Let's look at the Southland's 2017 OOC schedule to see if we can get some respect at the FCS level:

FBS level as ranked by FBS on SB Nation.
FCS level as ranked by Massey Ratings.

UCA:
Kansas State- #18 in FBS. Likely a loss.
Murray State- #74 in FCS. Likely a win.

UCA loses to KSU, beats Murray State but has nothing to offer the playoff committee at the end of the year unless they win the conference. SHSU has their sights on it though.

McNeese:
Florida Tech- Division II. Better win.
Alcorn State- #84 in FCS. Win

Even going undefeated through conference the only thing McNeese will offer is a warm body for the playoffs but they seriously have to get through SHSU and UCA to do that. Otherwise their offering of that schedule is warm at best going 9-2.

SHSU:
Richmond- #13 in FCS. No idea.
Prairie View- #65 in FCS. Win.

A win against Richmond and wrapping up the conference will assure a playoff spot. But again, unless UCA and McNeese make some noise, the rest of the offering of schedule is horrible. Go 9-2 with losses to Richmond and ONE SLC team...and there's nothing there.

Nicholls:
Texas A&M- #19 in the FBS. Loss.
Prairie View- #65 in the FCS. Win.

It will take a miracle for Nicholls to make a playoff spot if they don't win the conference.

Southeastern Louisiana
UL-Lafeyette- #112 in FBS. No idea.
Bethune-Cookman- #90 in FCS. NO idea.

Eh. this one's a toughie. Gotta win conference to get a spot. Otherwise there's just too many teams in the SLC that will keep them home.


Northwestern State:
Louisiana Tech- #82 in FBS. Loss
Grambling- #20 in FCS. No idea

Defeated in conference last year, I don't see them winning the conference so no at large spot for them.

SFA:
SMU- #81 in FBS. Loss
Southern Utah- #27 in FCS. Likely loss.

It's a rebuilding year for SFA even with all the talent coming in. Win the conference or stay home. SMU, SUU, SHSU, UCA, McNEESE...just too many hurdles IMO.

ACU:
New Mexico- #110 in FBS. Likely loss.
Colorado State- #43 in FBS. Loss.

It's a year to earn some money..and experience..no playoffs.

HBU:
Texas State- #129 in FBS. Loss.
Texas Southern- #107 in FCS. Loss.

Um. No. Too many OOC and conference hurdles. Not time yet.

UIW:
Fresno State- #115 in FBS. Loss
Sac State- #101 in FCS. Loss.

Not going to happen. Just isn't.

Lamar:
North Texas- #106 in FBS.
Texas- Permian Basin- #Division II

A win over NT and TPB plus a few more in the SLC will get them a look but the schedule is filled with 100 plus ranked teams. Not gonna happen unless the conference is won outright.

SLC against:

FBS top 25- 2 games (likely losses)
FBS 26 - 100- 3 games (likely losses)
FBS 100+- 6 games (might get a win or two)

FCS top 25- 2 games (Might get ONE win)
FCS 26-130+- 7 games (a couple of wins)

Division II- 2 games. (two wins)

The SLC isn't giving the playoff committees anything of value to hold on to.

SHSU has a good game against Richmond. That's a plus.
SFA has SUU. Not bad.
The rest are either body bag games for the SLC or for their opponents.

The SLC has to do better OOC in the FCS and get some midlevel wins against FBS teams even if they don't win their conference to consider more than just two teams.

For example, UCA beat midlevel FBS conference champion Arkansas State last year and stayed within 5 to an FCS playoff team Samford (coulda woulda shoulda). UCA lost only ONE conference game (SHSU) and did well against the teams in conference that were tough. Nicholls State for example.

SHSU ran the conference. Got the autobid. Did well in the playoffs.

Thoughts?