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Today is the day for the FCS Playoff selection show on ESPNU at 12:30 p.m. ET. The field will be comprised of 24 schools with 11 automatic bids to conference champions, and 13 at-large bids determined by the same committee that will seed the teams.
These teams are ineligible - Jacksonville State, Lindenwood, Merrimack, Sam Houston, St. Thomas, Stonehill, Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce and Utah Tech.
The SWAC, MEAC do not receive an auto bid to the FCS playoffs, but can receive an at-large bid. The Ivy League does not participate in postseason football.
ASUN/WAC - Eastern Kentucky
BIG SKY - Sacramento State
BIG SOUTH - Gardner-Webb
CAA - William & Mary
MVFC - South Dakota State
NEC - St. Francis, Pa.
OVC - SEMO
Patriot - Holy Cross
Pioneer - Davidson
SoCon - Samford
Southland - SE Louisiana
Furman
North Dakota State
Montana State
Incarnate Word
Weber State
Elon
Richmond
New Hampshire
North Carolina Central
Fordham
Florida A&M
Central Arkansas missed on its chance to win the title outright by losing 40-17 at home to Jacksonville State, and because Eastern Kentucky defeated Kennesaw State 45-38. Those results left the Bears and Colonels tied with 3-2 conference marks, along with Austin Peay which had already completed its league slate.
As a result, the deciding factor for the FCS automatic qualifier bid was determined by the ASUN/WAC Power Poll and that tipped the result in Eastern Kentucky's favor.
WAC member Abilene Christian likely had the upper hand until the Wildcats lost 24-21 at home to Stephen F. Austin.
At-Large bids expected: None.
It all came down to yesterday's games as to whether Sacramento State or Montana State would and the AQ bid, but both teams won to finish as co-champions with 8-0 records. However, the Hornets were 11-0 over-all and Montana State finished 10-1 with the lone loss at Oregon State at the start of the season. On Saturday, Sacramento State won the Causeway Classic 27-21 over UC Davis, and Montana State thrashed Montana 55-21 in the Brawl of the West.
At-Large bids expected: Montana State (definite), Weber State (likely)
Gardner-Webb hosted and won the de facto conference championship game on Saturday, knocking off North Carolina A&T 38-17 in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. It will be the first FCS Playoff appearance for the Runnin' Bulldogs who ended the regular season on a 4-game winning streak. The Aggies came into the game on a 7-game heater. Three of G-W's non-conference games were at FBS members Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Liberty. Further, the Bulldogs lost by just 4 at Coastal (9-1) and 1 at Liberty (8-2).
At-Large bids expected: None
This was a highly entertaining race all season and three teams were still in the hunt as William & Mary, Richmond, and New Hampshire were all 6-1. On Saturday, William & Mary eliminated Richmond with a 37-26 road win, and New Hampshire edged Maine 42-41.
William & Mary and New Hampshire did not play each other so the tie-breaker was the point differential in conference games with a 21-point maximum per game. William & Mary's point differential was +78 and New Hampshire's point differential was +62.
At-Large bids expected: Elon, New Hampshire, Richmond are all possible with identical 8-3 records.
The Jackrabbits completed their season last week, having already clinched the conference title with an 8-0 mark and 10-1 record. The 7-3 season-opening loss at Iowa as its only setback.
At-Large bids expected: North Dakota State is definite with its pedigree and a 9-2 record. North Dakota and Youngstown State are each 7-4 but not a shoo-in by any means.
Since Merrimack was ineligible for the playoffs, the Red Flash had the AQ bid locked up before the 52-23 road win yesterday over the Warriors. However, the win did give St. Francis the outright NEC title.
At-Large bids expected: Merrimack (8-3) is possible, but not likely.
It came down to SEMO and UT-Martin which were both 3-0 entering yesterday's play. Southeast Missouri hosted Murray State and romped to a 52-22 win over the Racers. UT-Martin hosted Eastern Illinois and eked-out a 34-31 win. A coin flip was held Saturday night and UT-Martin's representative called tails and lost. It will be the first appearance for SEMO since 2019 and fourth over-all.
At-Large bids expected: UT-Martin (7-4) is possible, but not likely.
Holy Cross clinched the bid on November 5 and the Crusaders will enter the playoffs with an 11-0 record to be just one of three remaining undefeated teams in the country, joining Sacramento State and Jackson State.
At-Large bids expected: Fordham (9-2) is highly likely.
St Thomas won the conference title, but is eligible for the playoff as the Tommies are deemed to be in a transition period to the FCS.
