CJHawkeyes
11-16-2008, 12:51 AM
I have applied my ideas to the FCS season to see how they compare to the actual results and based on the current highest ranked teams winning out next week, the playoff field would look as follows:
1-James Madison (A) 64
2-Appalachian State (A) 57
3-South Carolina State (A) 48
4-Montana (W) 47
5-Villanova (W) 46
6-Wofford (W) 46
7-Weber State (A) 45
8-Richmond (W) 44
9-Cal Poly (W) 44
10-Northern Iowa (A) 41
11-New Hampshire (W) 41
12-Southern Illinois (W) 40
13-Elon 39 (W)
14-Tennessee-Martin (A) 34
15-Colgate (A) 32
16-Texas State (A) 16
Based on my format, only four teams listed above have clinched playoff berths with one week to go. The top three teams, which have clinched their conference titles, and Cal Poly, which has clinched a wildcard berth prior to its season finale at Wisconsin. There are still five auto bids at stake under my format although the top contenders in two will both qualify with wins in their final games. Two of the three remaining conferences have season-ending showdowns for their auto bid. In the OVC, Tennessee-Martin hosts Eastern Kentucky in a winner take all game. The same holds true in the Patriot League as Colgate hosts Holy Cross. In the Southland, there are still three teams alive. McNeese State controls its destiny but must win at defacto champion Central Arkansas who is ineligible. Lose and control shifts to Texas State and Northwestern State in that order.
As for the wildcards, there are two winner take all season finales. New Hampshire at Maine and Richmond at William & Mary. Elon at Liberty is a third potential play-in game but Liberty would need Dayton to lose at Jacksonville in what is a showdown for the Pioneer League title.
Of course, in the actual FCS, only the top four are seeded and guaranteed home games as result. Money dictates home teams among the remaining teams. Under my format, seeds determine all home teams. Among the four playoff locks, three would have at least two home games at stake. James Madison has the least to lose in their final game. The worst fate for them would be a three seed but that would require Cal Poly beating Wisconsin.
While this is all hypothetical, only four playoff berths have been clinched with one week to go, five of eight conference races are undecided, there are four and possibly five winner take all season finales, and no one can take anything for granted by resting their starters. Again, this is what could be at stake in the final weekend of the regular season. Can the BCS even match that in the final month of the season?
1-James Madison (A) 64
2-Appalachian State (A) 57
3-South Carolina State (A) 48
4-Montana (W) 47
5-Villanova (W) 46
6-Wofford (W) 46
7-Weber State (A) 45
8-Richmond (W) 44
9-Cal Poly (W) 44
10-Northern Iowa (A) 41
11-New Hampshire (W) 41
12-Southern Illinois (W) 40
13-Elon 39 (W)
14-Tennessee-Martin (A) 34
15-Colgate (A) 32
16-Texas State (A) 16
Based on my format, only four teams listed above have clinched playoff berths with one week to go. The top three teams, which have clinched their conference titles, and Cal Poly, which has clinched a wildcard berth prior to its season finale at Wisconsin. There are still five auto bids at stake under my format although the top contenders in two will both qualify with wins in their final games. Two of the three remaining conferences have season-ending showdowns for their auto bid. In the OVC, Tennessee-Martin hosts Eastern Kentucky in a winner take all game. The same holds true in the Patriot League as Colgate hosts Holy Cross. In the Southland, there are still three teams alive. McNeese State controls its destiny but must win at defacto champion Central Arkansas who is ineligible. Lose and control shifts to Texas State and Northwestern State in that order.
As for the wildcards, there are two winner take all season finales. New Hampshire at Maine and Richmond at William & Mary. Elon at Liberty is a third potential play-in game but Liberty would need Dayton to lose at Jacksonville in what is a showdown for the Pioneer League title.
Of course, in the actual FCS, only the top four are seeded and guaranteed home games as result. Money dictates home teams among the remaining teams. Under my format, seeds determine all home teams. Among the four playoff locks, three would have at least two home games at stake. James Madison has the least to lose in their final game. The worst fate for them would be a three seed but that would require Cal Poly beating Wisconsin.
While this is all hypothetical, only four playoff berths have been clinched with one week to go, five of eight conference races are undecided, there are four and possibly five winner take all season finales, and no one can take anything for granted by resting their starters. Again, this is what could be at stake in the final weekend of the regular season. Can the BCS even match that in the final month of the season?