I decided to take a stab at splitting up top 8 (D2 poll) ranked teams in playoff format that includes all 15 conference champions with rest of field of 32 filled out out by remainder of Top 25 and then the final regional rankings. I was able to limit first round games to one plane ride for Central Washington that was going to happen anyway.
Playoff field below divided into 8 four team pods with top 8 ranked team in each pod with other 3 teams arranged by geography to limit plane rides. I have also listed first round games and mileage in parentheses. Four pods involve games between two conferences, but the other four pods match up 3-4 conferences.
If I can do this certainly the NCAA can do this. Food for thought while watching the mismatched FBS bowl games and the FBS playoff games.
Pod 1
Colo. Mines (#1)
UT-Permian (#10)
Western Colo. (#12)
Central Wash. (#3 Regional)
Pod 2
Grand Valley (#2)
Cal. (Pa,) (#4 R)
Shepherd (#6 R)
E. Stroudsburg (#7 R)
Pod 3
Ferris St. (#3)
Kutztown (#12)
Slippery Rock (#13)
New Haven (#10 R)
Pod 4
Harding (#4)
Indy (#21)
Ouachita Baptist (#22)
Mo. Western (#7 R)
Pod 5
Pitt. St. (#5)
Bemidji St. (#15)
Minn.-Mankato (#16)
Minn.-Duluth (#20)
Pod 6
Benedict (#6)
L-R (#11)
Fayetteville St. (#6 R)
Va. Union (#7 R)
Pod 7
Central Mo. (#7)
Augustana(#9)
Tiffin (#18)
Charleston (#25)
Pod 8
Delta St. (#8)
Valdosta St. (#14)
West Fla. (#18)
Henderson St. (#24)
First Round Games
Central Wash. @ Colo. Mines (1,200 miles)
Western Colo. @ UT-Permian (652)
Cal. (Pa.) @ Grand Valley (479)
E. Stroudsburg @ Shepherd (212)
Slippery Rock @ Ferris St. (450)
New Haven @ Kutztown (191)
Mo. Western @ Harding (420)
Ouachita Baptist @ Indy (648)
Minn.-Mankato @ Pitt. St. (524)
Minn.-Duluth @ Bemidji St. (148)
Fayetteville St. @ Benedict (166)
Va. Union @ L-R (248)
Augustana @ Central Mo. (423)
Charleston @ Tiffin (247)
Henderson St. @ Delta St. (191)
West Fla. @ Valdosta St. (268)
Playoff field below divided into 8 four team pods with top 8 ranked team in each pod with other 3 teams arranged by geography to limit plane rides. I have also listed first round games and mileage in parentheses. Four pods involve games between two conferences, but the other four pods match up 3-4 conferences.
If I can do this certainly the NCAA can do this. Food for thought while watching the mismatched FBS bowl games and the FBS playoff games.
Pod 1
Colo. Mines (#1)
UT-Permian (#10)
Western Colo. (#12)
Central Wash. (#3 Regional)
Pod 2
Grand Valley (#2)
Cal. (Pa,) (#4 R)
Shepherd (#6 R)
E. Stroudsburg (#7 R)
Pod 3
Ferris St. (#3)
Kutztown (#12)
Slippery Rock (#13)
New Haven (#10 R)
Pod 4
Harding (#4)
Indy (#21)
Ouachita Baptist (#22)
Mo. Western (#7 R)
Pod 5
Pitt. St. (#5)
Bemidji St. (#15)
Minn.-Mankato (#16)
Minn.-Duluth (#20)
Pod 6
Benedict (#6)
L-R (#11)
Fayetteville St. (#6 R)
Va. Union (#7 R)
Pod 7
Central Mo. (#7)
Augustana(#9)
Tiffin (#18)
Charleston (#25)
Pod 8
Delta St. (#8)
Valdosta St. (#14)
West Fla. (#18)
Henderson St. (#24)
First Round Games
Central Wash. @ Colo. Mines (1,200 miles)
Western Colo. @ UT-Permian (652)
Cal. (Pa.) @ Grand Valley (479)
E. Stroudsburg @ Shepherd (212)
Slippery Rock @ Ferris St. (450)
New Haven @ Kutztown (191)
Mo. Western @ Harding (420)
Ouachita Baptist @ Indy (648)
Minn.-Mankato @ Pitt. St. (524)
Minn.-Duluth @ Bemidji St. (148)
Fayetteville St. @ Benedict (166)
Va. Union @ L-R (248)
Augustana @ Central Mo. (423)
Charleston @ Tiffin (247)
Henderson St. @ Delta St. (191)
West Fla. @ Valdosta St. (268)
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