 schedule was pushed to spring 2021. OVC teams were allowed to play a limited number of non-conference games in Fall 2020.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE LAST WEEK'S RESULTS Sunday, February 21 none *Eastern Illinois at UT Martin, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+) *#13 Austin Peay at Tennessee Tech, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+) *Jacksonville State at Tennessee State, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) *Murray State at #25 Southeast Missouri, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

* Indicates OVC Contest ALL TIMES CENTRAL THIS WEEK’S OVC HIGHLIGHTS/STORYLINES After the Conference portion of the 2020 OVC football season was postponed to spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will begin play this Sunday...The eight OVC teams competing will play a round robin schedule of seven Conference games running February 21 through April 11 (April 17 would be used for a makeup weekend)...Games will primarily take place on Sunday's (with the exception of Easter weekend)...The 16-team FCS Playoff fi eld (down from 24 this year only) will be announced on Sunday, April 18...Austin Peay, Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri played a limited number of non-conference games in the fall...APSU participated in the fi rst game of the season, as the FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, Alabama during Week Zero...Jacksonville State fi nished the fall with a 3-1 record after knocking off FBS foe FIU on October 23...It was the fi rst win for an OVC team over a FBS opponent since 2017; OVC teams have now won at least one FBS game in seven of the past 11 years...Overall it snapped a 66-game losing streak for FCS teams against FBS opponents dating back to September 2019.

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 1 OVC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK OVC MEDIA INFORMATION OVC Players of the Week will begin next week. During the spring season they will Kyle Schwartz Asst. Commissioner/Strategic Communications be released on Tuesday mornings. Phone: (615) 690-6685 Cell: (615) 775-1937 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.OVCSports.com

ONLINE PRESS BOX: The OVC Football Online Press Box is a one-stop shop for gathering information about the OVC and its member schools. Media can access it at www.OVCSports.com/ footballpressbox or through links at OVCSports.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Get breaking news about the OVC by follow- ing the OVC through Social Media. Check out the OVC sites at http://www.twitter.com/OVCSports and http://www.facebook. com/ovcsports. Also check out www.YouTube.com/ohiovalley- conference and the league’s blog at OVCExtra.com.

WEEKLY NOTES: The OVC will release its Players of the Week each Tuesday morning with its weekly report to be released each Tuesday afternoon. The report is available via e-mail, and is posted on the league’s Web site in text and PDF versions. Statistics are updated after each gameday on the OVC Web site.

2020-21 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK OFFENSIVE Feb. 23 Mar. 2 Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 30 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 20

DEFENSIVE Feb. 23 Mar. 2 Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 30 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 20

SPECIALIST Feb. 23 Mar. 2 Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 30 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 20

NEWCOMER Feb. 23 Mar. 2 Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 30 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 20

Bold indicates player went on to be named National Player of the Week (STATS, HERO Sports or NCAA.com).

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 2 NOTES FROM AROUND THE GRIDIRON COACHES TELECONFERENCE Sundays in the Spring: The Conference portion of the 73rd season of Ohio Valley Conference Beginning this spring, OVC coaches will hold a football was postponed to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four OVC teams played a weekly video conference via Zoom. The sessions will limited number of non-conference games in the fall. This year's spring OVC schedule will include be on Tuesday between 10am-12pm CT, with each a round-robin format, featuring the eight teams that elected to play competing in seven conference coach appearing for a maximum of 10 minutes. The games over an eight-week period (with an open date at the end of the schedule for potential make- fi rst session will be on Tuesday, Feb. 16. A schedule up games). Games will be contested on Sundays (with the exception of Easter weekend when the of what times coaches will appear weekly is below. games will be played on Saturday) and start during a 1-3 p.m. window local time. For information on how to access the Zoom, please contact Kyle Schwartz in the OVC Offi ce (615-690- 6685 or [email protected]). Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri Ranked Preseason Stats Perform Poll: At the conclusion of the 2019 season Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri were ranked in the national polls. The two 10:00 - Murray State OVC teams were ranked in the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25 released in August. Austin Peay 10:10 - , Southeast Missouri was ranked No. 13 while SEMO was No. 25. Stats Perform will release its next poll on February 22 while the fi rst AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll will be released in mid-March. 10:20 - John Grass, Jacksonville State 10:40 - , UT Martin OVC Teams Against FBS Opponents: On October 24, Jacksonville State topped FIU 19-10, giving 11:00 - , Eastern Illinois the Gamecocks its sixth all-time win over a FBS opponent and fi rst since 2013 (Georgia State). It was 11:10 - , Tennessee Tech the fi rst time since September 2019 that any FCS team had topped a FBS opponent (The Citadel over 11:30 - Rod Reed, Tennessee State Georgia Tech), ending a streak of 66-straight losses for FCS teams. It was the fi rst win for an OVC 11:50 - Scotty Walden Austin Peay team over a FBS opponent since 2017 (Tennessee State over Georgia State). Overall OVC teams have wins over FBS opponents in seven of the past 11 years (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020) and are 36-252-1 all-time against FBS foes. OVC SID DIRECTORY NCAA Division I Playoff Information: The 2020 FCS Playoff s were pushed to the spring. This year's AUSTIN PEAY fi eld will be 16 teams (down from 24) and include 10 automatic qualifi ers and six at-large selections. Cody Bush (931) 221-7561 The NCAA will announce the selections for a revised 16-team playoff fi eld on Sunday, April 18. The Cell Phone (931) 980-4940 fi rst round is scheduled for the weekend April 24 with the FCS National Championship game to be Email [email protected] played on either May 16 in Frisco, Texas. Web site LetsGoPeay.com Press Box Number (931) 221-7191

