{
    "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": 3,
        "isLatestWeek": false,
        "ratingsDate": "2026-09-13",
        "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-3.json?as=today",
        "htmlUrl": "https://www.versussportssimulator.com/college-football/fcs/playoff-projection/2026/week-3?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-3?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": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 1,
            "versusRank": 1,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 43,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 1,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 2,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Montana",
            "abbreviation": "MONT",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 2,
            "versusRank": 2,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 69,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 14,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 3,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Illinois St",
            "abbreviation": "ILST",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Missouri Valley champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
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            "versusRank": 3,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 103,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 5,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 4,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Tarleton St",
            "abbreviation": "TAR",
            "conference": "UAC",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "UAC champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 4,
            "versusRank": 4,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 59,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 3,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 5,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "South Dakota",
            "abbreviation": "SDAK",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
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            "versusRank": 5,
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            "strengthOfRecordRank": 8,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 6,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Stephen F. Austin",
            "abbreviation": "SFA",
            "conference": "Southland",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Southland champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 6,
            "versusRank": 6,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 81,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 4,
            "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": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 7,
            "versusRank": 7,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 95,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 13,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 8,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": true,
            "team": "Lehigh",
            "abbreviation": "LEH",
            "conference": "Patriot League",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Patriot League champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 9,
            "versusRank": 9,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 92,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 15,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 9,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Tennessee Tech",
            "abbreviation": "TNTC",
            "conference": "Southern",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Southern champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 11,
            "versusRank": 11,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 104,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 11,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 10,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Idaho St",
            "abbreviation": "IDST",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "3-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 12,
            "versusRank": 12,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 96,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 2,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 11,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "UC-Davis",
            "abbreviation": "UCD",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 8,
            "versusRank": 8,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 52,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 18,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 12,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "South Dakota St",
            "abbreviation": "SDS",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
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            "currentRank": 10,
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 91,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 45,
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        },
        {
            "seed": 13,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Northern Arizona",
            "abbreviation": "NAU",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 13,
            "versusRank": 13,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 27,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 12,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 14,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Youngstown St",
            "abbreviation": "YSU",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 14,
            "versusRank": 14,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 76,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 36,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 15,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Rhode Island",
            "abbreviation": "URI",
            "conference": "CAA",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "CAA champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 15,
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            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 51,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 19,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 16,
            "seeded": true,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Lamar",
            "abbreviation": "LAM",
            "conference": "Southland",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 18,
            "versusRank": 18,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 35,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 7,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 17,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Furman",
            "abbreviation": "FUR",
            "conference": "Southern",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 19,
            "versusRank": 19,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 38,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 9,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 18,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Austin Peay",
            "abbreviation": "PEAY",
            "conference": "UAC",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 21,
            "versusRank": 21,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 72,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 20,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 19,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "West Florida",
            "abbreviation": "WFL",
            "conference": "UAC",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-0",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 16,
            "versusRank": 16,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 37,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 6,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 20,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Mercer",
            "abbreviation": "MER",
            "conference": "Southern",
            "bidType": "at-large",
            "bidDetail": "At-large",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 24,
            "versusRank": 24,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 82,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 47,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 21,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Butler",
            "abbreviation": "BUT",
            "conference": "Pioneer",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "Pioneer champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "2-1",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 32,
            "versusRank": 32,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 90,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 59,
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "seed": 22,
            "seeded": false,
            "bye": false,
            "team": "Tennessee-Martin",
            "abbreviation": "UTM",
            "conference": "OVC",
            "bidType": "automatic",
            "bidDetail": "OVC champion",
            "conferenceTitleChance": null,
            "record": "1-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 3,
            "currentRank": 38,
            "versusRank": 38,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 61,
            "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": 20,
            "versusRank": 20,
            "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": "0-2",
            "gamesPlayed": 2,
            "currentRank": 86,
