teams that you think have scheduled themselves out of the playoffs

[txstatebobcat]

I believe that scheduling is very underrated as far as putting your team in the best possible position to get to the playoffs. We(TxSt) almost made that mistake last year by playing two D-IIs. Also, I may be mistaken, but I believe that Appalachian State is the exception and not the norm when it comes to making it to the playoffs after playing more than one I-A in the regular season.

What are some good teams that have playoff potential that may not make it because of their schedule.

As far as the SLC goes. Southeast Louisiana, Sam Houston St, and maybe McNeese St may have to win the automatic seed just to make it to the playoffs.

[Hansel]

Chuck South = Cupcake Buffet non-conf

[DaGriz]

Portland State had some promise this year. Scheduling 3 I-A teams probably knocked them out of the playoffs already.

[CSU BUCS]

"Chuck South = Cupcake Buffet non-conf"

Agree, if we go 11-0 with that schedule we want get a bid. I thought for sure we would upgrade. we return everyone except for a few d-linemen from last years team.

[VictorG]

Montana State....................They have to play the Griz !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it's way to early for this but I went and watched Spring practice today and I'm jazzed!!!

PSU for sure did it to themselves but I'm sure they had their reasons.

[Husky Alum]

Northeastern has.

Here's how NU opens

@ Va Tech
@ ND State
@ Holy Cross
@ JMU
@ Richmond

Yeah, that's 5 in a row on the road.

[GeauxLions94]

As far as the SLC goes. Southeastern Louisiana, Sam Houston St, and maybe McNeese St may have to win the automatic seed just to make it to the playoffs.

Games against New Mexico State, Southern Miss and Texas Tech won't help, though I think we'll have a good shot at New Mexico State. Hey, 9-2 wouldn't be bad :smiley_wi

[leatherneck177]

I think the fact that we scheduled two D-II's in Kentucky Wesleyan and Morehead State does not help.

[MR. CHICKEN]

PORTLAND STATE......&......RHODE ISLAND!.....................BAWK!

[DUPFLFan]

Leatherneck, Isn't Morehead State d-1aa?

[TexasTerror]

Northwestern St has three I-As scheduled as well...you missed them in your SLC "screwing self out of the playoff" selection...

[mainejeff]

I'll tell you around September when I find out Maine's schedule.......:( :mad:

[kats89]

If we play like we did last year, it won't matter who we schedule.

Tx State better pull out their cupcake schedule again this year with 28 seniors gone.:D

[Lionsrking]

As far as the SLC goes. Southeast Louisiana, Sam Houston St, and maybe McNeese St may have to win the automatic seed just to make it to the playoffs.

How do you figure we scheduled ourselves out of the playoffs? Assuming we lose all three I-A games, we can still go 8-3 or 7-4, and the last I checked, that will get you considered for the playoffs. All of our opponents are division I. Perhaps you don't think that's realistic but we feel pretty good about our chances in the SLC race this year. We'll be a lot better than you think.

[Kill'em]

Leatherneck, Isn't Morehead State d-1aa?
Yes they are. However, they are a non-scholarship I-AA. No offense to them but they are as competitve as a D-II school. We played them last year and it wasn't pretty.

[89Hen]

Elon by joining the SoCon.

[McNeese72]

How do you figure we scheduled ourselves out of the playoffs? Assuming we lose all three I-A games, we can still go 8-3 or 7-4, and the last I checked, that will get you considered for the playoffs. All of our opponents are division I. Perhaps you don't think that's realistic but we feel pretty good about our chances in the SLC race this year. We'll be a lot better than you think.

Because it is hard to go throught the SLC without a loss. With a SLC loss and, if you don't win the automatic bid, you are at the usual "4 loss cutoff" for the playoffs.

Doc

[TexasTerror]

Because it is hard to go throught the SLC without a loss. With a SLC loss and, if you don't win the automatic bid, you are at the usual "4 loss cutoff" for the playoffs.

