2009 FINAL FCS AT-LARGE ELIGIBILITY

[Screamin_Eagle174]

[UNHWildCats]

Teams in yellow face elimination with next loss. Dark Orange teams have achieved the 7 Div I wins needed for at-large consideration.

Updated November 7

Updated.

[TheDancinMonarch]

As an Old Dominion fan I appreciate being on the "good list" and I don't speak for all but I think we would be just as happy if we make it to 9-2 to sit on the sidelines rather than have our young team battered by a real playoff ready team. Hopefully in a few years we can really join the elite of FCS. But for now I am happy to bask in the glow of a bright flashlight.

[Monarch Nation]

As an Old Dominion fan I appreciate being on the "good list" and I don't speak for all but I think we would be just as happy if we make it to 9-2 to sit on the sidelines rather than have our young team battered by a real playoff ready team. Hopefully in a few years we can really join the elite of FCS. But for now I am happy to bask in the glow of a bright flashlight.

Yep, I'd rather sit out the playoffs until we can earn our way in and show we belong.

[∞∞∞]

As an Old Dominion fan I appreciate being on the "good list" and I don't speak for all but I think we would be just as happy if we make it to 9-2 to sit on the sidelines rather than have our young team battered by a real playoff ready team. Hopefully in a few years we can really join the elite of FCS. But for now I am happy to bask in the glow of a bright flashlight.

Yep, I'd rather sit out the playoffs until we can earn our way in and show we belong.

+∞

[UNHWildCats]

As an Old Dominion fan I appreciate being on the "good list" and I don't speak for all but I think we would be just as happy if we make it to 9-2 to sit on the sidelines rather than have our young team battered by a real playoff ready team. Hopefully in a few years we can really join the elite of FCS. But for now I am happy to bask in the glow of a bright flashlight.

Yep, I'd rather sit out the playoffs until we can earn our way in and show we belong.

the only way to make the playoffs in the FCS is to earn it.

[Chizzang]

As an Old Dominion fan I appreciate being on the "good list" and I don't speak for all but I think we would be just as happy if we make it to 9-2 to sit on the sidelines rather than have our young team battered by a real playoff ready team. Hopefully in a few years we can really join the elite of FCS. But for now I am happy to bask in the glow of a bright flashlight.

Yep, I'd rather sit out the playoffs until we can earn our way in and show we belong.

Well you guys are certainly the talk of the FCS right now in regards to "what's new"

And your fan base has adeptly navigated many-a-land-mine in the process... it's tricky ground
Humble yet confident

[AZGrizFan]

As an Old Dominion fan I appreciate being on the "good list" and I don't speak for all but I think we would be just as happy if we make it to 9-2 to sit on the sidelines rather than have our young team battered by a real playoff ready team. Hopefully in a few years we can really join the elite of FCS. But for now I am happy to bask in the glow of a bright flashlight.

That hasn't stopped Patriot League and OVC and MEAC teams in years past....

[UNHWildCats]

Teams in yellow face elimination with next loss. Dark Orange teams have achieved the 7 Div I wins needed for at-large consideration.

Updated November 14




In my opinion the playoff field is set except the last spot that comes down to MOntana State, Eastern Washington and Weber State. IF all 3 lose Liberty gets in.

If Montana State beats Montana they get the spot.

If Montana State loses Eastern Washington gets it with a win

Weber State needs them both to lose to get the spot with a win.


Liberty fans will be cheering for Montana, Northern Arizona and Cal Poly next weekend.

Updated with some opinions on the field heading into next weekend.

[Mvemjsunpx]

In my opinion the playoff field is set except the last spot that comes down to MOntana State, Eastern Washington and Weber State. IF all 3 lose Liberty gets in.

If Montana State beats Montana they get the spot.

If Montana State loses Eastern Washington gets it with a win

Weber State needs them both to lose to get the spot with a win.


Liberty fans will be cheering for Montana, Northern Arizona and Cal Poly next weekend.

Have to disagree there. Weber beat EWU and their resumes are otherwise equal given Weber's tougher (and all-DI) schedule. Weber should only need MSU to lose whereas EWU should need both Weber & MSU to lose unless the Big Sky happens to get 3 teams in.

[JMU DJ]

In my opinion the playoff field is set except the last spot that comes down to MOntana State, Eastern Washington and Weber State. IF all 3 lose Liberty gets in.

If Montana State beats Montana they get the spot.

If Montana State loses Eastern Washington gets it with a win

Weber State needs them both to lose to get the spot with a win.


Liberty fans will be cheering for Montana, Northern Arizona and Cal Poly next weekend.

Have to disagree there. Weber beat EWU and their resumes are otherwise equal given Weber's tougher (and all-DI) schedule. Weber should only need MSU to lose whereas EWU should need both Weber & MSU to lose unless the Big Sky happens to get 3 teams in.

Yah, agree. Unless the committee penalized based on FBS loses... playing two FBS teams and losing twice, perhaps you should be penalized.


So LU gets snubbed again?

