The FCS is going to a 16 team seeded model for the upcoming season. I believe the goal was to do away with some of the regionalization and avoid some of the unfortunate second round matchups.
Just tinkering with last year's bracket, this is what the new format may have looked like using the final STATS poll of the regular season.
16. Mercer | 1. South Dakota State
Gardner Webb
9. North Dakota State | 8. Villanova
Drake
13. Southern Illinois | 4. Idaho
Nicholls
12. Austin Peay | 5. Albany
Youngstown State
14. Sacramento State | 3. South Dakota
Duquesne
11. North Dakota | 6. Montana State
Richmond
10. Delaware | 7. Furman
Lafayette
15. NC Central | 2. Montana
Chattanooga
***
This format wouldn't necessarily change much for some teams. Mercer, for instance, would still likely have had the same path. Furman would have, arguably, played a similar opponent (Delaware instead of UTC), but still gone to Montana.
It would prevent regionalization inherently giving an advantage to the CAA, which frequently benefits from playing weaker NEC/Patriot league teams early in the tournament.
Here, for example, Albany would potentially have Austin Peay, who finished ranked #13, instead of Richmond, who finished ranked #22. Furman as the #7 seed, would likely host #11 Delaware instead of #18 UTC.
Last season, Villanova was the #8 (and final seed), but arguably had one of the weaker second round matchup in hosting #21 Youngstown State. Under this format, they'd host top 10 NDSU in a much tougher game.
Just tinkering with last year's bracket, this is what the new format may have looked like using the final STATS poll of the regular season.
16. Mercer | 1. South Dakota State
Gardner Webb
9. North Dakota State | 8. Villanova
Drake
13. Southern Illinois | 4. Idaho
Nicholls
12. Austin Peay | 5. Albany
Youngstown State
14. Sacramento State | 3. South Dakota
Duquesne
11. North Dakota | 6. Montana State
Richmond
10. Delaware | 7. Furman
Lafayette
15. NC Central | 2. Montana
Chattanooga
***
This format wouldn't necessarily change much for some teams. Mercer, for instance, would still likely have had the same path. Furman would have, arguably, played a similar opponent (Delaware instead of UTC), but still gone to Montana.
It would prevent regionalization inherently giving an advantage to the CAA, which frequently benefits from playing weaker NEC/Patriot league teams early in the tournament.
Here, for example, Albany would potentially have Austin Peay, who finished ranked #13, instead of Richmond, who finished ranked #22. Furman as the #7 seed, would likely host #11 Delaware instead of #18 UTC.
Last season, Villanova was the #8 (and final seed), but arguably had one of the weaker second round matchup in hosting #21 Youngstown State. Under this format, they'd host top 10 NDSU in a much tougher game.
