Regardless of ending the abbreviated spring season on a four-game profitable streak and leaping into the FCS Prime 25 ballot, Southern won’t symbolize the SWAC within the postseason.
Southern (5-1) wrapped up the 2023 season with a convincing 49-7 win over SWAC West rival Grambling within the Bayou Basic. The Jaguars had entered Saturday ranked No. 21 within the FCS Coaches Ballot.
There was an out of doors shot — if it didn’t win the divisional title — that Southern might seize an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs.
With Arkansas-Pine Bluff clinching a spot within the SWAC Championship Recreation, it opened the door for the slight chance.
These hopes have been dashed when the Jaguars have been disregarded of the 16-team subject.
Southern head coach Dawson Odums mentioned Monday that he would have left it as much as the gamers and college directors to determine whether or not to proceed the season as a result of his group had been impacted by a litany of accidents all through its six-game schedule.
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“I don’t assume that will have been a choice that I might have made on my own,” he mentioned. “We perceive already the pressure that was placed on this system. I actually assume I might have left that call as much as the decision-makers and this system to determine whether or not or not.”
Athletic director Roman Banks indicated that Southern would have embraced the shot to take part within the playoffs, although the league workplace garnered some affect on whether or not faculties would settle for a bid.
On condition that the SWAC common season usually extends into the opening spherical of the FCS playoffs and the league holding its personal convention championship recreation, securing an automated or at-large bid already was unlikely.
However no such impediment existed for Southern this season since all its regular-season video games have been accomplished earlier than the FCS playoff subject was even determined.
“We might have been excited and proud to go,” Banks instructed the Advocate.
Whereas Jaguars’ file may need been worthy of consideration in some other 12 months, this system couldn’t overcome, mentioned Odums, not taking part in sufficient video games or contests in opposition to ranked opponents to spice up its resume.
“Had we performed a few extra video games that vote may need went a special method,” mentioned Odums. “However whenever you take a look at it, taking part in ranked groups and beating ranked groups carry a better rating within the ballot in the case of being chosen for the playoffs.”
Southern didn’t play any ranked opponents regardless of being in a division the place three of the 5 groups at the moment have a mixed two losses all 12 months. The Jaguars’ solely defeat was by three factors to a UAPB workforce that’s ranked No. 24 within the final FCS STATS Ballot.
There was thought after the official brackets have been launched Sunday that Southern ought to have obtained a spot over four-loss Missouri State. The Bears, who play within the Missouri Valley Convention, completed with a 5-4 file.
Missouri State went 0-3 within the fall with losses to Oklahoma after which back-to-back setbacks versus Central Arkansas in outcomes that counted towards the spring postseason. After shedding to then-No. 6 North Dakota State earlier within the spring, the Bears reeled off a ranked win over then-No. 21 South Dakota earlier than getting a pair of top-10 victories in opposition to Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois later within the season.
“I used to be studying (about) a number of the groups, mentioned Odums, “(some) had two ranked wins, three ranked wins, and to me that carries extra weight. So with us (the SWAC) having ranked groups (Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama A&M and Southern) and people ranked groups not having the ability to play in opposition to one another — then beat them after they have been ranked — I feel that can carry much more weight.”
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