I understand there's some sort of bid process to get a 1st-round home game if you're unseeded. If that's the case I'm hoping we draw another upstart team rather than a well-funded program like Montana in the first round...

But still, gotta win 3-4 more games first. I have to imagine SoS will count in our favor if it comes down to the wire

Just keep winning one game at a time. If we can do that and get into the playoffs it would be great. If we then got to host a playoff game it would be awesome!

Cliche the heck out of this one: ONE WEEK AT A TIME. IT'S HOMECOMING, IT'S IDAHO STATE, THEY'RE COMING IN HOT, WE BETTER BE READY FOR A DOGFIGHT

Thank goodness we start FAST now!

I think our 6'7" WR has to get some consideration after his TD catch.

Should I revive this thread again?

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology
#4 UC Davis playing the winner of McNeese and San Diego

I would be okay playing anyone in that quarter bracket to be honest. Only problem is that we could be looking at NDSU in the semi's.

One game at a time - at the half yesterday who thought we would be looking down the road at playoffs....but should the cards fall where we hope, let's not be the playoff team that falls to USD.

(A couple of years ago I thought that Iowa would learn from the other Big Ten and Big XII schools and not look past NDSU, but the fates had other plans.)

Three Big Sky schools with first round byes.....!!!

That will likely change after the Eastern Washington - UC Davis game.

Wouldn't UCD vs the Bison in Frisco TX for the Championship be Uuge!!??

Are they still run heavy?

https://www.dratings.com/predictor/ncaa-football-predictions/fcs-playoff-projections/

#3 UC Davis playing against the winner of South Dakota State and Idaho State

I'm not a fan of playing against Idaho State again though.

ISU would be scary in a rematch...

They have about a 3:1 ration of rushing attempts to passing attempts but partly that might be because they're in the lead so often in the second half.

Let's face it, we're going to have to beat NDSU in a playoff game at some point in order to prove we're "up there" like the Bison and JMU. Next year's OoC matchup will be a barometer of where we are as a program but if an elimination game comes before then that's just the way it goes.

I would actually be thrilled if we made it to a point in the playoffs that we had to play NDSU. What a tremendous opportunity that would be regardless of how formidable the Bison are.

And they would have our offense as a headache.

From anygivenday.com:

2018 FCS Playoff At Large Eligibility (V 5.0)

Key:

Teams preceded by an asterisk (*) have already reached 7 Division 1 wins.
Teams listed in bold need to win all remaining games to reach 7 Division I wins.
Teams followed by a hash tag (#) have played a lower division team
Teams followed by a plus sign (+) have an FBS team remaining on their schedule.
Teams followed by an percent sign (%) had a game cancelled or postponed

Teams with 7 Division 1 Wins:

*North Dakota State (8-0)
*UC Davis (7-1)
*Colgate (7-0)+% must go 1-3


Big Sky:

Weber State (6-2) must go 1-2
Eastern Washington (6-2)# must go 2-1

Idaho State (5-3)# must go 3-0
Montana State (4-4) must go 3-0
Montana (4-4) must go 3-0

See the entire thread for all of the FCS teams in contention for a playoff berth here:

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?216487-2018-FCS-Playoff-At-Large-Eligibility-(V-5-0)

I'm really curious whether the selection committee's picks on 10/31 will reflect or consider the STATS and Coaches poll, or how much it will depart from them. Kennesaw State is currently #2 in both polls despite playing a fairly weak schedule (although, they have been dominating all of their opponents). Their only loss was a 20-24 defeat to FBS Georgia State, currently 2-6.

Kennesaw State has an OOC game against Jacksonville State in the last week of the season, which will probably be our best chance of stealing the #2 seed from them if we win out. It's just odd to me that a 10-1 Big Sky team might be seeded lower than a 10-1 Big South team just because of polling momentum (again, assuming the selection committee looks at what the media and coaches are thinking), especially when the Big Sky team actually has the FBS win whereas the Big South team doesn't.

