Good job NH.

Like I pointed out in 2014, the last time we had a 12 game season, a team that can’t reach 7 (Div I) wins is already eliminated. A 6 win team has zero chance of making the playoffs in a 12 game season. Just trying to save you some time..

(10-28-2019 02:45 PM)Dukester Wrote:  Are we going to acknowledge the CAA is not too good, or are we going to use the just a lot of parity line?

Nova and VU are the two teams two steps behind us. All the rest are 3 steps behind us.

Aren't "Nova and VU" the same team?

Well done, Sax. Your analysis should be in a magazine somewhere, except FCS is not important enough for any magazine.

(10-28-2019 02:45 PM)Dukester Wrote:  Are we going to acknowledge the CAA is not too good, or are we going to use the just a lot of parity line?

Nova and VU are the two teams two steps behind us. All the rest are 3 steps behind us.

Yes we have been good, but there really has not been a solid #2 for years.......

Replace JMU with NDSU, CAA with MVC, Nova with SDSU ... and you can draw the exact same conclusions, even more strongly. You can find this discussion on the Bison board at times, applied to both MVC and all of FCS.

There just aren't that many FCS teams that are able to challenge NDSU/JMU in a "good" year. There's around 5 or 10 "good" teams, after the top 10 its a severe drop off. Most years, you've got maybe 2 MVC, 2 CAA, and 1 Big Sky team worth talking about as serious contenders. The past 15 years have produced the following champions: NDSU, JMU, App State, Villanova, EWU, RU.

NDSU, JMU, App St were 12 of the past 15. That speaks about "parity"

Though it won't happen, I think the playoffs should shrink back to 16 teams. It could even be 8, if they would choose the right 8 teams.

(10-29-2019 06:05 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-28-2019 02:45 PM)Dukester Wrote:  Are we going to acknowledge the CAA is not too good, or are we going to use the just a lot of parity line?

Nova and VU are the two teams two steps behind us. All the rest are 3 steps behind us.

Yes we have been good, but there really has not been a solid #2 for years.......

Replace JMU with NDSU, CAA with MVC, Nova with SDSU ... and you can draw the exact same conclusions, even more strongly. You can find this discussion on the Bison board at times, applied to both MVC and all of FCS.

There just aren't that many FCS teams that are able to challenge NDSU/JMU in a "good" year. There's around 5 or 10 "good" teams, after the top 10 its a severe drop off. Most years, you've got maybe 2 MVC, 2 CAA, and 1 Big Sky team worth talking about as serious contenders.

Though it won't happen, I think the playoffs should shrink back to 16 teams. It could even be 8, if they would choose the right 8 teams.

More football is a good thing, and the last part of your sentence (“if they would choose the right 8 teams”) is where the rub is. Would JMU Have been selected as one of those 8 teams in 2004? Possibly not, and yet JMU won the NC.

A 15 game season, if a team makes it to the NC game, is just about perfect as I see it. It’s about the opportunity to compete and for the players and fans to enjoy the shot at a true championship.

(10-29-2019 06:24 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-29-2019 06:05 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-28-2019 02:45 PM)Dukester Wrote:  Are we going to acknowledge the CAA is not too good, or are we going to use the just a lot of parity line?

Nova and VU are the two teams two steps behind us. All the rest are 3 steps behind us.

Yes we have been good, but there really has not been a solid #2 for years.......

Replace JMU with NDSU, CAA with MVC, Nova with SDSU ... and you can draw the exact same conclusions, even more strongly. You can find this discussion on the Bison board at times, applied to both MVC and all of FCS.

There just aren't that many FCS teams that are able to challenge NDSU/JMU in a "good" year. There's around 5 or 10 "good" teams, after the top 10 its a severe drop off. Most years, you've got maybe 2 MVC, 2 CAA, and 1 Big Sky team worth talking about as serious contenders.

Though it won't happen, I think the playoffs should shrink back to 16 teams. It could even be 8, if they would choose the right 8 teams.

More football is a good thing, and the last part of your sentence (“if they would choose the right 8 teams”) is where the rub is. Would JMU Have been selected as one of those 8 teams in 2004? Possibly not, and yet JMU won the NC.

A 15 game season, if a team makes it to the NC game, is just about perfect as I see it. It’s about the opportunity to compete and for the players and fans to enjoy the shot at a true championship.

JMU had only one FCS loss (FBS loss to WVU), and were the CAA (Atlantic 10) champions in 2004. No way that team gets left out of an 8 team field.

In an 8 team field, CAA, MVC, Big Sky should get conference autobid, and even if at large, their champions would be in.

(10-29-2019 07:14 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-29-2019 06:24 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-29-2019 06:05 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-28-2019 02:45 PM)Dukester Wrote:  Are we going to acknowledge the CAA is not too good, or are we going to use the just a lot of parity line?

Nova and VU are the two teams two steps behind us. All the rest are 3 steps behind us.

Yes we have been good, but there really has not been a solid #2 for years.......

Replace JMU with NDSU, CAA with MVC, Nova with SDSU ... and you can draw the exact same conclusions, even more strongly. You can find this discussion on the Bison board at times, applied to both MVC and all of FCS.

