Last Four In: Charleston Southern, New Hampshire, Cal Poly, Wofford
First Four Out: Fordham, ten teams with four losses, Tennessee State
This week’s bracketology is perhaps the strangest I’ve ever seen, at least in the last five years or so that I’ve actually produced a published edition of them. With the exception of Cal Poly, every team who was at the bottom end of making the bracket last week, won their game this week (or in the case of New Hampshire, had a bye). Conversely, of the top seven teams just off the radar, trying to get into the bracket, all but Fordham lost.
So what we have right now, is a gigantic, heaping mess. Fordham holds the distinction of being the first team off the bracket this week. But it’s not that they have an overwhelming case to be there. They just happen to be in the right place at the right time. The ten teams with four losses are, in no particular order; Weber State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, Stony Brook, Albany, Tennessee-Martin, Mercer, Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State.
This list isn’t even taking into account the team between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central, from the MEAC. Each of these teams are fighting for a Celebrations Bowl bid, to the winner of their game in two weeks. But the loser would still be eligible for an at-large. North Carolina A&T has an FBS win, and would likely be 9-2, if they lost that game. Also not taken into account are a few five loss teams, who have FBS wins, strong schedules and signature wins, if they made it to 6-5. These include, Illinois State, Eastern Illinois and Northern Iowa.
Big Sky (4): Eastern Washington, North Dakota, Montana, Cal Poly
Big South (2): Liberty, Charleston Southern
Colonial (4): James Madison, Richmond, Villanova, New Hampshire
Missouri Valley (4): North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Youngstown State, Western Illinois
Northeast (1): St. Francis (PA)
Ohio Valley (1): Jacksonville State
Patriot (1): Lehigh
Pioneer (1): San Diego
Southern (4): The Citadel, Chattanooga, Samford, Wofford
Southland (2): Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas
