NDSU and ISU are in the playoffs barring a major catastrophe. They do not play each other this year, and it's hard to see either team finishing with more than 3 losses. Given both played an all full scholarship OOC schedule, and NDSU beat Iowa State and Montana, even with 3 losses both teams make the playoffs.
YSU is definitely in if the go 4-0 or 3-1 these last 4 games. Going 2-2 to finish at 8-4/5-3 leaves room for the committee to find a reason to NOT select YSU as an at-large team. Having said that, I think 8-4/5-3 will be good enough for YSU to make the playoffs this year.
Indy State is in a pretty good position at 5-3/2-2. They have the win over Ball State(FBS) and also Liberty(5-3). Indy played 2 FBS teams and 2 full scholarship FCS teams in their OOC schedule. Of the 4 remaining games, they will likely be favored in 3... home against SDSU, home against MSU and @ WIU... Only game they will likely be the underdog is at YSU. Indy State has a very good chance to finish 8-4/5-3, or even 9-3/6-2. And, the OOC schedule ought to help if 8-4 or 7-5 and on the bubble.
SDSU is in trouble. They are 5-3/2-2, but one of the wins was over a non D1 team. So, they really cannot afford another loss, as that would put SDSU at 7-4 in the eyes of the selection committee. They also play at NDSU and at Indy State the next 2 games. Now, if they manage to win the next 2 games, 8-4/5-3 would look much, much better, even with the Non D1 win.
UNI still has life, barely. They get both ISU and NDSU at home, then finish at SIU and home against MSU. I think UNI could sneak into the playoffs at 7-5/5-3. UNI played 2 FBS teams in the OOC schedule, and 2 full scholarship FCS teams. To finish 7-5, they have to beat either ISU or NDSU. If UNI were to win 1 of these 2 games and give ISU or NDSU their only loss, that would help a great deal.
SIU needs to win out, and even then it does not look good. SIU has a win over a non D1 team, so the best they can do in the eyes of the selection committee is 7-4. And, to do that, they have to beat ISU on the road in the final game of the season. SIU also lost to YSU and Indy State, which will hurt if YSU, Indy State and SIU all finish 8-4/5-3
Missouri State does not have a quality win, and they are going to have to win their final 4 games just to get onto "the bubble". They are 1-3 in the MVFC, and the only win was against South Dakota. Now, if they manage to go 4-0 in November, they will have earned a playoff spot... @Indy State, home SIU, home NDSU and @UNI
WIU and South Dakota have no chance at the playoffs.
I think the MVFC will get at least 3 teams, with an outside chance of 4 or 5.
The way things look right now, there is a very good possibility several teams will finish 8-4 or 7-5, and that is when quality wins, bad losses, head-to-head results and strength of schedule come into play. And, because the committee is comprised of human beings, it also brings personal biases into play.
