New Hampshire vs. Illinois State: FCS Playoffs 2014 TV Info, Time, More
Long before the College Football Playoff was instituted this season, the FCS playoffs were there to provide the one-and-done, do-or-die thrills that sports fans everywhere love when it comes to the postseason.
This season is no different with the 12-1 Illinois State Redbirds taking on the 12-1 New Hampshire Wildcats in the semifinals. The winner will take on the victor of the clash between Sam Houston State and the powerhouse that is North Dakota State for the championship.
Read on for the broadcast information and a preview for the showdown between Illinois State and New Hampshire.
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Illinois State vs. New Hampshire
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN U
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Preview
Buckle up because there are going to be plenty of points when New Hampshire and Illinois State take the field.
This is the first-ever meeting between these two programs, and it will take place in New Hampshire where the Wildcats have won 14 games in a row in front of the home fans. The No. 1 Wildcats are also 5-0 against nationally ranked teams this season, but No. 5 Illinois State counters with a 6-1 mark against ranked foes.
New Hampshire’s offense was No. 13 in the country in scoring and No. 17 in passing yards per game, largely because of quarterback Sean Goldrich. While he missed five games with a knee injury during the season, Goldrich threw for 2,177 yards and 13 touchdowns in the eight games he did play. He was also a threat on the ground with eight rushing touchdowns.
Illinois State has to be most concerned with wide receiver R.J. Harris, though.
Harris was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (given to the best offensive player in the FCS) and topped 100 receiving yards in nine different games this season. What’s more, he caught a touchdown in 10-of-13 games and finished with 15 scores and 1,483 receiving yards.
Throw in security blanket Harold Spears (777 receiving yards and four touchdown catches), and it is no wonder the Wildcats are so effective through the air.
Defending New Hampshire’s high-octane offense could be a problem for an Illinois State team that just gave up 26 points in the fourth quarter of its quarterfinals win against Eastern Washington.
If the Wildcats score early, any lingering lack of confidence from the way the Redbirds finished their last game could start to creep in and play a role.
However, Illinois State should be able to keep up on the other side of the ball. The Redbirds finished sixth in the country in scoring offense, ninth in rushing yards per game and 16th in total offense.
Running back Marshaun Coprich is a superstar in the backfield with a nation-best 2,089 rushing yards, 26 rushing touchdowns and 160.7 rushing yards per game. He topped 100 rushing yards in all 13 games this season and is fresh off a 258-yard performance with four touchdowns against Eastern Washington.
Big Ten fans will be familiar with Coprich’s running mate in the backfield.
Quarterback Tre Roberson is a transfer from Indiana and threw for 2,786 yards and 27 touchdowns himself. He also set a school record with 3,559 total yards and found the end zone on the ground nine times.
Dan Molloy of WMBD 31 passed along the notion that Roberson is all the more effective because he gets to play alongside the dominant Coprich, which forces defenders closer to the line of scrimmage in the box:
It is certainly an impressive one-two punch, and Roberson discussed his understanding of the offense, via Kevin Capie of the Journal Star of Peoria:
“I’m getting more comfortable with the offense every week and getting timing with the guys. I think after the (first) Northern Iowa game is when it started clicking for me. I felt a lot more comfortable then because I was able to talk to the coaches and tell them what I liked.”
New Hampshire’s defense will have its work cut out for it, especially after allowing a concerning 566 yards to Chattanooga in the quarterfinals.
However, the Wildcats were playing better on the defensive end before that last game and held their previous four opponents to less than 20 points. The Wildcats were also 23rd in the country in scoring defense and tallied 15 sacks and 13 turnovers in four November games. They even finished with a borderline-ridiculous nine sacks against Fordham in the second round.
In a game where defense may be hard to come by thanks to the two powerful offenses, applying pressure to Roberson could make the difference. One critical sack or turnover could swing the momentum in a shootout, especially since New Hampshire will be playing at home where it seemingly never loses.
This one will come down to the end, but the home crowd and the turnover-inducing pressure from the Wildcats defense will determine the outcome in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: New Hampshire 41, Illinois State 38
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