Some FCS programs would rather not be on the playoff bubble, while several are just happy to be in the discussion. Austin Peay is one of those programs that would love to make the playoffs … for the first time in the 40 seasons of I-AA/FCS football, mind you. The Governors want to punch their ticket.
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So let's take a look at what Austin Peay needs to do next week, and how it helped itself today:
AUSTIN PEAY (7-4) IN A NUTSHELL
TODAY'S RESULT: Won 31-24 on the road at Eastern Kentucky
TODAY'S STAR?: QB Jeremiah Oatsvall (267 yards accounted for, 3 TDs) and LB Gunnar Scholato (10 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PBU).
HOW DID TODAY HELP/HURT?: It obviously helps, but the Governors were playing with fire a bit. They have to be perfect to be considered for an FCS Playoff berth and they found themselves down 24-14 going into the fourth quarter against a 3-7 team. But hey, good teams find a way, eh? And Austin Peay did.
WHAT'S NEXT?: Home against Eastern Illinois
THE SKINNY?: Next week's regular season finale against Eastern Illinois isn't going to be a cakewalk. EIU is 6-4 coming into the game and is 5-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Panthers will not be in the playoff discussion, and would love nothing more than to knock another team out of it on their own field. So next weekend will be a biggie to see if the Govs can reach the 8-win mark, or whether they're eliminated from the discussion. B-Mac's take? APSU gets it done next week and forces the FCS Playoff Committee to take a hard look at the Govs.
IF IT MAKES PLAYOFFS, WHO COULD THEY FACE?: If you look regionally, you'd think probably a team from the Southern Conference (Samford? Furman?) or maybe one of the eastern Missouri Valley Conference programs (Western Illinois?).
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