2024 Playoffs Round 1: Northern Arizona @ #15 Abilene Christian

[Professor Chaos]

Game kicks off at 2PM CT and will be streamed on ESPN+. Winner goes to #2 North Dakota State next week.


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54162024824_fb0f66646b_o.jpg

[Professor Chaos]

I see that ACU QB Maverick McIvor only played in the first half yesterday against SFA. Was that planned or was there some kind of injury? That would be a big blow to ACU if he can't go since he's had a fantastic season (3,675 passing yards, 29 TDs to 5 INTs).

[The Cats]

This won't be much of a game..., sorry NAU

[Outsider1]

I see that ACU QB Maverick McIvor only played in the first half yesterday against SFA. Was that planned or was there some kind of injury? That would be a big blow to ACU if he can't go since he's had a fantastic season (3,675 passing yards, 29 TDs to 5 INTs).

Not sure what the injury was but don't think it was severe. I think the coaches weren't going to risk him. Carson Haggard, who came in though is an excellent QB. He came to us from Tulane. He did pretty well yesterday, considering he hasn't had much of any snaps this season. I said it elsewhere, will say it here... ACU vs NAU should be an interesting matchup. We have only played them one time, back in 2014. We lost 21-217. We are both different teams now, but NAU has a decent defense. NAU only allows 18.5 points per game. SFA studied us well and shut our offense down. NAU could do the same. We didn't think that was possible, but it most certainly is. We have to get into a rhythm. If our run game isn't working well, we can't waste time continually throwing the ball downfield. We have to step up shorter/faster higher percentage throws, with adequate blocking. Our defense has to stay aggressive. NAU is fairly balanced between the run and pass both. Here's hoping to being healthy and ready.

[Professor Chaos]

Not sure what the injury was but don't think it was severe. I think the coaches weren't going to risk him. Carson Haggard, who came in though is an excellent QB. He came to us from Tulane. He did pretty well yesterday, considering he hasn't had much of any snaps this season. I said it elsewhere, will say it here... ACU vs NAU should be an interesting matchup. We have only played them one time, back in 2014. We lost 21-217. We are both different teams now, but NAU has a decent defense. NAU only allows 18.5 points per game. SFA studied us well and shut our offense down. NAU could do the same. We didn't think that was possible, but it most certainly is. We have to get into a rhythm. If our run game isn't working well, we can't waste time continually throwing the ball downfield. We have to step up shorter/faster higher percentage throws, with adequate blocking. Our defense has to stay aggressive. NAU is fairly balanced between the run and pass both. Here's hoping to being healthy and ready.
Thanks! Glad to hear he'll be back - the closer all playoff teams are to full strength the better all around.

[ming01]

I think we'll see NAU in Fargo.

[Bison56]

Not sure what the injury was but don't think it was severe. I think the coaches weren't going to risk him. Carson Haggard, who came in though is an excellent QB. He came to us from Tulane. He did pretty well yesterday, considering he hasn't had much of any snaps this season. I said it elsewhere, will say it here... ACU vs NAU should be an interesting matchup. We have only played them one time, back in 2014. We lost 21-217. We are both different teams now, but NAU has a decent defense. NAU only allows 18.5 points per game. SFA studied us well and shut our offense down. NAU could do the same. We didn't think that was possible, but it most certainly is. We have to get into a rhythm. If our run game isn't working well, we can't waste time continually throwing the ball downfield. We have to step up shorter/faster higher percentage throws, with adequate blocking. Our defense has to stay aggressive. NAU is fairly balanced between the run and pass both. Here's hoping to being healthy and ready.

21-217 ouch. Well hopefully it's a closer game this time around.xlolx

[dbackjon]

This won't be much of a game..., sorry NAU


Yup - we will travel all that way just to disappoint the home crowd by blowing out ACU. :)

[dbackjon]

21-217 ouch. Well hopefully it's a closer game this time around.xlolx
It was an amazing game ;)

[Outsider1]

21-217 ouch. Well hopefully it's a closer game this time around.xlolx


lol, yeah just caught my own typo today. Should be 21-27.

