Some Insight on the Expanded Playoffs (2010)

[CatMom]

meeting in Frisco, Texas, in the national title game Friday, Jan. 7.

Say, isn't that the same day as the Cotton Bowl, matter of fact, wasn't the Cotton Bowl moved to a 7pm kickoff? Maybe they'll move our game to the afternoon.

I believe the Cotton Bowl is scheduled for the 8th.

[tampajag]

Say, isn't that the same day as the Cotton Bowl, matter of fact, wasn't the Cotton Bowl moved to a 7pm kickoff? Maybe they'll move our game to the afternoon.

I believe the Cotton Bowl is scheduled for the 8th.

the cotton bowl website states the game is 1/7/11 at 7 pm

[89Hen]

Say, isn't that the same day as the Cotton Bowl, matter of fact, wasn't the Cotton Bowl moved to a 7pm kickoff? Maybe they'll move our game to the afternoon.

I believe the Cotton Bowl is scheduled for the 8th.

Nope. 7th and in the evening. First time it's ever been this late on the calendar and first time it's been this late in the day. WTG NCAA! Move our game to compete directly with the Cotton Bowl in the Cowboys new stadium 45 miles away.

[kuntryboimike]

this mita been talked about already. i wanna make sure im understanding this right.

"As the Big South and Northeast Conference gain automatic bids for the first time, the two champions become matched in the first round, with the Big South champ (Liberty's strong squad?) hosting the meeting."

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... id=4308710" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

so the champ of the big south and nec will play eachother in the first round. with the big south hosting the game. right?

and what is "liberty's strong squad" referring to? LU having a better team this yr than in the past?

[danefan]

this mita been talked about already. i wanna make sure im understanding this right.

"As the Big South and Northeast Conference gain automatic bids for the first time, the two champions become matched in the first round, with the Big South champ (Liberty's strong squad?) hosting the meeting."

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... id=4308710" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

so the champ of the big south and nec will play eachother in the first round. with the big south hosting the game. right?

and what is "liberty's strong squad" referring to? LU having a better team this yr than in the past?

The Big South and NEC may meet but its not guaranteed. Its also not guaranteed (although likely) that the Big South will host a first round game.

The way it will work is this:

12 teams will get a first round bye, of which 5 will be seeded and guaranteed a home game.
8 teams will play on Thanksgiving weekend.

The 8 teams that play on Thanksgiving weekend will be regionalized and the highest bidding team will get the home game.

If anyone besides Stony Brook wins the Big South, you aren't like to see an NEC vs. Big South matchup.

The NEC will likely be paired up with the Patriot League champion or the last at-large bid from the CAA.
The Big South is likely to see a MEAC conference champ or an at-large from the Socon. Unless of course SBU wins the Big South AQ and then you'll probably see SBU against an NEC, PL or CAA North team.

[BDKJMU]

I don't get why there's 5 seeds instead of 4 (or 8). With 4 seeds the 8 teams in the 4 1st round games could simply be bracketed with the 4 seeds.

You could get to the quarterfinals and have 5 seeds instead of 4. 5 seeds is a screwed up #. It should be 4 or 8.

[danefan]

I don't get why there's 5 seeds instead of 4 (or 8). With 4 seeds the 8 teams in the 4 1st round games could simply be bracketed with the 4 seeds.

You could get to the quarterfinals and have 5 seeds instead of 4. 5 seeds is a screwed up #. It should be 4 or 8.

I agree. The only reason I said 5 is because that's why the SportsNetwork article says. Something about having 1/4 of the field seeded.

[JBB]

I dont have any problems with auto bids for conference winners and at-large bids but expanding the field only pushes the complaining of the bubble teams further down into the ranks of marginal competitors. If the FCS keeps this expansion up we will look like hockey, or worse, like bowl eligible FBS teams.

[danefan]

I dont have any problems with auto bids for conference winners and at-large bids but expanding the field only pushes the complaining of the bubble teams further down into the ranks of marginal competitors. If the FCS keeps this expansion up we will look like hockey, or worse, like bowl eligible FBS teams.

