Big Sky is the best conference in FCS

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Maybe you can reinstate Nationalist China Jones for a game.

Or at least a half.

[Hambone]

Re: the playoff talk - I though I had heard at some point the past couple years that the committee looks more favorable on a team with 7 DI wins and an all-D1 schedule than a team with 7 DI wins and a non-counter. I could be off, but to me that states that a 7-4 team with an all DI schedule may be in better position than an 8-3 team with a DII (or lower) win. Anyone else remember hearing something like this?

[kalm]

Not that it's any deciding factor, but the BSC also has 4 wins against FBS. Do any other conferences have that many?

[Theee Catrabbit]

Not that it's any deciding factor, but the BSC also has 4 wins against FBS. Do any other conferences have that many?

You're right it's not. MVC has 3 with 4 less tries, take it for what it's worth: Pitt., Colorado State, E. Michigan.

Not sure why these broad statements are made every year. There's a playoff system that decides all this crap at the end of each year.

[89Hen]

Even a 7-4 Montana without a bad loss?

You do realize who you're asking, right?

I've always been very rational about these kinds of discussions. All the Hens fans here have been. Last year when people were saying UD had a shot at a selection, we all said they did not and did not deserve one.

An 8-3 UD > 7-4 UM

BTW, who would be the bad loss for UD? At 8-3 one would assume losses to UNH, ODU and Towson. Most likely they are all playoff teams. AppSt might not make the field and although that's not a "bad" loss, it could still be a fourth to a non-playoff team.

[Pwns]

The SoCon's RPI will rise once it's time to actually prove it on the field...as usual.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Montana State had a close win against Drake. DRAKE.

That is all I will add to this thread.

This right here!

The Bison piss-pounded MSU 2 years ago in Bozeman. If that game is played this year, I suspect another Bison blow-out.

[89Hen]

The SoCon's RPI will rise once it's time to actually prove it on the field...as usual.

In the last four seasons the SoCon has had a total of three semifinal appearances and no NC game appearances. Compare that with 6 semifinals and 2 NC's and 1 NC runner-up for the CAA.

[kalm]

You do realize who you're asking, right?

I've always been very rational about these kinds of discussions. All the Hens fans here have been. Last year when people were saying UD had a shot at a selection, we all said they did not and did not deserve one.

An 8-3 UD > 7-4 UM

BTW, who would be the bad loss for UD? At 8-3 one would assume losses to UNH, ODU and Towson. Most likely they are all playoff teams. AppSt might not make the field and although that's not a "bad" loss, it could still be a fourth to a non-playoff team.

Yeah, but those losses still wouldn't be as good on account of they're not against BSC foes.

MSU, NAU, EWU > UNH, ODU, Towson

Check the thread title.

[89Hen]

Yeah, but those losses still wouldn't be as good on account of they're not against BSC foes.

MSU, NAU, EWU > UNH, ODU, Towson

Check the thread title.

True.

[BlackFalkin]

Yeah, but those losses still wouldn't be as good on account of they're not against BSC foes.

MSU, NAU, EWU > UNH, ODU, Towson

Check the thread title.

True.

I think some have underestimated The University of Montana's football team. The Big Sky is DEFINITELY the best in the nation.. at this point.

[Grizalltheway]

True.

I think some have underestimated The University of Montana's football team. The Big Sky is DEFINITELY the best in the nation.. at this point.

Hell, some of our fans seem to think we suck, despite having the #1 offense in the conference.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I think some have underestimated The University of Montana's football team. The Big Sky is DEFINITELY the best in the nation.. at this point.

Hell, some of our fans seem to think we suck, despite having the #1 offense in the conference.

UM is 5th in points, and 3rd in yards.

[cats2506]

Hell, some of our fans seem to think we suck, despite having the #1 offense in the conference.

UM is 5th in points, and 3rd in yards.

only points matter



I have heard that from fizz fans for years so it must be true

[Screamin_Eagle174]

UM is 5th in points, and 3rd in yards.

only points matter



I have heard that from fizz fans for years so it must be true

I think this year it's all about potential.

[kalm]

Yeah, but those losses still wouldn't be as good on account of they're not against BSC foes.

MSU, NAU, EWU > UNH, ODU, Towson

Check the thread title.

True.

Swap Towson for Maine.

[oceanvue]

The Big Sky could possibly have 2 undefeated league teams this year. Either MSU or EWU and NAU (I think my math is right). NAU actually has a pretty easy path with the easy games away and the tough ones at home at 7000 ft. above sea level.

Here's what's left for NAU:
10/13/2012 * at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. 3:05 Details
10/20/2012 * UC Davis Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details
10/27/2012 * at Northern Colorado Greeley, Colo. 1:35 Details
11/3/2012 * at Idaho State Pocatello, Idaho 4:05 Details
11/10/2012 * Southern Utah Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details
11/17/2012 * Cal Poly Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details

[Hambone]

The Big Sky could possibly have 2 undefeated league teams this year. Either MSU or EWU and NAU (I think my math is right). NAU actually has a pretty easy path with the easy games away and the tough ones at home at 7000 ft. above sea level.