Academic Success: During the past academic year (2019-20) there were 162 OVC football student- EASTERN ILLINOIS athletes who were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll for having a 3.25 grade point average Rich Moser (217) 581-7480 or higher. In addition, 13 student-athletes were awarded the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for Cell Phone (217) 508-8317 achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs. The OVC also awards a Team Academic Award for the football program Email [email protected] with the highest percentage of players with a 3.25 grade point average or higher; that award went Web site EIUpanthers.com to Austin Peay for 2019-20. Press Box Number (217) 581-7770 EASTERN KENTUCKY Two OVC Players Named to FCS Punter of the Year Watch List: Two OVC football players have Kevin Britton (859) 622-2006 been named to the 2020 FCS Punter of the Year Award Watch List by the Augusta Sports Council. Cell Phone (859) 358-8359 Southeast Missouri senior Jake Reynolds and Tennessee State junior Kaleb Mosley were two Email [email protected] of the 22 selections nationally. The 2020 watch list was compiled based on the 2019 FCS Punter Web site EKUSports.com of the Year watchlist, the 2019 All-Conference teams, the 2019 All-American Teams and the 2020 Press Box Number (859) 622-226 preseason All-Conference Teams. The FCS Punter of the Year Award winner will be voted on by the FCS Punter of the Year Award/Ray Guy Award Committee and will be announced after regular JACKSONVILLE STATE season play commences. Josh Underwood (256) 782-5915 Cell Phone (256) 453-3377 Email [email protected] Samuel Named Stats Perform National Co-Player of the Week (Oct. 25): Jacksonville State junior Web site JSUGamecockSports.com running back Josh Samuel was named the Stats Perform National Co-Player of the Week on October Press Box Number (256) 782-5585/5586 25 for his performance in JSU's 19-10 win over FBS foe FIU. Samuel, a transfer from WKU, carried the ball 25 times for a career-high 163 yards (91 yards more than the entire FIU team) and a two- MURRAY STATE yard touchdown that put his team on top for good in the second quarter. He also caught a team-high Parker Griffi th (270) 809-3351 fi ve passes for 38 yards to fi nish the contest with 201 all-purpose yards. In addition the Jacksonville Cell Phone (662) 341-0979 State team was named the FCS Team of the Week after ending the FCS's 66-game losing streak to Email pgriffi [email protected] Web site GoRacers.com FBS opponents that dated back to September 2019. Press Box Number (270) 809-6811

