NCAA DI FCS INTERACTIVE BRACKET
NCAA DI FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Patriot League Co-Champion No. 22/24 Lafayette (9-2, 5-1 PL) will travel to take on No. 6/7 Delaware (8-3, 6-2 CAA) at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Del. when first-round play in the 2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Championship begins on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Live coverage of the Leopards vs. Blue Hens will begin at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN+. The winner of Lafayette at Delaware will travel to Missoula, Mont. to take on No. 2 seed Montana (10-1, 7-1 Big Sky) on Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. EST.
The Leopards earned their eight Patriot League title in program and history and return to the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2013 after defeating rival Lehigh, 49-21 on Saturday.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
LAFAYETTE
PATRIOT LEAGUE IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS
Patriot League teams are 9-16 in FCS Playoff games since 2010, winning at least one postseason game in eight seasons during that span. The Crusaders fell to eventual national champion South Dakota State (42-21) in the second round last season after defeating NEC champion Sacred Heart (13-10) in the first round. Colgate fell to eventual FCS Champion North Dakota State in the quarterfinal round in 2018 after defeating James Madison (23-20) in the second round. Colgate leads the Patriot League with six postseason victories, while Lehigh (5), Fordham (3) and Holy Cross (2) have all earned victories in the playoffs.
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (9-2, 5-1 PL) AT DELAWARE BLUE HENS (8-3, 6-2 CAA)
Delaware Stadium/Newark, Del. Saturday, Nov. 25 – 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
SERIES HISTORY: The Leopards and Blue Hens meet for the 29th time in series history, the Lafayette trailing the series, 21-7. The teams met for the first time on Sept. 26, 1914, with Lafayette earning a 41-0 victory. Delaware has won the last 14 meetings. The two teams met in the Round of 16 during the 2004 playoffs, with Lafayette falling 28-14.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 8, 2018) – At Delaware 37, Lafayette 0
LAFAYETTE IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS
Lafayette will be playing its fifth FCS-playoff game when they travel to Delaware for the first round matchup. The Leopards are 0-4 in their previous appearances, falling to New Hampshire (45-7) in their most recent appearance in 2013.
Leopards’ FCS Postseason History
2004 – At Delaware 28, Lafayette 14
2005 – At Appalachian State 34, Lafayette 23
2006 – At UMass 35, Lafayette 14
2013 – At New Hampshire 45, Lafayette 7
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.