Brace yourselves, FCS football fans. There will be a lot of opinions below — and ornery opinions in general — at Gridiron Heroics.
First of all, let us repeat what we’ve said for a couple of weeks now — the Big Sky Conference is the top league in the FCS universe in 2022. It’s been a long time since another conference has supplanted the Missouri Valley Football Conference — maybe as far back as the Southern Conference about 10 years ago when it still had Georgia Southern and Appalachian State within its ranks and NDSU wasn’t dominating like it has.
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So what does the above mean? It means that even if an elite Big Sky team falls in these past few weeks? It’s not a death sentence when it comes to the playoffs. It means, don’t be surprised by five Big Sky teams making it into the postseason. Don’t rule out a UC Davis, who has played a brutal schedule this year but has now won three games in a row, is still standing, and completely controls its destiny. Who is tops? Check out the poll ballot from my vote on Oct. 29 at the link below.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 29): What do you disagree with?
That’s the Big Sky this year. Also, the SoCon may be better than the CAA this year. That also would be a big change from the norm. With James Madison gone and the CAA chopping itself up? It’s a debate. The SoCon is as strong as it has been in years and might be a top-three conference this year — and looks like a three-bid league in 2022, though we have no clue who would drop from the top four — but somebody will.
Three Sundays from today? On Nov 20th at 12:30 pm ET on ESPN2? We’ll know what the selection committee thinks going into the FCS postseason. And the night before, when all the results are in?: You will receive the very first national look at “who makes it” from Gridiron Heroics.
So, join us!
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BMAC’S POLL – THE TOP-FIVE DEBATE … OH, AND THE BIG SKY IS STILL NO. 1:
How much debate is there this week, really? The top five as of this week are rock solid — in alphabetical order, Montana State, NDSU, Sacramento State, SDSU, and Weber State clearly deserve to be here. Sure, you could debate a 3 or a 4 spot, etc, but right now? These are the five and to me? That’s not debatable.
Now, Sacramento State goes to Weber State this weekend, Montana State plays Montana in the season finale, SDSU has a challenge with Illinois State on Nov. 12, NDSU should be ok the rest of the way but has lost at SIU before (Nov. 12 game): Basically, each team can’t sleepwalk through the final three weeks.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 29): What do you disagree with?
But, NDSU and SDSU should be ok, and the Big Sky teams basically all have one serious challenge left apiece.
Waiting in the wings, seeding-wise? Well, William & Mary has won five straight since dropping its lone game to a strong Elon team by three points — and W&M has an FBS win (Charlotte by 17). Incarnate Word will easily finish 10-1 and has an FBS win (Nevada by 14), and Holy Cross should clearly finish 11-0 and has an FBS win (Buffalo by 6) — the best season for the Crusaders since the late 1980s.
All of the above are seeding locks if they continue to win like they’ve been doing. UIW and Holy Cross should have no problem doing that, but W&M will have to knock off a rising Villanova team and survive a trip to its nastiest rival — the strongest Richmond team since Kyle Lauletta was playing quarterback there.
THE RISE AND FALL:
When it comes to ascending? No question that’s William & Mary, Samford, Furman, CAA leading New Hampshire, SE Louisiana, UC Davis, and North Carolina A&T … these teams are making a mark heading into November. The only question is, can they continue it? Clearly, these programs have that ability.
Teams that are dipping recently but aren’t out of this yet? Montana fits that description at face value with three straight losses, but the Griz will rebound and set up the classic showdown with Montana State in the last week of the season. It’s always nice to control your own destiny — and the Griz do, and clearly are a playoff team at 7-4, at the very least.
Is Montana in a position for a seed? I’d say no, but who knows what could happen if the Griz win three in a row to close the season and certain things shift ahead of it in the seeding discussion — which could happen.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 29): What do you disagree with?
Southern Illinois — the only FCS team with a P5 win this year (over Northwestern), has slipped of late, falling to two bottom-half MVFC teams — South Dakota and Northern Iowa. It really doesn’t add up, but like Montana above? SIU is in control of its own destiny. It’s not easy (NDSU at home, Youngstown on the road) and the Salukis are probably kicking themselves for not being locked in at 7-2 right now before playing NDSU, but unlike some conferences — SIU controls where it goes. But damn, it made it tougher for itself.