Hence the reason all of us can't wait for the SLC. Expect the unexpected. Lots of teams can spoil your season while your on the road...

[MYTAPPY]

East Tennessee State....ooooohhhhhh wait.... thats right............
My bad.....xlolx

[carney2]

Lafayette's schedule, in my opinion, does them no favors for at-large playoff consideration. Out of 5 non-conference games for each of the next three seasons, they have scheduled 12 of the total non-conference 15 games against Ivy League opponents. The other 3 are against NEC and MAAC teams. Now, as much as I believe that the top of the Ivy League is competitive with most I-AA programs, I perceive that a win vs. an Ivy team is not given much national credibility and a loss is a black eye. It seems to be a lose - lose situation.

Here is one vote for that 12th game, but only if Bruce McCutcheon, the Lafayette AD, gets himself a map that pinpoints the locations of A-10 schools. H-E-double-hockey-sticks, I'd even go to Youngstown.

[DUPFLFan]

I guess based on Kill'em's response that all of the PFL have scheduled their way out of the playoffs by playing each other....

Offense taken...

[blukeys]

Here is one vote for that 12th game, but only if Bruce McCutcheon, the Lafayette AD, gets himself a map that pinpoints the locations of A-10 schools. H-E-double-hockey-sticks, I'd even go to Youngstown.

Now that's funny!!!xlolx xlolx :nod: :D

[atlGAmocs]

Chattanooga's 7 away games may mean no playoffs for the improving Mocs.

AD Steve Sloan gives Mocs fans quite a going away gift:
Aug. 31 – at Tennessee Tech
Sept. 9 – at Memphis
Sept. 16 – at Western Kentucky
Sept. 23 – Georgia Southern
Sept. 30 – at The Citadel
Oct. 7 – Appalachian State
Oct. 14 – at Western Carolina
Oct. 21 – at Furman
Oct. 28 – Elon
Nov. 4 – Jacksonville State
Nov. 11 – at Wofford

[89Hen]

Chattanooga's 7 away games may mean no playoffs for the improving Mocs.
It might not be the 7 away games that does it though...

Sept. 23 – Georgia Southern
Oct. 7 – Appalachian State

[GaSouthern]

I think CCU scheduled themselves out... because the will not get the huge W to L ratio because they have a real schedule this year!

[PDXCat]

Montana State....................They have to play the Griz !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it's way to early for this but I went and watched Spring practice today and I'm jazzed!!!

PSU for sure did it to themselves but I'm sure they had their reasons.

Oh Victor, we're shaking in our boots to play the mighty griz again. You guys will be good no doubt, but we'll be way better than most folks think - should be fun! Can you say four out of five? :smiley_wi

[Eaglegus2]

Leatherneck, Isn't Morehead State d-1aa?


:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

[dbackjon]

NAU has two I-A teams (Arizona State and Utah) and 1 D-2 game (Dixie State). We have to go at least 7-1 in conference to even qualify for the playoffs, which basically means we win the Big Sky, or sit home.

[Lionsrking]

Because it is hard to go throught the SLC without a loss. With a SLC loss and, if you don't win the automatic bid, you are at the usual "4 loss cutoff" for the playoffs.

Doc

If we were to go 7-4 with our schedule and play reasonably well in the I-A games, I would think we would merit consideration. It may not be enough to get us in but it's not unreasonable. If we can manage to knock off New Mexico State, we could lose two conference games and be eligible. Of course if we go 6-1 or even 5-2 in the league this year, that just might be enough to get the auto bid.

Realistically, we're probably a year or two away from being a major contender but I do think we'll have enough talent to be in the hunt this year if some younger players step up like we think they can.

[VictorG]

Oh Victor, we're shaking in our boots to play the mighty griz again. You guys will be good no doubt, but we'll be way better than most folks think - should be fun! Can you say four out of five? :smiley_wi

Just playin here. I actually think you'll be just as good as you have been. I like balanced offenses!

