Well just when you think things clear up you get a few results that put things right back in the fog of a couple weeks ago. Some playoff mainstays are in some serious trouble and the group of teams sitting at 5-4 now is large and features a mix of teams with some very interesting resumes, schedules, and conference races that will make the last two weeks very intriguing. But at least a few teams have risen above the fray to give themselves less of a worry but onto the recap of Week 10
Here's your ticket
Week 10 saw five teams have an opportunity to punch their ticket into the FCS playoffs, two of those teams got those tickets punched. North Dakota St got a stiff challenge from Youngstown St but secured at least a share of the MVFC championship with a 17-7 in the FargoDome. Mind you it was the Bison's eight straight conference title, and to think people (myself included) thought they were vulnerable. Once again they look like the class of the FCS and with everything else going on, they should have home field throughout the playoffs which almost certainly means another championship game birth
The other successful team to get their ticket punched was Colgate. The redemption tour continues for the Raiders and once again it was done in shutout fashion as they wiped Fordham of the field 41-0. Yes, Fordham is not the highest quality opponent but Colgate held them to 28 total yards, 0 for 14 on third down, and 4 first downs total in the game...that is impressive. They will be interesting to see in a couple weeks when they take on Army at the end of the regular season in a game that will be a decent barometer for how they may perform in the playoffs. The draw will be interesting for them as well as they are all but assured of a Top 8 seed in the playoffs
As Advertised
While the weather did play a bit of a role, the IVY League heavyweight matchup between Dartmouth and Princeton was still as good as it could have been as the Tiger won the slugfest 14-9. The defenses for both teams were the stars of the show as both offenses were held well short of their season averages. Dartmouth was especially held in check, as after a 14 play, 75-yard touchdown drive on its opening drive, The Big Green were held to 138 yards, 7 punts, a missed FG, and a game-sealing turnover on downs the rest of the day.
The win by Princeton puts them well in the driver's seat for an undefeated season. If they take care of business against defending champ Yale and Penn, its 10-0 and an outright Ivy League crown
Troubling waters
It happens every year, a couple FCS powers have some unexpected losses and a good chunk of doubt comes into play as their playoffs hopes go from near locks to almost out altogether. This year, there are some major heavy hitters in danger of missing the playoffs altogether after some big losses in Week 10
James Madison - Don't look now but after the 35-24 surprising loss @New Hampshire, the Dukes sit at an uncomfortable 6-3 with two games that are far from gimmes. Is it possible for the three times defending CAA champ to miss the playoffs?
Illinois State - Make it three losses in a row for the Redbirds following the 26-16 @UNI. Three weeks ago this was a Top 10 team with an FBS win but need to win the remaining two games at surging Indiana State is next followed by always tough Youngstown to avoid a huge 2nd half collapse.
Sam Houston State - The loss @UIW just may have been the final nail in the coffin as the drop off from the last few years has been evident. While winning the last two games is an absolute must it still may not be enough because the Bearkats only have an OT home win versus Central Arkansas on their resume
Almost making the list was Jacksonville St. A wild ending at home versus UT-Martin kept them from falling to 6-3 with a terrible loss to a Martin team that won once all year long. One note about the ending...it was terrible defense on both sides. Jacksonville St showed poor angles on UT_Martin's go-ahead touchdown. UT-Martin did no better in its prevent defense letting Gamecock WR Jamari Hester get behind them for the game-winning touchdown
So you figure it out
Right now if you can figure out the jumble that is the CAA and the Southland congratulations. Things are so crazy right now as both conferences have 4 teams tied for the conference lead and 6 teams (you might be able to include Rhode Island and Abilene Christian but doubtful) that are battling for playoff spots.
