RFC Summer Semester--Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Preview (FCS)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: In yet another "silly season", this time in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the race for the Ohio Valley Conference championship ended in a three-way tie for first place, with three teams; Tennessee Tech, Jacksonville State, and Eastern Kentucky, all finishing 6-2 in conference play, while a fourth team, Murray State, finished one game behind that trio at 5-3.  

In the end, it was Tennessee Tech that took the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs out of the OVC.  The Golden Eagles fell in the first round to Central Arkansas, 34-14.  The league's only other playoff representative, Eastern Kentucky, was also one-and-done, as the Colonels were eliminated by James Madison in a close game, 20-17.

Looking ahead: The OVC title, as well as the subsequent automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, could be up for grabs again in 2012.


2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Jacksonville State (7-4):  Despite earning a share of their third-ever Ohio Valley Conference title in 2011, the Gamecocks found themselves on the outside looking in when Selection Sunday rolled around.  Head Coach Jack Crowe welcomes back 53 letterwinners, but only 13 of them are starters. JSU will face two SEC teams to both open and end the 2012 season, respectively.  The Gamecocks open the campaign at Arkansas, a school where Crowe was once the head coach, on September 1, and finish it at Florida on November 17.

2. Eastern Kentucky (7-5):  The Colonels look to make a return trip to the FCS playoffs in 2012, after that tough season-ending first round loss to end 2011.  After opening the season with games at Purdue, the home opener against Morehead State, and another away game at Coastal Carolina, EKU will open OVC play at home against JSU on September 22, in a game that could likely decide at least a share of the league title this season.

3.  Murray State (7-4):  A three-game winning streak to end the 2011 season has Racers fans feeling cautiously optimistic heading into the 2012 season.  Still, Head Coach Chris Hatcher and his charges face a brutal start to the year, starting on September 1 at Florida State, followed by a home game against FCS playoff participant Central Arkansas.


4. Tennessee Tech (7-4):  The Golden Eagles might be hard-pressed to repeat last year's success.  The main highlight of the 2012 schedule is a September 15 visit to Oregon.


5.  Tennessee State (5-6):  Despite an all-time overall record of 519-261-33 in the almost 100 year history of their program, the Tigers are just 79-92 in OVC games since joining the league in 1988, with their last conference title coming in 1999.  That's a drought they hope to end in 2012.  Head Coach Rod Reed welcomes back nine offensive and five defensive starters from 2011.


6. Tennessee-Martin (5-6):  The Skyhawks will open the 2012 season against two teams from non-BCS conferences in Memphis and Northern Illinois, respectively, on the road.


7.  Southeast Missouri State (3-8):  The Redhawks struggled on the road in 2011, going 0-5 in away games.  Head Coach Tony Samuel welcomes back 46 letterwinners--including 16 starters--in hopes of helping the program earn its second OVC title in three years.


8. Austin Peay (3-8):  The Governors also struggled in road games last season, going winless at 0-6.


9. Eastern Illinois (2-9):  Head Coach Dino Babers was hired from Hawaii in hopes of turning the Panthers fortunes around in 2012.