Yes I can say 4 out of 5 and in 3 more years I will say that to you!xlolx

[OL FU]

It might not be the 7 away games that does it though...

Sept. 23 – Georgia Southern
Oct. 7 – Appalachian State

You forgot Oct 21:nod: :)

[Kill'em]

I guess based on Kill'em's response that all of the PFL have scheduled their way out of the playoffs by playing each other....

Offense taken...
Sorry, it was not intended as smack. My point is that Moorehead St was way overmatched. Coach Sewak emptied the bench and we still scored at will. From what I understand, they were not a conference cellar-dweller.

[89Hen]

You forgot Oct 21:nod: :)
That's one of the seven away games though.

[Cocky]

JSU has all the big conference games away (EIU and EKU). Our other good games are away also Furman, Chattanooga, and Miss State.

[txstatebobcat]

Northwestern St has three I-As scheduled as well...you missed them in your SLC "screwing self out of the playoff" selection...
They are losing a lot of players of a team that underachieved last year. I didn't expect them to seriously contend for the SLC title to begin with. This is why I chose not to put them in the selection.

[txstatebobcat]

How do you figure we scheduled ourselves out of the playoffs? Assuming we lose all three I-A games, we can still go 8-3 or 7-4, and the last I checked, that will get you considered for the playoffs. All of our opponents are division I. Perhaps you don't think that's realistic but we feel pretty good about our chances in the SLC race this year. We'll be a lot better than you think.


I doubt 7-4 will get you to the playoffs without the SLC's automatic seed. With that said, I think SLU has as good a chance of winning the SLC as anyone in the wide open Southland next season.

[blackfordpu]

I believe that scheduling is very underrated as far as putting your team in the best possible position to get to the playoffs. We(TxSt) almost made that mistake last year by playing two D-IIs. Also, I may be mistaken, but I believe that Appalachian State is the exception and not the norm when it comes to making it to the playoffs after playing more than one I-A in the regular season.

What are some good teams that have playoff potential that may not make it because of their schedule.

As far as the SLC goes. Southeast Louisiana, Sam Houston St, and maybe McNeese St may have to win the automatic seed just to make it to the playoffs.

How has SHSU scheduled themselves out of the playoffs? Even if we don't win the SLC, we will have a shot at an at large bid if we are second in the SLC because of the SOS we will have next season.

[Husky Alum]

H-E-double-hockey-sticks, I'd even go to Youngstown.

Yeah, but your offensive line scored more on its SAT's than the entire 65 man Penguin Roster.

[R.A.]

I'll say Hampton... but I'll say Hampton WITH ONE MAIN STIPULATION. They have to lose during the regular season. It's my opinion that if they lose even one regular season game, they don't make the playoffs.

[Kill'em]

This is just my opinion but I think it'll take more than one loss to keep Hampton out of the playoffs.

[R.A.]

You know what Kill'em, you maybe right. A 10-1 Hampton may get in, especially if they are still Conference Champs

[carney2]

This is just my opinion but I think it'll take more than one loss to keep Hampton out of the playoffs.

Not a done deal for Hampton. South Carolina State may actually be better than them. In any event, it is a flat out certainty that the playoffs do not have room for more than one MEAC team.

[*****]

What about 2003?

[R.A.]

-No, there is room for two MEAC teams. I stand corrected. I was just so convinced that Hampton's schedule is so weak, that one loss would do them in. But I realize I'm wrong. The past has proven that.
-SCSU once again has the perfect schedule to win over the committee, with games at Wofford, at Coastal Carolina, B-CC at home, and Hampton at home for homecoming. If they can go 3-1 in those four games, and finish 10-1, they'll finally get that at-large bid. Everyone knew that SCSU's magic number was always 10 wins. But the automatic bid by winning the MEAC title would do them much more nicely.
-Hampton has most of their big guns back this season. But their strongest contests are versus SCSU, Grambling, and B-CC. If they go undefeated again and win the conference title, they'll be right back where they were last season, with a home playoff date.

