Here’s an early preview of the potential playoff picture…
For those who don’t know, there are 16 teams chosen with 8 conferences receiving automatic bids. The Ivy League is the only official conference to not compete in the playoffs. The MAAC, Pioneer, and Northeast conferences are all eligible but have not featured playoff entrants.
The Automatic Bid Conferences (All teams are front runners at the moment)
Big Sky: Weber State (6-0) and Montana (4-1)
Colonial Athletic Association: James Madison (6-0), New Hampshire (4-1), Villanova (4-1), and William & Mary (4-1)
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa (5-1), Southern Illinois (4-1), and South Dakota State (4-1)
Mid-Eastern Athletic: SC State (5-0), Morgan State (4-1), and Hampton (4-1)
Ohio Valley: Tennessee-Martin (5-1), Eastern Kentucky (5-1), and Tennessee State (4-1)
Patriot League: Colgate (3-0), Holy Cross (3-0), Lafayette (2-1), and Lehigh (2-1)
Southern: Appalachian State (5-0), Elon (5-1), and Wofford (4-1)
Southland: Central Arkansas (3-1) and NW State (3-1)
In 2010: The Northeast and Big South conferences will also receive automatic bids.
Here’s how my current playoff picture would look (based on current standings)
Automatic Bids: Weber State (8-0), James Madison (8-1), Northern Iowa (7-2), South Carolina State (7-2), Tennessee-Martin (7-2), Colgate (7-2), Appalachian State (7-2), and Central Arkansas (7-2)
The 8 At-Large Bids: Montana (8-1 Big Sky), New Hampshire (7-1 CAA), Cal Poly (6-1 Great West), Sacred Heart (8-1 Northeast), Elon (7-2 Southern), Dayton (8-1 Pioneer), Wofford (6-2 Southern), Southern Illinois (6-2 Missouri Valley)
In Order of Record
Weber State (8-0)
James Madison (8-1)
Sacred Heart (8-1)* Albany leads in-conference at 5-0 but is only 6-3 overall
Dayton (8-1)
Montana (8-1)
New Hampshire (7-1)
Northern Iowa (7-2)
SC State (7-2)
Tennessee-Martin (7-2)
Colgate (7-2)
Appalachian State (7-2)
Central Arkansas (7-2)
Elon (7-2)
Cal Poly (6-1)
Wofford (6-2)
Southern Illinois (6-2)
