Salukis Take A 'Seat' In FCS Playoffs

The Southern Illinois Salukis football team ended the season No. 1 in the rankings and No. 1 in your hearts.

So, how did Southern end up No. 3 in the Football Championship Subdivision Playoff (yes, I said college football playoff) seedings?

Beats the heck out of me.

Certainly Saturday's win against SEMO didn't help.  Wait.  A win didn't help?  Not when that team enters the season 2-8, and is only beaten 42-24.  I hoped whatever playoff selection committee existed was not watching Saturday's sluggish effort put forth by Southern.  Apparently they were, and even though that win was not indicitive of the Salukis' entire body of work, it might have played a part in where SIU would be seeded for the playoffs.

Another factor working against the Salukis was Northern Iowa's loss to Illinois State.  The Redbirds win did not just knock the Panthers out of the playoffs, it weakened what looked like SIU's biggest win -- a road "W" in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  The Missouri Valley Football Conference will only get two teams in the playoffs as South Dakota State will also represent The Valley.

While many will have their say (read: fans are pissed) about the decision made by the NCAA, and its terrible production of its Selection Show on ESPN, none of it will matter when Weber State Eastern Illinois comes into McAndrew Stadium on Nov. 28th.

No matter where the Salukis were going to be seeded, the team looked to be motivated headed into the playoffs with something to prove as it seems as if the Dawgs have been on a mission since the season started.  Should Southern feel slighted?  Sure.  But they won't be.  Head coach Dale Lennon won't allow it.

And really, the last thing the rest of the FCS needed was a motivated Saluki group with another chip on their shoulders.

(Screen grab via, HT: @bfeldt)