[UNHWildCats]

Have to disagree there. Weber beat EWU and their resumes are otherwise equal given Weber's tougher (and all-DI) schedule. Weber should only need MSU to lose whereas EWU should need both Weber & MSU to lose unless the Big Sky happens to get 3 teams in.

Yah, agree. Unless the committee penalized based on FBS loses... playing two FBS teams and losing twice, perhaps you should be penalized.


So LU gets snubbed again?

I wont say they get snubbed. They had a clear route to getting a guaranteed playoff spot and they failed to succeed at that. Their schedule was a bit too weak to get a at-large spot if at least one of the BSC teams wins next week. Next season they will have the auto bid to win.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I'll bet dollars to doughnuts, the committee will not put in a 7-4 team with an 8-3 still available (despite the extra win a D-II) UNLESS that 7-4 team has a win over FBS ala Montana State in 2006 being chosen over PSU.

[Mvemjsunpx]

I'll bet dollars to doughnuts, the committee will not put in a 7-4 team with an 8-3 still available (despite the extra win a D-II) UNLESS that 7-4 team has a win over FBS ala Montana State in 2006 being chosen over PSU.

Apparently you forget that PSU also had an FBS win in 2006 (over bowl-bound New Mexico). They also had 2 other FBS losses while MSU had a DII loss and a 45-0 home loss to UC Davis. The head-to-head win there decided everything even though, IMO, it shouldn't have because PSU's credentials were more than a little bit better.

If Montana State's head-to-head win 3 years ago over a PSU team with a notably superior resume can get them the nod, then Weber should certainly get the nod with a head-to-head win over an EWU team that has an equivalent resume.

Of course, all of this is assuming the committee shows any consistency…

[JMU DJ]

So LU gets snubbed again?

I wont say they get snubbed. They had a clear route to getting a guaranteed playoff spot and they failed to succeed at that. Their schedule was a bit too weak to get a at-large spot if at least one of the BSC teams wins next week. Next season they will have the auto bid to win.

Yeah, I guess I was looking at the way they had throttled all of that weak competition. One FBS loss, one loss to a JMU team which doesn't look like such a bad loss anymore and then they ran a train on the rest of their competition. Yeah, I wouldn't say their competition is strong... but it's no worse than Idaho State, Portland State, Northern Colorado, Sac State or D-II Western Oregon.


The only thing that really separates EWU from LU in my mind, is the signature victory. Each has one thus far and people tend to rank MSU as a stronger team than Lafayette. Last games on the road playing teams who are currently ranked behind them, both 5-5.

[UNHWildCats]

I wont say they get snubbed. They had a clear route to getting a guaranteed playoff spot and they failed to succeed at that. Their schedule was a bit too weak to get a at-large spot if at least one of the BSC teams wins next week. Next season they will have the auto bid to win.

Yeah, I guess I was looking at the way they had throttled all of that weak competition. One FBS loss, one loss to a JMU team which doesn't look like such a bad loss anymore and then they ran a train on the rest of their competition. Yeah, I wouldn't say their competition is strong... but it's no worse than Idaho State, Portland State, Northern Colorado, Sac State or D-II Western Oregon.


The only thing that really separates EWU from LU in my mind, is the signature victory. Each has one thus far and people tend to rank MSU as a stronger team than Lafayette. Last games on the road playing teams who are currently ranked behind them, both 5-5.

9 out of 10 times I think ISU, PSU, UNC and Sac State would beat everyone but Liberty in the Big South this season. So yes some of the teams Liberty has faced are worse then those faced by the Big Sky teams.

[JMU DJ]

9 out of 10 times I think ISU, PSU, UNC and Sac State would beat everyone but Liberty in the Big South this season. So yes some of the teams Liberty has faced are worse then those faced by the Big Sky teams.

Don't know how much stock/weight you place in the GPI... but it's pretty evenly split between those teams in the Big South and Big Sky (maybe a slight edge towards those teams in the Big South). This of course is if you leave out the Top 5 Big Sky schools.

[UNHWildCats]

9 out of 10 times I think ISU, PSU, UNC and Sac State would beat everyone but Liberty in the Big South this season. So yes some of the teams Liberty has faced are worse then those faced by the Big Sky teams.

Don't know how much stock/weight you place in the GPI... but it's pretty evenly split between those teams in the Big South and Big Sky (maybe a slight edge towards those teams in the Big South). This of course is if you leave out the Top 5 Big Sky schools.

If you take out the teams in the Big Sky and Big South who are currently in the hunt for the playoffs plus Northern Arizona who was just eliminated from consideration the remaining averages are Big Sky 50.72, Big South 57.94. That gap is larger then the gap from #1 conference CAA to #4 Missouri Valley, so not only is it not evenly split, it doesnt even slightly favor the Big South.

Those averages include the lowest four teams in the Big Sky and everyone in the Big South except Liberty.

Hell throw Liberty in and the lower 4 of the Big Sky still out average the Big South.

