FCS Bracketology: Week 2

Aug 31, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Eastern Illinois Panthers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to pass during the second half against the San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

What an opening week for the little guys.

Eight FCS teams defeated FBS opponents in the first week of the 2013 college football season, including the top two ranked teams in the FCS.  Among the highlights of an action filled week with early playoff implications include:

• North Dakota State holds on to the top spot with a big 24-21 win over Kansas State.  The Bison are now 7-3 against FBS schools since 2006.
• Eastern Washington jumps up to the #2 seed and is the Big Sky automatic-bid with their 49-46 victory over Oregon State behind QB Vernon Adams.
• Towson’s 33-18 victory over UConn earned the Tigers an automatic bid from the CAA this week.
• McNeese State’s 53-21 victory over South Florida not only ruined Willie Taggart’s head coaching debut in Tampa, but it earned the Cowboys a spot in this week’s bracketology.
• Not only did Samford beat an FBS team (albeit a new one) in Georgia State, but the Bulldogs were the only conference championship-eligible team from the Southern Conference to win in week one, earning the Bulldogs the automatic bid from the conference.
• Jumping up in the bracket with wins over FBS squads are Northern Iowa (28-20 victory against Iowa State) and Eastern Illinois (40-19 victory against San Diego State.)

Without further ado, here is our FCS Bracketology after a week of play.

Automatic-Bids:

Big Sky: #2 Eastern Washington

Big South: #24 Coastal Carolina

CAAFB: #5 Towson

Mid-Eastern: #25 Bethune-Cookman

MVFC: #1 North Dakota State

Northeastern: Wagner

Ohio Valley: #14 Eastern Illinois

Patriot: Colgate

Pioneer: San Diego

Southern: Samford

Southland: #4 Sam Houston State

At-Large Bids:

Big Sky: #13 Montana, #3 Montana State, #22 Northern Arizona

Colonial: #20 James Madison, #11 New Hampshire,  #15 Richmond, #8 Villanova

Missouri Valley: #19 Illinois State, #9 Northern Iowa, #6 South Dakota State

Southern: #16 Wofford

Southland: #7 Central Arkansas, #18 McNeese State

Last Four Out: #12 Cal Poly, Delaware, Eastern Kentucky, #17 Stony Brook

The Field:

The bottom is the first round match up.  The winner would then play at the above team in the second round.

#1 North Dakota State
Samford @ McNeese State

#8 Montana
San Diego @ Central Arkansas

#5 Sam Houston State
Illinois State @ Eastern Illinois

#4 Montana State
Coastal Carolina @ Richmond

#3 Towson
Bethune-Cookman @ Wofford

#6 Villanova
Wagner @ New Hampshire

#7 South Dakota State
Northern Arizona @ Northern Iowa

#2 Eastern Washington
Colgate @ James Madison