FCS Playoff Bracket Released

The NCAA has released the 2015 FCS Playoff Bracket.  Go here for an interactive version and here for a printable version.  The tournament includes 24 teams, 8 of which --- the top seeded teams --- have byes in the first round.   Here are the teams with the 8 highest seeds: (1) Jacksonville State, (2) Illinois State, (3) North Dakota State,   (4) McNeese State, (5) James Madison, (6) Portland State, (7) Richmond, and (8) Charleston Southern.  

William and Mary is one of four CAA teams (JMU, W&M, Richmond, and New Hampshire) making a tournament appearance.  The Tribe will host the Duquesne Dukes, from the Northeast Football Conference.  The Dukes, 5-1 in the conference and 8-3 overall solidified their conference title with a win over St. Francis yesterday.  This will be the first meeting between the two programs. 

The game will take place at Zable Stadium in Williamsburg on Saturday, November 28th.  Kickoff is at 3:30 PM.  (This post will be updated as additional information becomes available.)

The William and Mary Sports Blog has published a detailed preview of the game.   The Game Notes produced by the William and Mary Athletic Department are found here.

In other football-related news, the Tribe earned 18 CAA all conference selections this year.

Tribe Shines in Pre-Season Polls

Blacksburg Bound! 

Football season is approaching, and once again the Tribe is nationally-ranked in several pre-season polls. For instance, the Sports Network FCS poll places the Tribe at number 19.  Athlon Sports ranks William and Mary number 15 and predicts that the Tribe will earn an at-large playoff birth. The Tribe ranks 25th in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Sporting News and Lindy's magazine have ranked the Tribe 23rd and 15th respectively.  (See here).  As usual, teams from the Colonial Athletic Association are well-represented in these national rankings. For instance, the FCS Coaches Poll includes New Hampshire, Towson, Maine, Villanova, William and Mary and Richmond in the top 25. Ditto for the Sports Network FCS poll.  

As usual, the Tribe opens on the road, this time against FBS/ACC opponent Virginia Tech, on August 30 in Blacksburg.  (For the Tribe's 2014 football schedule, complete with all time records against various opponents, go here.)  The series between the two teams dates back to 1904, and the Hokies lead the series 40-18-4.  Fans who cannot join the Griffin in Blacksburg can watch the game on ESPNews according to this story.

Go Tribe!