November 23, 201510 yr Author A couple thoughts: Every year I somehow forget how concentrated the power is in I-AA. 24 total teams, five of which are from the Missouri Valley and four from the Colonial. No. 1 seed Jacksonville State was dominant all year. Its only loss was on the road at Auburn, which they very nearly won.
November 23, 201510 yr Author I also love that the first round is unseeded. Results in little old non-scholarship Dayton getting to host a game after making the playoffs for the first time since moving to Division I football over 20 years ago.
November 23, 201510 yr First playoff appearance for Dayton since 1992, right @Getslow? Hosting Western Illinois seems like a winnable first round game for the Flyers.
November 23, 201510 yr Author First playoff appearance for Dayton since 1992, right @Getslow? Hosting Western Illinois seems like a winnable first round game for the Flyers. Yeah. That was the last year in D-III. I'm not sure what to think about with Western Illinois. They're 6-5 but all their losses came to other teams in the FCS playoffs and the FBS University of Illinois. I hate that it's scheduled for the same time as the UofL/UK game. Wrestling over whether or not to go to Dayton and just skip the Cardinals.
November 23, 201510 yr I hate that it's scheduled for the same time as the UofL/UK game. Wrestling over whether or not to go to Dayton and just skip the Cardinals. 1992 was a long time ago. These playoff appearances aren't guaranteed in a one-bid league. UK/Louisville play every year. Go cheer for the Flyers!
November 23, 201510 yr I'd be shocked to see someone other than Jacksonville State win the title this year.
November 23, 201510 yr Was really hoping that EKU would get in. It looks as if the loss to E. Illinois was basically a play in game. Also, I thought Dayton was in a league that had no playoffs. Has that changed, or have they moved to the FCS or (old Division AA status) in football.
November 23, 201510 yr Author Was really hoping that EKU would get in. It looks as if the loss to E. Illinois was basically a play in game. Also, I thought Dayton was in a league that had no playoffs. Has that changed, or have they moved to the FCS or (old Division AA status) in football. UD has been in I-AA since 1993, but yes, their conference was not an automatic qualifier. Three years ago the NCAA changed the rules and granted the Pioneer League an auto bid to the playoff.
November 23, 201510 yr I thought the NCAA was all about the athletes and that is why we can't have a playoff like this in FBS. It looks like this could extend some teams 5 weeks if it goes their way. FWIW, I love the way they do the playoffs.
November 23, 201510 yr I'd be shocked to see someone other than Jacksonville State win the title this year. Really? I do not have much respect for the OVC, but it would be nice to see a team break through. Up until a few years ago when Eastern Illinois broke through and won a couple games, the OVC went on about a decade plus streak of not winning a game in the tournament. Following NDSU and watching the Missouri Valley regularly, the competition level is night and day. Most years the OVC winner would not finish much above .500 in the MVC. OVC football = WCC basketball.
November 23, 201510 yr NDSU is in an interesting predicament. A few weeks ago they dropped a game at home to South Dakota, who is not that great, and the Bison seldom lose in the Fargodome. Anyways, that game the starting QB, Carson Wentz, broke a bone in his throwing hand. Nobody knew the extent of the injury until the following day when he was ruled out 6-8 weeks. Backup QB, Easton Stick, is a freshman, but has yet to lose a game. They offense has opened more under Stick and the Bison are much more effective at running the ball. I doubt there will be a QB controversy in the next week or two, but it could happen. Wentz is projected to be a 2nd or 3rd day draft selection.
November 23, 201510 yr I thought the NCAA was all about the athletes and that is why we can't have a playoff like this in FBS. It looks like this could extend some teams 5 weeks if it goes their way. Because the NCAA isn't in charge of the Division I playoff. The conferences run that event.
November 23, 201510 yr I think the streak comes to an end (hoping not!) and the Bison lose in the Final Four to Illinois State, a team the Bison narrowly defeated last year in the finals. I like Coastal Carolina out of the other side of the bracket. Their coach, Joe Moglia, is awesome. Former CEO of TD Ameritrade.
November 23, 201510 yr Really? I do not have much respect for the OVC, but it would be nice to see a team break through. Up until a few years ago when Eastern Illinois broke through and won a couple games, the OVC went on about a decade plus streak of not winning a game in the tournament. Following NDSU and watching the Missouri Valley regularly, the competition level is night and day. Most years the OVC winner would not finish much above .500 in the MVC. OVC football = WCC basketball. Their roster is full of transfers from Tenn, Auburn, Bama, Ole Miss. They look like a FBS team (and will be soon).
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