Evans Named Stats Perform National Player of the Week (Sept. 20): Austin Peay freshman run- SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ning back CJ Evans Jr.'s two-touchdown performance at No. 13 Cincinnati earned him recognition Jeff Honza (573) 651-2294 as the STATS Perform Co-FCS Player of the Week on September 20. Evans had two fourth-quarter Cell Phone (618) 528-1145 scores in Cincinnati. The fi rst was a one-yard dash to score the Govs fi rst touchdown of the day, Email [email protected] completing a 10-play drive. His second was a monster 64-yard dash that saw him elude a handful of Web site GoSoutheast.com Bearcats defenders. Along with his two touchdowns, Evans amassed a team-best 88 rushing yards Press Box Number (573) 651-2191 on 12 carries. He added seven receiving yards on three receptions and tacked on another 46 yards TENNESSEE STATE in kick returns. All told, he fi nished the day with 141 all-purpose yards. Jose Garcia (615) 963-5922 Cell Phone (615) 838-4199 A Look at the Coaches: Seven of the nine OVC coaches from last season return to their respective Email [email protected] teams in 2020. Jacksonville State's John Grass, Tennessee State's Rod Reed and Tennessee Tech's Web site TSUTigers.com Dewayne Alexander are currently coaching at their alma maters. The longest tenured coach in the Press Box Number (615) 565-4450 league is UT Martin’s Jason Simpson who is in his 15th season with the Skyhawks in 2020. Simpson has 87 overall victories in his career, sixth-most in OVC history (fi ve away from tying for fi fth-place). TENNESSEE TECH Thomas Corhern (931) 372-6139 Cell Phone (931) 703-4927 EIU's Cushing on Football Oversight Committee: Eastern Illinois head football coach Adam Cush- Email [email protected] ing has been named to the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee. Cushing is the lone football Web site TTUSports.com coach on the committee and will serve a four-year term until June 30, 2024. The Football Oversight Press Box Number (931) 372-6030/6031 Committee ensures that appropriate oversight of football for both the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision is maintained, enhances the development of the sport and make UT MARTIN recommendations related to regular-season and postseason football. The committee prioritizes en- Alex Boggis 731) 881-7694 hancement of the student-athlete educational experience (academically and athletically), and in doing Cell Phone (618) 357-1536 Email [email protected] so, promotes student-athletes' personal growth and leadership development. It works in conjunction Web site UTMSports.com with appropriate governance entities to provide solutions to issues impacting the health and safety Press Box Number (731) 881-7694 of football student-athletes. The committee supervises procedures for licensing of postseason bowls

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 3 and qualifi cations and/or selection procedures for the FCS Championship. The committee reviews NATIONAL POLLS recommendations from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee and process other issues related to the administration of the FCS Championship. The committee provides direction to STATS PERFORM the NCAA Football Rules Committee regarding playing rules governing FBS and FCS football. The No. Team Record Pts. committee is comprised of representatives from each divisional subgroup that sponsors football. 1. North Dakota State (147) 0-0 3,675 2. James Madison 0-0 3,411 Carlisle and Horton Named to Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connec- 3. UNI 0-0 3,269 tion Group: Tennessee Tech junior linebacker Seth Carlisle and Tennessee State junior defensive 4. Weber State 0-0 3,198 tackle Raymond Horton have been selected to participate in the Division I Football Oversight Commit- tee Student-Athlete Connection Group (SACG). The connection group consists of 52 current players 5. South Dakota State 0-0 2,911 and its goal is to gather broad-based feedback from Division I football student-athletes on issues the 6. Montana State 0-0 2,884 Football Oversight Committee is reviewing. Among the priorities for the 2020-21 academic year are 7. Montana 0-0 2,753 COVID-19 health and safety measures, transfer policies, name, image and likeness topics and social 8. Villanova 0-0 2,499 justice issues. Each Division I football conference has chosen two student-athlete representatives 9. Illinois State 0-0 2,471 who will serve either one or two-year terms. The committee will meet quarterly to discuss issues and 10. Kennesaw State 0-0 2,187 provide feedback to the Football Oversight Committee. 11. Central Arkansas 0-0 2,093 12. Sacramento State 0-0 2,085 APSU's Wilson and Jackson Headline Preseason All-OVC Team: Although a preseason predicted 13. Austin Peay 0-0 2,030 order of fi nish for the upcoming season has not been released, the Preseason All-OVC football teams were released in July. Austin Peay senior wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson and senior nickelback 14. Nicholls 0-0 1,392 Kordell Jackson were named the 2020 OVC Preseason Off ensive and Defensive Players of the Year 15. Furman 0-0 1,239 in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and communications directors. Austin Peay led the 16. Woff ord 0-0 1,089 way with seven total selections, while Jacksonville State fi nished with six, Tennessee Tech and UT 17. Albany 0-0 825 Martin had fi ve apiece, Southeast Missouri had four, Eastern Kentucky, Murray State and Tennessee 18. Eastern Washington 0-0 817 State had three each and Eastern Illinois had two. Returning players who were fi rst-team All-OVC 19. North Carolina A&T 0-0 809 selections last year (seven in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The 20. New Hampshire 0-0 759 squad also included 15 players who were second-team picks in 2019. Of the 38 total selections, 20 21. Southeastern Louisiana 0-0 652 were seniors, 16 were juniors and two were sophomores. 22. Sam Houston State 0-0 597 Romo Selected for College Football Hall of Fame: In January it was announced that former Eastern 23. Monmouth 0-0 577 Illinois quarterback Tony Romo had been selected to the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class. 24. Southern Illinois 0-0 568 Romo becomes the third player that played in the OVC to be inducted into the College Football Hall 25. Southeast Missouri 0-0 499 of Fame joining Jim Youngblood from Tennessee Tech and George Floyd Jr., from Eastern Kentucky. Three former head coaches from the OVC have also been inducted into the College Football Hall of Others (OVC Only): Jacksonville State (357), UT Fame with Roy Kidd (Eastern Kentucky), James “Boots” Donnelly (Middle Tennessee/Austin Peay) Martin (14), Eastern Kentucky (2). and Frank Beamer (Murray State). At EIU Romo was the winner of the 2002 Walter Payton Award as the top player in the FCS. After going undrafted in 2003, Romo would put together a standout A preseason poll was released on August 25 with NFL career with the from 2003-16. The four-time Pro Bowl selection holds Cowboy all FCS teams eligible to be played. The voting records for career passing yards and passing touchdowns. Off the fi eld, Romo has annually hosted youth football camps in his hometown of Burlington, Wisconsin. He is also heavily involved with the panel was asked to vote as if the season was being United Way, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Since played as scheduled in fall 2020. Polls will resume retiring with the Cowboys, Romo has served as the lead color analyst for CBS’ NFL telecasts, working on February 22. alongside Jim Nantz. FCS COACHES POLL Four With OVC Connections in the : At the end of the NFL regular season, there were No. Team Record Pts. 11 former OVC players on active rosters and fi ve others on active rosters. For Super Bowl LV, there First poll will be released in Mid-March. were four individuals with connections to the OVC taking part in the game. Former Jacksonville State All-American wide receiver was a member of the Tampa Bay practice squad while former Austin Peay head coach and quarterback Rick Christophel was the tight ends coach for the Buccaneers. Former Murray State player and OVC offi cial Jabir Walker was an alternate on this year's offi ciating crew and former Eastern Illinois and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo broadcasted his second Super Bowl for CBS alongside Jim Nantz.

