Presenting OL FU's Best of Playoffs, 2008 Edition

[Mountaineer]

The tradition of ranking the best playoff teams rolls along for another edition. To date a total of 80 teams have participated in the playoffs. Fourteen have since moved on to play at the I-A level.

Points are distributed as follows:

5 - First Round
10 - Quarterfinals
15 - Semifinals
20 - Championship
25 - Win Champ

This is the all-time list. I'll get around to adding the last 15, 10 and 5 year results later.

1. Georgia Southern 680
2. Montana 500
3. Youngstown State 460
4. Marshall 395
5. Appalachian State 390
6. Eastern Kentucky 385
7. Delaware 350
8. Furman 340
9. Northern Iowa 305
10. McNeese State 210
Massachusetts 205
Nevada 185
Boise State 170
Richmond 160
James Madison 160
Western Kentucky 150
Southern Illinois 150
Idaho 125
Florida A&M 125
Middle Tennessee State 110
Lehigh 105
Stephen F. Austin* 100
Montana State 100
Louisiana-Monroe 100
Western Illinois 95
Troy 95
Colgate 95
Arkansas State 95
Eastern Illinois 90
Eastern Washington 85
William & Mary 80
Villanova 80
Louisiana Tech 80
New Hampshire 75
Jackson State 75
Idaho State 75
Tennessee State 65
Northwestern State 65
Sam Houston State 55
Rhode Island 55
Wofford 50
Western Carolina 50
Illinois State 50
South Carolina State 45
Murray State 45
Maine 45
Hofstra 45
Boston U 45
Weber State 35
Texas State 35
Samford 35
Central Florida 35
Northern Arizona 30
North Texas 30
North Carolina A&T 30
Indiana State 30
Florida Atlantic 30
The Citadel 25
Nicholls State 25
Hampton 25
Grambling 25
Alcorn State 25
Missouri State 20
Fordham 20
Cal Poly 20
Lafayette 15
Holy Cross 15
East Tennessee State 15
Connecticut 15
Jacksonville State 10
Bethune-Cookman 10
Tennessee-Martin 5
Portland State 5
Northeastern 5
Mississippi Valley State 5
Howard 5
Delaware State 5
Coastal Carolina 5
Chattanooga 5
Akron 5

Northern Iowa and McNeese State, both in the Top 10, continue as the two best teams in I-AA to never have won a championship.

[dbackjon]

I always liked this - great work!

[Col Hogan]

And you know it must really pain OL FU to do this labor of love, given the team that is #1...

[Mountaineer]

I always liked this - great work!

Not a problem as I enjoy keeping it up. Was a little later than usual this year. I'll chalk it up to the postseason blues.

It's all done in fun, so if anyone is prepping a massive post bitching about the way points are distributed, I'll say the same thing I said at AGS last year: Save it. I don't care.

[Mountaineer]

And you know it must really pain OL FU to do this labor of love, given the team that is #1...

Other than the original list - I don't think OL FU has labored over it in years. I can't remember who the second caretaker was (a Colgate dude possibly), but he passed it on to me a couple of years ago.

I went through and corrected a bunch of calculation mistakes (FU's fault I'm sure ) and tweaked the point amouts for each round.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Good job again neer.

[OL FU]

And you know it must really pain OL FU to do this labor of love, given the team that is #1...

Other than the original list - I don't think OL FU has labored over it in years. I can't remember who the second caretaker was (a Colgate dude possibly), but he passed it on to me a couple of years ago.

I went through and corrected a bunch of calculation mistakes (FU's fault I'm sure ) and tweaked the point amouts for each round.

OL FU has never made a mistake to which he will admit

Good work.

[OL FU]

And you know it must really pain OL FU to do this labor of love, given the team that is #1...

Yes OL FU hasn't labored on this for a while and thanks to Mountaineer for keeping it up.


and btw, number 5 doesn't actually give me the warm and fuzzies either

[AshevilleApp]

And you know it must really pain OL FU to do this labor of love, given the team that is #1...

Yes OL FU hasn't labored on this for a while and thanks to Mountaineer for keeping it up.


and btw, number 5 doesn't actually give me the warm and fuzzies either

Hopefully number four after next year.