Right now it is looking like the CAA should get 5 and the Southland 3 but trying to figure who gets those spots is just mind-numbing. My guess is that James Madison, Maine, Elon, Stony Brook, and Delaware get in for the CAA while Nicolls, McNeese, and Central Arkansas get the nods for the Southland
Top 10
So last week the FCS selection committee released a Top 10 list of where they had teams ranked, basically the FCS version of the College Football Rankings but just done once and not the talk come every Tuesday. If I had to do one now:
Here's your ticket
Week 10 saw five teams have an opportunity to punch their ticket into the FCS playoffs, two of those teams got those tickets punched. North Dakota St got a stiff challenge from Youngstown St but secured at least a share of the MVFC championship with a 17-7 in the FargoDome. Mind you it was the Bison's eight straight conference title, and to think people (myself included) thought they were vulnerable. Once again they look like the class of the FCS and with everything else going on, they should have home field throughout the playoffs which almost certainly means another championship game birth
The other successful team to get their ticket punched was Colgate. The redemption tour continues for the Raiders and once again it was done in shutout fashion as they wiped Fordham of the field 41-0. Yes, Fordham is not the highest quality opponent but Colgate held them to 28 total yards, 0 for 14 on third down, and 4 first downs total in the game...that is impressive. They will be interesting to see in a couple weeks when they take on Army at the end of the regular season in a game that will be a decent barometer for how they may perform in the playoffs. The draw will be interesting for them as well as they are all but assured of a Top 8 seed in the playoffs
As Advertised
While the weather did play a bit of a role, the IVY League heavyweight matchup between Dartmouth and Princeton was still as good as it could have been as the Tiger won the slugfest 14-9. The defenses for both teams were the stars of the show as both offenses were held well short of their season averages. Dartmouth was especially held in check, as after a 14 play, 75-yard touchdown drive on its opening drive, The Big Green were held to 138 yards, 7 punts, a missed FG, and a game-sealing turnover on downs the rest of the day.
The win by Princeton puts them well in the driver's seat for an undefeated season. If they take care of business against defending champ Yale and Penn, its 10-0 and an outright Ivy League crown
Troubling waters
It happens every year, a couple FCS powers have some unexpected losses and a good chunk of doubt comes into play as their playoffs hopes go from near locks to almost out altogether. This year, there are some major heavy hitters in danger of missing the playoffs altogether after some big losses in Week 10
James Madison - Don't look now but after the 35-24 surprising loss @New Hampshire, the Dukes sit at an uncomfortable 6-3 with two games that are far from gimmes. Is it possible for the three times defending CAA champ to miss the playoffs?
Illinois State - Make it three losses in a row for the Redbirds following the 26-16 @UNI. Three weeks ago this was a Top 10 team with an FBS win but need to win the remaining two games at surging Indiana State is next followed by always tough Youngstown to avoid a huge 2nd half collapse.
Sam Houston State - The loss @UIW just may have been the final nail in the coffin as the drop off from the last few years has been evident. While winning the last two games is an absolute must it still may not be enough because the Bearkats only have an OT home win versus Central Arkansas on their resume
Almost making the list was Jacksonville St. A wild ending at home versus UT-Martin kept them from falling to 6-3 with a terrible loss to a Martin team that won once all year long. One note about the ending...it was terrible defense on both sides. Jacksonville St showed poor angles on UT_Martin's go-ahead touchdown. UT-Martin did no better in its prevent defense letting Gamecock WR Jamari Hester get behind them for the game-winning touchdown
So you figure it out
Right now if you can figure out the jumble that is the CAA and the Southland congratulations. Things are so crazy right now as both conferences have 4 teams tied for the conference lead and 6 teams (you might be able to include Rhode Island and Abilene Christian but doubtful) that are battling for playoff spots.
Right now it is looking like the CAA should get 5 and the Southland 3 but trying to figure who gets those spots is just mind-numbing. My guess is that James Madison, Maine, Elon, Stony Brook, and Delaware get in for the CAA while Nicolls, McNeese, and Central Arkansas get the nods for the Southland
Top 10
So last week the FCS selection committee released a Top 10 list of where they had teams ranked, basically the FCS version of the College Football Rankings but just done once and not the talk come every Tuesday. If I had to do one now:
- North Dakota St
- UC-Davis
- Kennesaw St
- Eastern Washington
- Weber St
- Elon
- South Dakota St
- Colgate
- Delaware
- James Madison
Until next time...
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