Last Four In: Southern Illinois, Tennessee State, Samford, Maine
First Four Out: Chattanooga, New Hampshire, Tennessee Martin, Central Arkansas
It’s no secret that the Missouri Valley Football Conference was among the best, if not the best, league in all of FCS. Come playoff time, it might show it with five teams. North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Youngstown State and Northern Iowa figure to get in (although Northern Iowa has taken away its margin of error with its latest loss). Now you can add Southern Illinois (4-3) to the mix. Two weeks ago, they beat South Dakota State and on Saturday, the Salukis knocked off Northern Iowa. True, they face number one North Dakota State in the Saluki’s homecoming, but even with a loss in that one, Southern Illinois could go 8-4 as its last four games are winnable. That might get it a playoff bid. And if the Salukis do get a berth, that could limit the Colonial Athletic Association to just three bids and it likely would mean the loser of the Bethune-Cookman vs. South Carolina State game to decide the MEAC title would miss out on a berth. Meanwhile, in the Ohio Valley Conference, Tennessee State is now projected to get a playoff spot rather than Tennessee-Martin. Tennessee State came away with an impressive win at Jacksonville State on Saturday.
See the FCS Football Projected Bracket
Big Sky: Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona
Big South: Coastal Carolina
CAA: Maine, Towson, Villanova
MEAC: South Carolina State
MVFC: North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Youngstown State, Southern Illinois
NEC: Bryant
OVC: Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State
Patriot: Lehigh, Fordham
Pioneer: Butler
Southern: Wofford, Samford
Southland: Sam Houston State, McNeese State
See the FCS Football Projected Bracket