Sorry JBB - this isn't directly at you alone, but I've said this over and over and over.

Realistically its not going any further than 22.

The only conference that doesn't have a bid and is eligible and wants one is the PFL.

The Great West doesn't have enough teams.
The SWAC is never going to give up the major payday it gets in the Classics.
The Ivy is never going to join the playoffs.

All arrows point towards Big Ten expansion and a domino effect which is likely to result in a few FCS teams getting gobbled up into the Sun Belt, WAC and maybe CUSA. FCS is getting smaller, not bigger.

So once again, I say, how and why would the FCS playoffs expand any further than 22?

[JBB]

22 is a large as I could ever want it. I thought the old format was ok. The at-large bids gave every non-conference winning team, that was deserving of course, a chance at the tournament and seemed to include all teams that had a legit shot at the title. I think with 22 we will see more first and second round blowouts.

D2 didnt have al-large. They regionalized the country. It is a bad setup because there was such a disparity in the strength of the regions and regional bids were limited. They expanded their field and did some rearaingment of the regions and seem to have a system now that does include all legitimate contenders and some non-legit teams.

The FCS field at 22 should acomplish the same thing. All legit contenders should be included but there will be some teams in the field that dont belong.

I am one of those that feels the PFL should have an auto-bid. I also feel rules governing conferences should be observed so the GWC doesn't deserve one.

Unfortunately the playoff games are not big money makers. Expanding the field could end up being a financial burden on some programs.

[danefan]

Some concrete info on the 2010 playoff structure courtesy of UAalumn72

Report of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet June 15-16, 2010 (http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/DI_Champ ... -16-10.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), the 2010 lineup was just named (page 11) :

b. Football Championship Committee. The 2010 Football Championship: Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Northeast Conference (NEC), Ohio Valley Conference, The Patriot League, Southern Conference and Southland Conference.

There is also a clause for the 'earned-access' which I guess now applies to the PFL since the NEC and BSoC now have autobids. They lower the ranking needed to 20 because the field is larger. This also gives an opening in case of a late change of mind by the SWAC or Ivy (page 14)

(2) The cabinet also agreed to amend the championship earned-access criteria for the champion of a conference that is eligible for, but does not receive automatic qualification so that the average rank threshold moves from 16 to 20.

The committee also specified the bracket, ruling the first TWO rounds will account for geography:

(1) The cabinet agreed to amend the football championship selection, seeding, bracketing and hosting policies to accommodate the expansion of the bracket from 16 to 20 teams. It was noted that the best 12 teams would receive a bye as determined using the same criteria the committee uses to select teams for championship; the number of seeded teams will increase from four to five, consistent with the cabinet's policy to seed 25 percent of the bracket; opponents in both the first and second rounds will be paired according to geographic proximity (although teams from the same conference would not be matched against each other in any game that is the first game for both teams); and the minimum financial guarantee will be $30,000 for the first round, $30,000 for the second round, $40,000 for the quarterfinals and $50,000 for the semifinals.

[Mountaineer]

Some concrete info on the 2010 playoff structure courtesy of UAalumn72

..the minimum financial guarantee will be $30,000 for the first round, $30,000 for the second round, $40,000 for the quarterfinals and $50,000 for the semifinals.

In the interest of being too lazy to look it up - what have been the previous guarantees? Even though more teams will be participating it appears the home games will continue to remain in the hands of the "power" schools.

[JConnolly]

Some concrete info on the 2010 playoff structure courtesy of UAalumn72

Report of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet June 15-16, 2010 (http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/DI_Champ ... -16-10.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), the 2010 lineup was just named (page 11) :

b. Football Championship Committee. The 2010 Football Championship: Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Northeast Conference (NEC), Ohio Valley Conference, The Patriot League, Southern Conference and Southland Conference.

There is also a clause for the 'earned-access' which I guess now applies to the PFL since the NEC and BSoC now have autobids. They lower the ranking needed to 20 because the field is larger. This also gives an opening in case of a late change of mind by the SWAC or Ivy (page 14)

(2) The cabinet also agreed to amend the championship earned-access criteria for the champion of a conference that is eligible for, but does not receive automatic qualification so that the average rank threshold moves from 16 to 20.

