LAST FOUR IN: Samford, Nicholls, Montana, Northern Iowa
FIRST FOUR OUT: McNeese, Western Carolina, Illinois State, Northern Arizona
This is probably the most populated bubble in the last four or five years. There are so many teams just off the tree right now that have a legitimate gripe for being left off. The Selection Committee could easily expand the tournament to 30 teams this year and it would be debatable whether it would be enough.
This week, FCS playoff mainstays, Montana and Northern Iowa bust into the bracket. Montana took down the previously unbeaten in Big Sky play, Northern Arizona. Seems unfair to knock NAU out right now, but these weekly bracketology reports are more fluid than the final edition. Northern Iowa played giant killer again, taking down South Dakota. Their schedule sets up beautifully after going 3-2 through a top 15 meat grinder. Samford also slips into the field, replacing Eastern Washington, who took a hurtful fourth loss. It’s not the end, there’s going to be some 7-4 teams make the field at the end. But at this exact moment, they’re trending a little lower than some of the others.
One thing is known for sure...almost nothing is for sure!
Big Sky (3): Southern Utah*, Weber State, Montana
Big South (2): Monmouth*, Kennesaw State
Colonial (4): James Madison*, Elon, Stony Brook, New Hampshire
Missouri Valley (5): North Dakota State*, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Western Illinois, Northern Iowa
Northeast (1): Duquesne*
Ohio Valley (1): Jacksonville State*
Patriot (1): Colgate*
Pioneer (1): San Diego*
Southern (3): Wofford*, Furman, Samford
Southland (3): Central Arkansas*, Sam Houston State, Nicholls
* League Champion and automatic bid
