2024 Playoffs

[jakejc795]

Today I am certain the NDSU fan base thinks they deserved the 1 seed followed MSU, SDSU, USD in any order. The State fan base thinks SDSU should be 1 seed followed by MSU, NDSU in any order then USD. The USD fan base thinks they should be 1 seed followed by NDSU, SDSU MSU in any order. And the MSU fan base thinks the seed order is correct.
All for good reason. This entire season the media narrative was MSU and the xDSUs followed by the rest of FCS. Near end of season USD was being pulled into that narrative.

I for one am looking forward to that narrative being blown up. I think SDSU, NDSU and USD will reveal MSU and the Big Sky is not at their level. Barring the unforeseeable, Frisco will be a Dakota party with significant probability in blue and red. That could be one heck of a narrative for the media.

I guess I haven't heard anyone say Jacks should be #1 seed. Not that folks don't think Jacks are top team; rather, it's a dangerous precedent to set if you have teams that are undefeated being usurped by teams with FCS losses.

I have heard folks assert Jacks should be 2nd seed, and I think it would be poetic justice if ACU went to Fargo and upset the Bison, because they Utah Tech'ed their way into playoffs, and Jacks being deprived of Utah Tech game might've cost them 2nd seed

[Prairiehaas]

Today I am certain the NDSU fan base thinks they deserved the 1 seed followed MSU, SDSU, USD in any order. The State fan base thinks SDSU should be 1 seed followed by MSU, NDSU in any order then USD. The USD fan base thinks they should be 1 seed followed by NDSU, SDSU MSU in any order. And the MSU fan base thinks the seed order is correct.
All for good reason. This entire season the media narrative was MSU and the xDSUs followed by the rest of FCS. Near end of season USD was being pulled into that narrative.

I for one am looking forward to that narrative being blown up. I think SDSU, NDSU and USD will reveal MSU and the Big Sky is not at their level. Barring the unforeseeable, Frisco will be a Dakota party with significant probability in blue and red. That could be one heck of a narrative for the media.

[jakejc795]

I know that SDSU got dinged for playing Augiie but would Augie finish 5-6 if they played SDSU's schedule? YOu could argue that they might beat UND, Murray State, Southern Illinois, UNI and Youngstown State.

As far as the SDSU schedule goes, I hope we can keep scheduling Drake, Butler and teams like that because we always NEED six home games which means not many home and homes.

It gets better. If I'm correct that Utah Tech was the reason Jacks had to play Augie, ACU, the team they played instead, benefited from the reneging by gaining a DI win that helped remove them from bubble.

[91jack]

I know that SDSU got dinged for playing Augiie but would Augie finish 5-6 if they played SDSU's schedule? YOu could argue that they might beat UND, Murray State, Southern Illinois, UNI and Youngstown State.

As far as the SDSU schedule goes, I hope we can keep scheduling Drake, Butler and teams like that because we always NEED six home games which means not many home and homes.

[73alum]

I agree the passing game is better. 11 to 18 has improved and more importantly, other receivers are seeing the ball. I think Lofton O'Groske is an upgrade. The D is so dialed and hopefully returned to health. With the way this D has played, only a small improvement on the offensive side of the ball is and was necessary.

Buck the Fison.

Concerning TE-Gannon and WE-Goering, has anyone heard if those two will be back for the playoffs or at least a portion of the playoffs?

[jakejc795]

Tickets are available for Jacks' first game. Let's do what we can to ensure no more than triple digit totals of opponents' fans can attend. It'd be even greater if it was only double digit total.

[jakejc795]

I'd like to see bubble team criteria include recent game reneging history. For instance, if Utah Tech were a bubble team this year and maybe even next year (or Tarleton a bubble team in 2021 or 2022), then they draw nearer "first out" status.

[jakejc795]

Does every conference get a rep? And if so why isnt it from last year's AQ? How are they appointed?

You can find some of that information here and here. Side note: Larsen's term expires Aug. 2025, unless Fargo media gets their wish and Bison bolt for MWC

[JacksFan80]

We know some from Bisonville are lurking so I'm going with the above.