I think the disparity between KSU and UCD in both polls really helps reveal that East Coast bias is alive and well. Comparing the two teams this year is like comparing apples to apples: Both programs are looking at their first FCS playoff berth, so it's not like KSU is getting the institutional memory benefit of the doubt that other programs like Montana would enjoy (KSU football is only in its 3rd year of existence). Both teams are undefeated in FCS play, but one plays in a conference with 7 teams in the Massey top 50 (8 if you count common opponent UND) and the other plays in a conference with only 2 teams in the Massey top 50. Both programs played an FBS team with only 1 FBS win so far (SJSU would be 2-6 as well if they had beaten us), but we won ours and they lost theirs.

Not trying to look ahead too much, but this conversation is worth having right now especially since the selection committee will be releasing their preliminary picks on Wednesday. #3 would of course be fantastic, but #2 would mean not having to fly cross country to Georgia to play KSU if both teams make it to the semifinals.

I think KSU is a good team, but to say their strength of schedule has been weak is an understatement. Massey has their SoS ranked at 89th... ours for example is 9th. I think people see the eye popping scores and think "they must be good" but they are playing consistently the worst teams in FCS.

Any potential for fan lobbying to help? PR?

Take care of business and let the chips fall where they may.

The selection committee tends to reflect AGS polls over STATS and Coaches polls:

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?216083-Which-poll-is-the-most-accurate-playoff-predictor

Therefore, I currently don't worry too much.

Herder: How Much Stock Should You Put In The FCS Playoff Committee's Top 10 Rankings?

Will Wednesday's reveal truly show how the seeds would look?

https://herosports.com/fcs/football-fcs-playoff-committee-top-10-bzbz

We're having serious conversations about the merits of getting a #2 or #3 seed

Gotta check the URL to make sure I'm on aggiesportstalk.com

The financial component could prevent UCD from hosting any playoff game even if they are conference champs because of a history of lackluster attendance. :(

You can read all the details here:
http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/Championships/CoachesCorner/Football/FCS_Manual.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=27900



PAIRINGS
All pairings for each round will be based upon financial considerations, geographical location of teams and final rating.


HOST INSTITUTION GENERAL INFORMATION
An institution wishing to host a Football Championship Series game shall submit a FCS Host Site Questionnaire projecting anticipated income and expenses in administering the event.

The information submitted in the FCS Questionnaire is used in determining game sites.

The NAIA strongly considers as host institutions those that have the potential for producing game income, can secure the best possible hotel rates and can provide
items on the form on a complimentary basis.

MATTHEW FRAASE - UC DAVIS, WEBER, JMU OR TOWSON. WHO DO YOU FEEL THE MOST CONFIDENT IN FOR A 1 OR 2 SEED?

Chase: We talked a little bit about this on the podcast this week. If we're talking specifically about resumes and seeding, I think Weber State has the chance to line up the best resume of any team not based out of Fargo. But I do think the respect level (and the eye test, and the metrics) for JMU probably puts them back in a top-2 seed for the playoffs when it's all said and done.

Sam: Out of that group, I'd say JMU. UC Davis and Weber both have tough games ahead and I think JMU is going to fully understand the implications of the regular-season finale at Towson. When it's all said and done, I think we're looking at NDSU the No. 1 seed and JMU at No. 2.

https://herosports.com/fcs/football-mailbag-jsu-shsu-sdsu-bzbz

Well that would SUCK if we were a high seed but got denied a home game. Pisses me off just thinking out it!

Hmmmm. That may be true, but I have a hard time believing we'll have lackluster attendance now. It will be too controversial if we're denied a home game if we deserve it.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer but that criteria gets attention and also include historical data as well.

I am pissed that the women's basketball team doesn't host NIT playoff games because of a schedule conflict. They deserve to host.

Where's the historical data?

We finally got a home WNIT game last year against Idaho before they sent us on the road to Wyoming, Kansas State and Indiana for 3 games in the span of a week. Brutal!
Indiana won the whole thing and never left their home court. The rich get richer....