I-AA No More: Although some people may still refer to it as I-AA football, the term that represents the level of Division I football in which the Ohio Valley Conference competes has been long retired. Beginning with the 2006 National Championship game, the term Football Championship Subdivision (or FCS) is to be used. Teams who play at the FCS level can off er a maximum of 63 scholarships (Football Bowl Subdivision teams can off er 85) and compete in a playoff at the end of the season to determine the national champion.

OVC IN THE POLLS WEEK-BY-WEEK (STATS/FCS COACHES)

AP EIU EKU JSU MUR SEMO TSU TTU UTM Aug. 25 13 - RV RV - 25 - - - Feb. 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 19 Final

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 4 NCAA Unity Pledge/Logo: This season you will see OVC teams sporting a Unity Patch on uniforms. OVC VS. OTHER CONFERENCES The patch is part of a Unity Pledge and Logo approved by the NCAA’s three divisional Student-Athlete FCS Opponents Advisory Committees (SAAC) and the NCAA Board of Governors Student-Athlete Engagement Com- Big Sky 0-0 mittee. They are symbolic gestures to continue generating stronger unity among the NCAA’s 1100-plus Big South 1-0 schools and nearly 500,000 student-athletes. The logo includes three diff erent colored hands holding CAA 0-0 Independent 0-0 one another’s wrists inside a circle with “United As One” at the bottom. For more information on this Ivy 0-0 and other OVC social justice initiatives visit www.OVCSports.com/OVCforChange. MEAC 0-0 Missouri Valley 0-1 ESPN+: The OVC enters year three with ESPN+, the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service NEC 0-0 Patriot 0-0 from 's Direct-to-Consumer & International segment, being the exclusive Pioneer 0-0 home of regular season and OVC Championship broadcasts. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for $5.99 Southern 3-0 a month (or $49.99 per year) or as part of a bundle with Disney+ and ad-supported Hulu ($12.99/ Southland 1-4 SWAC 0-0 month). ESPN+ is an integrated part of the ESPN App and (on mobile and connected devices) and FCS Total 5-5 ESPN.com. More information can be found at www.OVCSports.com/ESPN. FBS Opponents American Athletic 0-1 Atlantic Coast 0-2 Big Ten 0-0 Big 12 0-1 Conference USA 1-1 MAC 0-0 Mountain West 0-0 Pac-12 0-0 SEC 0-0 Sun Belt 0-1 FBS Total 1-6

Non-Division I 0-0

Total Non-Conference Record 6-11

SCORING STREAKS Last season Murray State saw its streak of scoring in 156 consecutive games come on an end; it was the ninth-longest streak in FCS history. Below is a list of each OVC school and their current scoring streak; that list is followed by the longest FCS scoring streaks in NCAA history. # Team Last Shutout 95 Jacksonville State 23-0 vs. Florida (11/17/12) 70 Tennessee State 44-0 vs. Eastern Ky. (11/2/13) 23 Tennessee Tech 24-0 vs. UT Martin (11/18/17) 11 Southeast Missouri 50-0 at Missouri (9/14/19) 10 Eastern Illinois 52-0 at Indiana (9/7/19) 10 UT Martin 45-0 at Florida (9/7/19) 9 Murray State 45-0 at Toledo (9/14/19) 1 Austin Peay 55-0 vs. Pittsburgh (9/12/20)

