2012 FCS Playoff Bracketology: Week Three

Sept. 8, 2012; Pullman, WA, USA; Eastern Washington Eagles quarterback Kyle Padron (2) gestures against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-US PRESSWIRE

With week two of the FCS College Football season under our belts, we’re keeping the playoff bracketology train rolling with this week’s edition.

As always, 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:

• No teams enter/exit the bracket this week, but there are still significant changes.
• North Dakota State takes over the top seed with a huge 22-7 win over FBS Colorado State.  Sam Houston State moves to #2.
• In the Southern Conference, Georgia Southern moves out of the automatic bid with a loss to The Citadel.  With the victory, the Bulldogs jump into the last four out.
• With Appalachian State’s win over Montana in the “ultimate FCS powerhouse showdown”, the Mountaineers receive this week’s SoCon auto-bid.  Even with the loss, the Grizzlies are still in the bracket.
• Illinois State reaffirms its place in the bracket with a big 31-14 win over FBS Eastern Michigan.
• Jacksonville State had a solid victory over Chattanooga 27-24, holding on the the Ohio Valley auto-bid.

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: Appalachian State

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: Georgia Southern, *Wofford

Last Four Out: The Citadel, Delaware, Indiana State, McNeese State

The Field:
(*  = home field advantage) 

*#1 North Dakota State
Stony Brook/Lehigh

*Georgia Southern
Old Dominion

*#5 Eastern Washington
Illinois State

*#4 Appalachian State
Towson/Bethune-Cookman

*#3 Northern Iowa
Montana/Jacksonville State

*Montana State
Wofford

*James Madison
Youngstown State

*#2 Sam Houston State
New Hampshire/Albany