Last Four In: Albany, Samford, Youngstown State, McNeese State
First Four Out: New Hampshire, Northern Arizona, Colgate, Central Arkansas
The “FBS Beaters Club” has an eighth member after this week. And it should really come as no surprise that defending FCS champion, North Dakota State, is that team. What is impressive is that where most of the FBS victories appear to be against also-rans, the Bison did it against Big Ten power, Iowa. From now on, we should all just expect what hasn’t been done, to be done by the boys in Fargo.
Eastern Washington added a big win to their resume, to go along with their FBS win, over Northern Iowa. The Panthers become the butt of a Big Sky joke for the second week in a row, having lost to Montana last week. Another big win came from Jacksonville State, as they beat soon-to-be FBS member, Coastal Carolina. Nobody had questions about the Gamecocks validity, but this is a marquee win that will almost assuredly look nice and shiny for the Selection Committee in November. Eastern Illinois was the other big winner this week, taking down Illinois State. The Panthers and Redbirds were both coming off FBS wins. Eastern Illinois has set themselves up nicely now, as only a few visible landmines remain.
Leaving the bracket this week is New Hampshire, who lost to Dartmouth. Fear not Wildcat fans, as you sit as the first team out and there’s still months of play left. Youngstown State takes their place, mostly by default. The Penguins schedule hasn’t been overly tough, but they’ve been winning enough. And this puts the MVFC in position to have six qualifiers.
Speaking of the MVFC, a tough week for the conference as the Big Sky showed them no mercy in numerous match-ups. The Big Sky still looks like a two team, top heavy conference right now, but the work done this week should reap some rewards later on.
Big Sky (2): Eastern Washington, Montana
Big South (1): Charleston Southern
Colonial (4): Richmond, James Madison, William & Mary, Albany
Missouri Valley (6): North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Illinois State, Western Illinois, Youngstown State
Northeast (1): St. Francis
Ohio Valley (2): Jacksonville State, Eastern Illinois
Patriot (1): Fordham
Pioneer (1): San Diego
Southern (4): Chattanooga, The Citadel, Wofford, Samford
Southland (2): Sam Houston State, McNeese State
