Playoffs Till I Die: Projecting the 2015 FCS Playoff Field

By Chuck Burton

Publisher/Managing Editor
College Sports Journal

PHILADELPHIA, PA. — The autobids are now set.

 

We knew about McNeese State, Charleston Southern, Dayton, Chattanooga, Jacksonville State, and Colgate, but we had to wait until the very end in order to find out that Richmond, Duquesne, Southern Utah and North Dakota State would be the autobids.

 

All the regular season games are now done.  So what might the field look like?  Who might be in?  Who might not make it?

 

It’s all right here in “Playoffs ‘Til I Die.”

 

 

 

Ten Conferences, Ten Autobids

 

The following teams are IN.

 

Big Sky Conference: 

8-3 SOUTHERN UTAH

 

Big South Conference:

9-2 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

 

Colonial Athletic Association: 

8-3 RICHMOND

 

Missouri Valley Football Conference: 

9-2 NORTH DAKOTA STATE

 

Northeast Conference: 

8-3 DUQUESNE

 

Ohio Valley Conference: 

10-1 JACKSONVILLE STATE

 

Patriot League:

7-4 COLGATE

 

Pioneer Football League:

10-1 DAYTON

 

Southern Conference:

8-3 CHATTANOOGA

 

Southland Conference:

10-0 MCNEESE STATE

  

At-Large Berths

Here’s my thoughts on the 14 at-large invites.

 

Almost certainly in Already:

Two Missouri Valley at-large teams.  9-2 Illinois State, 8-3 South Dakota State 

 

One Big Sky at-large team. 9-2 Portland State

 

Two CAA at-large teams.  9-2 James Madison, 8-3 William and Mary

 

One Big South at-large. 9-2 Coastal Carolina

 

One Patriot League at-large.  9-2 Fordham

 

One SoCon at-large.  8-3 The Citadel, thanks to their win over FBS South Carolina

 

One Southland at-large.  8-3 Sam Houston State, thanks to their win over Central Arkansas

  

Who’s On the Bubble?

 

In my estimation, there are five bubble spots.  The teams in the running for those spots are:

 

7-4 Central Arkansas

7-4 Eastern Illinois

7-4 Montana

7-4 New Hampshire

7-4 Northern Arizona

7-4 Northern Iowa

7-4 North Dakota

7-4 Towson

7-4 Western Carolina (6 D-I wins) 

 

The Teams I have in:

7-4 Eastern Illinois, 7-4 Montana, 7-4 New Hampshire, 7-4 Northern Iowa, 7-4 North Dakota

 

The Last Four Out:

7-4 Central Arkansas, 7-4 Northern Arizona, 7-4 Towson, 7-4 Western Carolina

 

Projected Seeds: North Dakota State, Jacksonville State, Illinois State, James Madison, Charleston Southern, Portland State, McNeese State, South Dakota State.

North Dakota State Bracket
Sam Houston State @ Montana winner at No. 1 North Dakota State

North Dakota @ Southern Utah winner at No. 8 South Dakota State
 

James Madison Bracket
Fordham @ New Hampshire winner at No. 4 James Madison

Coastal Carolina @ The Citadel winner at No. 5 Charleston Southern

Illinois State Bracket
Dayton @ Chattanooga winner at No. 3 Illinois State

Eastern Illinois @ Northern Iowa winner at No. 6 Portland State

Jacksonville State Bracket
Colgate @ William & Mary winner at No. 2 Jacksonville State
Duquesne @ Richmond winner at No. 7 McNeese State