The CAA Today - Playoff Prediction Edition - #5 is Alive!

I never thought I'd reference the campy 1986 Steve Gutenberg/Ally Sheedy film "Short Circuit", but the tag line was running through my head as the day developed across FCS nation. Heading into the final Saturday of the season, there was a possible scenario for only three CAA teams to make the playoff field. However...


By Sam Partridge
The CAA Today columnist
College Sporting News

However, after early wins by New Hampshire over Maine and JMU over UMass, we saw Youngstown State blow a 27-10 lead at home on a touchdown with 10 seconds left and then Indiana State also fall on home turf to Southern Illinois. The net result seemed to be that there's a good chance we'll see five CAA teams named by the selection committee when the field is announced on EPNU at 10 o'clock Sunday morning.

Let's take a closer look at the likely teams and some possible pairings IMO:

10 Conference Auto-Bids
Albany - NEC
Georgia Southern - Southern
Lehigh - Patriot
Montana - Big Sky
Norfolk St. - MEAC
North Dakota St. - Missouri Valley
Sam Houston State - Southland
Stony Brook - Big South
Tennessee Tech - Ohio Valley
Towson - CAA

At-Large Teams
Montana St. - Big Sky
Northern Iowa - MVFC
Appalachian State - Southern
Maine - CAA
New Hampshire - CAA
Old Dominion - CAA
James Madison - CAA
Wofford - Southern
C. Arkansas - Southland
Illinois State - MVFC

The last two teams are the last two in. Illinois State really does not have much of a resume, but it's hard to find someone with a better one. The Missouri Valley has been such a good conference this year that it seems fitting for the 3rd place team to get in.

Illinois State at James Madison Winner at #1 Sam Houston State
Montana State at Northern Iowa

Tennessee Tech at C. Arkansas Winner at #2 North Dakota State
New Hampshire at Appalachian State

Norfolk State at Old Dominion Winner at #3 Georgia Southern
Wofford at Lehigh

Albany at Stony Brook Winner at #4 Towson
Maine at #5 Montana