University of Massachusets Athletics
CAA Football Playoff/Automatic Qualifier Information
November 12, 2007 | Football
Nov. 12, 2007
RICHMOND, Va. - CAA Football NCAA Division I Football Championships Automatic Bid & Conference Championship Scenarios -- Nov. 12, 2007
Four teams (Massachusetts, Richmond, Delaware and James Madison) remain in contention for the CAA Football automatic bid into the NCAA Division I National Championship.
The Richmond-William and Mary game kicks off at noon on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic from Richmond, Va. The Massachusetts-Hofstra game kicks off at noon on ESPNU from Hempstead, N.Y. The James Madison-Towson game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va. The Delaware-Villanova game kicks off live at 3:30 p.m. on CN8 from Villanova, Pa.
Listed below are the three possible scenarios for Massachusetts, Richmond, Delaware and James Madison this weekend:
(1) If either Massachusetts or Richmond wins and the other team loses, the team which wins will be CAA Football Champion by virtue of its 7-1 conference record.
(2) If both Massachusetts and Richmond win: The two teams are recognized as 2007 CAA Football Champions. The fourth outside-of-division tiebreaker -- a majority vote by the conference’s Athletics Directors (excluding the Athletics Directors of Richmond and Massachusetts) - will determine which team receives the conference’s automatic bid.
-- Outside-of-Division tiebreaker:
1. Head-to-Head matchup: Massachusetts and Richmond did not face each other this season.
2. Record versus common CAA Football opponents: Massachusetts is 5-1 with wins over Towson, Villanova, Northeastern, William and Mary, New Hampshire and a loss to Rhode Island. Richmond is 5-1 with wins over Northeastern, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Villanova, William and Mary and a loss to Towson.
3. Point system for non-conference games: Massachusetts earns one (1) point each for wins over Holy Cross (Patriot), Colgate (Patriot) and no points for a loss to Boston College (FBS) -- a total of two points. Richmond earns one (1) point each for wins over Bucknell (Patriot), Stony Brook (Scholarship Independent) and no points for a loss to Vanderbilt (FBS) -- a total of two points.
4. If the above tie-breakers fail to determine an automatic qualifier, a majority vote by the Directors of Athletics would then declare the Conference’s automatic qualifier.
(3) If both Massachusetts and Richmond lose and either (or both) Delaware and James Madison win: The three/four teams are recognized as 2007 CAA Football Champions and the automatic qualifier will be determined applying the scenarios listed below:
a. If James Madison wins (regardless of the Delaware outcome) it will receive the automatic qualifier by virtue of a 6-0 mark against common CAA Football opponents.
NOTE: Record versus common CAA Football opponents in scenario (3a): James Madison is 6-0 with wins over New Hampshire, Villanova, Northeastern, Rhode Island, William and Mary and Towson. Delaware is 5-1 with wins over William and Mary, Rhode Island, Towson, Northeastern, Villanova and a loss to New Hampshire. Massachusetts is 5-1 with wins over Towson, Villanova, Northeastern, William and Mary, New Hampshire and a loss to Rhode Island. Richmond is 4-2 with wins over Northeastern, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Villanova and losses to Towson and William and Mary.
b. If Delaware wins and James Madison loses, Delaware and Massachusetts will be tied at 5-1 against common CAA Football opponents, while Richmond will be 4-2. Delaware will be the automatic qualifier according to the point system for non-conference games as a result of its victory over Navy (FBS opponent).
NOTE:  Point system for non-conference games in the scenario (3b): Delaware earns one (1) point for a win over Monmouth (Northeast) and two (2) points for a win over Navy (FBS) -- a total of three points. Massachusetts earns one (1) point each for wins over Holy Cross (Patriot), Colgate (Patriot) and no points for a loss to Boston College (FBS) -- a total of two points.
