Scheduling

[Newsbreaker]

Re: Scheduling

If we had two challenging games left, we'd be worried about getting in at all and how banged up we'll be if we do.

Every schedule we play is tough.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Scheduling

I worry a lot. An SIU loss will give UNI the autobid, but I don't think we back into a seed that way. It may have happened, but does anyone remember a seeded team NOT being an autobid team? UNI could finish 10-2, get it's first at large bid and be considered team 11-14 in the field. A SIU loss may get us home cooking for a week or two, but a seed? IMO highly unlikely.

Well, let's see.

Southern Illinois. Last Year. # 4 seed. (auto-bid went to someone else)

Texas State. 2005. #4 seed. (auto-bid went to Nicholls State and they got sent to Furman, I believe).

Those are just off the top of my head.

I think two seeds will possibly be from teams without auto-bids this year. Montana is in line for a likely #3 seed (I think JMU and App State have the lines for 1/2) and we are in contention for the #4.

My thoughts. We get the 4 seed and have to play our way through CAA at-larges until we hit JMU in the semis. SIU or SDSU get sent to Montana in the first round.

[Pantherpower]

Re: Scheduling

I agree, Khan. If it shakes out that way, I think we're much better off with the 4 seed versus the 3 provided all the top teams win out and win the playoff games they're favored in as 3 would have to travel to 2 (ASU) in the semis and we would travel to JMU.

Just my opinion, but I'd much rather face a JMU team on their home turf than ASU at the Rock.

[Big_Al]

Re: Scheduling

I think two seeds will possibly be from teams without auto-bids this year. Montana is in line for a likely #3 seed (I think JMU and App State have the lines for 1/2) and we are in contention for the #4.

I have a hard time seeing where Montana deserves an autobid when they got jobbed by Weber State and won't win their conference. If anything, WSU deserves the seed.

Of course, money talks and the Griz can pack 'em in much more than Weber.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Scheduling

The difference between Montana and Weber State is that Weber State has ZERO non-conference D-I wins. They played a D-II and and NAIA (both wins) and 2 FBS schools (both losses). Montana at 11-1 will be tough to not seed. We will be in a battle with Weber for the 4th seed (assuming ASU and JMU take care of their business).

Other teams that could be considered for seeds include Elon (potential 10-2 with all counter games) and South Carolina State (will a MEAC school really get a seed?). Southern Illinois has an outside shot at a seed by winning out, maybe Tennessee State or Villanova.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Scheduling

I want App State wherever. I think we could take them in their house (although I'm not playing on the team or one of the coaches, so what do I know! ). They seem to have stumbled a little last year in playoffs at home (didn't they vs. JMU?).

Let's be a top 4 seed. Get two home games and then hope for an upset to the seed we would have faced in round 3.

[06panther10]

Re: Scheduling

I think App St. beat JMU last year in the first round by pure luck. I dont remember exactly what happened but they were lucky.

[dan_beeding]

Re: Scheduling

I think App St. beat JMU last year in the first round by pure luck. I dont remember exactly what happened but they were lucky.

JMU down either 1 or 2 with about 30 seconds left, instead of draining the clock to try for the field goal, their running back fumbles at the App St. 25. Game.

[Cat80]

Re: Scheduling

Well, let's see.

Southern Illinois. Last Year. # 4 seed. (auto-bid went to someone else)

Texas State. 2005. #4 seed. (auto-bid went to Nicholls State and they got sent to Furman, I believe).

Those are just off the top of my head.

I think two seeds will possibly be from teams without auto-bids this year. Montana is in line for a likely #3 seed (I think JMU and App State have the lines for 1/2) and we are in contention for the #4.

My thoughts. We get the 4 seed and have to play our way through CAA at-larges until we hit JMU in the semis. SIU or SDSU get sent to Montana in the first round.

Thanks, but I was thinking how could UNI get a seed without the autobid when we've never received an at large bid at all. So we get a seed without the autobid in a year when the Valley is perceived to be 'down'? I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see it happening.

[PantherFan]

Re: Scheduling

This constant obsession with UNI not ever being an at-large selection for the FCS playoffs amuses me. What year did we deserve to be an at-large selection? Here are the years we didn't make and our overall record:

1986 7-3-1
1988 5-6
1989 8-3
1997 7-4
1998 7-4
1999 8-3
2000 7-4
2002 5-6
2004 7-4
2006 7-4

I know there is some argument to be made about 2006, but not for any of the other years. The best we finished in the conference in any of these seasons listed above (besides 2006 and 1997) is 3rd. The fact of the matter is that there are not many times we deserved to be selected when we didn't win the conference.

There aren't that many times we didn't win the conference, for that matter.

[06panther10]

Re: Scheduling

There aren't that many times we didn't win the conference, for that matter.

That is what amused me from those statistics. We have more conference championships than not.

[Cat80]

Re: Scheduling

And many of those autobid teams went on the road for the first round.

[heisman6183]

Re: Scheduling

Barring any setbacks from JMU, App St. or Montana, I think the 4 is the only seed we have a chance at. We all know how much the tournament loves Montana and it looks like they'll be 11-1, even without the autobid. It's too bad SDSU has 4 losses and doesn't really have a chance at an at-large (or the autobid because of our win over them) because they're playing very well. I expect them to beat SIU by 2 touchdowns if they can handle that long trip. I think the MVFC is a two bid league with us and SIU this year.

[JayJ79]

Re: Scheduling

This constant obsession with UNI not ever being an at-large selection for the FCS playoffs amuses me. What year did we deserve to be an at-large selection? Here are the years we didn't make and our overall record:

1986 7-3-1 6 d1 wins + Ark. Pine Bluff (NAIA at the time), and a tie with a d2
1988 5-6 4 d1 wins + Wayne State (NE)
1989 8-3 6 d1 wins + Ferris St., Ft. Hays St., and a loss to a d2
1997 7-4 6 d1 wins + Mankato State
1998 7-4 6 d1 wins + Winona State
1999 8-3 6 d1 wins + Central Washington, Southwest State (MN)
2000 7-4 6 d1 wins + Morningside
2002 5-6 4 d1 wins + Wayne State (MI)
2004 7-4 6 d1 wins + Mankato State
2006 7-4 7 d1 wins, but also a loss to a d2, we were a bubble team at best, and we didn't get picked

I added our number of qualifying wins (wins against div. II, NAIA, or other non Div. I wins do not count towards playoff consideration) for each of those years.

So the ONLY time we've ever been eligible for an at-large (w/ the 7 requisite division I wins) has been 2006.

[P. compressa]

Re: Scheduling

I added our number of qualifying wins (wins against div. II, NAIA, or other non Div. I wins do not count towards playoff consideration) for each of those years.

So the ONLY time we've ever been eligible for an at-large (w/ the 7 requisite division I wins) has been 2006.

I may be wrong, Probably am, wouldn't be the first time.

But the 7 DI wins thing is a relatively new criteria. Wasn't Youngstown State 8-3 in 1997 with two DII wins? They went 4-0 in the playoffs to finish 12-3.

I remember that UNI and YSU had idnetical records that year in conference and UNI won the head to head and YSU got invited and UNI stayed home. Both teams had 6 DI wins. Then again maybe YSU didn't play two DII games that year like they usually did throughout the 90's.