            "versusRank": 86,
            "strengthOfScheduleRank": 16,
            "strengthOfRecordRank": 103,
            "playoffChance": null
        }
    ],
    "firstTeamsOut": [
        {
            "team": "Southern Illinois",
            "conference": "Missouri Valley",
            "record": "2-1",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "William & Mary",
            "conference": "Patriot League",
            "record": "2-1",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "Richmond",
            "conference": "Patriot League",
            "record": "2-1",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "Cal Poly SLO",
            "conference": "Big Sky",
            "record": "2-1",
            "playoffChance": null
        },
        {
            "team": "Nicholls St",
            "conference": "Southland",
            "record": "2-1",
            "playoffChance": null
        }
    ],
    "firstRoundTravel": {
        "totalMiles": 6373,
        "tripsUnder400Miles": 3,
        "trips": 8,
        "milesUnderSeedOrder": 2576,
        "games": [
            {
                "hostSeed": 9,
                "host": "Tennessee Tech",
                "visitorSeed": 18,
                "visitor": "Austin Peay",
                "site": "Cookeville, TN",
                "miles": 106,
                "over400": false
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 10,
                "host": "Idaho St",
                "visitorSeed": 17,
                "visitor": "Furman",
                "site": "Pocatello, ID",
                "miles": 1693,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 11,
                "host": "UC-Davis",
                "visitorSeed": 22,
                "visitor": "Tennessee-Martin",
                "site": "Davis, CA",
                "miles": 1801,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 12,
                "host": "South Dakota St",
                "visitorSeed": 21,
                "visitor": "Butler",
                "site": "Brookings, SD",
                "miles": 625,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 13,
                "host": "Northern Arizona",
                "visitorSeed": 20,
                "visitor": "Mercer",
                "site": "Flagstaff, AZ",
                "miles": 1607,
                "over400": true
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 14,
                "host": "Youngstown St",
                "visitorSeed": 24,
                "visitor": "Duquesne",
                "site": "Youngstown, OH",
                "miles": 57,
                "over400": false
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 15,
                "host": "Rhode Island",
                "visitorSeed": 23,
                "visitor": "Yale",
                "site": "Kingston, RI",
                "miles": 74,
                "over400": false
            },
            {
                "hostSeed": 16,
                "host": "Lamar",
                "visitorSeed": 19,
                "visitor": "West Florida",
                "site": "Beaumont, TX",
                "miles": 410,
                "over400": true
            }
        ]
    },
    "bracket": [
        {
            "round": "First Round",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "West Florida",
                    "bottom": "Lamar",
                    "host": "Lamar",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Lamar",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 53
                },
                {
                    "top": "Austin Peay",
                    "bottom": "Tennessee Tech",
                    "host": "Tennessee Tech",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Austin Peay",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 51
                },
                {
                    "top": "Butler",
                    "bottom": "South Dakota St",
                    "host": "South Dakota St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "South Dakota St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 97
                },
                {
                    "top": "Mercer",
                    "bottom": "Northern Arizona",
                    "host": "Northern Arizona",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Northern Arizona",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 57
                },
                {
                    "top": "Yale",
                    "bottom": "Rhode Island",
                    "host": "Rhode Island",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Rhode Island",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 66
                },
                {
                    "top": "Furman",
                    "bottom": "Idaho St",
                    "host": "Idaho St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Idaho St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 85
                },
                {
                    "top": "Tennessee-Martin",
                    "bottom": "UC-Davis",
                    "host": "UC-Davis",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "UC-Davis",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 71
                },
                {
                    "top": "Duquesne",
                    "bottom": "Youngstown St",
                    "host": "Youngstown St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Youngstown St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 98
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Second Round",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "Lamar",
                    "host": "Montana St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 95
                },
                {
                    "top": "Lehigh",
                    "bottom": "Austin Peay",
                    "host": "Lehigh",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Austin Peay",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 54
                },
                {
                    "top": "South Dakota",
                    "bottom": "South Dakota St",
                    "host": "South Dakota",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "South Dakota St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 57
                },
                {
                    "top": "Tarleton St",
                    "bottom": "Northern Arizona",
                    "host": "Tarleton St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Tarleton St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 70
                },
                {
                    "top": "Montana",
                    "bottom": "Rhode Island",
                    "host": "Montana",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Montana",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 65
                },
                {
                    "top": "North Dakota",
                    "bottom": "Idaho St",
                    "host": "North Dakota",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "North Dakota",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 65
                },
                {
                    "top": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "bottom": "UC-Davis",
                    "host": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 78
                },
                {
                    "top": "Illinois St",
                    "bottom": "Youngstown St",
                    "host": "Illinois St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Illinois St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 62
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Quarterfinals",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "Austin Peay",
                    "host": "Montana St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 81
                },
                {
                    "top": "South Dakota St",
                    "bottom": "Tarleton St",
                    "host": "Tarleton St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "South Dakota St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 59
                },
                {
                    "top": "Montana",
                    "bottom": "North Dakota",
                    "host": "Montana",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "North Dakota",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 57
                },
                {
                    "top": "Stephen F. Austin",
                    "bottom": "Illinois St",
                    "host": "Illinois St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Illinois St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 59
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "Semifinals",
            "onCampus": true,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "South Dakota St",
                    "host": "Montana St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 73
                },
                {
                    "top": "North Dakota",
                    "bottom": "Illinois St",
                    "host": "Illinois St",
                    "neutralSite": false,
                    "favorite": "Illinois St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 56
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "round": "FCS Championship",
            "onCampus": false,
            "games": [
                {
                    "top": "Montana St",
                    "bottom": "Illinois St",
                    "host": null,
                    "neutralSite": true,
                    "favorite": "Montana St",
                    "favoriteWinChance": 71
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}