Late Thursday, FCS fans got their second (and final) look at what is on the minds of the Playoff Committee before the final bracket is here. The full bracket will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. ET.
Sorry, we completely disagree with this one — quite a different take than last week's, which was relatively spot on. But hey, there are a lot of prisms to view this through. Ours is just one, we admit it.
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Since this FCS Playoff Committee seeding report is based on "so far" and not "what ifs" I completely disagree with demoting North Dakota State. Yes the Bison lost on the road, but as of today, the Bison are the outright Missouri Valley Football Conference champion. You wouldn't relegate the MVFC champion if it was 10-1 right, so why would you do it when it is 8-1 and the ranking is based on today? And its competitors for that No. 2 seed and its accompanying homefield advantage throughout the playoffs — Jacksonville State and Central Arkansas — are also 8-1 but will end up champions of weaker conferences (should they win out, which … they will).
Let's hope that the committee will revisit this if NDSU, JSU and UCA all finish 10-1. What they did tonight doesn't truly matter. What they do Nov. 19 does.
OHIO VALLEY: Jacksonville State Continues to Dominate
Next problem? No way I have Sam Houston State as a No. 5 seed or any seed "as of today". Now, if the Bearkats finish 10-1 as expected? I would seed them in the bottom couple of spots for sure. But not right now, not with Valley teams like South Dakota State and South Dakota to figure in. Now, will these two Valley teams chop each other up potentially in the final two weeks and at least one of them drop? Yes, potentially. But as of today? SDSU and USD should be seeded and the Valley should have three teams with first-round byes.
HERDER: Best case FCS playoff scenarios for Missouri Valley teams
Elon is a bit too high for me at this point, but the Phoenix are still one of the best stories in the FCS and if they go up to New Hampshire this weekend and win and give James Madison a brawl at home in the final game? Please, please, please put Elon in as a seeded team. It needs to happen if Elon is 9-2 overall and gives JMU fits. But if the opposite happens? It'll be a tough decision.
Lastly, we'll project a bit here — I'm starting to feel like Southern Utah in the Big Sky is a team to begin to eyeball for a potential seed, and also keep an eye on what Western Illinois does with two very winnable games coming up with Indiana State and Southern Illinois. I think if SDSU or USD falters in the final two weekends and WIU keeps its nose clean? The Leathernecks need to be in the mix for one of those final seed spots. But WIU needs other teams to torpedo SDSU and USD, because the 'Necks lost to them.
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HERE'S HOW THE FCS PLAYOFF COMMITTEE SEES IT AS OF NOV. 9
(Top 8 seeds get first-round byes and host in the 2nd round)
| RK | TEAM | REC | LOSS? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison | (9-0) | None |
| 2 | Jacksonville State | (8-1) | Georgia Tech |
| 3 | Central Arkansas | (8-1) | Kansas State |
| 4 | North Dakota State | (8-1) | South Dakota St. |
| 5 | Sam Houston State | (8-1) | Central Arkansas |
| 6 | Elon | (8-1) | Toledo |
| 7 | South Dakota State | (7-2) | YSU, UNI |
| 8 | Wofford | (8-1) | Samford |
| 9 | South Dakota | (7-2) | Ill. State, UNI |
| 10 | North Carolina A&T | (9-0) | None |
