Another hurdle cleared toward FCS playoff change

(STATS) - The FCS playoffs may not have as strong a regional look if a recommendation by the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee is passed later this year.

The committee approved an extra charter flight be allowed to playoff qualifiers. The proposal still must be approved by the NCAA Division I Council in October for use this year.

The policy would only go into effect if at least four teams from one conference make the 24-team field. That has occurred in the first three years since the FCS playoff expanded by four teams.

"It was a strong endorsement from the Oversight Committee," Missouri Valley Football Conference commissioner Patty Viverito told the Inforum of Fargo, North Dakota.

The Missouri Valley is one of the conferences that has led the way toward possible change. Last season, all five qualifiers from the conference were put on the same side of the bracket because of the regionalization policy, which tries to minimize travel and expenses.

Missouri Valley co-champ North Dakota State emerged from that side of the bracket and went on to win its fifth straight national title.