FCS Playoffs 2014: Dates, Schedule, Teams, Bracket and More
Many fans are excited for the inaugural College Football Playoff, but the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs are one of the most interesting postseasons in all of sports.
With 24 of the best FCS schools going to battle in a tournament-style format, the FCS Playoffs are the closest version of a football equivalent to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. For those who have never experienced the FCS postseason, you are in for a treat.
Here is the full schedule for the 2014 FCS Playoffs, the full bracket for the event and a breakdown of the top teams to watch.
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| Nov. 29 | Fordham vs. Sacred Heart | 12 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Nov. 29 | Eastern Kentucky vs. Indiana State | 1 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Nov. 29 | Richmond vs. Morgan State | 1 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Nov. 29 | Sam Houston State vs. Southeastern LA | 2 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Nov. 29 | Montana vs. San Diego | 4 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Nov. 29 | James Madison vs. Liberty | 4 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Nov. 29 | Montana State vs. South Dakota State | 4 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Nov. 29 | UNI vs. Stephen F. Austin | 8 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No. 1 New Hampshire vs. Fordham/Sacred Heart | 1 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No. 7 Coastal Carolina vs. Richmond/Morgan State | 1 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No. 8 Chattanooga vs. Eastern Kentucky/Indiana State | 1 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No..3 Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston State/Southeastern Louisiana | 2 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No. 5 Illinois State vs. UNI/Stephen F. Austin | 2 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No. 2 North Dakota State vs. Montana State/South Dakota State | 4 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No. 4 Eastern Washington vs. Montana/San Diego | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 6 | No. 6 Villanova vs. James Madison/Liberty | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN 3 |
| Dec. 12 | Quarterfinals - TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Dec. 12 | Quarterfinals - TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Dec. 13 | Quarterfinals - TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Dec. 13 | Quarterfinals - TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Dec. 19 | Semifinals - TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Dec. 20 | Semifinals - TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Jan. 10 | Championship - TBA | 1 p.m. | ESPN 2 |
FCS Playoffs Bracket
*Bracket via FCS Gameday on Twitter. Full interactive bracket via NCAA.com.
Breaking Down the Top Teams
There are several programs that deserve attention leading into the tournament, but none more so than No. 1 seed New Hampshire. After taking a loss in Week 1 against Toledo, the Wildcats won 10 straight games against FCS competition and sit atop the Colonial Athletic Association standings.
The team in second behind New Hampshire in the CAA is Villanova. At 10-2 this season, the Wildcats lost two games this season by a total of two points, including a double-overtime thriller in the season opener against Syracuse.
New Hampshire did not play Villanova during the regular season, but the two elite programs could be on a collision course with each other in the FCS Playoffs.
Another team to consider this season is the North Dakota State Bison, who have only lost once all season. The program won the Missouri Valley Football Conference and is the three-time defending FCS champions.
With experience on their side, the Bison will be a legitimate contender once again this postseason.
One team not getting the attention it deserves is Jacksonville State. After losing to a stacked Michigan State Spartans team in the opening matchup of the season, the Gamecocks went undefeated for the remainder of the season by mixing defensive pressure and offensive prowess.
Many of the teams in this tournament don’t get the mainstream attention they deserve, but each has made the FCS Playoffs for a reason.
With 24 teams going to battle with the championship on the line, this should be an excellent stretch of college football.
*Stats via ESPN.com.
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