The 2021 spring FCS playoff format has been approved. The one-time format will be a unique one. Sixteen teams are in the bracket instead of 24. The typical 10 automatic conference bids have increased to 11 with the MEAC participating. Which means there will be only five at-large bids compared to the usual 14.
There’s a good chance multiple Top 10 ranked teams won’t be in the playoffs. It should be a thrilling race to see who makes the field out of a jam-packed bubble.
But why not take a stab at it right now?
Here are the way-too-early predictions on what the bracket will look like:
11 Conference Auto-Bids
Big Sky – Weber State
Big South – Kennesaw State
CAA – James Madison
MEAC – North Carolina A&T
MVFC – North Dakota State
NEC – Robert Morris
OVC – Austin Peay
Patriot – Holy Cross
Pioneer – San Diego
SoCon – Furman
Southland – Nicholls
5 At-Large Bids
Alphabetical Order
Montana (Big Sky)
Montana State (Big Sky)
Northern Iowa (MVFC)
South Dakota State (MVFC)
Villanova (CAA)
Seeds, First-Round Matchups
1. North Dakota State vs. Holy Cross
2. Weber State vs. Nicholls
3. James Madison vs. Robert Morris
4. South Dakota State vs. Villanova
5. Montana vs. San Diego
6. Kennesaw State vs. Furman
7. North Carolina A&T vs. Austin Peay
8. Montana State vs. Northern Iowa