Thus, the bid was determined in a de facto championship game at Davidson with the host Wildcats eking out a 24-23 win over Dayton. Davidson's 13th straight home win also ended the 'Cats 10-game losing skid to the Flyers. Dayton missed a tying PAT early in the 4th quarter and had a go-ahead field goal blocked from 40 yards out with 5:03 left. This will be Davidson's 3rd playoff appearance, all in the last 3 seasons.
At-Large bids expected: Daytona is possible at 8-3. The only previous appearance for the Flyers came in 2015.
Samford was added a week ago to the list of teams that had clinched automatic bids when the Bulldogs won 35-24 at Chattanooga on the same day Mercer was eliminated with a 23-13 loss at home to Furman. Samford and Furman were both underdogs. The win left Samford undefeated in conference play while the Paladins' only SoCon loss was at home to the Bulldogs on October 1.
At-Large bids expected: Furman is a pretty safe bet at 9-2.
There were still three teams in contention as NW State (LA), Incarnate Word and SE Louisiana entered Saturday with 4-1 records. SELA (8-3) owned the tie-breaker over the both the Demons (4-6 over-all) and the Cardinals (9-1 over-all). Therefore, SE Louisiana clinched the bid with its 40-17 win on Thursday night at Nicholls State. A loss by the Lions would have turned Saturday's game in Natchitoches into a de facto playoff game when NW State hosted Incarnate Word. UIW won that game in a 66-7 rout.
At-Large bids expected: Incarnate Word is definite at 10-1
Ivy League: Yale was a 19-14 winner at Harvard to claim the outright title.
MEAC: North Carolina Central clinched the MEAC with a 48-14 win at Norfolk State.
SWAC: Jackson State clinched the SWAC East a week ago with a 27-13 win over Alabama A&M in Mobile. Prairie View failed to clinch the SWAC West when MVSU pulled off the 27-7 upset yesterday at PVAM. The Panthers now need Southern to lose to Grambling in the Bayou Classic this Saturday in New Orleans. Southern advances to the conference title game with a win over GSU. Jackson State will host the SWAC title game.
NOTE: Champions of the MEAC and SWAC meet annually in the Celebration Bowl which will take place in Atlanta on December 17 at Noon.
The Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern takes place on Thanksgiving weekend Saturday in New Orleans.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama State meet in Montgomery on Thanksgiving Day in the Turkey Day Classic.
SEE: Schedule Picks and Scores
There were 119 FBS vs. FCS matchups this season with App State, Army and Marshall each playing two such games, and 116 other FBS schools playing one apiece.
The final FBS-FCS matchups yesterday saw Austin Peay lose 34-0 at Alabama, Utah Tech fall 52-26 at BYU, ETSU get smacked 56-7 at Mississippi State, and North Alabama get blanked 59-0 at Memphis.
The FBS was 111-8 (.933) vs. the FCS this year, and is 1,685-148 (.919) since we began tracking this in 2003.
Here were the FCS wins in 2022:
September 2: William & Mary 41, Charlotte 24
September 3: Delaware14, Navy 7
September 10: Weber State 35, Utah State 7
September 10: Incarnate Word 55, Nevada 41
September 10: Holy Cross 37, Buffalo 31
September 10: Eastern Kentucky 59, Bowling Green 57 (7 OT's)
September 17: Southern Illinois 31, Northwestern 24
September 24: Sacramento State 41, Colorado State 10
HOLY CROSS - Won 11 straight over-all.
Last: Won 47-10 at Georgetown on Saturday, November 19.
Next: FCS Playoffs
JACKSON STATE - Won 11 straight over-all
Last: Won 24-13 at Alcorn State on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Hosts either Southern or Prairie View in SWAC Championship on Saturday, December 3.
SACRAMENTO STATE - Won 11 straight over-all. Won 19 straight conference games. Won 10 straight road games.
Last: Won 27-21 at home over UC Davis on Saturday, November 19.
Next: FCS Playoffs
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE - Won 10 straight over-all
Last: Won 31-7 at home over Illinois State on Saturday, November 12.
Next: FCS Playoffs
MONTANA STATE - Won 18 straight home games.
Last: Won 55-21 at home over Montana on Saturday, November 19.
Next: FCS Playoffs
WESTERN ILLINOIS - Lost 13 straight over-all.
Last: Lost 20-13 in OT at Illinois State on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
WAGNER - Lost 19 straight road games.
Last: Lost 33-0 at Duquesne on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
PRESBYTERIAN - Lost 16 straight conference games.
Last: Lost 42-21at Stetson on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN - Lost 11 straight home games.
Last: Lost 49-7 at Tarleton on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete
GEORGETOWN - Lost 11 straight home games.
Last: Lost 47-10 at home to Holy Cross on Saturday, November 19.
Next: Season complete