Last Four In: Richmond, Indiana State, Idaho State, Stephen F. Austin
First Four Out: Youngstown State, Bryant, Liberty, Northern Arizona
When the 24-team playoff field is announced next weekend, it’s likely six of the 11 FCS conferences will only have one representative apiece. After a crazy Saturday of surprises and stunners, it appears the Pioneer, Patriot, Northeast, MEAC, Southern and Big South will send just one team apiece.
That means the bulk of the playoff teams will come from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southland, Colonial Athletic Association and the Big Sky. The MVFC teams should be: North Dakota State, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State and Indiana State. The Southland teams should be: Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana and Stephen F. Austin (even though it lost this weekend). The CAA contingent will likely be: New Hampshire, Villanova, James Madison and the winner of Saturday night’s Richmond-William & Mary contest. The Big Sky group likely will be: Eastern Washington, Montana State, Montana and Idaho State.
Those teams that appear on the bubble are: Youngstown State – The Penguins are 7-4 but finish next weekend at North Dakota State. If they win, they’re in ... if they lose the question becomes: Would the committee take six MVFC schools?
Also, Bryant (8-2) is a question mark after losing to Sacred Heart. The Bulldogs have a fine record, but the Northeast Conference won’t be mistaken for the MVFC. Still, Bryant does have wins over the CAA’s Stony Brook and Maine.
Liberty (7-4) lost a key contest to Charleston Southern and now must finish against unbeaten Coastal Carolina. A win and the Flames get in the tourney. But it’s unlikely the committee would take a 7-5 Liberty. Also in the Big South, Charleston Southern (8-3) is making some noise. But it finishes at Georgia next week. It also just lost to Vanderbilt, 21-20, so it’s likely two of its losses will come against FBS schools. Still, it also has victories over Division II teams Point and Newberry.
See the FCS Football Projected Bracket
Big Sky: *Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana State, Idaho State
Big South: *Coastal Carolina
CAA: *Villanova, New Hampshire, James Madison, Richmond
MEAC: *North Carolina A&T
MVFC: *North Dakota State, Illinois State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Indiana State
NEC: *Sacred Heart
OVC: *Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: *Fordham
Pioneer: *San Diego
Southern: *Chattanooga
Southland: *Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin
* Automatic bid
See the FCS Football Projected Bracket
