Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share FCS – Previewing the “Sweet 16” Playoff games
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
FCS – Previewing the “Sweet 16” Playoff games
This week, the so-called “big names” of college football are still waiting and arguing about which teams should be selected for their upcoming 12-team College Football Playoffs.
The television networks will feature a limited slate of major conference championship games this weekend. Most of this weekend’s FBS teams (win or lose) will probably make the 12-team playoff field.
Yawn!
By contrast, the FCS small college playoffs are now entering week #2 of their 24-team competition. Yes, that is double the number of playoff teams compared to the major college football teams!
Here’s how the FCS Playoffs work
The 11 FCS playoff conferences do not play championship games. In the event of a tie for first place, each conference utilizes a set of tiebreaker rules to determine the league’s top team.
Each of the 11 conference winners received an “automatic bid” into the 24-team FCS playoff field. The other 13 teams were selected by the FCS Playoff Committee (comprised of one Athletic Director from each of the 11 participating conferences).
The 11 conference winners are not guaranteed to host a home playoff game. In fact, the winners of the Ivy League (Yale), Northeast Conference (Central Connecticut State), and Pioneer Football League (Drake) played on the road in Week #1.
Last weekend’s first round had the top eight FCS seeds with a bye.
The remaining 16 teams were in action, though. The next eight highest seeded teams (Seeds #9-16) hosted first round games last Saturday. Their opponents were selected by the playoff committee with geographic considerations to minimize team travel costs (a very smart idea).
Three road teams pulled Week #1 upsets last weekend.
Surprising North Dakota clobbered #13 seed Tennessee Tech 31-6 in Cookeville. Yale scored the final 29 points of the game in the second half to surprise #15 seed Youngstown State 43-42. Illinois State prevailed over #16 Southeastern Louisiana 21-3 in Hammond.
The other five teams eliminated last weekend were Central Connecticut State, Harvard, New Hampshire, Drake, and Lamar.
The FCS is now down to its “Sweet 16” round on Saturday. Let’s review each of the match-ups! (All kickoffs shown are CST)
#12 Villanova (10-2) at #5 Lehigh (12-0) – 11AM on ESPN+
When you’re hot, you’re hot!
The Villanova Wildcats lost two of their first three games of the season (to FBS Penn State and 9-3 FCS member Monmouth). Since then, Villanova has won nine straight games. That includes last Saturday’s 52-7 opening round shellacking of formerly 9-1 Harvard. The Coastal Athletic Association runner-up Wildcats ran for 319 yards as part of a 519-yard offensive output in their home rout over Harvard.
The Lehigh Mountain Hawks of the Patriot League enjoyed a first round bye.
Lehigh features the fourth best rushing offense in the FCS with more than 235 yards per game on the ground. Lehigh (which was the SwampSwamiSports.com #1 regular season team) has limited eight of its 12 opponents to 14 points or less during the season. Tickets for the first Lehigh home playoff game in Bethlehem, PA since 2004 are scarce. Saturday’s game will be played in dry but chilly (upper 30’s) weather conditions.
#11 South Dakota (9-4) @ #6 Mercer (9-2) – 11AM on ESPN+
South Dakota’s Coyotes from the Missouri Valley Conference eliminated Pioneer Football League champion Drake 38-17 last week in Round 1.
USD has won seven of their last eight games. This week’s game is the first-ever football match-up of South Dakota and Mercer. The Coyotes have advanced into the second round of the FCS playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
The pass-happy Mercer Bears had a first round bye.
Mercer is second in the FCS with nearly 334 passing yards per game. Alas, the forecast for Macon, Georgia features a 60% chance of rain with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees. The weather conditions may dampen the effectiveness of the So-Con champion Bears’ dangerous passing attack.
Illinois State (9-4) @ #1 North Dakota State (12-0) – 12 Noon on ESPN+
This is a Missouri Valley Football Conference rematch of North Dakota State’s 33-16 win over the Redbirds on October 4th in Normal, Illinois. That game saw the Bison leading by only two points (18-16) after three quarters before NDSU tacked-on two late scores for the final margin of victory.
Indiana State’s Redbirds are led by quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse. He passed for 28 touchdowns and ran for seven more scores this season.
North Dakota State is the defending FCS champion and is participating in the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season.
The Bison score 42 points per game (#3 nationally) and are #1 in defense by allowing less than 12 points per outing. Expect another sell-out crowd in the noisy 18,700 seat FargoDome to cheer-on the unbeaten Bison this Saturday afternoon.
