FCS Playoff Bracket 2014: Preview and Predictions for Quarterfinals
The bracket-style FCS playoffs offer an interesting changeup to the postseason format at the highest level of college football. While the FBS is experimenting with a new four-team layout, the FCS continues to excite with a March Madness-esque way of determining its national champion.
Eight teams remain alive for the grand prize, as the quarterfinals are slated for this next Friday and Saturday. Fans eagerly anticipating NCAA bowl season should have plenty of quality games to hold them over between the four contests on tap.
FCS Football has the updated postseason bracket, headlined by top seeds in No. 1 New Hampshire and three-time reigning national title winner North Dakota State:
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Viewing information can be found below followed by a breakdown and prediction for every FCS playoff matchup.
Note: Statistics and information courtesy of NCAA.com unless otherwise indicated.
No. 1 New Hampshire vs. No. 8 Chattanooga
The tournament's top seed will be challenged by a Southern champion in Chattanooga that went undefeated in conference play with a perfect 7-0 record.
But New Hampshire may have put forth the most impressive postseason performance of all in last week's second round. Fordham's prolific offense was stymied as the Wildcats routed their way to a 44-19 triumph. The Rams converted just three of 13 third-down opportunities.
A sprained MCL forced New Hampshire quarterback Sean Goldrich to the sidelines earlier in the 2014 season, yet the Wildcats banded together until his return, and now the offense is playing at a high level. Goldrich had been third in the FCS in total offense before getting hurt but does face the fifth-ranked Mocs defense on Friday.
New Hampshire is tied for eighth in the nation and is first among the remaining playoff teams in average sacks per game. Its defensive front is going to be a load for Chattanooga to handle in its efforts to protect true dual-threat QB Jacob Huesman.
Indiana State was no match for Huesman in Round 2, as he had 241 yards passing and 153 on the ground in the Mocs' 35-14 win. Huesman's athleticism can neutralize the Wildcats' pass rush and make this perhaps the most competitive quarterfinal.
It's hard not to go with a mobile QB who can hurt a defense in so many different ways. At the most important position on the field, Huesman gives the underdogs an edge, which will result in an upset in Chattanooga's favor.
Prediction: Chattanooga 21, New Hampshire 17
No. 4 Eastern Washington vs. No. 5 Illinois State
The road hasn't been easy for Eastern Washington as of late. It had to defeat Montana once to get an edge en route to the Big Sky Conference championship and then again in the playoffs.
These Eagles have a tremendous amount of offensive firepower, evident in their close-call loss to Washington earlier in the year by a score of 59-52.
In that contest against the Huskies, QB Vernon Adams Jr. tossed a whopping seven touchdowns on an opposing defense that featured NFL-caliber talent in Shaq Thompson, Marcus Peters and Danny Shelton.
Adams, who missed four games with a broken foot and returned in the first Montana game, was recently named the conference offensive player of the year—just the third time that's ever happened in program history.
The savvy signal-caller is a threat to run but is lethal from the pocket as well, as he'll have to be with somewhat limited mobility. It's critical that Adams is ready to roll for the Eagles, whose defense has to negotiate the nation's third-leading rusher in Marshaun Coprich.
There's plenty of momentum for Illinois State to carry over from its previous victory over Northern Iowa, as Coprich ran for 148 yards and his QB, Tre Roberson, passed for 382 and four scores. The Eagles are 93rd in total defense, so there should be plenty of touchdowns scored in this one.
Eastern Washington is undefeated this year against FCS competition with Adams in the lineup, and that shouldn't change against the Redbirds on Saturday at Roos Field in what ought to be a shootout for the ages.
Prediction: Eastern Washington 49, Illinois State 45
No. 2 North Dakota State vs. No. 7 Coastal Carolina
It's hard not to like what North Dakota State has done this year. After the departure of the head coach who led them to three previous championships, Craig Bohl, his successor, Chris Klieman, has guided the Bison to a 12-1 record.
But a close call happened in the second round this past weekend, as North Dakota State edged out South Dakota State 27-24. Junior Bison quarterback Carson Wentz hit RJ Urzendowski on a 12-yard TD strike with less than a minute remaining to help the favorites escape.
Christopher Spiker of KFYR TV in Bismarck noted how NDSU has made a living off close calls, similar to what Florida State has done in its own national title defense:
The Bison only concede 3.53 yards per carry and will have to be stingy against the likes of Chanticleers star ball-carrier De'Angelo Henderson, who has 1,391 yards and 19 touchdowns on 6.6 yards per tote.
NDSU is tied for 10th in the country in third-down defense while Coastal Carolina is 36th. The latter front seven is going to match up against another talented running back in Bison star John Crockett.
Senior associate athletic director Troy Goergen documented what Crockett had to say regarding NDSU's pursuit of yet another banner:
Although Klieman is a different face at the helm of this powerhouse program, the nucleus, led by Crockett, has witnessed what it takes to win a championship. That was evident when the team didn't give up in facing a last-minute deficit versus South Dakota State last week.
Superior all-around execution and talent will help the Bison get the job done once again and carry on to the semifinals.
Prediction: North Dakota State 27, Coastal Carolina 14
No. 6 Villanova vs. Sam Houston State
The biggest red flag in assessing Sam Houston State's potential to pull off the improbable win is that it has lost four games this year. That did include a season-opening loss to Eastern Washington on the road and a 56-0 blowout defeat at LSU, though.
With a capable running QB in Jared Johnson at the controls, Sam Houston's best chance is to lean on a deep backfield of Keshawn Hill, Jalen Overstreet and Donavan Williams to try to control the clock and keep the ball away from Villanova.
It took a lot for the Wildcats just to get to this stage, courtesy of a 29-22 win over Liberty in the previous contest. One of QB John Robertson's eight completions went for 70 yards and a TD to Kevin Gulyas, sparking Villanova's comeback charge in the fourth that saw it score 15 unanswered points.
Robertson racked up 100 yards on the ground in that game but also leads the nation in passing efficiency with just three interceptions and 35 touchdown tosses.
Mike Jensen of The Philadelphia Inquirer, among others, is of the belief that Robertson is the best overall player in the FCS:
That will be hard for Sam Houston State to overcome, particularly with Villanova hosting the game in Philadelphia with the home crowd supporting.
Should the Wildcats indeed carry on thanks to Robertson's brilliance, it would set up an epic prospective battle with North Dakota State. Robertson is the type of game-changing player who has the faculties to engineer an upset over the Bison.
A similar phenomenon is occurring in the College Football Playoff, as Oregon's dual-threat dynamo, Marcus Mariota, hopes to knock off Florida State in the Rose Bowl. Such a reminiscent development would likely be a great point of comparison to help the FCS gain exposure and deserved notice for its exciting postseason.
Prediction: Villanova 34, Sam Houston State 20
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