THE CUSP
The cusp? Do you want to know about the fringe teams? This is pretty clear — UC Davis is inching closer to being a contender after the onslaught of its schedule — with losses to P5 Cal-Berkeley, a total of 7 points to South Dakota State and Weber State combined, and a 17-point loss in Bozeman to Montana State.
But after three straight wins? UC Davis is rising, and could be a factor in November — but it’ll be a challenge. Eastern Kentucky’s massive win over a very strong SEMO team is signature worthy, and the Colonels have that overtime win over FBS Bowling Green on their resume. Richmond has taken care of business all year, but it doesn’t have that home run win just yet. Fordham will likely finish 9-2 and has razor-thin losses to FBS Ohio U. and undefeated Patriot League powerhouse Holy Cross. The Rams could very well get into the playoffs as an at-large.
THE HBCUs and IVYs:
Princeton isn’t just winning, it is dominating. It is very hard to see any Ivy League team challenging the Tigers, but a very good Penn team awaits late in the year — and we’re going to keep saying this: Damn it’s a travesty we can’t see Princeton in the FCS playoffs. Give them a chance, Ivy administrators! Again, your basketball teams do March Madness (with some fun results) — why not the FCS playoffs? I don’t get it. The kids want to do it, and so do the coaches!
There, your monthly service announcement about the Travesty of zero Ivy teams in an FCS playoff picture where clearly they fit in.
BMAC’S FCS FOOTBALL POLL BALLOT VOTE (OCT. 29): What do you disagree with?
And when it comes to the HBCUs — folks, I’m not buying the hype about Jackson State, at least not in the “Top 15 realm” sense. In the FCS Playoffs, I think JSU could win a first-round game, depending on the matchup (and I’m sure it’d be in Jackson because it’d be a massive home crowd) and then the problems would begin after the first round when JSU has to face a seed.
I’m sorry, I don’t think the Tigers can beat a seeded FCS team (top eight), which effectively puts JSU in that 15-20 range. As long as JSU keeps winning, I’ll keep them in that realm — but I won’t elevate them into the top 15 because I don’t think they can beat those teams on a neutral field.
But — will Jackson State win the Celebration Bowl/HBCU National Title in December? Duh. Of course, it will. JSU just knocked around its likely SWAC Title Game opponent (Southern U by 35) and North Carolina Central should be tougher out of the MEAC, but I can’t help thinking JSU is heading towards 13-0.
But, again, could JSU win at William & Mary? Or Weber State? Or this year’s Samford team?
No sir. I don’t believe so.
BMAC’S BONUS FCS FOOTBALL TALKING POINTS.
- You know, the Pioneer League and NEC are looking pretty scrappy this year. It’s a travesty we can’t see St. Thomas (Minn.) or Merrimack as potential playoff teams (because they recently moved into the FCS ranks and are playoff ineligible). But Davidson and St. Francis (Pa.) are playing some serious ball right now.
- The Big South just shifted, majorly. North Carolina A&T’s win over Campbell has shifted the tide and likely puts the Aggies in a position to make the FCS playoffs for the first time as a Big South team, and not as a MEAC team that didn’t make the Celebration Bowl (like in 2016).
- The ASUN-WAC dealio — the temporary combo “conference” that will award an automatic playoff bid to the winner? Wow, it’s crazy. Central Arkansas is 3-0 in this combo league, but arguably Eastern Kentucky (at least as of today) has the best case to make these playoffs. UCA has lost to FCS newcomer Lindenwood, and to Missouri State (slipping quickly), but right now? With three weeks left? UCA will travel to Eastern Kentucky this week — and who knows? Maybe it all switches up.
- So you thought Kennesaw State was dead, eh? Well, like many of the schools mentioned above? The Owls — who will find their way to the FBS soon enough — have their destiny in front of them. Games at UT Martin and Eastern Kentucky are challenges but not impossible, and ASUN-WAC leader Central Arkansas comes to the Greater Atlanta area. The Owls aren’t done yet, they could finish 7-4 on a five-game win streak if they take care of business,
- LASTLY — I really wish we could see UT Martin and SEMO play for the Ohio Valley Conference title. They’re both undefeated in the OVC, but unlike past years? They don’t get to face off. To me? That’s a travesty, but that’s the fun of a transitional year for all of these conferences that are adding teams and subtracting too.
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