D3 Playoffs

Whitecarrera · November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PM

Why did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?

hazzben · November 17, 2024, 06:49:17 PM

Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PMWhy did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?

Conference is grandfathered in for a few years after falling below the limit. Gives them a grace period to find new members without losing the AQ.

Pat Coleman · November 18, 2024, 01:04:35 AM

Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PMWhy did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?

Hardin-Simmons?

Whitecarrera · November 18, 2024, 08:16:25 AM

Yes, but Hardin-Simmons would be in on their merits, regardless of conference. 5-5 is a different story.

bluestreak66 · November 18, 2024, 09:06:20 AM

Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 18, 2024, 08:16:25 AMYes, but Hardin-Simmons would be in on their merits, regardless of conference. 5-5 is a different story.

Like it or not, tournament access for all members is one of the cornerstone tenants of DIII. Alfred State will most likely get blown out in their first game, but they rightfully earned their spot to play in that game

FCGrizzliesGrad · November 18, 2024, 09:27:10 AM

Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PMWhy did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?

Conferences have 2 years once they fall below the minimum threshold of teams (currently 6) before they lose their Pool A bid. This was the ECFC's 2nd season with just 4 teams. If the conference were to stay together next season they would not have a pool A bid, but that doesn't matter since all four have found new homes for next year (Gallaudet to ODAC, Alfred St to E8, Anna Maria and Dean to MASCAC)
The ASC is currently in the same position. They will have a pool A bid next year but will lose it in 2026 if they don't get back to 6 teams.

crufootball · November 18, 2024, 10:10:29 AM

Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on November 18, 2024, 09:27:10 AM
Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PMWhy did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?
Conferences have 2 years once they fall below the minimum threshold of teams (currently 6) before they lose their Pool A bid. This was the ECFC's 2nd season with just 4 teams. If the conference were to stay together next season they would not have a pool A bid, but that doesn't matter since all four have found new homes for next year (Gallaudet to ODAC, Alfred St to E8, Anna Maria and Dean to MASCAC)
The ASC is currently in the same position. They will have a pool A bid next year but will lose it in 2026 if they don't get back to 6 teams.

I know this issue affects all sports but I wonder if the lack of an automatic bid will be as scary in football as it was in the past now that we have 12 at-large bids. I don't think anyone in the ASC hopes we are in the same situation come 2026 but not many conferences can say 50% of their membership made the playoffs with one being the #2 overall seed.

hazzben · November 18, 2024, 10:29:42 AM

Quote from: crufootball on November 18, 2024, 10:10:29 AM
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on November 18, 2024, 09:27:10 AM
Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PMWhy did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?
Conferences have 2 years once they fall below the minimum threshold of teams (currently 6) before they lose their Pool A bid. This was the ECFC's 2nd season with just 4 teams. If the conference were to stay together next season they would not have a pool A bid, but that doesn't matter since all four have found new homes for next year (Gallaudet to ODAC, Alfred St to E8, Anna Maria and Dean to MASCAC)
The ASC is currently in the same position. They will have a pool A bid next year but will lose it in 2026 if they don't get back to 6 teams.

I know this issue affects all sports but I wonder if the lack of an automatic bid will be as scary in football as it was in the past now that we have 12 at-large bids. I don't think anyone in the ASC hopes we are in the same situation come 2026 but not many conferences can say 50% of their membership made the playoffs with one being the #2 overall seed.

Meh, if the ASC had 8 teams this would be a more significant flex. I actually wonder if there isn't something done to require a certain threshhold of in division games and/or wins to make the field as an at large. That's not a knock on UMHB, you can only play the teams that will pick up the phone.

crufootball · November 18, 2024, 10:47:41 AM

Quote from: hazzben on November 18, 2024, 10:29:42 AM
Quote from: crufootball on November 18, 2024, 10:10:29 AM
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on November 18, 2024, 09:27:10 AM
Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PMWhy did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?
Conferences have 2 years once they fall below the minimum threshold of teams (currently 6) before they lose their Pool A bid. This was the ECFC's 2nd season with just 4 teams. If the conference were to stay together next season they would not have a pool A bid, but that doesn't matter since all four have found new homes for next year (Gallaudet to ODAC, Alfred St to E8, Anna Maria and Dean to MASCAC)
The ASC is currently in the same position. They will have a pool A bid next year but will lose it in 2026 if they don't get back to 6 teams.

