Two weeks ago, defending national champion Villanova was ranked No. 3 in both major NCAA Football Championship Subdivision polls. Now, following back-to-back losses, the Wildcats have to go on the road Saturday and beat top-ranked Delaware to have a shot at the playoffs.
Such is the fickle nature of the FCS: A couple of defeats can put a contender on the playoff bubble, but all it has to do is get in and it has a chance at the title.
“That’s what makes our brand of football so special,” said Elon coach Pete Lembo, who led the Phoenix to their first playoff appearance last season.
Villanova beat Montana 23-21 in last season’s championship game, the last one at Finley Stadium. Matt Szczur was named the game’s most outstanding player after finishing with two touchdowns and 270 yards all-purpose yards.
Szczur has missed most of this season with a high ankle sprain, and the versatile wideout’s absence is a big reason why Villanova, now No. 15, is on the brink at 6-4. Villanova coach Andy Talley said Szczur likely will return against Delaware, which would help the Wildcats get a seventh win.
“I like the fact that we’re going in playing for an opportunity to continue to play,” Talley said, adding that “this game brings everything to the table.”
Seven Division I wins is typically the magic number for serious playoff consideration by the NCAA selection committee, and a lot of teams in the FCS, including the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (6-4), are a win away.
The Mocs can pick up their seventh Saturday if they beat No. 9 Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C. UTC hasn’t won seven games in a season since 1997 and has been to the playoffs only once, in 1984.
Wofford, meanwhile, can share the Southern Conference title with No. 2 Appalachian State and likely earn a first-round bye with a win.
“They’re playing for a lot, as we’re playing for a lot, too,” Mocs coach Russ Huesman said.
In the SoCon, Appalachian State (9-1) has the automatic bid and Wofford (8-2) is a lock to get in as well. Georgia Southern (6-4) and UTC are the only other teams in the league with a chance.
The SoCon hasn’t had three teams make the playoffs since 2005, and if UTC and Georgia Southern each finishes 7-4, likely only one of the two will get a bid. The Mocs beat GSU’s Eagles 35-27 on Oct. 16.
Out west in the Big Sky conference, No. 8 Montana State and No. 3 Eastern Washington have eight wins each and are in. Montana is 7-3 but has only six Division I wins. The No. 11 Grizzlies, who have reached the championship game the past two seasons, likely must beat visiting rival Montana State on Saturday to make the playoffs for the 19th year in a row.
The Colonial Athletic Association has sent more teams into the playoffs the past two seasons than any other conference. In 2008 five CAA teams made it and Richmond went on to win the national title. Last season, four teams got in and Villanova went all the way.
Heading into Saturday, only Delaware (9-1) and No. 6 William & Mary (7-3) are locks to make it. Four other CAA teams – Villanova, Massachusetts, Richmond and New Hampshire – need a win.
“We’re treating this as a play-in playoff game,” UMass coach Kevin Morris said of Saturday’s game at Rhode Island, “and we’re going to get after it in a playoff fashion this week.”
The playoff field will be announced at 10 a.m. Sunday on ESPNU.