[Outsider1]

I have always liked NAU. I grew up in Chandler and had several classmates that went there. I had gone to a few games when I was younger. I even thought I might go there if I had stayed in Arizona. I was very intrigued to see this matchup again.

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

Go ACU!

Chop down the Lumberjacks!

[McCowboys]

Go ACU!

Chop down the Lumberjacks!

Shouldn't that be "Go ACU! Claw the Lumberjacks!" ? xrulesx

[Bison56]

Neither team wants to win this game.

[lionsrking2]

NAU sucks balls didn’t deserve to be in

[mvemjsunpx]

How do you have 0 points in the fourth quarter against statistically the worst defense in the playoffs? xconfusedx

[lionsrking2]

How do you have 0 points in the fourth quarter against statistically the worst defense in the playoffs? xconfusedx

Because they suck and were gifted a playoff spot simply because of the conference they play in. Didn't play 1 or 2 in their own league, lost to 3 and 4 and didn't beat anyone with a .500 record, much less a winning record - not to mention one of their wins came against a "school" that barely exists. UIW ran them by 24 points in non-conference. No way the Big Sky should have gotten 5 teams before the Southland or SoCon got 2. NO WAY.

[FUBeAR]

Serious question…NAU is a scholarship Team, right?

ACU’s backup QB keeps throwing picks and the Wildcats have killed themselves with penalties - so it’s only 24-ZIP, but NAU looks like a fair to pretty good PFL squad. Drake beats them by 2 or 3 scores. 6-2 in Big Sky … unbelievable.


How do we NOT see this in the FCS Playoffs again?

[BisonFan02]

If ACU plays that sloppy to start in Fargo, they're going to have a bad time.

[FUBeAR]

If ACU plays that sloppy to start in Fargo, they're going to have a bad time.
What is prognosis on Maverick?

Is he gonna be able to buzz the tower of the FargoDome?

[caribbeanhen]

NAU sucks balls didn’t deserve to be in

exactly what I was thinking

they made Abby Christian defense look great

Sam Hicks is a beast

Congrats ACU on the win

[Outsider1]

What is prognosis on Maverick?

Is he gonna be able to buzz the tower of the FargoDome?

Found out right before the game that McIvor was out on concussion protocol. He was on the sideline and looked good, but not sure how long the protocol will last.

[Outsider1]

Our defense has not been good pretty much all season, barring some key plays here and there. NAU is a sound team, very disciplined. Our defense played lights out today. They had more energy than I have seen all season. This wasn't just NAU playing poorly. The refs in this game SUCKED. NAU was holding all game and weren't getting called. NAU linemen downfield and not getting called. ACU got called for sneezing. Our backup QB only had about 3 snaps all season until last week against SFA. Even against SFA, he threw for two touchdowns. His biggest issue is having to learn to throw it away and play another down. He will learn. The big thing is our offense adjusted and completely wore NAU down. I give NAU credit. Their secondary is really good. Their defensive ends are quick and tackle well. We were motivated today and not the same team that played SFA last week. NDSU will be a whole other animal. I hope that McIvor's concussion protocol will be finished, but Carson Haggard is a good QB. With our backup, and the turnovers we had, we still managed 475 yards of offense. Haggard will only get better. We will have to play just as physical for all four quarters next week.

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

NAU is a joke.

[Outsider1]

Post game:

ACU Football: vs. Northern Arizona Postgame Press Conference | Nov. 30, 2024 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJLxnoW-xv4)

NAU is no joke, but they ran into one heck of a motivated team today.

[dbackjon]

Congrats to ACU - well played game!

- - - Updated - - -


NAU sucks balls didn’t deserve to be in

They did deserve to be in. They just had a bad game.

[FUBeAR]

They did deserve to be in.
IF NAU had been in, and won the PFL Championship (doubt that they could compete with Drake), THEN they would have deserved to be in.

Otherwise…

https://i.giphy.com/OAFD9igCmUEzDN32Ii.webp

[dbackjon]

IF NAU had been in, and won the PFL Championship (doubt that they could compete with Drake), THEN they would have deserved to be in.

Otherwise…

https://i.giphy.com/OAFD9igCmUEzDN32Ii.webp

Who that was left out that was more deserving?

