2012 FCS Playoff Bracketology: Week Five

September 1, 2012; Eastern Kentucky Colonels quarterback Jared McClain (12) looks to pass against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-US PRESSWIRE
SaturdayBlitz.com is here to get your FCS bracketology fix in once again!

Upsets were abound in week five of the FCS college football season as Central Arkansas and Northern Arizona put in strong performances last week to enter the bracket this week.

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:

• Northern Arizona takes over Montana’s spot in a bracket with a 41-31 win in Missoula.  The Grizzlies will try to rebound and jump back in as they take on Eastern Washington this week.
• The other big upset was at Central Arkansas where the Bears took down Sam Houston State 24-20.  With the result, the Bears earn the Southland automatic-bid while the Bearkats drop out of a top five seed.
• With Bethune-Cookman’s 21-14 non-conference loss to Tennessee State the MEAC conference race is very muddy.  We’ll give the automatic-bid to the Howard as the Bison picked up a solid win over Norfolk State in week three.
• Hard to ignore Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke’s record breaking 730 passing yard performance in a wild 64-61 victory over New Hampshire.  However, ODU is ineligible for the automatic bid from the Colonial.¹
• Eastern Kentucky picked up a huge 51-21 victory over Jacksonville State, easily stealing the Ohio Valley automatic-bid.
• Youngstown State makes a huge leap in the bracket with a solid 42-35 win over Northern Iowa.  With a record of 1-3 (the other two losses to Big Ten foes in Wisconsin and Iowa), the Panthers will try to get back on the winning track with a showdown against North Dakota State this week.

Automatic-Bids:

Big Sky: Montana State

Big South: Stony Brook

Colonial: James Madison

Mid-Eastern: Howard

Missouri Valley: North Dakota State

Northeastern: Albany

Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky

Patriot: Lehigh

Southern: The Citadel

Southland: Central Arkansas

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

Big Sky: Montana State, *Northern Arizona

Colonial: Old Dominion, *Towson

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

Southern: Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, *Wofford

Last Four Out: Cal Poly, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire

The Field:
(*  = home field advantage) 

*#1 North Dakota State
Stony Brook/Albany

*Appalachian State
Northern Iowa

*#5 James Madison
The Citadel

*#4 Old Dominion
Lehigh/Eastern Kentucky

*#3 Montana State
Central Arkansas/Wofford

*Sam Houston State
Northern Arizona

*Eastern Washington
Georgia Southern

*#2 Youngstown State
Towson/Howard

¹ Edit: Old Dominion is ineligible for the CAA automatic bid in the Monarchs’ final season before moving to Conference USA. Thanks to reader @rhoxygem for the notification.