Longest All-Time FCS Streaks Without Being Shutout # Team Years 406 Montana* 1989-present 293 Dayton* % 1993-present 291 Hampton 1984-2009 265 Lehigh 1986-2010 220 Delaware 1996-2014 199 Eastern Washington 1988-2006 165 UNI 1983-96 158 McNeese State 1988-01 156 Murray State 2005-19

* Active Streak % Overall streak is 487 (194 games were as a DIII team)

ACTIVE 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES Below is a list of 100-yard rushing games for active players in the OVC. Totals are for the players careers while in the OVC and are updated through the fall portion of the 2020-21 season.

Active OVCer’s With 100-Yard Rushing Games Peyton Logan, UT Martin 4 Earl Harrison, Tennessee State 3 David Gist, Tennessee Tech 3 Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri 2 Andrew Goldsmith, Tennessee Tech 2 Darshon McCullough, Eastern Illinois 2 Scotty Gilkey Jr., Eastern Illinois 1 Ahmaad Tanner, Austin Peay 1 Jeremiah Oatsvall, Austin Peay 1 Zion Webb, Jacksonville State 1 Rodney Castille, Murray State 1 Te'kendrick Roberson, Tennessee State 1 Jaelen Greene, Jacksonville State 1 Zion Custis, Southeast Missouri 1 Bailey Fisher, Tennessee Tech 1 Jaelin Benefi eld, Eastern Illinois 1 Josh Samuel, Jacksonville State 1 Uriah West, Jacksonville State 1 Andrew Bunch, Southeast Missouri 1

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 5 2020-21 SUPERLATIVES SGT. YORK TROPHY 100-Yard Rushing Games The 2020-21 season marks the 14th of competition 178...... Alonzo Booth, Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 21) for the Sergeant York Trophy, an award created by 163...... Josh Samuel, Jacksonville State at FIU (Oct. 23) the Nashville Sports Council and the Ohio Valley 128...... Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri at #24 Southern Illinois (Oct. 30) Conference. The trophy is contested between the 124...... Alonzo Booth, Eastern Kentucky at #11 Central Arkansas (Nov. 14) four OVC football-playing schools in the state of 116 ...... Uriah West, Jacksonville State at FIU (Oct. 23) Tennessee - Austin Peay, Tennessee State, Tennes- 115 ...... Andrew Bunch, Southeast Missouri at #24 Southern Illinois (Oct. 30) see Tech and UT Martin - and goes to the team with 108...... Alonzo Booth, Eastern Kentucky vs. Houston Baptist (Oct. 3) the best combined record versus those schools in a given year. 300-Yard Passing Games 370...... Parker McKinney, Eastern Kentucky at Troy (Oct. 17) The award is co-sponsored by Delta Dental of Ten- 310...... Isaiah Valez, Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 21) nessee and Farm Bureau Health Plans.

100-Yard Receiving Games In the event of a tie, the award will be shared; 196...... Keyion Dixon, Eastern Kentucky at Troy (Oct. 17) however, the previous winner will retain the trophy 136...... Jacquez Jones, Eastern Kentucky vs. #11 Central Arkansas (Oct. 24) if they are part of the tie. If the tie is between two 112 ...... Keyion Dixon, Eastern Kentucky vs. Houston Baptist (Oct. 3) other institutions, the trophy will go to the institution 104...... Trae Barry, Jacksonville State at North Alabama (Oct. 17) that has gone the most seasons without winning 102...... Jackson Beerman, Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 21) the trophy. 100...... Jacquez Jones, Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 21) The award is only the second traveling trophy that 10-Reception Games involves more than two teams in college sports; the none other is the Commander in Chief’s Trophy which has been contested between Air Force, Army and 200-Yard All-Purpose Games Navy annually since 1972. The award is named in 247...... Alonzo Booth, Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 21) honor of Alvin C. York, the most noted Soldier of 201...... Josh Samuel, Jacksonville State at FIU (Oct. 23) World War I. Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he was bestowed the Congressional Medal 50-Yard Field Goals of Honor. Following the war York returned his home none in Pall Mall, Tenn. where he dedicated his life to improving education and facilitating educational op- 15-Tackle Games portunities for children in the state of Tennessee. 15...... Matthew Jackson, Eastern Kentucky vs. Houston Baptist (Oct. 3) All-Time Sgt. York Trophy Winners Multiple Defensive Interception Games 2007 - Tennessee State*, Austin Peay none 2008 - Tennessee State 2009 - Tennessee Tech Multiple Rushing Touchdown Games 2010 - UT Martin 2...... Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State Last at North Alabama (Oct. 17) 2011 - Tennessee State*, Tennessee Tech 1...... CJ Evans, Austin Peay Last at #13 Cincinnati (Sept. 19) 2012 - Tennessee State*, UT Martin 1...... Alonzo Booth, Eastern Kentucky Last vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 21) 2013 - Tennessee State 2014 - UT Martin Multiple Receiving Touchdown Games 2015 - UT Martin 1...... Jacquez Jones, Eastern Kentucky Last at The Citadel (Sept. 26) 2016 - UT Martin*, Tennessee State, Tenn. Tech 1...... Matt Wilcox Jr., Eastern Kentucky Last vs. Houston Baptist (Oct. 3) 2017 - Austin Peay 1...... Keyion Dixon, Eastern Kentucky Last at Troy (Oct. 17) 2018 - Austin Peay*, Tennessee State, UT Martin 2019 - Austin Peay*, Tennessee State, UT Martin Multiple Passing Touchdown Games 2020 - TBD 4...... Parker McKinney, Eastern Kentucky Last vs. #11 Central Arkansas (Oct. 24) 1...... Isaiah Velez, Eastern Kentucky Last vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 21) *Took home the trophy due to winning the tie- breaker

