FCS Playoffs 2016: Dates, Schedule, Teams, Bracket and More
The FCS playoff bracket and schedule were announced Sunday, with 24 teams now vying for a national championship.
FCS Football tweeted the full bracket:
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Below, you'll find the schedule for the first round:
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 7 p.m. | San Diego (9-1) at Cal Poly (7-4) | ESPN3 |
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 2 p.m. | Saint Francis (Pa.) (7-4) at Villanova (8-3) | ESPN3 |
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 2 p.m. | Weber St. (7-4) at Chattanooga (8-3) | ESPN3 |
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 2 p.m. | Lehigh (9-2) at New Hampshire (7-4) | ESPN3 |
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 5 p.m. | Samford (7-4) at Youngstown St. (8-3) | ESPN3 |
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 2 p.m. | Charleston So. (7-3) at Wofford (8-3) | ESPN3 |
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 2 p.m. | N.C. A&T (9-2) at Richmond (8-3) | ESPN3 |
| 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 3 p.m. | llinois St. (6-5) at Central Ark. (9-2) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 3:30 p.m. | San Diego/Cal Poly winner at No. 1 North Dakota St. (10-1) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 3 p.m. | Saint Francis (PA)/Villanova winner at No. 8 South Dakota St. (8-3) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 3 p.m. | Weber St./Chattanooga winner at No. 5 Sam Houston St. (11-0) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 2 p.m. | Lehigh/New Hampshire winner at No. 4 James Madison (10-1) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 2 p.m. | Samford/Youngstown St. winner at No. 3 Jacksonville St. (10-1) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 6 p.m. | Charleston So./Wofford winner at No. 6 The Citadel (10-1) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 6 p.m. | N.C. A&T/Richmond winner at No. 7 North Dakota (9-2) | ESPN3 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 4 p.m. | llinois St./Central Ark. winner at No. 2 Eastern Wash. (10-1) | ESPN3 |
While much of the buzz in college football surrounds the College Football Playoff and the four teams the committee will choose in FBS, the FCS version settles everything on the field.
Of course, the field again finds itself looking up to North Dakota State. The five-time defending national champion—yes, you read that correctly—is the top seed and once again the favorite to win the title.
Its top competition may also come from the last FCS team to win a title, Eastern Washington, this year's No. 2 seed and the 2010 champion. However, South Dakota State—the Bison's rival and co-Missouri Valley Football Conference champion—is no slouch at the No. 8 seed.
After all, the Jackrabbits were the only team to beat North Dakota State this season.
Since that loss, however, the Bison have won five in a row. They'll be looking to make it nine in a row in total as they seek a title behind one of the nation's best defenses.
Another team to keep an eye on will be Sam Houston State, which comes into the tournament as the lone unbeaten team. Anthony Chiusano of NCAA.com explained the team's somewhat surprising seeding:
"The Bearkats have been hurt by a perceived weakness of schedule which, despite their perfect regular season, dropped them to the No. 5 seed. Sam Houston State routed fellow Southland Conference playoff representative Central Arkansas 59-23 in its Week 12 finale, but that apparently wasn’t enough to improve its position in the bracket.
"
A division higher, the Washington Huskies could sympathize.
Sam Houston State will appeal to those who enjoy fireworks. The Bearkats (54.2 points per game) and James Madison (47.7) are the two highest-scoring offenses in the nation, and both are capable of making noise in this tournament.
And then there's Jacksonville State, which reached the title game last year and comes in as the No. 3 seed this year after claiming a third straight Ohio Valley Conference title.
"We can’t take it for granted," quarterback Eli Jenkins said, per . "Everybody don’t get a chance to win three championships, but we got bigger plans. I hope everybody understands that we are playing for something big. We aren’t going to be satisfied unless we have that big boy at the end."
While Jacksonville State's aspirations are high, some teams that were on the edge of the playoff were feeling happy just to get in. Illinois State was among them:
Illinois State got in, but now the real work begins. If the Redbirds win their first game, Eastern Washington awaits. But on the field, anything is possible.
Even mighty North Dakota State may prove to be fallible this year. Or the dynasty will continue.
You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
