(01-02-2015 09:36 AM)JMUdubbya Wrote: Though we never seemed to benefit anyway, there goes a usual easy first round opponent for CAA (and sometimes SoCon) schools.
You're correct in that it doesn't really hurt us anyways because of this regional B.S., but it could "benefit" us in that the Richmond's of the world don't get a joke first round opponent in their region since Morgan State, Hampton, Norfolk State, NC A&T, etc are all within a quick drive of Richmond. No more joke first two games for the ticks of the world.
To those saying we should drop the field down to 20 or 16, I agree that 20 is stupid and you may as well just stay at 24 then bother to drop to anything less than 16.
With that being said, they wouldn't expand to 24 only to quickly drop to 16. That will never happen.
Let's just enjoy this mildly good news. A new at-large spot just opened up and it took away an easy first round opponent that Richmond won't get paired with any more.
They really need to seed the entire field 1-24, give the first 8 byes, and then pair 9/24, 10/23 and so on. Higher seeds host. Screw this bidding crap. If a team can't afford to travel from NC to WA, then they can voluntarily remove themselves from competing, leave their conference and become an independent, or just drop football altogether and really save money.