Originally Posted by
td577
The Valley could look really strange in a couple of weeks. I have to think 7 wins gets you in for sure, but you look at the games left for everyone in the conference and the only guarantees right now are NDSU has 7 and there is no way Indiana State or Missouri State is getting to 7. USD looks like the safest bet until you see their schedule. If they lose to Southern Illinois, all of a sudden they have to win 1 out of 3 against NDSU, UNI, and SDSU. SDSU is sitting at 5 wins and say USD season ends with 4 straight losses, that means SDSU has a win against them and now they have to win 1 of 3 against WIU, NDSU, and ISU red. Then if SDSU only goes 1-3 to finish the season, ISU red has beaten SDSU and has to win 1 of 3 against YSU, WIU, and NDSU. Since in this scenario UNI beats USD, they get MSU and ISUb outside of NDSU and they start looking like UNI teams of every year with a good chance at 7. I can keep going with this but in the end, it could all be flipped around with a team like YSU scrapping itself off the floor and running the tables to 7 wins while USD and the couple of 5 win teams right now might be looking a 6 wins and a prayer. Too much of a logjam at 6 wins and they all aren't going to get in. USD would probably be out with 5 straight losses for sure. Then you have MSU and ISUb who could spoil someone's season big time with just one win at the wrong time for someone.
I think in the end, there is going to be a surprise team from another conference and a Valley team staying home because the Valley beat the crap out of each other. It might be a year of only 3 Valley teams. Certainly not fair, but that is FCS life. Still better than a 4 team playoff.