{
    "meta": {
        "service": "Versus Sports Simulator",
        "about": "Versus Sports Simulator's projection of the FCS playoff field the selection committee might pick if the playoffs began today, from games already played.",
        "disclaimer": "A projection produced by the Versus Sports Simulator ratings, not the selection committee's field. The committee picks the real field once the regular season ends.",
        "sport": "College football",
        "division": "FCS",
        "season": "2026-2027",
        "week": 2,
        "isLatestWeek": false,
        "ratingsDate": "2026-09-08",
        "view": {
            "pickedBy": "committee",
            "fieldAsOf": "today",
            "description": "Versus Sports Simulator's projection of the FCS playoff field the selection committee might pick if the playoffs began today, from games already played."
        },
        "url": "https://www.versussportssimulator.com/college-football/fcs/playoff-projection/2026/week-2.json?as=today",
        "htmlUrl": "https://www.versussportssimulator.com/college-football/fcs/playoff-projection/2026/week-2?as=today",
        "license": "Free to quote with attribution to Versus Sports Simulator and a link to https://www.versussportssimulator.com/college-football/fcs/playoff-projection/2026/week-2?as=today"
    },
    "format": {
        "fieldSize": 24,
        "byes": 8,
        "seededThrough": 16,
        "automaticBids": 11
    },
    "field": [
        {
            "seed": 1,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Montana St",
            "abbreviation": "MTST",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Big Sky champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 1,
            "versusRank": 1,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 64,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 20,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 2,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Montana",
            "abbreviation": "MONT",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 2,
            "versusRank": 2,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 44,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 7,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 3,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Tarleton St",
            "abbreviation": "TAR",
            "conference": "UAC",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "UAC champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 54,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 2,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 4,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Illinois St",
            "abbreviation": "ILST",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Missouri Valley champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
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            "currentRank": 4,
            "versusRank": 4,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 112,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 19,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 5,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "UC-Davis",
            "abbreviation": "UCD",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
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            "record": "2-0",
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            "strengthOfRecordRank": 9,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 6,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "South Dakota",
            "abbreviation": "SDAK",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
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            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 7,
            "versusRank": 7,
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            "strengthOfRecordRank": 13,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 7,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "North Dakota",
            "abbreviation": "UND",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
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            "currentRank": 8,
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            "strengthOfRecordRank": 23,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 8,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Tennessee Tech",
            "abbreviation": "TNTC",
            "conference": "Southern",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Southern champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 9,
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 60,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 6,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 9,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Stephen F. Austin",
            "abbreviation": "SFA",
            "conference": "Southland",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Southland champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
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            "currentRank": 10,
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 97,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 10,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Mercer",
            "abbreviation": "MER",
            "conference": "Southern",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 11,
            "versusRank": 11,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 100,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 31,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 11,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Lehigh",
            "abbreviation": "LEH",
            "conference": "Patriot League",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Patriot League champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 12,
            "versusRank": 12,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 105,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 15,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 12,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Idaho St",
            "abbreviation": "IDST",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
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            "currentRank": 14,
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 94,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 1,
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        {
            "seed": 13,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "West Florida",
            "abbreviation": "WFL",
            "conference": "UAC",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
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            "currentRank": 18,
            "versusRank": 18,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 57,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 3,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 14,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "William & Mary",
            "abbreviation": "W&M",
            "conference": "Patriot League",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
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            "record": "2-0",
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            "currentRank": 19,
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 49,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 5,
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        {
            "seed": 15,
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            "bye": false,
            "team": "South Dakota St",
            "abbreviation": "SDS",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
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            "record": "1-1",
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            "currentRank": 6,
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 67,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 64,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 16,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Cal Poly SLO",
            "abbreviation": "CP",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
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            "currentRank": 23,
            "versusRank": 23,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 52,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 8,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 17,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Youngstown St",
            "abbreviation": "YSU",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "1-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 13,
            "versusRank": 13,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 68,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 50,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 18,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Northern Arizona",
            "abbreviation": "NAU",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "1-1",
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            "currentRank": 15,
            "versusRank": 15,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 23,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 14,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 19,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Villanova",
            "abbreviation": "NOVA",
            "conference": "Patriot League",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "1-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 17,
            "versusRank": 17,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 81,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 47,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 20,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Rhode Island",
            "abbreviation": "URI",
            "conference": "CAA",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "CAA champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "1-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 24,
            "versusRank": 24,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 76,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 35,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 21,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Butler",
            "abbreviation": "BUT",
            "conference": "Pioneer",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Pioneer champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "1-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 34,
            "versusRank": 34,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 41,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 65,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 22,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Tennessee-Martin",
            "abbreviation": "UTM",
            "conference": "OVC",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "OVC champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "1-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 42,
            "versusRank": 42,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 109,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 74,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 23,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Yale",
            "abbreviation": "YALE",
            "conference": "Ivy League",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Ivy League champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "0-0",
            "gamesPlayed": null,
            "currentRank": 16,
            "versusRank": 16,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 8,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": null,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 24,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Duquesne",
            "abbreviation": "DUQ",
            "conference": "Northeast",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Northeast champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "0-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 1,
            "currentRank": 70,
            "versusRank": 70,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 20,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 93,
            "playoffChance": null
        }
    ],
    "firstTeamsOut": [
        {
            "team": "Richmond",
            "conference": "Patriot League",
            "record": "2-0",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "Southern Utah",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "record": "1-1",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "Wofford",
            "conference": "Southern",
            "record": "2-0",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "Elon",
            "conference": "CAA",
            "record": "2-0",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "Austin Peay",
            "conference": "UAC",
            "record": "1-1",
            "playoffChance": null
        }
    ],
    "firstRoundTravel": {
        "totalMiles": 7309,
        "tripsUnder400Miles": 3,
        "trips": 8,
        "milesUnderSeedOrder": 1255,
        "games": [
            {
                "hostSeed": 9,
                "host": "Stephen F. Austin",
                "visitorSeed": 18,
                "visitor": "Northern Arizona",
                "site": "Nacogdoches, TX",
                "miles": 1010,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 10,
                "host": "Mercer",
                "visitorSeed": 22,
                "visitor": "Tennessee-Martin",
                "site": "Macon, GA",
                "miles": 383,
                "over400": false
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 11,
                "host": "Lehigh",
                "visitorSeed": 20,
                "visitor": "Rhode Island",
                "site": "Bethlehem, PA",
                "miles": 210,
                "over400": false
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 12,
                "host": "Idaho St",
                "visitorSeed": 17,
                "visitor": "Youngstown St",
                "site": "Pocatello, ID",
                "miles": 1627,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 13,
                "host": "West Florida",
                "visitorSeed": 19,
                "visitor": "Villanova",
                "site": "Pensacola, FL",
                "miles": 936,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 14,
                "host": "William & Mary",
                "visitorSeed": 23,
                "visitor": "Yale",
                "site": "Williamsburg, VA",
                "miles": 345,
                "over400": false
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 15,
                "host": "South Dakota St",
                "visitorSeed": 24,
                "visitor": "Duquesne",
                "site": "Brookings, SD",
                "miles": 896,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 16,
                "host": "Cal Poly SLO",
                "visitorSeed": 21,
                "visitor": "Butler",
                "site": "San Luis Obispo, CA",
                "miles": 1902,
                "over400": true
            }
        ]
    },
    "bracket": [
        {
            "round": "First Round",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Butler",
                    "bottom": "Cal Poly SLO",
                    "host": "Cal Poly SLO",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Cal Poly SLO",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 85
                },
                {
                    "top": "Northern Arizona",
                    "bottom": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "host": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 72
                },
                {
                    "top": "Youngstown St",
                    "bottom": "Idaho St",
                    "host": "Idaho St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Youngstown St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 50
                },
                {
                    "top": "Villanova",
                    "bottom": "West Florida",
                    "host": "West Florida",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Villanova",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 56
                },
                {
                    "top": "Duquesne",
                    "bottom": "South Dakota St",
                    "host": "South Dakota St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "South Dakota St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 96
                },
                {
                    "top": "Tennessee-Martin",
                    "bottom": "Mercer",
                    "host": "Mercer",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Mercer",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 75
                },
                {
                    "top": "Rhode Island",
                    "bottom": "Lehigh",
                    "host": "Lehigh",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Lehigh",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 62
                },
                {
                    "top": "Yale",
                    "bottom": "William & Mary",
                    "host": "William & Mary",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Yale",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 53
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Second Round",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "Cal Poly SLO",
                    "host": "Montana St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 95
                },
                {
                    "top": "Tennessee Tech",
                    "bottom": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "host": "Tennessee Tech",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Tennessee Tech",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 51
                },
                {
                    "top": "UC-Davis",
                    "bottom": "Youngstown St",
                    "host": "UC-Davis",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "UC-Davis",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 55
                },
                {
                    "top": "Illinois St",
                    "bottom": "Villanova",
                    "host": "Illinois St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Illinois St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 85
                },
                {
                    "top": "Montana",
                    "bottom": "South Dakota St",
                    "host": "Montana",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "South Dakota St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 54
                },
                {
                    "top": "North Dakota",
                    "bottom": "Mercer",
                    "host": "North Dakota",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "North Dakota",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 74
                },
                {
                    "top": "South Dakota",
                    "bottom": "Lehigh",
                    "host": "South Dakota",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "South Dakota",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 67
                },
                {
                    "top": "Tarleton St",
                    "bottom": "Yale",
                    "host": "Tarleton St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Tarleton St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 83
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Quarterfinals",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "Tennessee Tech",
                    "host": "Montana St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 85
                },
                {
                    "top": "UC-Davis",
                    "bottom": "Illinois St",
                    "host": "Illinois St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Illinois St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 72
                },
                {
                    "top": "South Dakota St",
                    "bottom": "North Dakota",
                    "host": "North Dakota",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "North Dakota",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 52
                },
                {
                    "top": "South Dakota",
                    "bottom": "Tarleton St",
                    "host": "Tarleton St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Tarleton St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 70
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Semifinals",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "Illinois St",
                    "host": "Montana St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 73
                },
                {
                    "top": "North Dakota",
                    "bottom": "Tarleton St",
                    "host": "Tarleton St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Tarleton St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 55
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "FCS Championship",
            "onCampus": false,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "Tarleton St",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 67
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}