[Mountaineer]

Last 15 years:

1. Montana 455
2. Appalachian State 340
3. Georgia Southern 300
4. Youngstown State 235
5. Delaware 220
6. Northern Iowa 190
7. McNeese State 175
8. Massachusetts 160
9. Marshall 155
T-10. Richmond 140
T-10. James Madison 140
Western Kentucky 130
Furman 130
Western Illinois 85
Southern Illinois 75
Colgate 75
New Hampshire 70
Villanova 65
Troy 65
Florida A&M 65
Eastern Washington 65
Lehigh 55
Wofford 50
William & Mary 50
Northwestern State 50
Illinois State 50
Boise State 50
Sam Houston State 45
Hofstra 45
Eastern Illinois 40
Texas State 35
Maine 35
Eastern Kentucky 35
Stephen F. Austin* 30
Northern Arizona 30
Florida Atlantic 30
Murray State 25
Montana State 25
Hampton 25
North Carolina A&T 20
Fordham 20
Cal Poly 20
Weber State 15
Lafayette 15
Jackson State 15
East Tennessee State 15
Connecticut 15
Tennessee State 10
Nicholls State 10
Jacksonville State 10
Idaho 10
Bethune-Cookman 10
Tennessee-Martin 5
South Carolina State 5
Portland State 5
Northeastern 5
North Texas 5
Middle Tennessee State 5
Delaware State 5
Coastal Carolina 5
Boston U 5
Alcorn State 5
Western Carolina 0
The Citadel 0
Samford 0
Rhode Island 0
Nevada 0
Missouri State 0
Mississippi Valley State 0
Louisiana-Monroe 0
Louisiana Tech 0
Indiana State 0
Idaho State 0
Howard 0
Holy Cross 0
Grambling 0
Chattanooga 0
Central Florida 0
Arkansas State 0
Akron 0

[Mountaineer]

Last 10 years:

1. Appalachian State 295
2. Montana 290
3. Georgia Southern 220
4. Delaware 170
5. Northern Iowa 140
6. Richmond 135
7. James Madison 120
T-8. Western Kentucky 115
T-8. Furman 115
T-10 Youngstown State 85
T-10 Massachusetts 85
Southern Illinois 75
McNeese State 75
New Hampshire 65
Colgate 65
Wofford 50
Villanova 45
Sam Houston State 45
Illinois State 45
Lehigh 40
Florida A&M 40
William & Mary 35
Western Illinois 35
Texas State 35
Maine 35
Hofstra 35
Eastern Washington 35
Florida Atlantic 30
Eastern Illinois 30
Northern Arizona 25
Montana State 25
Troy 20
North Carolina A&T 20
Fordham 20
Cal Poly 20
Weber State 15
Northwestern State 15
Lafayette 15
Hampton 15
Jacksonville State 10
Eastern Kentucky 10
Bethune-Cookman 10
Tennessee-Martin 5
Tennessee State 5
South Carolina State 5
Portland State 5
Northeastern 5
Nicholls State 5
Murray State 5
Delaware State 5
Coastal Carolina 5
Western Carolina 0
The Citadel 0
Stephen F. Austin* 0
Samford 0
Rhode Island 0
North Texas 0
Nevada 0
Missouri State 0
Mississippi Valley State 0
Middle Tennessee State 0
Marshall 0
Louisiana-Monroe 0
Louisiana Tech 0
Jackson State 0
Indiana State 0
Idaho State 0
Idaho 0
Howard 0
Holy Cross 0
Grambling 0
East Tennessee State 0
Connecticut 0
Chattanooga 0
Central Florida 0
Boston U 0
Boise State 0
Arkansas State 0
Alcorn State 0
Akron 0

[dbackjon]

Great work!

[Mountaineer]

Last 5 years (definitely the What have you done for me lately? list )

1. Appalachian State 240
2. Montana 140
3. Richmond 120
4. James Madison 115
5. Northern Iowa 95
6. Southern Illinois 70
T-7. New Hampshire 65
T-7. Massachusetts 65
9. Delaware 65
10. Furman 50
Texas State 35
Eastern Washington 35
Youngstown State 30
William & Mary 30
Sam Houston State 30
Wofford 20
Cal Poly 20
Weber State 15
Villanova 15
Montana State 15
Lafayette 15
Illinois State 15
Hampton 15
Eastern Illinois 15
McNeese State 10
Georgia Southern 10
Eastern Kentucky 10
Colgate 10
Western Kentucky 5
Tennessee-Martin 5
South Carolina State 5
Northwestern State 5
Nicholls State 5
Maine 5
Lehigh 5
Jacksonville State 5
Fordham 5
Delaware State 5
Coastal Carolina 5
Western Illinois 0
Western Carolina 0
Troy 0
The Citadel 0
Tennessee State 0
Stephen F. Austin* 0
Samford 0
Rhode Island 0
Portland State 0
Northern Arizona 0
Northeastern 0
North Texas 0
North Carolina A&T 0
Nevada 0
Murray State 0
Missouri State 0
Mississippi Valley State 0
Middle Tennessee State 0
Marshall 0
Louisiana-Monroe 0
Louisiana Tech 0
Jackson State 0
Indiana State 0
Idaho State 0
Idaho 0
Howard 0
Holy Cross 0
Hofstra 0
Grambling 0
Florida Atlantic 0
Florida A&M 0
East Tennessee State 0
Connecticut 0
Chattanooga 0
Central Florida 0
Boston U 0
Boise State 0
Bethune-Cookman 0
Arkansas State 0
Alcorn State 0
Akron 0