[FUBeAR]

Who that was left out that was more deserving?
Select your favorite from the following dozen…all with at least 7 D1 wins.

Surely, you see at least 1 Team on this list that is better than what we all saw NAU, um, expose this past Saturday.



Team
Record


NC Central (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/5505) Mid-Eastern AC (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/12545)
8-3 0.727


Duquesne (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/2272) Northeast (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/13046)
8-3 0.727


San Diego (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8241) Pioneer (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/13408)
8-3 0.727


Stony Brook (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7642) Coastal (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/11246)
8-4 0.667


Chattanooga (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7809) Southern (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14064)
7-5 0.583


Southern Utah (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7399) United AC (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/557749)
7-5 0.583


W Carolina (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8742) Southern (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14064)
7-5 0.583


SE Louisiana (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7314) Southland (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14112)
7-5 0.583


Towson (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8000) Coastal (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/11246)
7-5 0.583


Tennessee Tech (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7826) OH Valley (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/13193)
7-5 0.583


William & Mary (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8934) Coastal (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/11246)
7-5 0.583


Lamar (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/3935) Southland (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14112)
7-5 0.583

[dbackjon]

No team that lost to a 3 or 4 win team deserves a bid.


Bad Losses kill you - both FCS and FBS committees have made that quite clear.

Tennessee Tech lost to 4-8 Western Illinois
Chattanooga lost to 4-7 Elon
Western Carolina lost to 3-9 Campbell

Coastal - they laid a huge egg in the playoffs, so trying to justify the 6th, 7th or 9th best team in that league is bad even by FuBear's usual standards.
Stony Brook lost to 6-6 Monmouth
Towson - weaker schedule than NAU
Bill and Mary lost to 6-6 Elon

Southland:

Lamar - there is nothing in their wins that would make them a better choice than NAU. Didn't beat a team with a winning record, and lost to 6-6 UCA


The only two that were in the same category as NAU were:

SELA - Both lost to UIW, both beat EWU. SELA over Lamar would give SELA the nod over Lamar.
SUU - win over FBS UTEP, lost to Idaho State (a team NAU beat). Struggled in final game against UTU, a team NAU blew out.

[lionsrking2]

Select your favorite from the following dozen…all with at least 7 D1 wins.

Surely, you see at least 1 Team on this list that is better than what we all saw NAU, um, expose this past Saturday.



Team
Record


NC Central (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/5505) Mid-Eastern AC (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/12545)
8-3 0.727


Duquesne (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/2272) Northeast (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/13046)
8-3 0.727


San Diego (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8241) Pioneer (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/13408)
8-3 0.727


Stony Brook (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7642) Coastal (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/11246)
8-4 0.667


Chattanooga (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7809) Southern (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14064)
7-5 0.583


Southern Utah (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7399) United AC (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/557749)
7-5 0.583


W Carolina (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8742) Southern (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14064)
7-5 0.583


SE Louisiana (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7314) Southland (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14112)
7-5 0.583


Towson (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8000) Coastal (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/11246)
7-5 0.583


Tennessee Tech (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/7826) OH Valley (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/13193)
7-5 0.583


William & Mary (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/8934) Coastal (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/11246)
7-5 0.583


Lamar (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/3935) Southland (https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/14112)
7-5 0.583




No brainer, it's us. Played the toughest non-conference schedule, went 6-1 in our league after a rough start - beat SFA with Vidlak (SFA beat ACU by 2 scores without him). Losses were two FBS games, South Dakota State without our starting QB and 3-point losses to UIW and Tarleton. Southern Utah has at least an equally good case with an FBS win but finished 3rd in their league and have a bad loss to Idaho State.

I get 7-5 being a tough argument to make but we had the same record as NAU vs the FCS. NAU didn't play 1 or 2 in their league, lost to 3 and 4, didn't beat anyone on their schedule with a .500 record or better and lost to the Southland No. 1 by three touchdowns (we lost by three points). The combined record of NAU wins was 21-63. Ours wasn't great either but still significantly better at 30-54.

