FCS Week 7 Recap: Unrest Up Top

October 18, 2026

The FCS landscape remained anything but stable this weekend, as top-ranked programs suffered stinging defeats and mid-tier teams made surprising runs. North Dakota’s defense, bolstered by the return of star defensive end Lance Rucker, dismantled No.

1 South Dakota State with a dominant 169-yard passing restriction and two sacks of quarterback Chase Mason. Sophomore Grant Noland led the charge with nine pass breakups, while the Hawks’ third-down efficiency sealed the 24-17 victory.

Meanwhile, Cornell ended Lehigh’s 21-month regular-season winning streak with a 48-38 upset, as quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns, capitalizing on Lehigh’s defensive struggles and eight successful third-down conversions. The Big Red’s offensive firepower overwhelmed the Mountain Hawks, who managed just 38 points despite running back Luke Yoder’s 142-yard performance.

Rhode Island snapped a months-long losing streak with a commanding 41-24 win at Yale, as backup quarterback Alex McClelland delivered a masterclass with 285 passing yards and four touchdowns on just 11 completions. Star receiver Marquis Buchanan was the focal point, hauling in seven passes for 193 yards and two scores, while the URI defense stifled Yale’s passing attack.

Though the Bulldogs’ running back Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni rushed for 243 yards, Rhode Island’s offensive explosion proved decisive in their first clear victory in over a month.