Appalachian State and Georgia Southern to Move Up

[kmax]

Per this article ( http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ng-sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and a few other sites I've seen it appears that indeed neither Appy or GA Southern will be eligible this year for the playoffs. Assuming both were likely candidates for potential playoff inclusion this year it opens up the Southern autobid to another team and possibly an at-large for the rest of the FCS. With the FCS going to 24 this year it seems like there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around this year.

[allcat]

Per this article ( http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ng-sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and a few other sites I've seen it appears that indeed neither Appy or GA Southern will be eligible this year for the playoffs. Assuming both were likely candidates for potential playoff inclusion this year it opens up the Southern autobid to another team and possibly an at-large for the rest of the FCS. With the FCS going to 24 this year it seems like there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around this year.

Does that mean that even the gritz could get an at large?

[catatac]

Per this article ( http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ng-sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and a few other sites I've seen it appears that indeed neither Appy or GA Southern will be eligible this year for the playoffs. Assuming both were likely candidates for potential playoff inclusion this year it opens up the Southern autobid to another team and possibly an at-large for the rest of the FCS. With the FCS going to 24 this year it seems like there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around this year.

Does that mean that even the gritz could get an at large?

LOL

[tampa_griz]

Per this article ( http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ng-sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and a few other sites I've seen it appears that indeed neither Appy or GA Southern will be eligible this year for the playoffs. Assuming both were likely candidates for potential playoff inclusion this year it opens up the Southern autobid to another team and possibly an at-large for the rest of the FCS. With the FCS going to 24 this year it seems like there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around this year.

That is horrible. Who are the likely candidates?

[[cat_bracket]]

Per this article ( http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ng-sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and a few other sites I've seen it appears that indeed neither Appy or GA Southern will be eligible this year for the playoffs. Assuming both were likely candidates for potential playoff inclusion this year it opens up the Southern autobid to another team and possibly an at-large for the rest of the FCS. With the FCS going to 24 this year it seems like there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around this year.

Really cuts into the incentive to play for the players. No bowl game. No playoffs. I can see the thinking though, because they now have a recruiting advantage.

[kmax]

Per this article ( http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ng-sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and a few other sites I've seen it appears that indeed neither Appy or GA Southern will be eligible this year for the playoffs. Assuming both were likely candidates for potential playoff inclusion this year it opens up the Southern autobid to another team and possibly an at-large for the rest of the FCS. With the FCS going to 24 this year it seems like there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around this year.

That is horrible. Who are the likely candidates?

Not sure I understand your question tampa.

[MSU01]

It's great that the Big Sky will have 12 basketball members, but it would be much easier if football did the same. I don't know how that's going to happen unless there's some movement in the Dakotas. I would have to wonder if UND wouldn't want to be in the same league as NDSU again. I know the Summit League isn't particularly stable and if the Big Sky has the opportunity to bring North Dakota State into this conference, it needs to be done. If anything, we're safe in a stable Big Sky, but I don't think movement is done.

The 12th team will be great for basketball scheduling. I'm assuming that the Big Sky will be splitting the teams into two 6-team divisions, given that they had a poll out a couple of months ago about what people liked as possible division names. I bet we'll see a 16-game conference schedule, with each team playing a home and home with the 5 other division teams and 1 game per year rotating home and away with the 6 teams in the other division.

With football, it would have taken the Big Sky to a 14-team league. It's tougher to do divisions in football because you have to determine an automatic playoff qualifier and there can't be a conference championship game played in the regular season to determine who it is. So while it would have been cool to have Idaho back as a full member, I think that the advantages of having them as a member in the non-football sports certainly outweigh any disadvantages of not having them for football.

[grizzh8r]

It's great that the Big Sky will have 12 basketball members, but it would be much easier if football did the same. I don't know how that's going to happen unless there's some movement in the Dakotas. I would have to wonder if UND wouldn't want to be in the same league as NDSU again. I know the Summit League isn't particularly stable and if the Big Sky has the opportunity to bring North Dakota State into this conference, it needs to be done. If anything, we're safe in a stable Big Sky, but I don't think movement is done.

The 12th team will be great for basketball scheduling. I'm assuming that the Big Sky will be splitting the teams into two 6-team divisions, given that they had a poll out a couple of months ago about what people liked as possible division names. I bet we'll see a 16-game conference schedule, with each team playing a home and home with the 5 other division teams and 1 game per year rotating home and away with the 6 teams in the other division.

With football, it would have taken the Big Sky to a 14-team league. It's tougher to do divisions in football because you have to determine an automatic playoff qualifier and there can't be a conference championship game played in the regular season to determine who it is. So while it would have been cool to have Idaho back as a full member, I think that the advantages of having them as a member in the non-football sports certainly outweigh any disadvantages of not having them for football.

I think you may be mistaken. A few months back we discussed this same thing, kmax posted this:

http://www.bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/vi ... ce#p403714

[MSU01]

I think you may be mistaken. A few months back we discussed this same thing, kmax posted this:

http://www.bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/vi ... ce#p403714

OK, I was mistaken. However, even if it's possible I'd be pretty shocked if the schools agreed to it. It would be a game played between two schools who are most likely already going to the playoffs, would cause every single Big Sky team to not be able to have a bye week on its schedule (which would make the scheduling of non-conference games even more difficult than it already is), and would cause the teams involved to play an extra game on the schedule and give themselves an extra chance to get players injured going into the playoffs. If it were like FBS and you had a month or more between your regular season ending and your bowl game, then it would make more sense. For now I think we'll just have to make do with the unbalanced league schedule and frequent co-championships that will result from it.