The committee also specified the bracket, ruling the first TWO rounds will account for geography:

(1) The cabinet agreed to amend the football championship selection, seeding, bracketing and hosting policies to accommodate the expansion of the bracket from 16 to 20 teams. It was noted that the best 12 teams would receive a bye as determined using the same criteria the committee uses to select teams for championship; the number of seeded teams will increase from four to five, consistent with the cabinet's policy to seed 25 percent of the bracket; opponents in both the first and second rounds will be paired according to geographic proximity (although teams from the same conference would not be matched against each other in any game that is the first game for both teams); and the minimum financial guarantee will be $30,000 for the first round, $30,000 for the second round, $40,000 for the quarterfinals and $50,000 for the semifinals.

Does this mean that for example if App is seeded, and gets a bye, then another SoCon team, such as Elon plays in the first round, wins, and can then get sent to App because of proximity in geography? It wouldn't be the first game for Elon, so it wouldn't be the first game for both teams. I'm not saying that this will happen, but I'm curious to know if hypothetically it could, and if anyone here thinks the committee would do something like that, or whether they'd try to avoid a conference matchup in that round.

[S F State Gaters]

Personally i like this just because it will allow more teams a chance to get into the playoffs and may put an end to the bickering that seems to take place between what teams should have made it and allow conferences like the GWC to be able to have a team or to represent them in the playoffs. Also i think the Great West deserves an AQ and i think we are looking at another team joining within 3-5 years with it being either SanDiego, Utah Valley or possibly a D2 team moving up (Central Washington?) since the D2 ban is lifted in 2011 i believe? Either way the Great West hopefully will get a sixth team and then have an AQ for the playoffs. Really do wish that Northern Colorado had stayed in the GWC, that way we wouldnt have this issue!

Snap out it. Stop living in a fairy tale world where the Great West matters. They have *5* teams man! Here's the best option for the Great West. Ready? CPUSLO, SUU, & UCD should bolt on the Dakotas and join the Big Di€k Conf.

*COASTAL*
EWU
PSU
CPU
NAU
UCD
CSUS

*MOUNTAIN*
UM
MSU
WSU
NCU
SUU
ISU

*Mandatory stadium upgrade needed by SUU.

This is my thinking, i'm actually really confused why it hasn't happened yet, it makes the most sense inasmuch as the Dakotas have a lot of convenient regional schools around them they can conference with, while the Cali schools only have the 'coastal' big sky. A 12 team big sky really just jumps out at you when you look at the geography...

Is the only thing stopping that from happening the stipulation that they don't want Cal Davis and Cal Poly to be football-only members, that they'd want them to leave the Big West? Because if it's all-cali big west versus multi-state Big Sky, i think the volleyball and tennis programs are going to vote to stay in the big west and roadie down to northridge.

If the Big Sky grants a football-only exception to Sac State for things like Baseball, why are they not able to do that for UC Davis and Cal Poly? I'm missing something...

[SuperHornet]

Who said the Big Sky grants Sac a football-only exemption? The Big Sky grants NOBODY football-only exceptions. Sac plays football, boys and girls hoops, girls volleyball, and several other sports in the Sky. Heck, until recently, we DOMINATED the Sky in volleyball for over 10 years. Other than the softball-only PCSC, the only conference we have an exemption in is the WAC, where we play baseball and gymnastics.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Snap out it. Stop living in a fairy tale world where the Great West matters. They have *5* teams man! Here's the best option for the Great West. Ready? CPUSLO, SUU, & UCD should bolt on the Dakotas and join the Big Di€k Conf.

*COASTAL*
EWU
PSU
CPU
NAU
UCD
CSUS

*MOUNTAIN*
UM
MSU
WSU
NCU
SUU
ISU

*Mandatory stadium upgrade needed by SUU.

This is my thinking, i'm actually really confused why it hasn't happened yet, it makes the most sense inasmuch as the Dakotas have a lot of convenient regional schools around them they can conference with, while the Cali schools only have the 'coastal' big sky. A 12 team big sky really just jumps out at you when you look at the geography...

