The 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, was organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The FCS Championship Game was played on January 6, 2018, in Frisco, Texas. The North Dakota State Bison beat the James Madison Dukes, 17âÂÂ13, to capture their sixth title in seven years.
For the first time since 2012 (and just the second time ever), there were no independent programs in FCS during the 2017 season.
On April 14, the NCAA Division I Council approved a suite of rule changes affecting the recruiting process. The changes most significant to FCS football were to take effect with the 2017âÂÂ18 school year. A national early signing period for high school players was to be introduced for FBS and FCS, at a time in December to be announced later, and FCS programs would no longer have any restriction on the number of new players that may be signed to letters of intent or financial aid agreements. Previously, FCS teams were limited to signing 30 new players per year.
(FCS rankings from the STATS poll)
August 31: Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10<br> September 2: Howard 43, UNLV 40<br> September 2: No. 1 James Madison 34, East Carolina 14<br> September 2: Liberty 48, Baylor 45<br> September 9: No. 12 New Hampshire 22, Georgia Southern 12<br> September 9: South Dakota 35, Bowling Green 27<br> September 16: Idaho State 30, Nevada 28<br> September 16: No. 25 North Carolina A&T 35, Charlotte 31<br> September 23: No. 19 Western Illinois 52, Coastal Carolina 10
Note: Records are regular-season only, and do not include playoff games.
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Home team <br /> Winner<br />All times in Eastern Standard Time ()
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2017. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2017, see 2016 NCAA Division I FCS end-of-season coaching changes.
Top 30 teams by average home attendance:
<small>Source:</small>