Most successful team never to win a FCS championship

[CatMom]

Does the MVC have any other reps in the playoffs in those years? The SLC does. Is it dominance or a good team in a crappy conference that gives UNI the edge? just askin' (inquiring minds want to know)

[CatMom]

12 playoff appearances
15-12 playoff record
1 national title appearance
5 semi final appearances

11-13 playoff record
2 national title appearances
3 semi final appearances

I'll take these stats and call is a draw.....

[grizband]

12 playoff appearances
15-12 playoff record
1 national title appearance
5 semi final appearances

11-13 playoff record
2 national title appearances
3 semi final appearances

I'll take these stats and call is a draw.....

I gave the edge to UNI based on more playoff wins, and more semifinal appearances.

[YoUDeeMan]

Northern Iowa (since 1981)
236-103 69.6% (includes playoffs)
17 conference titles
12 playoff appearances
15-12 playoff record
1 national title appearance
5 semi final appearances

Northern Iowa, the Atlanta Braves of FCS.

[DoubleNicks]

My vote goes to the MSU BobScats. Just because I hate them. That's all the FACTS you need.

Because you are you, your vote will be considered in the finals.

But when has Montana State ever been successful? They beat Furman in the first round a few years back, but that's about it. (MSU's last NC was in 1985)

Another fun question, would be "Who is the worst team/program to have actually won a national championship?" or "Who has fallen the farthest from their national championship days?" Probably Idaho State. Georgia Southern took quite a fall as well (from their days of 6 championships) but as opposed to ISU they went from extraordinary to average whereas ISU went from good to just terrible.

[ur76spider]

Furman University has won a NC! (1988). In fact, Furman and UR (current NC) are the only private schools that have won a NC! Go Spiders!

[JMU DJ]

Northern Iowa (since 1981)
236-103 69.6% (includes playoffs)
17 conference titles
12 playoff appearances
15-12 playoff record
1 national title appearance
5 semi final appearances

Northern Iowa, the Atlanta Braves of FCS.

The Braves won in 95.... just sayin'

[JayJ79]

Does the MVC have any other reps in the playoffs in those years? The SLC does. Is it dominance or a good team in a crappy conference that gives UNI the edge? just askin' (inquiring minds want to know)

Well, the MVC has technically only ever had one team make the I-AA/FCS playoffs: the 1983 SIU team (that won the championship)

However, the MVFC/Gateway is 47-42 (.528) in the playoffs.
The Southland Conference is 39-45 (.464).

* stats computed using the conference affiliation of each team at the time of their playoff participation. Thus for example, Youngstown State's numbers didn't count towards the MVFC until after 1997.

[ChetSteadman]

I think it's completely fair, in this case, to have co-bridesmaids. UNI and McNeese, both wearing pink.

[DJH]

Does the MVC have any other reps in the playoffs in those years? The SLC does. Is it dominance or a good team in a crappy conference that gives UNI the edge? just askin' (inquiring minds want to know)

Well, the MVC has technically only ever had one team make the I-AA/FCS playoffs: the 1983 SIU team (that won the championship)

However, the MVFC/Gateway is 47-42 (.528) in the playoffs.
The Southland Conference is 39-45 (.464).

* stats computed using the conference affiliation of each team at the time of their playoff participation. Thus for example, Youngstown State's numbers didn't count towards the MVFC until after 1997.

WKU won the title for the MVC.

[Cap'n Cat]

Well, the MVC has technically only ever had one team make the I-AA/FCS playoffs: the 1983 SIU team (that won the championship)

However, the MVFC/Gateway is 47-42 (.528) in the playoffs.
The Southland Conference is 39-45 (.464).

* stats computed using the conference affiliation of each team at the time of their playoff participation. Thus for example, Youngstown State's numbers didn't count towards the MVFC until after 1997.

WKU won the title for the MVC.

.....and didn't YSU their first year, 1997?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

WKU won the title for the MVC.

.....and didn't YSU their first year, 1997?

Anybody that wants to check the history can click "History" at the top of the page and see the playoff results throughout. Or click this link:

http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/ ... -playoffs/

Didn't know if you were all aware of it considering the questions on the subject.

[DJH]

WKU won the title for the MVC.

.....and didn't YSU their first year, 1997?

Yeah, I think you're right. Jay is short-changing the conference.

[LastMinuteman]

Harvard or Yale (not counting retroactively awarded championships pre-1915).

[89Hen]

1a UNI
1b McNeese

Nobody else is even in the conversation.

[AshevilleApp]

After some research, I have to give the slight edge to Northern Iowa over McNeeese State for title of "Best FCS team without a title."

Here is a comparison of both teams since joining FCS football:

Northern Iowa (since 1981)
236-103 69.6% (includes playoffs)
17 conference titles
12 playoff appearances
15-12 playoff record
1 national title appearance
5 semi final appearances

McNeese (since 1982)
195-118 62.3% (includes playoffs)
9 conference championships
13 playoff appearances
11-13 playoff record
2 national title appearances
3 semi final appearances

I counted 7 trips to the semis by UNI. '85,'87,'92,'96,'01,'05 and '08. I think we may have a winner.

[JayJ79]

.....and didn't YSU their first year, 1997?

Yeah, I think you're right. Jay is short-changing the conference.

The MVC hasn't sponsored football since 1985.
Both of you are confusing the MVC with the MVFC.

[DJH]

Yeah, I think you're right. Jay is short-changing the conference.

The MVC hasn't sponsored football since 1985.
Both of you are confusing the MVC with the MVFC.

wow. smartass

[JayJ79]

The MVC hasn't sponsored football since 1985.
Both of you are confusing the MVC with the MVFC.

wow. smartass

They are two seperate conferences.

[DJH]

So, I assume you believe that UNI joined a different conference last year then right?

They simply changed the name of the conference.

[clenz]

So, I assume you believe that UNI joined a different conference last year then right?

They simply changed the name of the conference.

From the Gateway to the MVFC. No MVC, a non-football conference, has won the title.

[JayJ79]

So, I assume you believe that UNI joined a different conference last year then right?

They simply changed the name of the conference.

UNI joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 1991, for all it's sports EXCEPT football and wrestling.
UNI Football joined the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1985 (which changed it's name in 1992 to the Gateway Football Conference).

In 2008, the Gateway Football Conference changed it's name to the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Which, while it IS affiliated with the Missouri Valley Conference, it still remains seperate administratively.

Yes, I am a smartass.
But I'm also 100% right.

[bandl]

This is alot of bitching and moaning about a team that could ultimately be crowned the 'FCS Most Successful Failure'

[JayJ79]

So, I assume you believe that UNI joined a different conference last year then right?

They simply changed the name of the conference.

From the Gateway to the MVFC. No MVC, a non-football conference, has won the title.

Actually, the MVC dropped football after 1985.
Southern Illinois was a member of the MVC in 1983 when they won their I-AA title.
(the MVC was a strange hybrid of I-A and I-AA teams from the time of the subdivision split in 1978 through when the conference dropped it's sponsorship of football after 1985)

[DJH]

So, I assume you believe that UNI joined a different conference last year then right?

They simply changed the name of the conference.

UNI joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 1991, for all it's sports EXCEPT football and wrestling.
UNI Football joined the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1985 (which changed it's name in 1992 to the Gateway Football Conference).

In 2008, the Gateway Football Conference changed it's name to the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Which, while it IS affiliated with the Missouri Valley Conference, it still remains seperate administratively.

Yes, I am a smartass.
But I'm also 100% right.

I know the history.

When people were talking about the "MVC" they were referring to the MVFC or the Gateway. They weren't talking about which schools from the basketball conference have won a football title.