Why Western Illinois Football for the Playoffs

Leathernecks finish the regular season 6-4 vs. the FCS

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois football closed out the regular season this Saturday at Hanson Field versus fifth-ranked South Dakota State, getting a 30-24 double-overtime victory.

So why should Western Illinois (6-5 overall, 5-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference, 6-4 vs. FCS) receive one of the 14 at-large berths?

Gridiron Power Index: 21
Sagarin: 19

• RECORD AGAINST 'TOP 25 & 50' TEAMS
The victory Saturday over #5 South Dakota State gives Western its third 'Top 25' win this season (out of six victories overall). Those three wins would tie for the fourth-most among all the potential at-large teams from around the country. One team has five wins, two more have four – and those two with four are both from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Western improves to 3-4 this season against 'Top 25' teams with a win over the Jackrabbits. Of all the potential at-large teams, Western's SEVEN games against a 'Top 25' ranked opponent are more than anyone else.

Western is also currently 3-0 versus teams ranked #25-50, and the win over South Dakota State gives Western Illinois SIX 'Top 50' wins. Heading into this weekend only two teams in the country had six 'Top 50' wins – MVFC members North Dakota State (8) and Illinois State (6). Those two teams played for the 2014 National Championship.

The six wins include:
#25 Eastern Illinois, 33-5
(receive 'Top 25' votes) Southern Illinois, 37-36
(receive 'Top 25' votes) South Dakota, 40-21
at #12 Northern Iowa, 24-19
at (receive 'Top 25' votes) Indiana State, 37-30 in overtime
#5 South Dakota State, 30-24 in double-overtime

• FINISH TIED FOR 3rd IN THE FINAL MVFC STANDINGS
Western's victory creates a tie for third place in the final Missouri Valley Football Conference standings. The Fighting Leathernecks improves to 5-3 in the league, and finish in a tie with South Dakota State (who they just defeated) and Northern Iowa (already defeated UNI on the road).

• THE MVFC IS THE NATION'S TOUGHEST CONFERENCE
Since the beginning of the season, the Missouri Valley Football Conference has been rated by the Gridiron Power Index and Sagarin ratings as the nation's toughest FCS conference, and it hasn't been close. The MVFC owns a national-best .843 winning percentage (16-3 record) against non-conference FCS teams. One of those three losses was when Western lost at then No. 1 ranked Coastal Carolina in September.

The MVFC's 43-22 record in the playoffs during the past 10 seasons is best in the FCS. The MVFC is 26-8 in the past 4 tournaments, and that includes 4 intraconference games (meaning the MVFC is 22-4 against other leagues in that span). Last year, Illinois State and NDSU became the first pair from the same conference to play one another in the FCS Championship Game.

• THE NATION'S TOUGHEST SCHEDULE
For virtually all season long, Western Illinois has played the nation's toughest schedule (per NCAA football statistics on cumulative opponent winning percentage). The Leathernecks continue to have the toughest schedule with a .687 percentage – ahead of Elon (.641) and Furman (.611). Western is one of five MVFC teams among the top 12 ranked this week. Western's "worst" opponent ranks 38th in this week's Sagarin rankings.

• TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LOSSES
Western Illinois has a 6-4 record against FCS teams (taking out the loss at Power 5 Conference member Illinois), but look at who those four losses came against and their national ranking.
- Then #1, now #4 AT Coastal Carolina (by 7 points)
- Then #3, now #6 AT Illinois State
- Then #24, now receiving votes Youngstown State
- Then #5, now #2 AT North Dakota State

• RICH PLAYOFF HISTORY
Western has made nine appearances all-time in the NCAA FCS playoffs. The last time was 2010 when the Leathernecks went on the road and defeated Coastal Carolina in the opening round before losing to #2 seed (and current FBS member) Appalachian State. Western Illinois finished that year 5-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• VALLEY PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS WITH 3 OR MORE MVFC LOSSES
In 30 previous seasons, seven MVFC teams with three or more conference losses got into the NCAA playoffs. Two league teams, North Dakota State in 2010 and Indiana State last year, had a .500 conference record and earned a playoff berth.
Previous MVFC Playoff Teams with 3 MVFC Losses
2006 - Southern Illinois (t-4th place, 4-3 in the league)
2010 - North Dakota State (t-3rd, 4-4 in the league)
2010 - Western Illinois (2nd place, 5-3 in the league)
2012 - Illinois State (t-3rd place, 5-3 in the league)
2013 - South Dakota State (t-2nd place, 5-3 in the league)
2014 - South Dakota State (4th place, 5-3 in the league)
2014 - Indiana State (t-5th place, 4-4 in the league)

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