Playoff Matchups: Quarterfinals

The regular season is over. It was a big one for the OIL. We expanded into two conferences, published our oral history, and started branding each franchise with professional logos and uniforms. There are 28 franchises in the OklahomIraqis Leagues, but only 12 make the playoffs. Here are your first-round matchups.

OIL: National Conference

It's wide-open in the original OIL this post-season. Only one playoff team (Arrogant Americans) has won the Harrington Trophy before. The other five would be first-time champions. In fact, no other playoff team has been to the OIL Bowl, including the top two seeds.

The hunt for the OIL Bowl starts now.

First-Round Byes: #1 Hard Targets (10-3) and #2 Dirty Hippies (10-3)

Quarterfinals: #6 vs. #3 and #5 vs. #4

Four teams jump-start the playoffs with the winners facing the Hard Targets or Dirty Hippies. The final playoff spot came down to the wire, and no one knew the lineup until after the Sunday night game. 

#6 DARC NARCS (7-6) vs. 
#3 Arrogant Americans (9-4)

Henderson's DARC NARCS don't have the most impressive resume, but they finished with a winning season. Had Jessen's DominationStation beaten one more team, they'd be here. But they finished 6-7. So, even though they had the second-most poinst in the OIL going into week 13, they're sitting at home. This is Henderson's first playoff appearance of his OIL career. Meanwhile, Cliburn's Arrogant Americans thought they'd enjoy a first-round bye, but Finch's Hard Targets and Trovillo's Dirty Hippies scored more points than the 'Mericans. Henderson will wear his 8-bit graphic-inspired away uniforms, while Cliburn will wear his blue alternate jersey for the first time this season.

Regular Season Result: Week Four

In week four, the 'Mericans used a breakout 30.40-point game from Larry Donnell to overcome a paltry 5.85 points from his QB and 1.70 points from Lesean McCoy and defeat the DARC NARCS. Now Henderson gets an opportunity for revenge. 

#5 Hangovers (7-6) vs. 
#4 AMMODOGS (8-5)

Duffy's Hangovers came from behind during Rivalry Week to beat his arch-rival and claim a playoff spot. And Rogers's AMMODOGS make the playoffs while competing from Afghanistan. Duffy will wear his Green Bay Packers-inspired away uniforms, while Rogers will don his Acme Packers-inspired home alternate uniforms. 

Duffy won five of his last six games to make the playoffs. The loss? The AMMODOGS in week 12. After winning four straight, the Hangovers were beaten easily by the AMMODOGS, setting up a must-win in Rivalry Week for Duff to make the playoffs.

Regular Season Result: Week 12

OIL: American Conference

As mentioned above, this is the first season of the second OklahomIraqis conference: the American. It's had its bumps along the way, but it's coming together. The six managers in the playoffs are excited to be there. They all have the same goal: win the Thunder Bowl and be the first to hoist the Killman Memorial Trophy. Logos and uniforms aren't ready for all the American franchises yet, but they're on the way.

First-Round Byes: #1 War Pony (9-4) and #2 Hillier (9-4)

Congratulations to the top two seeds in the American Conference. Like always, they're rewarded with a first-round bye in the playoffs. That guarantees a spot in the semifinals. Win just one game, and you're in the Thunder Bowl. Sgt. Maj. Venable's War Pony overtook Hillier in the last week of the season to claim the number-one seed, but both franchises will enjoy a first-round bye

Quarterfinals: #6 vs. #3 and #5 vs. #4

Nine teams in the conference finished with a winning record. So, unfortunately, four teams with winning records were left out of the playoffs. The competition was fierce for the final two playoff spots, and it came down to the wire. 

#6 Hooligans (7-6) vs. #3 Doughboys (8-5)

SECFOR commander Charlie Neely's Hooligans needed a big week 13 victory to ensure a spot in the playoffs. Now he faces off against Green's Doughboys in the first round. The Hooligans overcame a horrible draft (thanks to Yahoo!'s software glitch) to make the playoffs behind savvy player adds like Justin Forsett, Odell Beckham, and Larry Donnell. Meanwhile, Green rode a strong draft class led by Jamaal Charles, Jordy Nelson, Emmanuel Sanders, and Rob Gronkowski. 

Regular Season Result: Week Four

In week four, the Hooligans broke out for 166.80 points . . . but still lost by 30 points to the Doughboys, who had four players score over 27 points. Now, Neely gets his chance to avenge that loss. 

#5 Brewmasters (8-5) vs.
#4 Redlegs (8-5)

This is not only Joshua Lynn's first season in the OIL; it's his first season playing fantasy football. His Brewmasters clinched a playoff spot in week 12 after he devoted himself to reading expert articles each week, determined to make his first season a success. He'll face off against Zerger's Redlegs in a First Platoon vs. Third Platoon competition for the right to play in the semifinals.

Regular Season Result: Week Seven

In a close matchup in week seven, Lynn's Brewmasters overcame the 18-point spread and beat the Redlegs behind 22 points from Andre Ellington.