2020-21 Sgt. York Trophy Contests Feb. 21 - Austin Peay at Tennessee Tech Feb. 28 - Tennessee State at Austin Peay Mar. 21 - UT Martin at Austin Peay Mar. 28 - UT Martin at Tennessee State Apr. 4 - Tennessee State at Tennessee Tech Apr. 18 - Tennesse Tech at UT Martin

2020-21 Sgt. York Trophy Standings Team AP TSU TTU UTM Record Austin Peay -- 0-0 Tenn. State -- 0-0 Tenn. Tech -- 0-0 UT Martin -- 0-0

All-Time Record in Sgt. York Games Austin Peay 14-25 Tennessee State 21-18 Tennessee Tech 16-23 UT Martin 27-12

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 6 2020-21 PRESEASON HONORS/AWARDS

OVC PRESEASON HONORS (COACHES/SID’S) STATS PERFORM HERO SPORTS Top 25 Ranking Predicted Order of Finish Preseason All-American First-Team 11. Austin Peay To be released in the Spring WR DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay 18. Jacksonville State TE Colton Dowell, UT Martin DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay Preseason All-American Preseason All-OVC Team WR DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay Preseason All-American Second-Team TE Trae Barry, Jacksonville State Preseason Off ensive Player of the Year: TE Trae Barry, Jacksonville State DeAngelo Wilson (WR), Austin Peay DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Preseason All-American Third-Team Kordell Jackson (NB), Austin Peay OL Blake Mitchell, Austin Peay DL Josephus Smith, Austin Peay Off ense LB Anthony Koclanakis, Murray State QB - Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State QB - Bailey Fisher, Tennessee Tech ATHLON MAGAZINE RB - Peyton Logan, UT Martin Preseason Top 25 RB - Alonzo Booth, Eastern Kentucky 16. Jacksonville State FB - Davin Dyal, UT Martin 19. Austin Peay WR - DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay 23. Southeast Missouri WR - Baniko Harley, Austin Peay WR - LaMartez Brooks, Murray State Preseason All-American WR - Aaron Alston, Southeast Missouri TE Trae Barry WR - Isaiah Hill, Eastern Illinois. DB Kordell Jackson TE/WR - Colton Dowell, UT Martin TE - Trae Barry, Jacksonville State OL - Blake Mitchell, Austin Peay STREET & SMITH OL - Aries Davis, UT Martin OL - Tucker Schroeder, Eastern Kentucky Preseason All-American Team OL - Mike Rhoades, Tennessee Tech WR DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay OL - Graham Ashkettle, Eastern Kentucky OL - Michael Shaddix, Jacksonville State OL - Cam Durley, Tennessee State Predicted Order of Finish National Rank OL - JaChai Baker, Southeast Missouri 1. Austin Peay 10 2. Jacksonville State 12 3. UT Martin Defense 4. Southeast Missouri DE - Chris Tucker, Tennessee Tech 5. Eastern Kentucky DT - Josephus Smith, Austin Peay 6. Tennessee Tech DT - John Wesley Whiteside, Austin Peay 7. Murray State DT - Austin Pickett, UT Martin 8. Tennessee State DE - DJ Coleman, Jacksonville State 9. Eastern Illinois OLB - Dytarious Johnson, Eastern Illinois ILB - Anthony Koclanakis, Murray State ILB - Zack Woodard, Jacksonville State PHIL STEELE ILB - Jack McDonald, Austin Peay OLB - Tai Carter, Tennessee Tech Preseason Second-Team All-American CB - Nick Harper Jr., Tennessee State QB Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State WR - DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay CB - Yul Gowdy, Jacksonville State TE - Trae Barry, Jacksonville State S - JaQuez Akins, UT Martin OL - Blake Mitchell, Austin Peay S - Bydarrius Knighten, Southeast Missouri NB - Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay Preseason Third-Team All-American TE Colton Dowell, UT Martin Specialists DL Josephus Smith, Austin Peay (3rd) K - Kendrick Tiller, Southeast Missouri LB Anthony Koclanakis, Murray State (3rd) P - Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay (3rd) KR - Metrius Fleming, Tennessee Tech PR - Malik Honeycutt, Murray State