Is the only thing stopping that from happening the stipulation that they don't want Cal Davis and Cal Poly to be football-only members, that they'd want them to leave the Big West? Because if it's all-cali big west versus multi-state Big Sky, i think the volleyball and tennis programs are going to vote to stay in the big west and roadie down to northridge.

If the Big Sky grants a football-only exception to Sac State for things like Baseball, why are they not able to do that for UC Davis and Cal Poly? I'm missing something...

SH has it down. If the schools are not willing to join the Big Sky IN ALL sports the conference supports then they ain't getting in. It's just that simple.

If a school has other sports that the conference does not have at it's core then they can feel free to shop around for a home for those secondary & thirdary sports.

[SDHornet]

SH has it down. If the schools are not willing to join the Big Sky IN ALL sports the conference supports then they ain't getting in. It's just that simple.

If a school has other sports that the conference does not have at it's core then they can feel free to shop around for a home for those secondary & thirdary sports.

And I have no problem with the BSC not changing this policy.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

SH has it down. If the schools are not willing to join the Big Sky IN ALL sports the conference supports then they ain't getting in. It's just that simple.

If a school has other sports that the conference does not have at it's core then they can feel free to shop around for a home for those secondary & thirdary sports.

And I have no problem with the BSC not changing this policy.

Yes sir. No 1/2 measures allowed, you're either all in, or not at all. Everybody needs to have the same commitment to the conference.

[Saint3333]

Does this mean that for example if App is seeded, and gets a bye, then another SoCon team, such as Elon plays in the first round, wins, and can then get sent to App because of proximity in geography? It wouldn't be the first game for Elon, so it wouldn't be the first game for both teams. I'm not saying that this will happen, but I'm curious to know if hypothetically it could, and if anyone here thinks the committee would do something like that, or whether they'd try to avoid a conference matchup in that round.

It would appear so, hopefully this can be avoided at least until the quarters though especially east of the MS as there are so many teams close to each other.

[JConnolly]

Does this mean that for example if App is seeded, and gets a bye, then another SoCon team, such as Elon plays in the first round, wins, and can then get sent to App because of proximity in geography? It wouldn't be the first game for Elon, so it wouldn't be the first game for both teams. I'm not saying that this will happen, but I'm curious to know if hypothetically it could, and if anyone here thinks the committee would do something like that, or whether they'd try to avoid a conference matchup in that round.

It would appear so, hopefully this can be avoided at least until the quarters though especially east of the MS as there are so many teams close to each other.

Thanks Saint, thats kinda what I was thinking.

[SDHornet]

And I have no problem with the BSC not changing this policy.

Yes sir. No 1/2 measures allowed, you're either all in, or not at all. Everybody needs to have the same commitment to the conference.

Yup. Plus as a fan, I don't want to have to try and keep track of the multiple conferences the school would be a member of for different sports.

[SuperHornet]

We already have multiple conferences to deal with, SD.

BSC, WAC, PCSC, whatever outfit we're in for crew, and possibly even the MPSF (not sure about that one).

[jrj1976urspider]

I think AZGRIZFAN's comment about the CAA team being able to "roll out of bed and drive 30 minutes to the game" shows his lack of geographic knowledge. It took fans of schools like JMU, Delaware, Richmond and Villanova a lot longer than half an hour to drive to Chattanooga! Perhaps geography is not taught in Montana schools!

[From the class of 09]

I think AZGRIZFAN's comment about the CAA team being able to "roll out of bed and drive 30 minutes to the game" shows his lack of geographic knowledge. It took fans of schools like JMU, Delaware, Richmond and Villanova a lot longer than half an hour to drive to Chattanooga! Perhaps geography is not taught in Montana schools!

He probably just forgot what it is like when the people outnumber the cows and you have a speed limit

[jstclmet]

Does anyone know what happens to Fordham should they have the best record in the PL?? Will they get the PL nod, or will the next team in line receive it?? If the latter, and assuming Fordham has 7 D1 wins, would they qualify for an AL??