The UND Football team has finally reached it’s much needed bye week. They have navigated their way through the first nine games and are now sitting with a 5-4 record and real shot at making their first trip to the FCS Playoffs.
As the title of this post reads, it is essentially a two game season for UND. Go 2-0 and you (more-than-likely) get into the playoffs. Lose either one of them (home vs. UNC – at Cal-Poly) and you are done.
Being it’s an 11 game season in FCS football, 7 wins will get you into the conversation for an at-large bid. Who those 7 wins are against is the key, along with what conference you are in. Being in the Big Sky Conference is a plus for UND (strength of conference).
7 win teams in the OVC, Southern, Big South, or Southland are not guaranteed to get in.
7 win teams in the Big Sky, MVFC and CAA will get a longer look at an at-large bid than the previously mentioned conferences.
The following facts are based on UND winning the last two games of the season (which will not be easy), but it’s fun to think about:
- UND will have an FBS win vs. Wyoming. HUGE plus in the committee’s eyes.
- UND will have a Top 10 win at Portland State, who is 7-1 (their only loss).
- UND will have a possible Top 25 win vs. Montana State (always looks good no matter the year).
- The Idaho State loss will look bad, no denying that, no excuses. But it’s also a game they win if Keaton Studsrud doesn’t get hurt in the 2nd half. They were also without S Cole Reyes and LB Taj Rich for the first time.
- Two of UND’s losses are at NDSU (Top 5 team) and at Montana (Top 20 team). Won’t be held against them.
There are a TON of 5-3 and 4-4 teams out there right now. This weekend will clear up a lot of things. Whoever gets their 5th loss is out. Beginning next week we will re-group the teams that have 3 and 4 losses to see where it all shakes out.
The biggest game of the season is coming up next Saturday at the Alerus Center vs. old NCC foe Northern Colorado (4-4). Win and UND has a shot at their first ever FCS Playoff berth waiting for them in San Luis Obispo. UNC is a much improved team this season and a home field advantage in front of a loud Alerus crowd would go a long way next Saturday.
P.S. – If UND does win out we sincerely hope that AD Brian Faison is prepared to put in a “healthy” bid to host a first round home playoff game. These chances come around only so often and to get that first playoff game at home would be monumental.
Thanks for the breakdown of the current playoff scenarios. I look forward to seeing what it looks like next week.
Also- New images on the sides look great!
Let’s hope the guys that will actually be playing the game also realize what’s riding on the next two weeks, and do the right things during the bye to get mentally and physically prepared. Let’s send the seniors out in style with memories that will last a lifetime. Where there is a Will there is a way (pun intended). Go Sioux!
“P.S. – If UND does win out we sincerely hope that AD Brian Faison is prepared to put in a “healthy” bid to host a first round home playoff game. These chances come around only so often and to get that first playoff game at home would be monumental.”
I couldn’t agree more. If Brian Faison wants to improve the football following and congratulate Bubba for this hard work in getting UND into the playoffs in only his 2nd season as head coach, he should get that playoff game in the Alerus Center with a solid bid.
A playoff game in the Alerus Center THIS SEASON would be PHENOMENAL! I don’t have much faith in Faison, though. Hope he proves me wrong!
GO UND!
I think UND is in if they win out. It’s too bad we didn’t pull out the Weber and ISU games b/c we’d already be in and looking at maybe getting a bye if we win out. Either way let’s win 2 and get in.
Also fun speculation, but take a look at how young the roster is. Getting playoff experience this year would be huge as we should have the talent to be in the conversation for playoffs and conference titles the next few years. Playoffs, a new IPF, and the chance to win conference and compete for a national title should help bubba add some nice recruits to the mix like he already has been doing.
I like the way you think.
99% chance UND is bidding against SDSU unless the Jacks run the table and win out. Doubtful the Jacks have much of a bid, as they have gotten outbid by Northern Arizona and Montana St in the past. Jacks will play any potential playoff games at Howard Wood in Sioux Falls.
Winner gets the Bison because the NCAA is cheap
What is the ballpark figure bid to get a home game???
Nobody knows. Last year JMU got outbid and they have 25k stadium. The big boys usually outbid those who draw less than 5,000. However a private diploma mill like Liberty has a lot of coin.
Who would have thunk they would have a chance at the playoffs this late in the season? Not me a few months ago. Well done Bubba and players. So far they have far exceeded expectations and made this fall football season much more interesting for me.
I can’t wait for UNC. I despise them. My best memory against UNC was beating them in 99 and Riendeu’s big hit on their WR. Best hit I’ve seen in my days being a part of and watching Sioux Football.
Focus focus focus on UNC, players. Get healthy and play like your life depended on this game.
UND is the only school that has to win out to make the playoffs – two of “the big three” also need to and the third isn’t in the picture.