[Mountaineer]

The first 10 years (for historical sake):

1. Eastern Kentucky 270
2. Georgia Southern 165
3. Nevada 120
4. Arkansas State 95
5. Furman 90
6. Boise State 85
7. Louisiana Tech 80
8. Southern Illinois 75
9. Montana State 75
10. Louisiana-Monroe 75
Idaho State 75
Delaware 75
Northern Iowa 60
Florida A&M 60
Tennessee State 55
Rhode Island 55
Western Carolina 50
Marshall 50
Lehigh 50
Middle Tennessee State 45
Jackson State 45
South Carolina State 40
Massachusetts 35
Eastern Illinois 35
Appalachian State 35
Indiana State 30
Idaho 30
Boston U 25
Richmond 20
North Texas 20
Murray State 20
Grambling 20
Colgate 20
Weber State 15
Nicholls State 15
Holy Cross 15
Eastern Washington 15
Alcorn State 15
Youngstown State 5
William & Mary 5
Western Kentucky 5
Sam Houston State 5
North Carolina A&T 5
Montana 5
Mississippi Valley State 5
Maine 5
James Madison 5
Chattanooga 5
Akron 5

[grizzaholic]

I find it interesting that Montana has all but 45 of its points in the last 15 years.

Same goes for App St., which is all but 50.

[dbackjon]

last is sobering for NAU - been 6 years since playoffs.
Five games under .500 overall
Most wins, six (three times)

Yet Coulson called me an idiot for wanting Souers fired...

[AZGrizFan]

Other than the original list - I don't think OL FU has labored over it in years. I can't remember who the second caretaker was (a Colgate dude possibly), but he passed it on to me a couple of years ago.

I went through and corrected a bunch of calculation mistakes (FU's fault I'm sure ) and tweaked the point amouts for each round.

OL FU has never made a mistake to which he will admit

Good work.

He thought he was wrong once, but he was mistaken.

[OL FU]

OL FU has never made a mistake to which he will admit

Good work.

He thought he was wrong once, but he was mistaken.

That never happen because then I would have been wrong once

[OL FU]

Last 5 years (definitely the What have you done for me lately? list )

1. Appalachian State 240
2. Montana 140
3. Richmond 120
4. James Madison 115
5. Northern Iowa 95
6. Southern Illinois 70
T-7. New Hampshire 65
T-7. Massachusetts 65
9. Delaware 65
10. Furman 50
Texas State 35
Eastern Washington 35
Youngstown State 30
William & Mary 30
Sam Houston State 30
Wofford 20
Cal Poly 20
Weber State 15
Villanova 15
Montana State 15
Lafayette 15
Illinois State 15
Hampton 15
Eastern Illinois 15
McNeese State 10
Georgia Southern 10
Eastern Kentucky 10
Colgate 10
Western Kentucky 5
Tennessee-Martin 5
South Carolina State 5
Northwestern State 5
Nicholls State 5
Maine 5
Lehigh 5
Jacksonville State 5
Fordham 5
Delaware State 5
Coastal Carolina 5
Western Illinois 0
Western Carolina 0
Troy 0
The Citadel 0
Tennessee State 0
Stephen F. Austin* 0
Samford 0
Rhode Island 0
Portland State 0
Northern Arizona 0
Northeastern 0
North Texas 0
North Carolina A&T 0
Nevada 0
Murray State 0
Missouri State 0
Mississippi Valley State 0
Middle Tennessee State 0
Marshall 0
Louisiana-Monroe 0
Louisiana Tech 0
Jackson State 0
Indiana State 0
Idaho State 0
Idaho 0
Howard 0
Holy Cross 0
Hofstra 0
Grambling 0
Florida Atlantic 0
Florida A&M 0
East Tennessee State 0
Connecticut 0
Chattanooga 0
Central Florida 0
Boston U 0
Boise State 0
Bethune-Cookman 0
Arkansas State 0
Alcorn State 0
Akron 0

Are you done because I am tired of copying and pasting

[OL FU]

The first 10 years (for historical sake):

1. Eastern Kentucky 270
2. Georgia Southern 165
3. Nevada 120
4. Arkansas State 95
5. Furman 90
6. Boise State 85
7. Louisiana Tech 80
8. Southern Illinois 75
9. Montana State 75
10. Louisiana-Monroe 75
Idaho State 75
Delaware 75
Northern Iowa 60
Florida A&M 60
Tennessee State 55
Rhode Island 55
Western Carolina 50
Marshall 50
Lehigh 50
Middle Tennessee State 45
Jackson State 45
South Carolina State 40
Massachusetts 35
Eastern Illinois 35
Appalachian State 35
Indiana State 30
Idaho 30
Boston U 25
Richmond 20
North Texas 20
Murray State 20
Grambling 20
Colgate 20
Weber State 15
Nicholls State 15
Holy Cross 15
Eastern Washington 15
Alcorn State 15
Youngstown State 5
William & Mary 5
Western Kentucky 5
Sam Houston State 5
North Carolina A&T 5
Montana 5
Mississippi Valley State 5
Maine 5
James Madison 5
Chattanooga 5
Akron 5

reckon not

Great job Mountaineer. Looks like 4 is almost a given for the Apps next year. If GSU continues to sit out the playoffs, UM might actually catch them.

