The FCS just found out what the official FCS Playoff Committee — made up of FCS athletic directors — thinks the level looks like after 10 weeks, setting up FCS Selection Sunday on Nov. 24 on ESPNU. Below, I'll show what they released, and also react to it … both positive and negative. Here we go folks … this is the beginning of the real debate. It's November, baby.
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THE REACTION
RANKING GRADE: A+ on 1st through 6th … you can't have a problem with this order, at this point it's a "splitting hairs" situation. The committee nailed this. Now, Central Arkansas I think could be a seed with three more wins, which are all winnable in the Southland. But this isn't a projection, this is based on "as of now". I'm not sure UCA is a seed yet, but maybe the Bears are in a few weeks. Montana being a No. 7 or No. 8 seed is solid, though the Griz have work to do. I had Furman at No. 9 too, but I do think New Hampshire at No. 10 is a bit of a reach. So for No. 7 through No. 10? I'm going to go with C+ for now.
WHAT DID THEY MISS?: Look, the committee has a tough job to do. I think having New Hampshire in the Top 10 is definitely premature after losses to non Top 25 teams Holy Cross and Delaware, even though HC may end up being the Patriot League champs (though I will admit, HC has played a brutal schedule). We just need some more results on this one. I had Central Arkansas as a No. 10 coming into this week, but the Bears have a FBS win and I think we're learning that the committee likes FBS wins … which probably bodes well, in my opinion? For Southern Illlinois (UMass blowout win) and especially for the lone P5 winner (The Citadel beating Ga. Tech). Those two programs might be smiling now, because it appears the FBS win thing this year is massive with the committee … especially considering it only happened three times this season (so far).
ON THE OUTSIDE: My stab at this is listed below — but I think Illinois State, Montana State, Wofford and Villanova have a ton of potential ahead of them in the final three weeks. I'd say they control their own "seeding" destiny at this point, based on what we saw from the committee.
NEXT?: The FCS Playoff Selection Show will be broadcast live on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.[divider]
COMMITTEE'S TOP 10
(SOS – Massey FCS Strength of Sked)
| NO | COMMITTEE TOP 10 | REC | STRK | SOS | KEY WIN(S) | LOSSES | BIG GAME LEFT |
| 1 | NDSU | 9-0 | W9 | 13 | SDSU, UNI, Ill. State | None | Three winnable games |
| 2 | JMU | 8-1 | W8 | 20 | Villanova by 14 | P5 West Virginia | vs. UNH (Nov. 9) |
| 3 | WEBER | 7-2 | W6 | 2 | UNI by 12, SacSt by 19 | 2 FBS losses – SanDiegoSt, Nevada | at Montana (Nov. 16) |
| 4 | SDSU | 7-2 | W1 | 11 | SIU by 18 | P5 Minnesota, NDSU by 7 | vs. UNI (Nov. 16) |
| 5 | SACRAMENTO ST. | 6-3 | L1 | 1 | MontSt by 13, Mont. By 27 | 2 FBS losses & Weber State by 19 | Three 4-5 teams left |
| 6 | UNI | 6-3 | W3 | 3 | Ill. State by 17 | P5 Iowa St in OT; Weber, NDSU | at SDSU (Nov. 16) |
| 7 | UCA | 7-2 | W4 | 27 | FBS West. Kentucky | FBS loss Hawaii, Nicholls by 20 | vs. SE La. (Nov. 9) |
| 8 | MONTANA | 7-2 | W2 | 5 | Monmouth by 20 | P5 Oregon, Sac St. by 27 | WeberSt., Mont. St. |
| 9 | FURMAN | 6-3 | W2 | 40 | Chattanooga by 15 | 2 FBS losses, The Citadel by 17 | at Wofford (Nov. 16) |
| 10 | NEW HAMP. | 5-3 | W1 | 28 | Villanova by 8 | FBS loss, Holy Cross by 3, Del. By 6 | at JMU (Nov. 9) |
| JUST MISSED | |||||||
| JM | ILLINOIS ST. | 6-3 | L1 | 31 | SIU by 14 | FBS loss, NDSU by 34, UNI by 17 | at YSU (Nov. 23) |
| JM | MONTANA ST. | 6-3 | W1 | 25 | SEMO by 21 | P5 TexTech, Sac St by 13, UND by 4 | vs. Montana (Nov. 23) |
| JM | WOFFORD | 5-3 | L1 | 57 | Chattanooga by 1 | P5 Clemson, SC State, Samford | vs. Furman (Nov. 16) |
| JM | VILLANOVA | 6-3 | L3 | 36 | Towson by 7 | JMU, Stony Brook, UNH | vs. Richmond (Nov. 9) |
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