North Dakota (8-5) @ #4 Tarleton State (11-1) – 12 Noon on ESPN+
I admit it. It was quite surprising to learn that the 7-5 North Dakota Fighting Hawks were being selected to participate in the FCS playoffs over several other teams with much better season records.
UND finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Missouri Valley Conference. They were dispatched 1,200 miles to the south to play a first round road game at 11-1 Ohio Valley/Big South champion Tennessee Tech. The Fighting Hawks soared in the final quarter as North Dakota scored 21 points to secure a 31-6 win and advance into the second round.
This week’s “reward” is a nearly 1,300 mile road trip to #4 seed Tarleton State of Stephenville, Texas (runner-up in the United Athletic Conference). The North Dakota defense forced six turnovers last week in its win over Tennessee Tech.
Tarleton State is no slouch on defense, either.
The Texans lead the FCS in turnover margin with a 2.42 “plus” turnover ratio. Quarterback Victor Gabalis passed for 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions this year to lead Tarleton State’s offense. Sunny weather and temperatures in the mid-60’s should make for a perfect day for playoff football in north Texas.
Yale (9-2) @ #2 Montana State (10-2) – 1PM on ESPN+
Yale may be destiny’s darling in this year’s FCS playoffs.
After handing unbeaten Harvard its first loss and winning the Ivy League, the Bulldogs found themselves down 35-7 at the half at Youngstown State in last Saturday’s first round playoff game. A furious second half rally saw Yale escape with an improbable 43-42 win to advance into Round 2.
This week’s opponent is also on a roll.
Montana State defeated previously unbeaten Montana two weeks ago to win the Big Sky Conference title. After a first round bye, the Bobcats can’t wait to play Yale this Saturday in Bozeman, Montana as snow and 38 degrees await the visitors from Connecticut. Montana State rushes for more than 230 yards per game, so expect a ball-control offensive effort from the Bobcats on Saturday.
#14 South Dakota State (9-4) @ #3 Montana (11-1) – 1PM on ESPN+
It took an overtime win in the regular season finale at North Dakota for the Jackrabbits to end their shocking four-game losing streak.
South Dakota State was rewarded by the FCS Playoff committee with a playoff spot. The Jackrabbits (which finished 4-4 in the Missouri Valley this year) quickly dispatched New Hampshire 41-3 to advance to Round 2 and earn a visit to Missoula to play the University of Montana this Saturday.
The hungry Montana Grizzlies are still seething from a season-ending 31-28 loss to rival Montana State.
Even with the loss, the Big Sky runner-up received a first round bye based on their sterling 11-1 regular season record. The Griz want to avenge last season’s 35-18 playoff loss to South Dakota State in a game played in Brookings, SD. Running back Eli Gillman (the Big Sky offensive player-of-the-year) leads the team with 105 yards per game and a team-high 17 touchdowns. Light freezing rain and snow showers are expected during Saturday’s game with temperatures in the upper 30’s.
#10 Abilene Christian (9-4) @ #7 Stephen F. Austin (10-2) – 1PM on ESPN+
These two Texas-based conference champions will tee-it up for a second time this season.
This time, the game will be played in Nacogdoches on Saturday. The Wildcats beat Stephen F. Austin 28-20 in Abilene in early September. United Athletic League champion Abilene Christian has won seven of its last eight games. ACU dispatched third-place Southland Conference finisher Lamar 38-20 last weekend in Abilene during Round #1 of the FCS playoffs.
The SFA Lumberjacks went 8-0 in the Southland Conference this year to take the league title for the first time since 2010.
Stephen F. Austin has won its last ten games and is allowing only 15 points per game on defense. SFA was awarded a first round bye, and the school is “jacked” about hosting a home playoff game against the team which beat them in Week #2.
#9 Rhode Island (11-2) @ #8 UC-Davis (8-3) – 9PM on ESPN2
“Road” Island is making a 3,000 mile cross-country trip to play this game on Saturday night in northern California.
The CAA regular season champion Rams earned the trip west by winning an opening round playoff game 27-19 at home last weekend over the stubborn Central Connecticut State Blue Devils.
Rhode Island quarterback Devin Ferrell leads the Rams’ offense with nearly 3,500 yards via the air and 22 touchdowns passes.
UC-Davis finished third in the Big Sky Conference behind Montana State and the University of Montana.
The Aggies’ explosive offense passes for 258 yards per game and rushes for another 180. Saturday’s match-up against Rhode Island will be the first-ever for these two teams. This game will kick-off under clear skies with temperatures falling into the upper 40’s.
Enjoy the second round of the FCS Playoffs this Saturday!
