2023 NCAA FCS football playoff bracket selection show

welcome in where 24 teams will fill these empty spaces as we reveal the FCS playoff brackets 10 automatic qualifiers 14 at larges all hoping to get the Frisco Texas to play for a national championship on January 7th here again top eight teams get a seed and receive a first round buy first round regionalized to help limit travel all first and second round games are going to air on ESPN Plus all right let's do the top eight seeds starting with number one Jay no surprise at all South Dakota State the jack rabbits finished the regular season undefeated and untied for the first time in program history and legendary coach John STM retires what happens with first year head coach Jimmy Rogers The Beat Goes On quarterback Mark granowski is Battle tested and this defense only allows 10 points per game South Dakota state is the clear-cut number one seed well the number number two the Montana Grizz reing yeah Bobby Hal has them flying they beat their rival Montana State yesterday win the Big Sky Championship get this number two see it's hard to go through Montana an excellent team very balanced experienced great run defense and defense wins in playoffs Riley Wilson seven and a half sacks for them they're a tough team number three seed overall the South Dakota Coyotes from Vermillion reing yeah Missouri Valley conference again another very good defense right top in one of the tops in scoring defenses in the country only giving up about 15 points also balanced can score as well another tough place to go on the road and play a very good seed for them getting that three spot they're first ever first round Buy in top eight SE the number four how about the Idaho vandals won the Battle of the domes yesterday they're in today and the vandals are scary head coach Jason eat knows he's got a fantastic quarterback and javanni McCoy who who can flat out spend it they're on a mission battle tested quality victories during the season including a victory over an FBS Squad look for the vandals to Make Some Noise first round buys for these teams it's a great day to be a great Daye reie yeah Greg gutso and Alan's team the highest ranked team out of the CAA talking about defense it's a theme in the playoffs number one in the country rushing defense holding teams under 80 yards uh Anthony chai 12 1 12 sacks uh this is a team this is a good seed for them as well out of the CIA Montana State all right came up a little bit short yesterday in the braw of the wild but don't fall short of a top eight no they need to get their act together and forget about the braw in a while hopefully they try and get a rematch this is a two quarterback system led by Tommy mot and Sean Chambers head coach Brent vegan knows this team can play better than they did the last weekend of the season they got to forget about last week's loss Aus in the semi-finals to South Dakota State a season ago all right now we know Ferman as high as number two down to number s seven after the loss reading Jay EXC yeah when you talk about firman you know Klay Hendricks knows defense is the thing that gets it done from them they only give up 17 points a game if they can continue to play defense like that and help out an offense that has struggled three of the last four weeks badly saw their 13 game Conference win streak sna how about vova Rey number eight yeah the ca gets another seated team now it's a tough bracket there in but they get that first round by uh running back Jaylen Jackson averaging about seven yards a carry quarterback Conor Watkins like 18 yards polition they're the total package good that they got an eight seat that's a tough bracket though you know what you want to take the guesswork out of it win your conference get your AQ and leave the committee no choice that's what we saw on Saturday you knew Montana Montana state were both getting in but you don't want to lose this game do you for all the wild under five minutes to play first quarter Clifton McDow runs it in Montana 14 nothing third quarter McDow touchdown pass Junior Berg at 20 yard touchdown Montana up 27-7 and then Nick osmo runs it in uh and runs away from everybody that's how you run into the postseason playing your best football with momentum on your side and I watched that game yester that atmosphere there is electric that's a tough place for a team to go in and play 37-7 how about the Big South OBC again this is for the AQ Gardner web and Charleston Southern Jaylen King AJ Johnson 43 yards Gardner web web leading 27 to 10 Jaden Brown runs it in and runs away Gardner web one of those teams that has experienced in the postseason and they kind of expect to be in postseason play right now impressive victory for them again as they run into the postseason second straight appearance second straight conference title head coach Tre lamb congratulations what yeah there was some CAA Madness four teams tied at the top of the CAA we got to sort this stuff out don't we Villanova says uh we'll do some sorting Conor wkins Jaren haek Hayek 11 yd touchdown Villanova up 14-7 and then IO darier 10 yards out Villanova of 21 to7 and it's Watkins in that connection again yeah I think absolutely Villanova played so well in this game that's why they became a national seed that's how you take care of business impressive win 357 on the road at Delaware yeah they they took care of buiness they lock up a top eight Delaware's got a wait to see if they're in the bracket meanwhile Monmouth and Albany Reese puffenbarger to Ian reninger five yards all up 28 nothing and uh it would be fairly decisive yeah one of the things about you can say about the Great Danes is they're a number one team in the ca for a reason they play great football in a very competitive FCS conference this team has 20 takeaways on the year as well they know how to get the ball back for their offense Hicks for the touchdown I love the you mentioned the head coach earlier saying afterwards got a Gatorade bat it's okay I'll probably catch pneumonia but I'll be all right coming off backto back losing Seasons they are in and then Richmond and William and Mary Richmond getting it done on the day jiah Williams