But think about it: the Jacks came together and started playing like defending champs after that NDSU regular-season game. Assuming we make it to Fargo, the Gronowski to Wilde connection is greatly improved and something the Bison haven't had to deal with. I'm okay with this bracket -- or any bracket. We're the defending champs and we will put it out there on the field. I was encouraged by the post-selection show interview of Coach Rogers. He will have the team locked and loaded for each playoff game and at this point in the year, that means whereever the Jacks are playing.

We’ll definitely be more battle tested with Montana and UIW/Villanova than the Bison will with their side. It would be pretty awesome to finally win a playoff game in Fargo AND beat USD in Frisco.

[jbjack]

We know some from Bisonville are lurking so I'm going with the above.

But think about it: the Jacks came together and started playing like defending champs after that NDSU regular-season game. Assuming we make it to Fargo, the Gronowski to Wilde connection is greatly improved and something they haven't had to deal with. I'm okay with this bracket -- or any bracket. We're the defending champs and we'll just have to prove how good we are this season. I was encouraged by the post-selection show interview of Coach Rogers. He will have the team locked and loaded for each playoff game and at this point in the year, that means whereever the Jacks are playing.

I agree the passing game is better. 11 to 18 has improved and more importantly, other receivers are seeing the ball. I think Lofton O'Groske is an upgrade. The D is so dialed and hopefully returned to health. With the way this D has played, only a small improvement on the offensive side of the ball is and was necessary.

Buck the Fison.

[jakejc795]

Thanks for the correction. Either way, Augie wasn't the plan when Whatever State backed out late. Would we have been better off taking an extra bye?

The more I think about this, the more I think SDSU got jobbed here. Timing has to play something of a factor. What if NDSU loses to USD earlier in the season? We still beat USD. Don't we jump NDSU? The committee said that yesterday didn't matter. The reality is that if yesterday mattered, an xDSU (the North Fargo one) should have moved to #4. But if a loss to USD was so impressive, then drop SDSU to #4 and move USD to #3.

The conspiracy theorist in me thinks the biggest factor involved was preventing an xDSU Frisco. The committee chair didn't want his team to face SDSU anywhere but in Fargo.

That's an interesting counterfactual. Would USD expose weaknesses the Jacks might've been able to exploit?

The conspiracy theorist in me thinks maybe ADs shouldn't comprise selection committee members.

The fact we are even having this debate is something that many folks thought was unlikely (because they doubted USD would win), so maybe we'll all get an early Christmas gift, and the Bison will take a proverbial buffalo jump to an early playoff exit

[JackJD]

...The committee chair didn't want his team to face SDSU anywhere but in Fargo.

We know some from Bisonville are lurking so I'm going with the above.

But think about it: the Jacks came together and started playing like defending champs after that NDSU regular-season game. Assuming we make it to Fargo, the Gronowski to Wilde connection is greatly improved and something the Bison haven't had to deal with. I'm okay with this bracket -- or any bracket. We're the defending champs and we will put it out there on the field. I was encouraged by the post-selection show interview of Coach Rogers. He will have the team locked and loaded for each playoff game and at this point in the year, that means whereever the Jacks are playing.

[goon]

Does every conference get a rep? And if so why isnt it from last year's AQ? How are they appointed?

[jbjack]

I thought Tarleton reneging was the reason the Jacks played Lindenwood in 2021. I think Utah Tech (formerly Dixie State) was the reneging party this year.

Thanks for the correction. Either way, Augie wasn't the plan when Whatever State backed out late. Would we have been better off taking an extra bye?

The more I think about this, the more I think SDSU got jobbed here. Timing has to play something of a factor. What if NDSU loses to USD earlier in the season? We still beat USD. Don't we jump NDSU? The committee said that yesterday didn't matter. The reality is that if yesterday mattered, an xDSU (the North Fargo one) should have moved to #4. But if a loss to USD was so impressive, then drop SDSU to #4 and move USD to #3.

The conspiracy theorist in me thinks the biggest factor involved was preventing an xDSU Frisco. The committee chair didn't want his team to face SDSU anywhere but in Fargo.

[jakejc795]

And if the debatable call at the goal line that didn't seem to get much of a review goes our way, we likely win the game.

I have no desire to see the Jacks go to Fargo for this and other reasons, including not wanting to have to listen to folks lauding them for the next month.