The Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1AA) playoffs are just a few weeks from kicking off. The Southern Illinois Salukis should enter as a #1 seed. Unless you believe in (major gigantic) miracles SIU should end the regular season as the top ranked team in the country.Dale Lennon's Salukis jumped from #3 to #1 this week following Saturday's win over (at the time) #9 South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits have since dropped to 12th.
The 8-1 Salukis are kings of the top 25 for the first time since Oct. 10, 2005. During the 2004 season SIU spent 11 weeks at #1.
SIU has two regular season games remaining...games they should win. One of them could turn into the most lopsided victory by the Salukis in decades. I'll let you figure out which game that might be.
The remaining schedule of teams of interest in the FCS Top 25.
#1 Southern Illinois (8-1)
Nov. 14 vs Missouri State
Nov. 21 @ SEMO
#2 Montana (9-0)
Nov. 14 vs Northern Colorado
Nov. 21 @ Montana State
#3 Villanova Wildcats (8-1)
Nov. 14 @ Towson
Nov. 21 vs Delaware
#4 Richmond (8-1)
Nov. 14 @ Georgetown
Nov. 21 vs William & Mary
#11 Northern Iowa (6-3)
Nov. 14 vs Western Illinois
Nov. 21 @ Illinois State
#12 South Dakota State (7-2)
Nov. 14 @ Minnesota
Nov. 21 @ Western Illinois
#14 Eastern Illinois (7-2)
Nov. 14 vs UT Martin
Nov. 19 vs Tennessee State
#17 Jacksonville State (6-3)*
Nov. 14 vs Tennessee Tech
Nov. 21 vs Eastern Kentucky
*JSU is not postseason eligible. The Gamecocks are serving a one year ban due to failing to meet standards on the NCAA Academic Progress Report three consecutive years.
Why is Jacksonville State on this list? They can't make the postseason because of the postseason ban due to their low APR.
ReplyDeleteJohn - I listed them because they are in the OVC. Guess I should have put an asterisk next to them and explained (to anyone who might not know)the Gamecocks are serving a one year postseason ban.
ReplyDeleteGreat blogging. Thanks for the response.
ReplyDeleteTo go back to a previous blog, I sure hope Michael Porter heals soon. I would love to see him make an impact for Missouri State as a freshman.