touchdown pass then end of the fourth first and goal Malachi imemo finds Colton Turner two yard William marry down a point they're going to go for two Jay trying to make it to the postseason I think it was known whoever won this game making it to the postseason they come up a little short scaming for your life I don't know if that's the way you want this game to end but this game me right there I I like the call go for it right go for the win right there but Richmond prevails 13th FCS playoff appearance and their second straight so it was a three-way tie all three teams declared co-champs but Villanova earns it how four point scoring margin differ in conference game wow and that's why they got busy against Delaware yesterday that's why they needed all those points and it just goes to show you how deep the CIA is you go to that last game you got four teams VY for that Championship spot obviously Delaware didn't end up in a tie I would be shocked if they're not in this in this field we got some more to get to all right this is the the upper portion of the bracket the number one overall seat South Dakota State awaits the winner of Gardner web running Bulldog got that AQ the Big South OBC head coach Trey lamb authoring the second FCS playoff appearance Ty French all-time sack leader there for Gardner web 30 and a half getting it done they will face the Mercer Bears congratulations Drew con kronic and Company their first FCS playoff appearance Devon Harper Carter Peavey Ty James that's a really good offense there Jay yeah how about this for Gardner web you win a postseason game a season ago this year you have to go on the road down to mon Georgia and take on one of the the most opportunistic defenses in all of FCS incredible Gardner web and Mercer in that first round match we get you see the time you see ESPN plus that's where you can find a pretty interesting match up here absolutely when you take a look at it and these conferences down there they're going to have good old southern type of football down there but I really have to watch out for that Mercer defense there we see the offensive numbers there but the point per game differential let you know their defense is really good at getting those takeaways oh yeah celebrate fellas a happy watch part you got some you got some boys you got some dudes coming to town always remember the first time right Ken Stanley First in the socon and quarterback sacks good defense fun offense and fun times they're in making all right moving on down we know Villanova has the number eight seat who are they awaiting the winner of the Duke Kane Dukes out of Pittsburgh Northeast champ they beat marac on the road yesterday for the conference Crown Jerry Schmidt and Company darias parenes the best passers in the league and in the country they will take on Youngtown State the Penguins out of Ohio head coach Doug Phillips record of seven and four getting in quarterback Mitch Davidson and that offense finding their way into the field yeah and you talked about Duane a tremendous win over marac and Youngstown State as you said finds a way listen Missouri Valley Football Conference I think is the deepest in the country at 7 to four Youngstown State gets in it's a it's a good first round match up there Youngstown State their first appearance since 2016 and their 13th overall a pair of seven and four teams they're a Powell Jr who's really good catching the football as well some deep wide outs there for Duane as well Ean Brown and Joey Isabella Teddy Al there's a lot of good talent there re yeah Duane can score points they were number one in total offense in the NEC and and Youngstown State quarterback Mitch Davidson having a tremendous year and defensively they'll get after the quarterback they have over 30 sacks as a defense this year and I think Youngtown state was clearly one of those bubble teams so there has to be a sigh of relief in Ohio did not see a watch party there at least one that we carried so that the word is getting out number five Albany will take on the winner of about North Carolina Central again they they lost to Howard last week they beat Howard beat Morgan State so NC Central out of the celebration bow but they get the FCS at large after beating Delaware State yesterday d Richard and Company going to be taking on the Richmond Spiders out of the CAA Jay yeah this is going to be a very interesting matchup you know one thing that Richmond head coach Rick hughman deserves credit for after an opening season loss to Morgan State who was in The Med Athletic Conference they rided the ship and got it going in the right direction but let me tell you something North Carolina Central head coach Trey Oliver knows he's got a special talent and quarterback davius Richard they are not backing down from anybody the reigning HBC national champions from a season ago but how about this though North Carolina Central has beaten three teams from the CAA this season alone and they got to have an opportunity to knock out a four and this is when it counts right but you got to go on the road and do it this is playoff football at the FC FCS level is the best and North Carolina Central has a huge opportunity in front of him davius Richard Eagles career total yards leader with more than 10,000 breaking Earl Harvey's record from the 1980s 20 9 total touchdowns for him and this offense is electric absolutely they when you add the running back in there with the star power of mookie Coler and they've got some guys on defense that really fly around North Carolina Central was ranked in the top 10 for most of the Season there's a reason why they make got the at large Colonels in Louisiana are excited the Southland Champs their first Conference Championship in four years you know they played TCU Sacramento State set themselves up well for conference play finished six and four and quarterback Pat McQuade and Company will take on the Southern Illinois Salukis another team out of the Missouri Valley Football Conference head coach Nick Hill finds a way in yeah this is an interesting first round match up as you said Nicholls gets that conference Championship ready to go in Southern Illinois you just mentioned it