NAU has a fine program, nothing against them, but before the committee gives a conference a 5th playoff bid, or even a 4th bid, they really need to evaluate runners up in others leagues, especially if qualified. There are years when a league deserves 5 bids but this wasn't one of them. In my opinion, the Southland and SoCon did deserve two based on how the bubble played across the country. UIW didn't get at 9-2 last year because they played a non DI and our league was admittedly terrible in 2023. The goalposts are always moving it seems.

[FUBeAR]

No team that lost to a 3 or 4 win team deserves a bid.


Bad Losses kill you - both FCS and FBS committees have made that quite clear.

Tennessee Tech lost to 4-8 Western Illinois
Chattanooga lost to 4-7 Elon
Western Carolina lost to 3-9 Campbell

Coastal - they laid a huge egg in the playoffs, so trying to justify the 6th, 7th or 9th best team in that league is bad even by FuBear's usual standards.
Stony Brook lost to 6-6 Monmouth
Towson - weaker schedule than NAU
Bill and Mary lost to 6-6 Elon

Southland:

Lamar - there is nothing in their wins that would make them a better choice than NAU. Didn't beat a team with a winning record, and lost to 6-6 UCA


The only two that were in the same category as NAU were:

SELA - Both lost to UIW, both beat EWU. SELA over Lamar would give SELA the nod over Lamar.
SUU - win over FBS UTEP, lost to Idaho State (a team NAU beat). Struggled in final game against UTU, a team NAU blew out.
So many words and ‘playoff rules’ gymnastics just to justify a mid-PFL-quality Big Sky team being in the Playoffs because they beat a fake team, the a$$ end of another conference OOC, and, most importantly, didn’t f up against the rest of the dregs of the Big Lie.

That Team is really not good.

[Outsider1]

Maybe ACU played a good game?

[FUBeAR]

Maybe ACU played a good game?
ACU has a good Team and played a good, if sloppy (penalties & picks), game.

FUBeAR’s assessment comes mostly from watching NAU’s Players - very PFL- like.

LOVE the PFL - but it is D3 equivalent Football… which FUBeAR also loves!!!

[dbackjon]

No brainer, it's us. Played the toughest non-conference schedule, went 6-1 in our league after a rough start - beat SFA with Vidlak (SFA beat ACU by 2 scores without him). Losses were two FBS games, South Dakota State without our starting QB and 3-point losses to UIW and Tarleton. Southern Utah has at least an equally good case with an FBS win but finished 3rd in their league and have a bad loss to Idaho State.

I get 7-5 being a tough argument to make but we had the same record as NAU vs the FCS. NAU didn't play 1 or 2 in their league, lost to 3 and 4, didn't beat anyone on their schedule with a .500 record or better and lost to the Southland No. 1 by three touchdowns (we lost by three points). The combined record of NAU wins was 21-63. Ours wasn't great either but still significantly better at 30-54.

NAU has a fine program, nothing against them, but before the committee gives a conference a 5th playoff bid, or even a 4th bid, they really need to evaluate runners up in others leagues, especially if qualified. There are years when a league deserves 5 bids but this wasn't one of them. In my opinion, the Southland and SoCon did deserve two based on how the bubble played across the country. UIW didn't get at 9-2 last year because they played a non DI and our league was admittedly terrible in 2023. The goalposts are always moving it seems.

I would not have been upset if NAU was passed over for SELA.

[dbackjon]

So many words and ‘playoff rules’ gymnastics just to justify a mid-PFL-quality Big Sky team being in the Playoffs because they beat a fake team, the a$$ end of another conference OOC, and, most importantly, didn’t f up against the rest of the dregs of the Big Lie.

That Team is really not good.

LOL So in other words, I destroyed your argument, so all you have is nonsense.

[FUBeAR]

I would not have been upset if NAU was passed over for SELA.
Speaking on nonsense … SELA lost by 4 scores to a 1-11 Team that Massey has ranked lower than almost every, if not every, Team in that dozen (including SELA) … but you’re OK with that. That’s not a “bad loss” in your Playoffs Rules Contortionist Competition? LOL

No real knock on SELA - the Lions sure deserved to be in ahead of NAU. Every Team has an off day ….

