Five Knee-Jerk Reactions to the 2024 FCS Playoff Bracket

Bison Win Choice Sunday

After Saturday’s video games, there wasn’t any query Montana State (12-0) would earn the No. 1 seed because the FCS’ solely unbeaten workforce. The intrigue centered on which of the three Missouri Valley Soccer Convention champions – North Dakota State (10-2), South Dakota (9-2) and South Dakota State (10-2) – would obtain the No. 2 seed and be assured home-field benefit by way of the semifinal spherical.

They have been so shut within the common season that the three video games between them have been determined by a mixed eight factors.

NDSU, which beat SDSU on Oct. 19, however misplaced at USD on Saturday, was put in at No. 2. There was no proper or improper reply, however the Bison could have received out on the head-to-head win over the two-time defending nationwide champion Jackrabbits, and the 2 South Dakota packages having every performed a sub-FCS workforce, which doesn’t rely with the choice committee.

It Will Be MVFC and Large Sky … Once more

One of many storylines of the FCS championship recreation this previous January revolved round different conferences needing to shut the rising hole to the Large Sky and MVFC. It marked the third straight title recreation by which the members got here solely from these two conferences (extra particularly, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Montana and Montana State).

The situation appears destined once more, as the highest 5 seeds are a part of the Large Sky and MVFC. These 5 are a mixed 29-1 at house – UC Davis misplaced by two factors to Montana State on Nov. 16 – so the possible quarterfinals and semifinals will undergo their stadiums.

Playoff Area Not as Regional

A transfer to 16 seeds as a substitute of eight has decreased a number of the regional really feel to the playoffs. Three of the eight video games are throughout the 400-mile bus journey restrict: Central Connecticut State at Rhode Island; Lehigh at Richmond; and Illinois State (the No. 12 seed, however unable to host) at Southeast Missouri.

Neither the primary nor second spherical will pit convention groups towards one another, however there might be a well-known recreation on Dec. 7: South Dakota State internet hosting Montana in a rematch of the 2023 championship recreation (SDSU received 23-3).

The convention matchups could also be saved for the quarterfinals and past.

FCS Playoff Bracket a Bit Totally different Combine

The Southern and Southland conferences normally have robust illustration within the playoff discipline, however neither had an at-large candidate with fewer than 5 losses, and that price them additional groups past their computerized qualifiers, No. 6 seed UIW (Southland) and No. 7 seed Mercer (SoCon).

It opened the door for the Large South-OVC and United Athletic Convention, which in recent times fashioned as joint FCS leagues, to have a trio of qualifiers every. It was warranted because the Large South-OVC had a four-way share of the title, touchdown Southeast Missouri, UT Martin and Tennessee State within the discipline, and the UAC was robust with two first-time qualifiers, champion Abilene Christian and Tarleton State (playoff-eligible for the primary time), plus surging Japanese Kentucky.