Of Course if FU continues the sit out the playoffs, Lafayette might catch us

[Mountaineer]

Yes, I'm finished for now.

I may start a new spreadsheet excluding I-A teams. And perhaps teams that have never won a playoff game as well. It'll be awhile though.

You should post your conference points aggregate over here. That's good stuff.

[OL FU]

Yes, I'm finished for now.

I may start a new spreadsheet excluding I-A teams. And perhaps teams that have never won a playoff game as well. It'll be awhile though.

You should post your conference points aggregate over here. That's good stuff.

OK Posted below. I actually think the better way to do it would be to put the teams in the conferences they played in when they were in the playoffs and to list the teams that have left IAA so that one could really see the relative strength of conferences over the years. The SoCon wouldn't suffer, we would lose Samford and pick up Marshall. Well we might because we would lose some of GSU's runs. The Big Sky would certainly look better and perhaps the Gateway.

The problem is too much research right now to see what school was in what conference way back then.
Edited for Idaho St

Aggregate points by current conference membership.

I did not take into consideration teams that no longer play FCS nor did I consider what conferences a team played in when they were involved in the playoffs. Way to much work. I would love to see that analysis if someone has the time to do it. But here is the list by aggregate conference points based on current membership. Number of NCs listed by the team. I hope I didn't miss anyone.

First
SoCon Total Points 1590
1. Georgia Southern (6) 680
5. Appalachian State (3) 390
8. Furman (1) 340
Wofford 50
Western Carolina 50
Samford 35
The Citadel 25
East Tennessee State 15
Chattanooga 5

Second
CAA Total Points 1260
7. Delaware (1) 350
Massachusetts (1) 205
Richmond (1) 160
James Madison (1) 160
William & Mary 80
Villanova 80
New Hampshire 75
Rhode Island 55
Maine 45
Hofstra 45
Northeastern 5

Third
Missouri Valley 1110
3. Youngstown State (4) 460
9. Northern Iowa 305
Southern Illinois (1) 150
Western Illinois 95
Illinois State 50
Indiana State 30
Missouri State 20

Fourth
Big Sky Total 830
2. Montana (2) 500
Montana State (1) 100
Eastern Washington 85
Idaho St 75 (1)
Weber State 35
Northern Arizona 30
Portland State 5

Fifth
Ohio Valley Total 600
6. Eastern Kentucky (1) 385
Eastern Illinois 90
Tennessee State 65
Murray State 45
Jacksonville State 10
Tennessee-Martin 5


Six
Southland Total 490
10. McNeese State 210
Stephen F. Austin* 100
Northwestern State 65
Sam Houston State 55
Texas State 35
Nicholls State 25

Seven
Patriot Total 250
Lehigh 105
Colgate 95
Fordham 20
Lafayette 15
Holy Cross 15

Eight
MEAC Total 245
Florida A&M (1) 125
South Carolina State 45
North Carolina A&T 30
Hampton 25
Bethune-Cookman 10
Howard 5
Delaware State 5


Nine
SWAC Totals 130
Jackson State 75 Swac
Grambling 25 Swac
Alcorn State 25 Swac
Mississippi Valley State 5 Swac

Ten
Cal Poly 20

Eleven
Big South 5

[Mountaineer]

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting.

Personally, I'm all for using current conference members/representation as is. It'll take a lot of time to go back 30+ years and determine which team was in which division, conference, etc.

The SoCon didn't start playing I-AA ball until 1982, whereas the current CAA and I believe the Big Sky started at the split in 1978.

Once we start cherrypicking numbers it's really easy to get the desired results - which is what guys like 89Hen live for.

[OL FU]

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting.

Personally, I'm all for using current conference members/representation as is. It'll take a lot of time to go back 30+ years and determine which team was in which division, conference, etc.

The SoCon didn't start playing I-AA ball until 1982, whereas the current CAA and I believe the Big Sky started at the split in 1978.

Once we start cherrypicking numbers it's really easy to get the desired results - which is what guys like 89Hen live for.

89? Spin?

[dbackjon]

OL FU - you left out IDAHO STATE from the Big Sky (yes, we'd like to do that as well).

Idaho State won the NC in 1981, and has a number of playoff appearances.