There just aren't that many FCS teams that are able to challenge NDSU/JMU in a "good" year. There's around 5 or 10 "good" teams, after the top 10 its a severe drop off. Most years, you've got maybe 2 MVC, 2 CAA, and 1 Big Sky team worth talking about as serious contenders.

Though it won't happen, I think the playoffs should shrink back to 16 teams. It could even be 8, if they would choose the right 8 teams.

More football is a good thing, and the last part of your sentence (“if they would choose the right 8 teams”) is where the rub is. Would JMU Have been selected as one of those 8 teams in 2004? Possibly not, and yet JMU won the NC.

A 15 game season, if a team makes it to the NC game, is just about perfect as I see it. It’s about the opportunity to compete and for the players and fans to enjoy the shot at a true championship.

JMU had only one FCS loss (FBS loss to WVU), and were the CAA (Atlantic 10) champions in 2004. No way that team gets left out of an 8 team field.

In an 8 team field, CAA, MVC, Big Sky should get conference autobid, and even if at large, their champions would be in.

We were ranked around #8 in the country before playoffs and were co-champions in a 3 way tie. W&M got the autobid that year, not us.

It remains true that there are not 24 playoff worthy teams in FCS. 10 or less have a legitimate shot at winning, and history shows this.

FCS teams with 3 or 4 FCS losses are not going to win the title, yet they make the field each year.

(10-29-2019 10:51 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  It remains true that there are not 24 playoff worthy teams in FCS. 10 or less have a legitimate shot at winning, and history shows this.

FCS teams with 3 or 4 FCS losses are not going to win the title, yet they make the field each year.

I don't disagree with the fact that 24 teams don't have an actual shot at the title, but I don't think it's good for FCS to lower the amount of teams. For instance, a team like StFU knows they really have no chance, but a playoff birth mean a lot to their program, and honestly, that's typically the way programs are built. By only allowing teams that have a real shot, you stunt the potential growth of football programs and I believe you'll actually lower the competitive standard over time. If you lowered the amount of teams, I think you'd need to add a "NIT" tourney of sorts to help grow lesser programs.

(10-29-2019 03:03 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(10-29-2019 10:51 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  It remains true that there are not 24 playoff worthy teams in FCS. 10 or less have a legitimate shot at winning, and history shows this.

FCS teams with 3 or 4 FCS losses are not going to win the title, yet they make the field each year.

I don't disagree with the fact that 24 teams don't have an actual shot at the title, but I don't think it's good for FCS to lower the amount of teams. For instance, a team like StFU knows they really have no chance, but a playoff birth mean a lot to their program, and honestly, that's typically the way programs are built. By only allowing teams that have a real shot, you stunt the potential growth of football programs and I believe you'll actually lower the competitive standard over time. If you lowered the amount of teams, I think you'd need to add a "NIT" tourney of sorts to help grow lesser programs.

This.

Most programs need to work step-wise in order to grow - they can't leap. Start with getting a winning record. Then compete for the conference title. Then make the playoff field. Then actually win a playoff game. Then make it to the quarter finals. Then the semis. Then the finals. Then win it all.

I think great example of this is San Diego. It is a small Catholic school in a non-scholarship conference. For years, Pioneer teams weren't even allowed in the playoffs. (Even when Jim Harbaugh was leading them to 11-1 seasons and destroying ranked Yale teams.) Then the Pioneer received an At-Large...but no Pioneer team could make it past the first round. San Diego makes its first appearance in 2014...then beats a Big Sky team in 2016...and then again in 2017...and makes it in 2018....and is favored to make it again in 2019. If the Big Sky decides that they want/need to expand (even though it is already gigantic), San Diego has positioned themselves to be a possible option.

Outside of football, look at Men's Basketball. Do you think Gonzaga's program would be where they are if they only let the P5 teams in the playoffs? (Which is basically what JMURocks is proposing - albeit at a I-AA football level.) Most of us remember when we had never heard of them (before they became a cinderella in March 2000). Now they are a legitimate title contender every year.

Plus, can you imagine how short (and redundant/boring) these articles would be if we we're limited to 8 teams? (It would basically be just talking about who would currently be Seeded.)

FYI...


Craig Haley @CraigHaley

The FCS playoff selection committee will have its lone Top 10 ranking released on Wednesday, Nov. 6 on ESPN2 during halftime of the Miami (Ohio) at Ohio game (8 p.m. ET kickoff). The 24-team pairings will be announced Sunday, Nov. 24 (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU).

(10-30-2019 09:31 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  FYI...


Craig Haley @CraigHaley

The FCS playoff selection committee will have its lone Top 10 ranking released on Wednesday, Nov. 6 on ESPN2 during halftime of the Miami (Ohio) at Ohio game (8 p.m. ET kickoff). The 24-team pairings will be announced Sunday, Nov. 24 (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU).

So after Week 10. I remember a few years ago they did 2 rankings. In a 13 week season would be nice if they did one after say Week 8 or 9, and then again after Week 11 or 12.

(10-30-2019 09:52 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(10-30-2019 09:31 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  FYI...