Unless your bad team’s schedule is just a bunch of propped-up, as if by magic, even worse Teams. Then you might be able to slide thru and become a PretendPlayoff Team

[dbackjon]

Speaking on nonsense … SELA lost by 4 scores to a 1-11 Team that Massey has ranked lower than almost every, if not every, Team in that dozen (including SELA) … but you’re OK with that. That’s not a “bad loss” in your Playoffs Rules Contortionist Competition? LOL

No real knock on SELA - the Lions sure deserved to be in ahead of NAU. Every Team has an off day ….

Unless your bad team’s schedule is just a bunch of propped-up, as if by magic, even worse Teams. Then you might be able to slide thru and become a PretendPlayoff Team

It was a FBS loss - but yes, a bad loss

FuBear - taking losses since 1865

[Chalupa Batman]

No team that lost to a 3 or 4 win team deserves a bid.


Bad Losses kill you - both FCS and FBS committees have made that quite clear.

Tennessee Tech lost to 4-8 Western Illinois
Chattanooga lost to 4-7 Elon
Western Carolina lost to 3-9 Campbell

Coastal - they laid a huge egg in the playoffs, so trying to justify the 6th, 7th or 9th best team in that league is bad even by FuBear's usual standards.
Stony Brook lost to 6-6 Monmouth
Towson - weaker schedule than NAU
Bill and Mary lost to 6-6 Elon

Southland:

Lamar - there is nothing in their wins that would make them a better choice than NAU. Didn't beat a team with a winning record, and lost to 6-6 UCA


The only two that were in the same category as NAU were:

SELA - Both lost to UIW, both beat EWU. SELA over Lamar would give SELA the nod over Lamar.
SUU - win over FBS UTEP, lost to Idaho State (a team NAU beat). Struggled in final game against UTU, a team NAU blew out.

I wouldn't consider Stony Brook's loss to a Monmouth team that also beat Villanova and has an FBS win a bad loss worth disqualifying them from playoff consideration.

As far as actual bad losses go, I'm of the opinion that 1 bad loss can be outweighed by good wins. Or in other words, the ability you've shown to beat playoff quality teams can carry as much (or even more) importance than your ability to avoid losses to non-playoff quality teams. At least that goes for teams with only 1 bad loss, when you get 2 or more it becomes much harder to overcome that.

[dbackjon]

NAU sucks balls didn’t deserve to be in


You say that like sucking balls is a bad thing...

[FUBeAR]

It was a FBS loss - but yes, a bad loss

FuBear - taking losses since 1865
Slapping 3 letters on a Team doesn’t make it any better of a Football Team. Just like hosting an ‘event’ with a group of young men calling themselves “Lincoln CA” in attendance doesn’t make it an actual Football game. Like Big Sky W/L records and NAU being in the Playoffs, it’s all just so much Astroturf.

You’ll accept SELA in the Playoffs cuz their bad loss was to FBSINO team, but exclude WCU and Chatt (who lost to Samford) for having your prescribed definition of a “bad loss.”

All 3 of those SoCon Teams, including Samford, would put such a beat down on the Lumberjacks, they would wish they could go get pole axed by ACU again.

[ElCid]

Chattanooga lost to 4-7 Elon


Pretty sure you meant Samford, our resident Jeckle and Hyde team. Chatty never played Elon.

[dbackjon]

Pretty sure you meant Samford, our resident Jeckle and Hyde team. Chatty never played Elon.


You are right

- - - Updated - - -


Slapping 3 letters on a Team doesn’t make it any better of a Football Team. Just like hosting an ‘event’ with a group of young men calling themselves “Lincoln CA” in attendance doesn’t make it an actual Football game. Like Big Sky W/L records and NAU being in the Playoffs, it’s all just so much Astroturf.

You’ll accept SELA in the Playoffs cuz their bad loss was to FBSINO team, but exclude WCU and Chatt (who lost to Samford) for having your prescribed definition of a “bad loss.”

All 3 of those SoCon Teams, including Samford, would put such a beat down on the Lumberjacks, they would wish they could go get pole axed by ACU again.


NAU would beat all of them easily.


See, I can make predictions as well.



Go Rams!