-Since 2004, it's been the same set up in the MEAC. I don't think there will be much difference in 2006. 1.)Hampton, 2.)SCSU, 3.)B-CC... but we'll see. Hampton's schedule might not have them properly prepared for their game in Orangeburg versus SCSU.

[carney2]

What about 2003?

After Hampton's performance in the 2005 playoffs, the league will be lucky if they don't lose any automatic bid that they may have. Personally, I have reserved the number 25 spot in my Top 25 for the MEAC front runner, and will not be moving them up without an act of Congress.

[89Hen]

After Hampton's performance in the 2005 playoffs, the league will be lucky if they don't lose any automatic bid that they may have. Personally, I have reserved the number 25 spot in my Top 25 for the MEAC front runner, and will not be moving them up without an act of Congress.
Coulson, why did you change your screen name?

[henfan]

Coulson, why did you change your screen name?

My guess: either Dave's celebrating St. Paddy's Day or he's joined the carnival circuit. There's really already a Carney1?!:)

[R.A.]

After Hampton's performance in the 2005 playoffs, the league will be lucky if they don't lose any automatic bid that they may have. Personally, I have reserved the number 25 spot in my Top 25 for the MEAC front runner, and will not be moving them up without an act of Congress.

-Every year is different. An undefeated season will be rewarded, especially if they can post blow out victories.

[JohnStOnge]

How do you figure we scheduled ourselves out of the playoffs? Assuming we lose all three I-A games, we can still go 8-3 or 7-4, and the last I checked, that will get you considered for the playoffs. All of our opponents are division I. Perhaps you don't think that's realistic but we feel pretty good about our chances in the SLC race this year. We'll be a lot better than you think.

If Southeastern Louisiana has a playoff caliber team I think the chances of going 1-2 against the I-As are pretty good and 2-1 is not out of the realm of reasonable possibility. New Mexico State should be very beatable for a playoff caliber I-AA. Southern Miss, historically, is only one game over 0.500 (4-2) against I-AAs that have gone on to make the playoffs. The average score is Southern Miss 24, I-AA playoff team 16.

But if they do go 0-3 against the I-As, I think an at large bid is very unlikely. In that scenario, if they don't win the conference that means they'll have at least four losses. I suppose it's possible the Lions could get in with four losses but it'd surprise me.

Maybe Ralph can tell us the last time a team got an at large berth with more than three losses.

[RabidRabbit]

:hurray: Maybe Ralph can tell us the last time a team got an at large berth with more than three losses.
:hurray:

:smiley_wi That's easy - '05 Cal Poly 7-4 & East WA 7-4 going in :smiley_wi

I'd like to know if ANY 5 loss team has made the play-offs?

[slostang]

:hurray: Maybe Ralph can tell us the last time a team got an at large berth with more than three losses.
:hurray:

:smiley_wi That's easy - '05 Cal Poly 7-4 & East WA 7-4 going in :smiley_wi

I'd like to know if ANY 5 loss team has made the play-offs?

Cal Poly entered the playoffs in 2005 with a 8-3 record against an all D-I schedule including I-A Troy. EWU entered with a 7-4 record, but they were not an at large team. They were the Big Sky's autobid team after sharing the conference tittle.

[Bulldog87]

SCSU will have to beat Wofford and CCU on the road to have a chance. Playing Winston Salem won't help the SOS and even if we beat Hampton at home we still have to face FAMU in Tally. BTW,Homecoming is vs Howard this year in November. Hope to see you there RA.

[Obzerver]

slostang, you're correct. Eastern Washington has also picked up another I-A team(West Virginia and Oregon State earlier) which I think will hurt our chances because we can't afford two losses with our team in transition this season.