The post FCS – Previewing the “Sweet 16” Playoff games appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.
View all episodes
By SwampSwamiSports.comThis week, the so-called “big names” of college football are still waiting and arguing about which teams should be selected for their upcoming 12-team College Football Playoffs.
The television networks will feature a limited slate of major conference championship games this weekend. Most of this weekend’s FBS teams (win or lose) will probably make the 12-team playoff field.
Yawn!
By contrast, the FCS small college playoffs are now entering week #2 of their 24-team competition. Yes, that is double the number of playoff teams compared to the major college football teams!
Here’s how the FCS Playoffs work
The 11 FCS playoff conferences do not play championship games. In the event of a tie for first place, each conference utilizes a set of tiebreaker rules to determine the league’s top team.
Each of the 11 conference winners received an “automatic bid” into the 24-team FCS playoff field. The other 13 teams were selected by the FCS Playoff Committee (comprised of one Athletic Director from each of the 11 participating conferences).
The 11 conference winners are not guaranteed to host a home playoff game. In fact, the winners of the Ivy League (Yale), Northeast Conference (Central Connecticut State), and Pioneer Football League (Drake) played on the road in Week #1.
Last weekend’s first round had the top eight FCS seeds with a bye.
The remaining 16 teams were in action, though. The next eight highest seeded teams (Seeds #9-16) hosted first round games last Saturday. Their opponents were selected by the playoff committee with geographic considerations to minimize team travel costs (a very smart idea).
Three road teams pulled Week #1 upsets last weekend.
Surprising North Dakota clobbered #13 seed Tennessee Tech 31-6 in Cookeville. Yale scored the final 29 points of the game in the second half to surprise #15 seed Youngstown State 43-42. Illinois State prevailed over #16 Southeastern Louisiana 21-3 in Hammond.
The other five teams eliminated last weekend were Central Connecticut State, Harvard, New Hampshire, Drake, and Lamar.
The FCS is now down to its “Sweet 16” round on Saturday. Let’s review each of the match-ups! (All kickoffs shown are CST)
#12 Villanova (10-2) at #5 Lehigh (12-0) – 11AM on ESPN+
When you’re hot, you’re hot!
The Villanova Wildcats lost two of their first three games of the season (to FBS Penn State and 9-3 FCS member Monmouth). Since then, Villanova has won nine straight games. That includes last Saturday’s 52-7 opening round shellacking of formerly 9-1 Harvard. The Coastal Athletic Association runner-up Wildcats ran for 319 yards as part of a 519-yard offensive output in their home rout over Harvard.
The Lehigh Mountain Hawks of the Patriot League enjoyed a first round bye.
Lehigh features the fourth best rushing offense in the FCS with more than 235 yards per game on the ground. Lehigh (which was the SwampSwamiSports.com #1 regular season team) has limited eight of its 12 opponents to 14 points or less during the season. Tickets for the first Lehigh home playoff game in Bethlehem, PA since 2004 are scarce. Saturday’s game will be played in dry but chilly (upper 30’s) weather conditions.
#11 South Dakota (9-4) @ #6 Mercer (9-2) – 11AM on ESPN+
South Dakota’s Coyotes from the Missouri Valley Conference eliminated Pioneer Football League champion Drake 38-17 last week in Round 1.
USD has won seven of their last eight games. This week’s game is the first-ever football match-up of South Dakota and Mercer. The Coyotes have advanced into the second round of the FCS playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
The pass-happy Mercer Bears had a first round bye.
Mercer is second in the FCS with nearly 334 passing yards per game. Alas, the forecast for Macon, Georgia features a 60% chance of rain with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees. The weather conditions may dampen the effectiveness of the So-Con champion Bears’ dangerous passing attack.
Illinois State (9-4) @ #1 North Dakota State (12-0) – 12 Noon on ESPN+
This is a Missouri Valley Football Conference rematch of North Dakota State’s 33-16 win over the Redbirds on October 4th in Normal, Illinois. That game saw the Bison leading by only two points (18-16) after three quarters before NDSU tacked-on two late scores for the final margin of victory.
Indiana State’s Redbirds are led by quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse. He passed for 28 touchdowns and ran for seven more scores this season.
North Dakota State is the defending FCS champion and is participating in the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season.
The Bison score 42 points per game (#3 nationally) and are #1 in defense by allowing less than 12 points per outing. Expect another sell-out crowd in the noisy 18,700 seat FargoDome to cheer-on the unbeaten Bison this Saturday afternoon.