[kmax]

I think you may be mistaken. A few months back we discussed this same thing, kmax posted this:

http://www.bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/vi ... ce#p403714

OK, I was mistaken. However, even if it's possible I'd be pretty shocked if the schools agreed to it. It would be a game played between two schools who are most likely already going to the playoffs, would cause every single Big Sky team to not be able to have a bye week on its schedule (which would make the scheduling of non-conference games even more difficult than it already is), and would cause the teams involved to play an extra game on the schedule and give themselves an extra chance to get players injured going into the playoffs. If it were like FBS and you had a month or more between your regular season ending and your bowl game, then it would make more sense. For now I think we'll just have to make do with the unbalanced league schedule and frequent co-championships that will result from it.

Which is exactly what I said in the linked post as well. It likely wouldn't be in the best interest of the conference or the top teams, but to say it "isn't allowed" is technically incorrect, at least from everything I have been able to find.

[cats2506]

Per this article ( http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ng-sources" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and a few other sites I've seen it appears that indeed neither Appy or GA Southern will be eligible this year for the playoffs. Assuming both were likely candidates for potential playoff inclusion this year it opens up the Southern autobid to another team and possibly an at-large for the rest of the FCS. With the FCS going to 24 this year it seems like there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around this year.

That is horrible. Who are the likely candidates?

Not sure I understand your question tampa.

Half the time I dont think tampa understands his own questions

[tampa_griz]

Word now is that James Madison is going to the Sun Belt too.

[tampa_griz]

Montana State tells NDSU to pound sound because they just aren't worth playing. Montana State fans say that App. State, Georgia Southern, and James Madison aren't good FCS teams. Is there really a point to FCS football anymore?

[LongTimeCatFan]

Montana State tells NDSU to pound sound because they just aren't worth playing. Montana State fans say that App. State, Georgia Southern, and James Madison aren't good FCS teams. Is there really a point to FCS football anymore?

Well that's not exactly what we said. But you knew that already.

[Joe Bobcat]

Is there really a point to FCS football anymore?

There can't possibly be any significant point (in your mind anyway) left to FCS football. But Bobcat football will always continue to be such a thorn in your side that you will always continue to post here on Bobcat nation.

Life and beer are good, Bobcat football and God are great, tampa is crazy!

[SonomaCat]

I think tampa is using a bit of hyperbole to make his point, but I do think there is a valid point in there to be made -- how concerned should we be about all of these defections? To what degree does it remove from the excitement of this subdivision when some of the traditional powers move on to greener (on so many levels) pastures?

I guess the silver lining is that the playoff run will become a lot easier in the coming years ... but is that a good thing?

[kmax]

I think tampa is using a bit of hyperbole to make his point, but I do think there is a valid point in there to be made -- how concerned should we be about all of these defections? To what degree does it remove from the excitement of this subdivision when some of the traditional powers move on to greener (on so many levels) pastures?

I guess the silver lining is that the playoff run will become a lot easier in the coming years ... but is that a good thing?

For all the chicken little's I would remind you that this is nothing new. FCS continued on just fine in the 90's when a good number of high level FCS teams decided to move up as well.

[SonomaCat]

I think tampa is using a bit of hyperbole to make his point, but I do think there is a valid point in there to be made -- how concerned should we be about all of these defections? To what degree does it remove from the excitement of this subdivision when some of the traditional powers move on to greener (on so many levels) pastures?

I guess the silver lining is that the playoff run will become a lot easier in the coming years ... but is that a good thing?

For all the chicken little's I would remind you that this is nothing new. FCS continued on just fine in the 90's when a good number of high level FCS teams decided to move up as well.

True ... but is this a sustainable process, or is there a tipping point where enough programs leave and it really hurts the overall product? Or, rather, do the teams that move up from D-II just fill in the ranks and ultimately replace those that have left to bring it back to full strength?

I'd say that schools like Davis and NDSU and UND are great additions and probably will ulimately be full replacements for a Nevada or Boise or Marshall ... but I have to wonder if a school like NDSU may be one of the next to make a move up?

[[cat_bracket]]

Of course there's a tipping point, but we aren't there yet. The four Dakota schools are a great addition, but those are the last of the non-directional state schools. Once everyone else goes we'll go, but I won't be surprised if teams in the FBS start coming back to FCS or a new division is formed by the NCAA. I think the NCAA needs to research the FBS mids and see how they feel about some kind of re-org. We fit with a lot of those schools.

[codecat]

Of course there's a tipping point, but we aren't there yet. The four Dakota schools are a great addition, but those are the last of the non-directional state schools. Once everyone else goes we'll go, but I won't be surprised if teams in the FBS start coming back to FCS or a new division is formed by the NCAA. I think the NCAA needs to research the FBS mids and see how they feel about some kind of re-org. We fit with a lot of those schools.

I agree too that there is a tipping point but think it is just the nature of it all, but it is happening constantly in every division, not just the FCS to FBS. Its always in a state of flux as we have been witnessing with the BCS distancing themselves from the FBS pack, so I would look for a break in the FBS at some point forced by money and the hand of the BCS which will essentially create another division similar to the upper FCS. When that happens, we'll see more of the upper FCS join the new division and then lower divisions move in to fill the FCS back up. It doesn't matter what names we call the divisions, as water always seeks its own level over the long run.