Last Four In: Liberty, Youngstown State, South Carolina State, William & Mary
First Four Out: Sam Houston State, Illinois State, James Madison, Tennessee State
If you’re a Liberty Flames’ football fan, you received good news this weekend. First, Liberty knocked off a pesky Bryant from the Northeast Conference and second, two schools that figured to be ahead of the Flames come playoff time – Northern Arizona and Wofford – lost. But Liberty (3-1) still has a long way to go to make the playoffs and a difficult schedule.
It begins next weekend when the Flames visit Indiana State, followed by a home game against in-state foe Richmond. Appalachian State, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina remain on the slate so they have to win at least four of the six to have a playoff shot, but at least they have that opportunity.
South Carolina State (2-2) saw its chances helped as well. The Bulldogs must face Bethune-Cookman with the winner likely getting the MEAC’s automatic playoff bid, but the rest of the Bulldogs’ schedule appears winnable, and if they could escape with just three losses (one to Clemson), they might sneak in.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference should get five playoff spots this year while the CAA looks on schedule to get four spots. With Wofford losing to Gardner-Webb, the Southern Conference could be reduced to just one playoff team – likely to be Chattanooga.
Meanwhile, with Southeast Missouri State stunning Southeastern Louisiana, the OVC should get two spots and maybe three with Tennessee State a possibility.
See the FCS Football Projected Bracket
Big Sky: *Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana State
Big South: *Coastal Carolina, Liberty
CAA: *Villanova, New Hampshire, Richmond, William & Mary
MEAC: *Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State
MVFC: *North Dakota State, Youngstown State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois
NEC: *Bryant
OVC: *Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: *Fordham
Pioneer: *Jacksonville
Southern: *Chattanooga
Southland: *SE Louisiana, McNeese State
*auto bid
See the FCS Football Projected Bracket
