Well, it had a chance to be and it turned out it was "Nuclear Saturday" in the MVFC with 3 upsets of teams that had to win out, 2 of which to opponents who had already been eliminated. So not there's really only 3 teams with a legit playoff spot and I'd say there's probably just as good of a chance that the conference gets 2 bids as it it does to get more. I added another category in honor of everyone's favorite Bon Jovi song since it would get pretty boring to only have 3 teams to talk about at this point and the rest of the bubble didn't do a whole lot better today (so far) so it's not crazy to think that a 6-5 MVFC could be in contention for a playoff spot. Here's how the break down with 1 week to go:
Locks
North Dakota St (10-0, 7-0)
Quality wins: Delaware, SDSU, @UNI, @WIU
Bad losses: None
Remaining games: SIU
The Bison have locked up a playoff spot, the outright MVFC title, and likely a top 3 seed at this point. With hapless SIU as their final regular season game they seem to be on cruise control for the #1 seed so the most important thing at this point will be staying healthy in preparation for a playoff run.
South Dakota St (7-2, 5-2)
Quality wins: Montana St
Bad losses: None
Remaining games: USD
The Jackrabbits are locked into the field after their win today. They're in good shape to get seeded if they can win next week against in-state rival USD and I think could get as high as #3 if everything shakes out their way but I'd say they're very likely to be in either that #4 or #5 slot at 8-2 no matter what else happens. If they lose they'll almost certainly be playing on Thanksgiving weekend with a likely 2nd round date in Fargo if they win that one.
Must win
Indiana St (6-4, 4-3)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Remaining games: @WIU
What a turnaround for the Sycamores in 2018! All of a sudden they're up to 3rd in the MVFC pecking order and, given the rest of the turmoil across the bubble elsewhere in the country they seem in very good position to make the playoffs if they can win their final game despite not having any notable wins. Of course that will not be an easy out as they go to a Western Illinois team that will be looking for redepemption and will be desperately clinging to any faint glimmer of hope they have for the playoffs.
Living on a prayer
Western Illinois (5-5, 4-3)
Quality wins: Montana, UNI
Bad losses: @USD
Remaining games: ISUb
WIU had been living on the edge with their win last week and they toppled over that edge this week with a bad loss in Vermillion. The only reason I don't have them as eliminated is because they might have a shot at 6-5 given everything else that's happened on the bubble this week (and has the potential to happen next week). They also have an opportunity to soften the bubble even further with Indiana St coming to town with a legit playoff chance of their own next week. Regardless, they need to win (and probably win convincingly) and hope they get a lot of help to have any shot of getting into the playoff field.
Northern Iowa (5-5, 4-3)
Quality wins: SDSU
Bad losses: @YSU
Remaining games: MSU
It was an awful day all around for the Panthers in Youngstown today. They had everything to play for and Youngstown had nothing to play for but watching the game you would've thought the roles were reversed. If there is any glimmer of hope, the bubble had a rough day today across the FCS so there may be some hope for UNI if similar upsets along the bubble occur next week but it seems pretty unlikely.
Eliminated
Illinois St (5-5, 2-5) - I'm pretty sure Brock Spack will never shave his mustache again..
South Dakota (4-6, 3-4) - Well the Coyotes still have life and they have a meaningful game regardless of their lack of playoff prospects in Brookings next week with a chance to wreck the seed chances of their in-state rival.
Youngstown St (4-6, 3-4) - If the YSU team that has shown up the last couple weeks would've been there at the start of the season they'd probably be in the playoffs right now.
Missouri St (4-6, 2-5) - The Bears are in a big slide to end the year. They get UNI in their last game which may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how the Panthers respond to their loss this week.
Southern Illinois (2-8, 1-6) - The Salukis seem ready to hit the offseason but their final game of the year is a trip to the Fargodome so they seem due for some more punishment before they can turn the page to 2019.
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