[wwildcat]

I find it amazing that the FCS Football Executive Director David Coulson, has been saying the last two weeks on his Big Sky interview that Weber State University has zero chance of making the playoffs. His justification is that there are many three loss teams that would get in first. It's obvious he doesn't take into account strength of schedule or how many FBS teams they have played. I realize that most of the FCS teams are back east and can stomach some eastern bias, but to not look at the Big Sky conference (BSC) as a two team playoff league is purely unfair. The BSC currently has the 2nd highest rated conference and if you look historically how well the BSC performs in the playoffs against higher seeds, it's amazing. Yes, Weber State lost two games on the last play (Colorado State and Montana State) and they are inconsistent at times, but I truly think with their talent, they can take down a huge majority of eastern teams, and maybe that's what Coulson is afraid of.

[AZGrizFan]

Imagine the following scenario:

Weber beats Cal Poly to finish @ 7-4, 7-2 against FCS competition
EWU beats NAU to finish at 8-3, 7-2 against FCS competition
MSU (GASP!) beats UM to finish @ 8-3, 7-2 against FCS competition

Then:

Liberty loses to Stonybrook, finishing @ 8-3, (with I believe only 6 D-I wins)
New Hampshire loses to Maine to finish @ 8-3, 7-3 against FCS and an FBS win
Florida A&M loses to Bethune Cookman, finishing @ 7-4
Northern Iowa loses to Illinois State, finishing @ 7-4, 7-3 against FCS competition
Jacksonville St loses to EKU, finishing @ 7-4, 7-2 against FCS competition
Lafayette loses to Lehigh, finishing @ 8-3, 8-3 against FCS competition
Elon loses to Samford, finishing @ 8-3, 7-2 against FCS competition
McNeese St loses to UCA, finishing @ 8-3, 7-2 against FCS competition

Given that these are ALL considered potential "at-large" entrants, which ones do you chose?

Is it possible, in any way, shape or form, that the BSC gets FOUR teams in?

[UNHWildCats]

Liberty already has 7 Div I wins

Florida A&M already eliminated themselves this past weekend.

Jacksonville State is not eligible for the playyoffs because of NCAA sanctions.

New Hampshire is a shoo in at 8-3.

Lafayette is already out.

[clenz]

Ever heard of shut your mouth, and keep that 'eligibility list' updated, idiot.

go fuck yourself you worthless piece of shit

[Screamin_Eagle174]

In my opinion the playoff field is set except the last spot that comes down to MOntana State, Eastern Washington and Weber State. IF all 3 lose Liberty gets in.

If Montana State beats Montana they get the spot.

If Montana State loses Eastern Washington gets it with a win

Weber State needs them both to lose to get the spot with a win.


Liberty fans will be cheering for Montana, Northern Arizona and Cal Poly next weekend.

Have to disagree there. Weber beat EWU and their resumes are otherwise equal given Weber's tougher (and all-DI) schedule. Weber should only need MSU to lose whereas EWU should need both Weber & MSU to lose unless the Big Sky happens to get 3 teams in.

If Montana State's head-to-head win 3 years ago over a PSU team with a notably superior resume can get them the nod, then Weber should certainly get the nod with a head-to-head win over an EWU team that has an equivalent resume.

Of course, all of this is assuming the committee shows any consistency…

One of the playoff committee members, who is also UM's Athletic Director, would care to disagree.

As far as the Big Sky in concerned Eastern Washington, Montana State and Weber State still have playoff aspirations. Eastern Washington and Montana State, both 7-3, probably have the best shot."

If the Eagles and Bobcats both go 8-3, Eastern could get the nod due to its victory over MSU earlier in the year. If MSU beats the Grizzlies this week, that would mean the Cats have a victory over a top five team, a squad the Eagles lost to earlier in the year.

Still, EWU’s win over the Cats on Oct. 24 could trump everything else if both win this week.

“What the committee will do if that happens is look head-to-head” between EWU and MSU, O’Day said Monday. “The head-to-head matchup is big. It would probably favor Eastern Washington in that scenario."

http://billingsgazette.com/sports/colle ... 03286.html

Ala AZ,

[native]

...
One of the playoff committee members, who is also UM's Athletic Director, would care to disagree.

As far as the Big Sky in concerned Eastern Washington, Montana State and Weber State still have playoff aspirations. Eastern Washington and Montana State, both 7-3, probably have the best shot."

If the Eagles and Bobcats both go 8-3, Eastern could get the nod due to its victory over MSU earlier in the year. If MSU beats the Grizzlies this week, that would mean the Cats have a victory over a top five team, a squad the Eagles lost to earlier in the year.

Still, EWU’s win over the Cats on Oct. 24 could trump everything else if both win this week.

“What the committee will do if that happens is look head-to-head” between EWU and MSU, O’Day said Monday. “The head-to-head matchup is big. It would probably favor Eastern Washington in that scenario."

http://billingsgazette.com/sports/colle ... 03286.html

Ala AZ,

You could be right, beagle, and if EWU gets the Big Sky at-large bid, I wish the Eagles well!!!

Does that mean that WSU should go back to scheduling NAIA and DII teams, like Eastern Washington?...

Naaaaw... that would be only for pussies.

[D1B]