Here's what's left for NAU:
10/13/2012 * at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. 3:05 Details
10/20/2012 * UC Davis Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details
10/27/2012 * at Northern Colorado Greeley, Colo. 1:35 Details
11/3/2012 * at Idaho State Pocatello, Idaho 4:05 Details
11/10/2012 * Southern Utah Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details
11/17/2012 * Cal Poly Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details

Cal Poly could also go undefeated in league play - they don't play MSU or Montana, and EWU is a non-conference game for them. So that last game against NAU could be HUGE for both teams.

[Grizalltheway]

Hell, some of our fans seem to think we suck, despite having the #1 offense in the conference.

UM is 5th in points, and 3rd in yards.

Too lazy to track it down, but I based that comment on a post you made shortly after our game.

[oceanvue]

The Big Sky could possibly have 2 undefeated league teams this year. Either MSU or EWU and NAU (I think my math is right). NAU actually has a pretty easy path with the easy games away and the tough ones at home at 7000 ft. above sea level.

Here's what's left for NAU:
10/13/2012 * at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. 3:05 Details
10/20/2012 * UC Davis Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details
10/27/2012 * at Northern Colorado Greeley, Colo. 1:35 Details
11/3/2012 * at Idaho State Pocatello, Idaho 4:05 Details
11/10/2012 * Southern Utah Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details
11/17/2012 * Cal Poly Flagstaff, Ariz. 4:05 Details

Cal Poly could also go undefeated in league play - they don't play MSU or Montana, and EWU is a non-conference game for them. So that last game against NAU could be HUGE for both teams.

OH OK , there you have it. That will be a HUGE game

[89Hen]

OK, this is the earliest I've ever done this, but I'm not really predicting, just listing which teams are most likely going to get to 8-3 or better (and be legit). The biggest mess IMO is the SoCon. El Cid really effed things up by beating GSU and AppSt and then losing to Chatty. The GSU/AppSt game will most likely be for one of them to get to 8-3, the other ends 7-4.

That leaves 22 teams already with an auto or 8-3+ record and as many as 24 with a potential claim:

Big Sky: MSU, CP, NAU, EWU
CAA: ODU, TU, JMU, UNH, UD
MVFC: NDSU, ISU, YSU, SDSU
SoCon: Wofford, El Cid, AppSt/GSU
Southland: one team will be 8-3 or better
OVC: EKU, TSU*
Patriot: LU/LC winner*
MEAC: auto only
Big South: auto only
NEC: auto only

*Spoilers: Tennessee State loses to EKU but goes 10-1, Lehigh loses to Lafayette but goes 10-1

It will take quite a bit for a 7-4 team to make the field this year.

Scratch UD and El Cid from the lists now, and TSU took care of EKU so less likely for a second OVC team to be in the mix.

[BDKJMU]

I truly hope so.

The Valley could also have 4 - 8 wins schools with NDSU, YSU, ILSU and SDSU.

Or they could have two 10 win schools and no others with 7 Div I wins.

[BDKJMU]

When the Missouri Valley teams move to the West Coast.

All that being said, the Big Sky could have 4-5 teams in the playoffs.

HIGHLY unlikely any conference is going to get 5 teams in. The Big Sky has the best shot at 4.

MVFC will get 2-3, 1-2 at Large (NDSU, YSU, and maybe IL State or SDSU)
So-Con will likely get 3, 2 at large (Wofford, GSU, and either ASU or Samford)
CAA will get 3-4: 2-3 at large (ODU, JMU, UNH, maybe TU)
Big Sky will likely get 4, 3 At Large
Between the Southland and the OVC, they'll likely get 1 At Large

Thats 8-11 At Large, and there's only 10 At Large spots....

[BDKJMU]

The best thing about FCS is we have a playoff system. Could you imagine if we used the BCS formula. Even those clowns finally realized how assinine that was.

I'll say this - there will be an extreme shortage of, if any, 7-4 teams in the field of 20 this year. Take a look at the schedules, I don't see that many losses for some of these teams in the SoCon, the Big Sky, the MVFC, the CAA. There are only 10 at-larges to go around.

Yep, last season there was a 7 Div I win, 7-4 from a power conference that got left out, Ill State.

From one of the 4 power conferences:
-7-3 vs I-AA + a I-A loss might get you in, as it has in the past 2 seasons, but it wouldn't surprise me to see one left of this season.
-7-4 vs I-AA likely won't get you in.

[Grizalltheway]

HIGHLY unlikely any conference is going to get 5 teams in. The Big Sky has the best shot at 4.

MVFC will get 2-3, 1-2 at Large (NDSU, YSU, and maybe IL State or SDSU)
So-Con will likely get 3, 2 at large (Wofford, GSU, and either ASU or Samford)
CAA will get 3-4: 2-3 at large (ODU, JMU, UNH, maybe TU)
Big Sky will likely get 4, 3 At Large
Between the Southland and the OVC, they'll get 1-2 At Large

Thats 9-12 At Large, and there's only 10 At Large spots. 4 I-AA losses (if Montana loses another) likely isn't going to cut it...

If there ends up being 5 truly deserving teams from the Big Sky, why shouldn't they all get in? The precedent is certainly there with the CAA.