Everything felt a little different this time around. Usually, the FCS selection show 2024 would just be another Sunday morning ritual for the die-hards, but the energy heading into November 24 was actually high-stakes. We weren't just looking at the same old blue bloods. This year, the NCAA finally pulled the trigger on a massive change: seeding the top 16 teams instead of just the top eight.
It changed the math. Totally.
If you were watching on ESPNU at 12:30 p.m. ET, you saw a bracket that felt wider, deeper, and frankly, a bit more chaotic than what we’re used to seeing in Frisco-bound projections. The committee had a nightmare of a time sorting through the top of the Big Sky and the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). Honestly, when you have Montana State, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State all looking like titans, someone is going to feel slighted.
The Seedings That Shook the Bracket
Montana State took the #1 overall seed. It made sense. They were a buzzsaw all year. But the real drama started immediately after that. North Dakota State (NDSU) landed at #2, followed by the defending champs South Dakota State at #3.
Seeing the three "monsters" of the FCS all on different sides of the bracket was a relief for some, but a death sentence for others. Because the committee expanded to 16 seeds, the "bubble" wasn't just about who got in—it was about who got a home-field advantage for that crucial second round.
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Here is how that top-heavy list actually shook out:
- Montana State
- North Dakota State
- South Dakota State
- South Dakota
- UC Davis
- UIW (Incarnate Word)
- Mercer
- Idaho
It's a lot of Big Sky and MVFC. Too much? Maybe. But you can't argue with the data. These teams spent the season cannibalizing each other, and the committee clearly rewarded the strength of schedule.
The New Rule That Changed Everything
Previously, the committee only seeded 1-8. Those teams got a bye and then hosted. Everyone else was at the mercy of "geographic proximity," which basically meant you could be a top-10 team in the country but still have to travel to a seed's house in the second round just because you lived near them.
By seeding 1-16, the FCS selection show 2024 gave some much-needed respect to teams like Richmond (#9), Rhode Island (#10), and Villanova (#11). It gave them a target. It gave them a "number" next to their name that actually meant something in the eyes of the national media.
Snubs and the Bubble Heat
Northern Arizona (NAU) was the name on everyone’s lips. They were the ultimate "get hot at the right time" team, finishing with five straight wins. People wondered if their 3-4 start would haunt them. It didn't. They squeezed in, making it five teams from the Big Sky in the tournament.
On the flip side, the Southern Conference (SoCon) and the Southland got a bit of a cold shoulder. Only one team each? Mercer for the SoCon and UIW for the Southland. If you're a fan of Western Carolina or East Tennessee State, you probably threw something at your TV. It felt like the committee put a massive premium on the "Big Two" conferences and left the rest of the country fighting for scraps.
Tennessee State made it. That was a big deal. Their inclusion marked a massive moment for a program that has been building momentum under Eddie George. They were sent to Missoula to play Montana in the first round—a brutal draw, but a statement nonetheless.
Why Geography Still Bothers People
Even with 16 seeds, the FCS is a "bus league." The NCAA tries to save money on flights. So, while the seeds were formalized, the unseeded matchups still looked like a local map of the United States.
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- Lehigh had to go to Richmond.
- Central Connecticut State went to Rhode Island.
- Eastern Kentucky traveled to Villanova.
It’s predictable. It’s also kinda frustrating for fans who want to see intersectional matchups early on. We get it, flights are expensive, but seeing the same regional rivals play again in the post-season lacks that "national tournament" flavor sometimes.
The Path to Frisco
The whole point of the FCS selection show 2024 was to pave the road to Toyota Stadium. The bracket was set up for a potential collision between the Montana schools and the Dakota schools.
The first round kicked off on November 30. We saw some immediate "wait, what?" moments, like Lehigh knocking off the #9 seed Richmond Spiders. That’s the beauty of the 16-seed era; those middle-tier seeds are under immense pressure to prove they belong in that "privileged" group.
Actionable Insights for the Next Cycle
If you’re looking back at this to figure out how to project 2025 or 2026, keep these things in mind:
- Conference depth is king. If you play in the Big Sky or MVFC, a three-loss record isn't a dealbreaker. It’s almost a badge of honor.
- The "Last 10" matters. The committee loved NAU's late-season surge. Don't give up on a team that starts 2-4 if they run the table in November.
- Schedule up. Playing an FBS opponent and keeping it close (or winning) is the fastest way to lock in a top-8 seed.
- Watch the 12-game calendar. 2024 allowed for 12 regular-season games due to the way the calendar fell. That extra data point helped teams like Illinois State prove their worth.
The FCS selection show 2024 proved that while the sub-division is changing, the heart of it remains in the freezing cold stadiums of the North and the rising powers of the South. Whether you agree with the #16 seed for New Hampshire or the snub of the SoCon, the bracket did exactly what it was supposed to: it made everyone talk.
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Keep an eye on the transfer portal dates moving forward. The window now opens the Monday after the bracket is revealed, meaning some of these playoff teams are trying to keep their rosters together while the rest of the country is shopping. It’s a brave new world for the FCS.
Ensure you’ve bookmarked the official NCAA bracket page early next year, as the 16-seed format is here to stay, and the "geographic proximity" rules for unseeded teams continue to be the biggest wild card in sports.