[DuckDuckGriz]

slostang, you're correct. Eastern Washington has also picked up another I-A team(West Virginia and Oregon State earlier) which I think will hurt our chances because we can't afford two losses with our team in transition this season.
I-A losses rarely have an effect in the polls. I remember (I think it was 2000) Georgia Southern was number 1 and got blown out by Georgia -- and kept their top spot.

When I-AA schedules I-A there's nothing to lose for the former.

[*****]

...I'd like to know if ANY 5 loss team has made the play-offs?It was just three years ago (2003) that Montana State won the Big Sky autobid with a 7-5 record.

EDITED: corrected wrong year for MSU

[Hansel]

It was just two years ago (2004) that Montana State won the Big Sky autobid with a 7-5 record.
Didn't they do it in back-to-back years

[*****]

They did it in 2002 as well, correct Hansel.

2003: http://i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=50876
2002: http://i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=37938

So losing five games doesn't hurt getting in the playoffs as long as you win an AQ conference.

[MACHIAVELLI]

-No, there is room for two MEAC teams. I stand corrected. I was just so convinced that Hampton's schedule is so weak, that one loss would do them in. But I realize I'm wrong. The past has proven that.
-SCSU once again has the perfect schedule to win over the committee, with games at Wofford, at Coastal Carolina, B-CC at home, and Hampton at home for homecoming. If they can go 3-1 in those four games, and finish 10-1, they'll finally get that at-large bid. Everyone knew that SCSU's magic number was always 10 wins. But the automatic bid by winning the MEAC title would do them much more nicely.
-Hampton has most of their big guns back this season. But their strongest contests are versus SCSU, Grambling, and B-CC. If they go undefeated again and win the conference title, they'll be right back where they were last season, with a home playoff date.

-Since 2004, it's been the same set up in the MEAC. I don't think there will be much difference in 2006. 1.)Hampton, 2.)SCSU, 3.)B-CC... but we'll see. Hampton's schedule might not have them properly prepared for their game in Orangeburg versus SCSU.

hampton won't go undefeated, unless you are talking about in the meac.

[Hansel]

They did it in 2002 as well, correct Hansel.

2003: http://i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=50876
2002: http://i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=37938

So losing five games doesn't hurt getting in the playoffs as long as you win an AQ conference.
Further reason to dump the autobid ;)

[*****]

Hansel, you heard Doug Fullerton/Jim Miller say on I-AA WAVES that it has not been discussed meaning... no chance.

[Hansel]

Hansel, you heard Doug Fullerton/Jim Miller say on I-AA WAVES that it has not been discussed meaning... no chance.
A guy can hope :)

[*****]

I'll keep asking... maybe that will spur discussion...;)

[Kill'em]

I-A losses rarely have an effect in the polls. I remember (I think it was 2000) Georgia Southern was number 1 and got blown out by Georgia -- and kept their top spot.

When I-AA schedules I-A there's nothing to lose for the former.
I woudn't call losing 27-7 to a top 10 I-A team being blown out.

[slostang]

slostang, you're correct. Eastern Washington has also picked up another I-A team(West Virginia and Oregon State earlier) which I think will hurt our chances because we can't afford two losses with our team in transition this season.
Two tough games. What kind of pay day is EWU getting to play West Virginia and Oregon State? OSU is a good regional game for EWU and WV is a nice trip to beautiful country.

Cal Poly is playing San Jose State and San Diego State. Not as good of pay days or recognition, but games that they just might sneak out a win.

[igo4uni]

Further reason to dump the autobid ;)

I like the autobid. Why dump it??

[Obzerver]

Two tough games. What kind of pay day is EWU getting to play West Virginia and Oregon State? OSU is a good regional game for EWU and WV is a nice trip to beautiful country.

Cal Poly is playing San Jose State and San Diego State. Not as good of pay days or recognition, but games that they just might sneak out a win.

If every thing falls into place it's $200,000 for the bus ride to Oregon State and $450,000 for West Virginia...Cal Poly has a chance in both your I-A games!