By STATS Perform

August 30, 2019 at 7:30 AM

Here is a quick look at Saturday’s games involving Top Ten FCS teams and teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference:

TOP 10 MATCHUPS

No. 1 North Dakota State vs. Butler

Since the beginning of its first FCS title in 2011, NDSU's 510-point advantage in the final quarter is over twice as large as the next-best program (North Carolina A&T, plus-254).
NDSU was the only FCS program to rank in the top 10 in turnover margin in each of the past two seasons..
The Bison have tied for the most 500-yard rushers in the FCS in each of the past two seasons, joining Kennesaw State with four in 2017 and Davidson with five in 2018. Two of last year's five players return this season with Ty Brooks (737) and Adam Cofield (563).

This is JMU’s first game against a Big 12 opponent, but the Dukes did play West Virginia twice before the Mountaineers joined the conference. West Virginia won both games by 30-plus points (in 2004 and 2012) when the Mountaineers were ranked in the Top 10.
JMU’s special teams feature Ethan Ratke who has made 31 of 37 field goals, best among active FCS players and D’Angelo Amos, who led the FCS last year with a 22.-yard punt return average.
JMU quarterback Ben DiNucci had four touchdown passes and eight interceptions in seven road games last season, including a five-interception performance in a playoff loss at Colgate.

Washington has won the two previous meetings, but only by a combined 10 points — 30-27 in 2011 and 59-52 in 2014.
Long known for its passing game, Eastern Washington set team records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns last season finishing runner-up to FCS champion North Dakota State.
The Eagles were the only team to rank in the Top 20 in the FCS in total offense, rushing and passing.

Davis opens its season with its first game against Cal since 2010, having lost all nine previous meetings.
Jake Maier was the 2018 Big Sky Conference offensive player of the year, ranking fourth in the FCS in passing yards per game.
Since joining the Big Sky, the Aggies have scored 40 points in 19 games.

Weber State is facing two FBS opponents (also Nevada on Sept. 14) for the first time since 2013. Weber’s back-to-back losses to Utah (70-7) and Utah State (70-6) that season were the third and second worst in program history.
Weber’s Josh Davies won the 2018 Jerry Rice Award after leading all FCS freshman with 1,362 rushing yards.
The Wildcats have led the Big Sky Conference in both scoring and total defense in each of the last two seasons.

Of 24 new FCS head coaches in the 2018 season, Wofford’s Josh Conklin (9-4) had the second-most wins to North Carolina A&T’s Sam Washington (10-2).
Wofford finished fifth in the FCS last year with 311.7 rushing yards per game. Seven different Wofford players rushed for at least 200 yards in 2018.
T.J. Luther’s four touchdown catches last year averaged 49 yards, the highest mark by any FCS freshman.

Kennesaw State is tied with Eastern Washington and North Carolina A&T for the third-most wins (31) in the FCS over the last three seasons, trailing only North Dakota State (41) and James Madison (37).
Kennesaw outscored opponents 159-20 in the third quarter during an 11-2 season.
Kennesaw junior linebacker Bryson Armstrong is the only defensive player to receive the Jerry Rice Award, which since 2011 has honored the FCS national freshman of the year.

Illinois State has won its two most recent games against FBS opponents: 9-7 over Northwestern in 2016 and 35-19 over Colorado State last year.
Illinois State’s All-American running back James Robinson rushed for 985 yards and 11 touchdowns in six wins last year and 305 yards and one touchdown in five losses last year.
Illinois State outscored opponents 134-30 in the fourth quarter last year. That point differential (104) ranked second in the FCS behind North Dakota State (106).

Indiana State lost its previous meetings with Kansas in 1985 and 1986. However, Kansas has opened the last four seasons with losses to FCS programs.
Indiana State linebacker Jonas Griffith led the Missouri Valley in tackles and the FCS in solo tackles as a junior last season.
The Sycamore ended last season on a five-game winning streak. It’s tied for the fourth longest streak in the FCS entering the 2019 season.

UNI is 3-4 over the last seven meetings against Iowa State, dating back to 2007. The Panthers are the only FCS team to have three wins against a single FBS opponent since 2007.
Coach Mark Farley is one win shy of 150 entering his 19th season at Northern Iowa.
UNI and James Madison tied for the second-most shutouts (three) in the FCS last season behind Colgate (five). UNI shut out Hampton (44-0), Indiana State (33-0) and Missouri State (37-0).

Montana hasn’t played an FCS opponent on the road in a season-opening game since a 30-28 win at Cal Poly in 2008.
Quarterbacks Austin Simmons of South Dakota and Dalton Sneed of Montana ranked sixth and ninth in the FCS in total offense per game last season.
As a playoff team in 2017, South Dakota averaged 190 yards rushing and allowed 150 per game. Last year missing the playoffs, USD averaged 125 rushing yards and allowed 210 in a 4-7 season.