I know this issue affects all sports but I wonder if the lack of an automatic bid will be as scary in football as it was in the past now that we have 12 at-large bids. I don't think anyone in the ASC hopes we are in the same situation come 2026 but not many conferences can say 50% of their membership made the playoffs with one being the #2 overall seed.

Meh, if the ASC had 8 teams this would be a more significant flex. I actually wonder if there isn't something done to require a certain threshhold of in division games and/or wins to make the field as an at large. That's not a knock on UMHB, you can only play the teams that will pick up the phone.

Oh I know its not the flex you want but for all the talk about the state of the ASC it didn't hurt them in the world of NPI. I know we all want the security of the automatic bid but with so many at-large bids (which is awesome BTW) you aren't so desperate for them as we once were.

FCGrizzliesGrad · November 18, 2024, 10:50:26 AM

Quote from: hazzben on November 18, 2024, 10:29:42 AM
Quote from: crufootball on November 18, 2024, 10:10:29 AM
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on November 18, 2024, 09:27:10 AM
Quote from: Whitecarrera on November 17, 2024, 06:37:06 PMWhy did a conference with four teams get an automatic bid? Alfred State?
Conferences have 2 years once they fall below the minimum threshold of teams (currently 6) before they lose their Pool A bid. This was the ECFC's 2nd season with just 4 teams. If the conference were to stay together next season they would not have a pool A bid, but that doesn't matter since all four have found new homes for next year (Gallaudet to ODAC, Alfred St to E8, Anna Maria and Dean to MASCAC)
The ASC is currently in the same position. They will have a pool A bid next year but will lose it in 2026 if they don't get back to 6 teams.

I know this issue affects all sports but I wonder if the lack of an automatic bid will be as scary in football as it was in the past now that we have 12 at-large bids. I don't think anyone in the ASC hopes we are in the same situation come 2026 but not many conferences can say 50% of their membership made the playoffs with one being the #2 overall seed.

Meh, if the ASC had 8 teams this would be a more significant flex. I actually wonder if there isn't something done to require a certain threshhold of in division games and/or wins to make the field as an at large. That's not a knock on UMHB, you can only play the teams that will pick up the phone.

In mens soccer the NESCAC sent 8 of 11 teams to the tournament this year. They took 1/3 of all pool C spots.
In womens soccer the UAA sent 7 of 8 teams.

Captainred81 · November 18, 2024, 01:50:29 PM

It does seem way more competitive in this years bracket. I expect LAX to beat Northwestern by a lot, and Endicott will win by 2-3 scores, JCU should win by 2-3 scores. After those games, and with out projecting any winners, I don't see any obvious blowout games. Probably the winner of Bethel and Coe will beat Lake Forest by a few scores. If Berry advances, I don' see them losing by the same margin a 2nd time. Maybe NCC will put a hurt on who ever comes over from left coast.

I don't see a clear cut winner for any of the quads.

These brackets are gonna be tough

Ralph Turner · December 02, 2024, 09:25:17 PM

I believe that the 21-3 record by the home team in the playoffs thru the 1st two rounds suggests that that NPI rankings were accurate, with the exception of the artefactual case of UMHB. IMHO, they were the outlier because of the paucity of games against quality opponents in the season. Had they had 2-3 more games that counted, then I believe that they might have ranked higher. The Trinity TX game might have flipped to Belton. Having to play HSU 3 times in a season is artefactual in and of itself.

emma17 · December 02, 2024, 10:12:53 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 02, 2024, 09:25:17 PMI believe that the 21-3 record by the home team in the playoffs thru the 1st two rounds suggests that that NPI rankings were accurate, with the exception of the artefactual case of UMHB. IMHO, they were the outlier because of the paucity of games against quality opponents in the season. Had they had 2-3 more games that counted, then I believe that they might have ranked higher. The Trinity TX game might have flipped to Belton. Having to play HSU 3 times in a season is artefactual in and of itself.

Hmm. I can't argue your opening sentence, but is that the point? I mean, if the D3 ranked #2 played at #1 in the first round, I'd bet on #1 winning. The same is true for #4 at #3 and so on.