OVC COACHING RECORDS

OVC-Only Games All Games* Overall Career Record Coach, School Yrs. W L Pct. W L Pct. Yrs. W L Pct. Scotty Walden, Austin Peay 1 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 1 0 0 .000 Adam Cushing, Eastern Illinois 2 1 7 .125 1 11 .083 2 1 11 .083 Walt Wells, Eastern Kentucky 1 0 0 .000 3 6 .333 1 3 6 .333 John Grass, Jacksonville State 7 41 6 .872 61 19 .763 7 61 19 .763 Dean Hood, Murray State 9 44 19 .698 55 38 .591 9 55 38 .591 Tom Matukewicz, Southeast Missouri 7 25 22 .532 33 39 .458 8 34 39 .466 Rod Reed, Tennessee State 11 29 45 .392 56 56 .500 11 56 56 .500 Dewayne Alexander, Tennessee Tech 3 4 12 .250 7 16 .304 9 48 49 .495 Jason Simpson, UT Martin 15 69 42 .622 87 73 .544 15 87 73 .544

*Indicates overall record while at current OVC school in years school was a member of the Conference.

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 10 TEAM COMPOSITE SCHEDULES

AUSTIN PEAY GOVERNORS (0-3, 0-0) EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS (0-0, 0-0) Home: 0-0, Away: 0-2, Neutral: 0-1 Home: 0-0, Away: 0-0, Neutral: 0-0

AUGUST FEBRUARY 29 vs. Central Arkansas # (ESPN) L, 17-24 2,000 21 at UT Martin* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 28 Southeast Missouri* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. SEPTEMBER 12 at Pittsburgh (ACC Network) L, 0-55 0 MARCH 19 at Cincinnati (ESPN) L, 20-55 0 14 at Tennessee State* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 21 Tennessee Tech* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. FEBRUARY 28 at Murray State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 21 at Tennessee Tech* (ESPN+) 1:30 p.m. 28 Tennessee State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. APRIL 3 Jacksonville State* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. MARCH 11 Austin Peay* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 14 at Southeast Missouri* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 21 UT Martin* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. * Ohio Valley Conference Game 28 at Jacksonville State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. Home Games in Bold All Times Central/Subject to Change APRIL 3 Murray State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 11 at Eastern Illinois* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m.

* Ohio Valley Conference Game # - Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff (Montgomery, Ala.) Home Games in Bold All Times Central/Subject to Change

EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS (3-6) JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS (3-1, 0-0) Home: 2-2, Away: 1-4, Neutral: 0-0 Home: 1-0, Away: 2-1, Neutral: 0-0

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 5 at Marshall (ESPN) L, 0-59 - 3 at Florida State (ACC RSN) L, 24-41 13,589 12 at West Virginia (FS1) L, 10-56 976 10 Mercer (ESPN3) W, 34-28 5,870 26 at The Citadel (ESPN3) W, 37-14 3,081 17 at North Alabama (ESPN3) W, 24-17 4,632 23 at Florida International (ESPN3) W, 19-10 1,041 OCTOBER 3 Houston Baptist (ESPN3) L, 30-33 2,916 FEBRUARY 17 at Troy (ESPN3) L, 29-31 10,500 21 at Tennessee State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 10 #11 Central Arkansas (ESPN3) W, 31-28 2,932 28 Tennessee Tech* (ESPN+) 3:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER MARCH 7 Stephen F. Austin (ESPN3) L, 6-24 2,569 14 at UT Martin* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 14 at #11 Central Arkansas (ESPN3) L, 25-37 2,000 21 Southeast Missouri* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 21 Western Carolina (ESPN3) W, 49-17 3,009 28 Austin Peay* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m.

