**FCS Playoffs Predictions: Final Bracketology Accuracy and Seed Projections**

The final week of the FCS regular season was defined by unexpected upsets affecting many potential seeds and bubble teams. The chaos has led to an interesting prediction for the 2024 FCS Playoffs, outlining the Top 16 seeds, at-large bids, and the teams on the bubble. Based on anticipated decisions from the playoff committee, the official bracket is expected to be announced on November 24 at 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPNU.

Representing their respective conferences, the predicted automatic qualifiers include Montana State from the Big Sky, SEMO from the Big South-OVC, Richmond from the CAA, South Dakota State from the MVFC, Central Connecticut State from the NEC, Lehigh from the Patriot, Drake from the Pioneer, Mercer from the SoCon, Incarnate Word from the Southland, and Abilene Christian from the UAC.

The Top 16 seeds are projected as follows:
1. Montana State
2. North Dakota State
3. South Dakota State
4. South Dakota
5. UC Davis
6. Idaho
7. Mercer
8. Incarnate Word
9. Richmond
10. Rhode Island
11. Villanova
12. Montana
13. Illinois State
14. Abilene Christian
15. Tarleton State
16. SEMO

Additional seeded teams include North Dakota State, South Dakota, UC Davis, Idaho, Rhode Island, Villanova, Illinois State, Montana, and Tarleton State. Eastern Kentucky is also projected to make the field.

The committee's strategy for the playoffs focuses on minimizing travel costs by scheduling as many first-round games within bus-trip distance (400 miles or less) while avoiding rematches from the regular season. Conference matchups are avoided in the first round unless the teams did not meet during the regular season.

Stay tuned for more updates and analyses as the official bracket release approaches.