Craig Haley @CraigHaley

The FCS playoff selection committee will have its lone Top 10 ranking released on Wednesday, Nov. 6 on ESPN2 during halftime of the Miami (Ohio) at Ohio game (8 p.m. ET kickoff). The 24-team pairings will be announced Sunday, Nov. 24 (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU).

So after Week 10. I remember a few years ago they did 2 rankings. In a 13 week season would be nice if they did one after say Week 8 or 9, and then again after Week 11 or 12.

I'm surprised they even have one, but I'm glad they do.

I don't think 95% of fans that attend a FCS game even know about preliminary rankings release.

I believe most posters have the "not everyone deserves a trophy" attitude so I'm shocked to see all the support for a 24 team playoff. We also love to make fun of FBS by mentioning how every team gets a bowl invite, yet there were three 6 win teams in the playoffs last year (Yes it was a 11 game season; and yes Incarnate Word played 2 FBS schools; and yes 70ish bowl teams out of 130ish FBS teams is not the same as 24 playoff teams; but still).

24 teams is too many until we are not one of the top 16 teams.

I'm okay with the 24 team playoffs simply because it offers the top 8 seeds a bye the first weekend. I'd also be okay with limiting it to 20 teams and only the top 4 get a bye.

(10-29-2019 06:05 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-28-2019 02:45 PM)Dukester Wrote:  Are we going to acknowledge the CAA is not too good, or are we going to use the just a lot of parity line?

Nova and VU are the two teams two steps behind us. All the rest are 3 steps behind us.

Yes we have been good, but there really has not been a solid #2 for years.......

Replace JMU with NDSU, CAA with MVC, Nova with SDSU ... and you can draw the exact same conclusions, even more strongly. You can find this discussion on the Bison board at times, applied to both MVC and all of FCS.

There just aren't that many FCS teams that are able to challenge NDSU/JMU in a "good" year. There's around 5 or 10 "good" teams, after the top 10 its a severe drop off. Most years, you've got maybe 2 MVC, 2 CAA, and 1 Big Sky team worth talking about as serious contenders. The past 15 years have produced the following champions: NDSU, JMU, App State, Villanova, EWU, RU.

NDSU, JMU, App St were 12 of the past 15. That speaks about "parity"

Though it won't happen, I think the playoffs should shrink back to 16 teams. It could even be 8, if they would choose the right 8 teams.

Can we stop the NDSU/JMU vs everyone else?
- 2 of our last 3 playoff losses were to Colgate.
- We have won the CAA only 3 times in this decade (once a 3 way co-champ). NDSU has won or co-won their equal at worse conference, every year except 2010.
- NDSU is a perfect 7-0 in the championship game that we have only reached twice in the decade.
- JMU is only a couple years away from going ~.500 against playoff teams (EW years but I'm not looking this up again to get the exact record). NDSU is like .9 against playoff teams?
- 5 years ago we were 6-6. NDSU has lost 6 games in the last 5 years.

"NDSU, JMU, App St were 12 of the past 15." Just go ahead and say "NDSU and App state were 11 of the past 15." It is just silly to add JMU into that statement when you could literally add any of the other teams you mentioned into the statement and its still true.

(10-30-2019 10:58 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  "NDSU, JMU, App St were 12 of the past 15." Just go ahead and say "NDSU and App state were 11 of the past 15." It is just silly to add JMU into that statement when you could literally add any of the other teams you mentioned into the statement and its still true.

Hilarious and true, well said! Not sure some of the "dynasty" egos on here can take it though.

Look at the "top" CAA teams. Some bad records and horrible OOC losses in there. There's plenty of cannibalism and parity alright, but not in a good way.

James Madison 5-0 / 8-1
Richmond 3-1 / 4-4 Lost to Fordham and Yale
Albany 3-1 / 5-3 Lost to Monmouth
New Hampshire 3-1 / 4-3 Lost to Holy Cross and FIU
Villanova 3-2 / 6-2
Elon 3-2 / 4-4 Lost to NC A&T

(10-30-2019 12:08 PM)2Buck Wrote:  Look at the "top" CAA teams. Some bad records and horrible OOC losses in there. There's plenty of cannibalism and parity alright, but not in a good way.

James Madison 5-0 / 8-1
Richmond 3-1 / 4-4 Lost to Fordham and Yale
Albany 3-1 / 5-3 Lost to Monmouth
New Hampshire 3-1 / 4-3 Lost to Holy Cross and FIU
Villanova 3-2 / 6-2
Elon 3-2 / 4-4 Lost to NC A&T

-Monmouth is 6-2/3-0 (losses to W Mich and @ Montana 47-27).
-Yale is 5-1/2-1.
-Holy Cross is 4-4/2-0 (2 of their losses were to Cuse and Navy, 3rd @ Yale). Holy Cross could be the Patriot AQ.
-NC A&T is 5-2/3-1.

The only “horrible“ OOC loss in there IMHOP is RU @ Fordham.
I think in the end VU & SBU will end up the 2nd/3rd, and RU, Albany, NH, and Elon won‘t be playoff teams..