2012 FCS Playoff Bracketology: Week Two

September 1, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Youngstown State Penguins fan celebrates at the end of the third quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field. The Youngstown State Penguins won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

It’s never too early to start to figure out the FCS playoff picture for 2012.  Even with only one week of games under our belts, SaturdayBlitz.com will keep you updated weekly on how this year’s bracket is shaping up as the season progresses.

The bracket below is what it would look like if the playoffs started tomorrow.  Additionally as the season progresses, automatic bids will actually go to the teams leading the conference standings instead of a prediction on who will receive it.

Here are some “quick kicks” about this week’s bracket:

• Just based on week one performances, Eastern Washington gets the automatic Big Sky bid over Montana State.  EWU beat FBS Idaho 20-3, while Montana State beat Division II Chadron State 33-6.
• Albany snags the Northeastern Conference bid with a nice win over Colgate 40-23.
• The Ohio Valley’s top three teams – Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, and Murray State – all lost big to BCS opponents, but Jacksonville State at least kept it close early against Arkansas which is enough to earn the OVC auto-bid this week.
• North Dakota State holds on to the Missouri Valley auto-bid, although Youngstown State put in a strong push with a strong victory over FBS Pittsburgh.
• Although with a week one bye, Sam Houston State remains as the #1 seed.  The Bearkats will take on Incarnate Word this Saturday.
• Although not in the bracket yet, McNeese State becomes a part of the conversation with a 27-21 win over FBS Middle Tennessee State.

Automatic-Bids:

Big Sky: Eastern Washington

Big South: Stony Brook

Colonial: James Madison

Mid-Eastern: Bethune-Cookman

Missouri Valley: North Dakota State

Northeastern: Albany

Ohio Valley: Jacksonville State

Patriot: Lehigh

Southern: Georgia Southern

Southland: Sam Houston State

At-Large Bids:
(* = last four in)

Big Sky: Montana, Montana State

Colonial: *New Hampshire, *Old Dominion, Towson

Missouri Valley: *Illinois State, *Northern Iowa, Youngstown State

Southern: Appalachian State, Wofford

Last Four Out: Deleware, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State, McNeese State

The Field:
(*  = home field advantage) 

*#1 Sam Houston State
Old Dominion/Stony Brook

*Montana
Northern Iowa

*#5 Montana State
Wofford

*#4 Eastern Washington
Illinois State/New Hampshire

*#3 Georgia Southern
Jacksonville State/Bethune-Cookman

*Appalachian State
Towson

*James Madison
Youngstown State

*#2 North Dakota State
Lehigh/Albany