Here is a look at who I think should qualify for the 2010 FCS (1-AA) playoffs. I have some very differing opinions over some members of the media, both mainstream and non. Let's take a look...These projections are based on what is going on this minute, and does not project what will be in two weeks when the bids are announced.
Conference Champs/Auto Bids
Big Sky: Montana State
Big South: Liberty
Colonial: William & Mary
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa
Northeast Conference: Robert Morris*
Ohio Valley: Southeast Missouri State
Patriot: Lehigh
Southern: Wofford
Southland: Stephen F. Austin
* Already Qualified
At Large Bids
Bethune-Cookman
Jacksonville
Jacksonville State
Appalachian State
Grambling State
Eastern Washington
Villanova
Western Illinois
Cal Poly
North Dakota State
UMass
Where I differ from public opinion
Most media projections right now show Jacksonville as being out. That, in short, is crap. If JU can defeat Campbell this weekend, then the Dolphins will have gone undefeated in conference play. Sure the play in the PFL, but it's an amazing feat to go undefeated in any conference. I had this same conversation with Joel Lamp at Jacksonville this week when Craig Haley's projections were released with JU being held out. It does not make sense.
The bottom 5 could fall out of this group, and I would not be bothered by it. There are several teams ranked higher in the PRS that would deserve a shot, such as Dayton, who would also go undefeated in conference play in the PFL this week with a win. They do not play Jacksonville.
South Carolina State and Texas Southern would also be interesting in the mix.
I project Grambling, but the SWAC has not sent a team to the playoffs since 1997, when Jackson State made it. Grambling deserves the bid. If they were offered and accepted, Texas Southern and South Carolina State would make an awesome Legacy Bowl game.
Robert Morris is in. They have won the NEC, and they have taken the first auto bid.
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