APRIL 3 at Eastern Illinois* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. Home Games in Bold 11 at Murray State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. All Times Central/Subject to Change * Ohio Valley Conference Game Home Games in Bold All Times Central/Subject to Change

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 11 TEAM COMPOSITE SCHEDULES

MURRAY STATE RACERS (0-0, 0-0) SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REDHAWKS (0-1, 0-0) Home: 0-0, Away: 0-0, Neutral: 0-0 Home: 0-0, Away: 0-1, Neutral: 0-0

FEBRUARY OCTOBER 21 at Southeast Missouri* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 30 at #24 Southern Illinois L, 17-20 0 28 UT Martin* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. FEBRUARY MARCH 21 Murray State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 14 at Tennessee Tech* (ESPN+) 1:30 p.m. 28 at Eastern Illinois* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 21 Tennessee State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 28 Eastern Illinois* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. MARCH 14 Austin Peay* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. APRIL 21 at Jacksonville State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 3 at Austin Peay* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 28 Tennessee Tech* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 11 Jacksonville State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. APRIL * Ohio Valley Conference Game 3 at UT Martin* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. Home Games in Bold 11 at Tennessee State* (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. All Times Central/Subject to Change * Ohio Valley Conference Game Home Games in Bold All Times Central/Subject to Change

TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS (0-0, 0-0) TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES (0-0, 0-0) Home: 0-0, Away: 0-0, Neutral: 0-0 Home: 0-0, Away: 0-0, Neutral: 0-0

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 21 Jacksonville State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 21 Austin Peay* (ESPN+) 1:30 p.m. 28 at Austin Peay* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 28 at Jacksonville State* (ESPN+) 3:00 p.m.

MARCH MARCH 14 Eastern Illinois* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 14 Murray State* (ESPN+) 1:30 p.m. 21 at Murray State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 21 at Eastern Illinois* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 28 UT Martin (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 28 at Southeast Missouri* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m.

APRIL APRIL 3 at Tennessee Tech* (ESPN+) 1:30 p.m. 3 Tennessee State* (ESPN+) 1:30 p.m. 11 Southeast Missouri* (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. 11 at UT Martin* (ESPN+) 3:00 p.m.

* Ohio Valley Conference Game * Ohio Valley Conference Game Home Games in Bold Home Games in Bold All Times Central/Subject to Change All Times Central/Subject to Change

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 12 TEAM COMPOSITE SCHEDULES

UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS (0-0, 0-0) Home: 0-0, Away: 0-0, Neutral: 0-0

FEBRUARY 21 Eastern Illinois* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 28 at Murray State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m.

MARCH 14 Jacksonville State* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 21 at Austin Peay* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m. 28 at Tennessee State* (ESPN+) 2:00 p.m.

APRIL 3 Southeast Missouri* (ESPN+) 1:00 p.m. 11 Tennessee Tech* (ESPN+) 3:00 p.m.

* Ohio Valley Conference Game Home Games in Bold All Times Central/Subject to Change

FCS FOOTBALL – ALL IN

FCS 101 – FCS and FBS are both Division I. The key diff erences are scholar- ship limits (85 for FBS and 63 for FCS), the number of allowable assistant coaches, and resources. FCS stands for Football Championship Subdivision. There are currently 130 FBS programs and 127 FCS programs.

THE FCS CHAMPIONSHIP – It started in 1978, as a four-team fi eld, and it’s now in its 43rd year – the size of the fi eld for this year is 16 due to COVID (down from 24 last season). ESPN will once again be providing coverage for all rounds.

GREAT PLAYERS – The FCS has developed some of the fi nest athletes in the game. Arguably two of the greatest players of all-time (RB Walter Payton at Jackson State and WR Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State) played at an FCS school. The NFL’s all-time leading scorer – Adam Vinatieri of South Dakota State -- did, too. Last year, a whopping 167 players from current FCS schools were on opening-day NFL rosters (that’s the equivalent of more than 3 full teams). Currently, there are more than 250 FCS players on NFL rosters. Notably, there are 39 inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who represent current FCS institutions. Former JMU LB/DE Charles Haley was the fi rst player to be a member of fi ve teams that won Super Bowls (2 with the 49ers, 3 with the Cowboys). He’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2015).

GREAT TEAMS – This past decade the FCS averaged 9 wins each year against FBS programs. North Dakota State, which has won 8 of the past 9 FCS championships, has six-straight wins against FBS schools, which includes wins at Power 5 schools Minnesota, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and 11th-ranked Iowa. The Bison were scheduled to play Oregon this year, but the game was cancelled due to COVID-19.

#FCSIsBest

2020-21 OVC Football Weekly Release - February 16 • 13