North Dakota (8-5) @ #4 Tarleton State (11-1) – 12 Noon on ESPN+
I admit it. It was quite surprising to learn that the 7-5 North Dakota Fighting Hawks were being selected to participate in the FCS playoffs over several other teams with much better season records.
UND finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Missouri Valley Conference. They were dispatched 1,200 miles to the south to play a first round road game at 11-1 Ohio Valley/Big South champion Tennessee Tech. The Fighting Hawks soared in the final quarter as North Dakota scored 21 points to secure a 31-6 win and advance into the second round.
This week’s “reward” is a nearly 1,300 mile road trip to #4 seed Tarleton State of Stephenville, Texas (runner-up in the United Athletic Conference). The North Dakota defense forced six turnovers last week in its win over Tennessee Tech.
Tarleton State is no slouch on defense, either.
The Texans lead the FCS in turnover margin with a 2.42 “plus” turnover ratio. Quarterback Victor Gabalis passed for 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions this year to lead Tarleton State’s offense. Sunny weather and temperatures in the mid-60’s should make for a perfect day for playoff football in north Texas.
Yale (9-2) @ #2 Montana State (10-2) – 1PM on ESPN+
Yale may be destiny’s darling in this year’s FCS playoffs.
After handing unbeaten Harvard its first loss and winning the Ivy League, the Bulldogs found themselves down 35-7 at the half at Youngstown State in last Saturday’s first round playoff game. A furious second half rally saw Yale escape with an improbable 43-42 win to advance into Round 2.
This week’s opponent is also on a roll.
Montana State defeated previously unbeaten Montana two weeks ago to win the Big Sky Conference title. After a first round bye, the Bobcats can’t wait to play Yale this Saturday in Bozeman, Montana as snow and 38 degrees await the visitors from Connecticut. Montana State rushes for more than 230 yards per game, so expect a ball-control offensive effort from the Bobcats on Saturday.
#14 South Dakota State (9-4) @ #3 Montana (11-1) – 1PM on ESPN+
It took an overtime win in the regular season finale at North Dakota for the Jackrabbits to end their shocking four-game losing streak.
South Dakota State was rewarded by the FCS Playoff committee with a playoff spot. The Jackrabbits (which finished 4-4 in the Missouri Valley this year) quickly dispatched New Hampshire 41-3 to advance to Round 2 and earn a visit to Missoula to play the University of Montana this Saturday.
The hungry Montana Grizzlies are still seething from a season-ending 31-28 loss to rival Montana State.
Even with the loss, the Big Sky runner-up received a first round bye based on their sterling 11-1 regular season record. The Griz want to avenge last season’s 35-18 playoff loss to South Dakota State in a game played in Brookings, SD. Running back Eli Gillman (the Big Sky offensive player-of-the-year) leads the team with 105 yards per game and a team-high 17 touchdowns. Light freezing rain and snow showers are expected during Saturday’s game with temperatures in the upper 30’s.
#10 Abilene Christian (9-4) @ #7 Stephen F. Austin (10-2) – 1PM on ESPN+
These two Texas-based conference champions will tee-it up for a second time this season.
This time, the game will be played in Nacogdoches on Saturday. The Wildcats beat Stephen F. Austin 28-20 in Abilene in early September. United Athletic League champion Abilene Christian has won seven of its last eight games. ACU dispatched third-place Southland Conference finisher Lamar 38-20 last weekend in Abilene during Round #1 of the FCS playoffs.
The SFA Lumberjacks went 8-0 in the Southland Conference this year to take the league title for the first time since 2010.
Stephen F. Austin has won its last ten games and is allowing only 15 points per game on defense. SFA was awarded a first round bye, and the school is “jacked” about hosting a home playoff game against the team which beat them in Week #2.
#9 Rhode Island (11-2) @ #8 UC-Davis (8-3) – 9PM on ESPN2
“Road” Island is making a 3,000 mile cross-country trip to play this game on Saturday night in northern California.
The CAA regular season champion Rams earned the trip west by winning an opening round playoff game 27-19 at home last weekend over the stubborn Central Connecticut State Blue Devils.
Rhode Island quarterback Devin Ferrell leads the Rams’ offense with nearly 3,500 yards via the air and 22 touchdowns passes.
UC-Davis finished third in the Big Sky Conference behind Montana State and the University of Montana.
The Aggies’ explosive offense passes for 258 yards per game and rushes for another 180. Saturday’s match-up against Rhode Island will be the first-ever for these two teams. This game will kick-off under clear skies with temperatures falling into the upper 40’s.
Enjoy the second round of the FCS Playoffs this Saturday!
The post FCS – Previewing the “Sweet 16” Playoff games appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.