Matt Missouri Valley Conference the deepest uh sles get in there quarterback Nick Baker it's a 2,000 yard passer uh this is a defense and and I know we always look at the offensive stats but you see the turnovers forced by both which is phenomenal Southern Illinois averages over seven tackles for a loss a game so they're going to get after it uh this is a this is a good first round match up it be great to watch Nicholls and Southern Illinois the winner will take on the Idaho vandals again that is the one of the sides of this bracket the leftand side and they're way up at the top head coach well South Dakota State 11 and0 first undefeated other teams waiting waiting for us to finish let's go South Dakota out of the Missouri Valley Football Conference the best record in their 16-year division one history just one FCS loss they will take on the winner oh Sacramento State the Hornets getting in they lost to UC Davis yesterday the finish with the record of seven and four head coach Andy Thompson and Company getting in great wi out of Jared Gibson as well they will face the North Dakota fighting Hawks out of Grand Forks record of seven four another Missouri Valley team getting in their fifth FCS playoff appearance and their second straight Greening yeah and so Sacramento State you you touched on it Matt they lost their game yesterday to UC Davis who's sitting there hoping they can get in as well so Sacramento state gets in now they're battle tested they had a tough schedule this year they battled all year uh out of the Big Sky they get in and then North Dakota just again another Missouri Valley team uh it's becoming a theme uh also battle test it a very good program the one thing you know Tommy Schuster their their quarterback really good on third down conversions is North Dakota over 50% on the year which is phenomenal so uh this is a another really good game I'm looking forward to lost in the first round last year trying to get through Sacramento State a team that made it to the quarterfinals last year as well in the FCS playoffs yeah and it's just offense can do it all defense as well as you said lost last year so little chip on their shoulder this season jar Gibson for Sacramento State getting it done kylin Ross one of the best interceptors in the Big Sky this season moving on down Montana STI out of Boseman they are going to await the winner of the Drake Bulldogs out out of De Mo Pioneer Football League they beat Butler yesterday their first conference title in 11 years how about this a combined five and 16 record the last two years and their reward of getting in North Dakota State nine time national champ remember I told you the story earlier like how at Howard we got into the playoffs for the first time we found out we were going to Marshall well for head coach Todd steppers and Drake you have to realize hey you made it to the postseason unfortunately you got a tough draw North Dakota State might have been an National seed in that conversation head coach Matt in has the both has the bisen really excited pumped up there playing with a chip on their shoulder enjoy the experience but this is all about North Dakota State and how about this if the Bison win this game it'll be the only chance they probably have to play in Fargo the rest of the postseason they're not used to that it's Uncharted ter and they're not used to playing a first round game so talking about a team with a chip on their shoulder yeah NDSU I think they'll be ready to go the last time they weren't seated in a non-co year 2010 yeah it's been a long time 13 years ago North Dakota State taking on Drake We Know Ferman is the seven seed they'll take on the winner of they got the Chattanooga mock how about this you get a nice payday from Bama and you get in today that's not a bad weekend there for the mocks as they get their first appearance since 2016 and they will face with a record of seven and four they will face the as Sun wack Alliance Champs Austin P let's go P Scotty Walden their second FCS playoff appearance the other was back in 2019 they were left out last season they break the stone this year finally get through again Rey yeah and hopefully Chattanooga didn't get beat up too bad by Alabama yesterday but as you said get a nice paycheck you get home and you still make the FCS playoffs so you know Chattanooga is very happy and then Austin P we've seen them in in Prior years get left out when we're kind of scratching our head but they're in this year uh Mike diell their quarterback is having a great career Javon Jackson thousand yard rusher uh they're ready to go they're absolutely ready to go Austin P again won only one game from 2013 to 2016 an all-time winning percentage of 355 coming into this season the watch party there at fnm Bank Arena having a good time the number two seed Montana Grizz won the brawl of the wild they're going to take on the winner of Lafayette Leopards out of eastern Pennsylvania the Patriot League Champs took down Lehi yesterday for their 700th alltime win in their first winning season since 2009 and they will face saw Delaware those blue hands like when when are you going to announce us or will you team from the CAA couple of FCS losses to Elon and Villanova beat du kanaine in the regular season they avoid first round me rematches there so that's why they don't pair up there but my goodness Delaware getting in yeah there's some bubbles right now that just got their dreams popped and crushed when you announced Delaware as the last team getting in but hats off to Lafayette and head coach John trox so his defense gets after it you see 35 sacks on the season that's doing it at a high rate and Ryan KY has to have the blue H forget about last week this is a football team that is balanced and can score in bunches they play good defense but hey you know what I also noticed too there's a little rivalry building between the CA and the Patriot League the Patriots saying we're more than just education we play some pretty good football so we'll see what they can do at Lafayette Jamar Curtis fifth in the FCS in rushing yards he's an 1100 yard rusher there for the leopard there's your field That's it man those are the teams