Those Other Guys

So hey, hi, how ya doin’? It’s been awhile, I know. What can I say? Running Bring on the Cats for the last two years has been pretty time-consuming, so I haven’t been able to keep up on this site.

But I figured it would be nice to get in here as this year’s playoffs loom and do the old season-end roundups. So here we go with what’s up in Division II this weekend, the final weekend of the regular season. We’ll hit up each of the four super-regions, starting with their rankings going into the final weekend, and then a quick hit on each conference in that super-region and what’s important on Saturday. Important reminder about regional rankings: the committees only consider games against Division II teams. Not even wins over FCS squads count, which is sort of silly but what are you gonna do?

Also important: the playoffs have expanded from 24 to 28 teams, meaning seven teams from each super-region, with the #1 seed getting a first round bye.

Super Region I

1. Shepherd (9-0)
2. Bowie State (9-1)
3. Charleston (WV) (9-1)
4. Slippery Rock (9-1)
5. Assumption (9-1)
6. Indiana (PA) (7-2)
7. Virginia Union (8-2)
8. California (PA) (7-3)
9. New Haven (7-3)
10. Glenville State (7-3)

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Only one game in the CIAA this week: the CIAA Championship game, at 2pm ET in Durham NC. The South Division champions: 5-5 Winston-Salem State, who started the season off horribly before rebounding to roll through the division schedule at a 4-1 clip. The problem for the Rams is that they may only be the sixth- or seventh-best team in the CIAA as a whole, and they’re up against North Division champs Bowie State. Bowie, ranked 22nd in the AFCA D-II poll, can’t relax, though. A loss to WSSU here might drop them out of the playoffs altogether, because it would be a pretty bad setback. I don’t mean to suggest that’s likely; just a possibility.

Virginia Union, sitting at home, clings to the final playoff spot; they’re hoping Bowie State wins, because although they lost to Bowie State the Panthers didn’t play Winston-Salem. A win by a team they lost to helps idle VUU more than a win by a team they didn’t play.

Mountain East Conference

Shepherd, ranked 5th in the country, hosts 2-8 Urbana at noon ET Saturday. They should have no problem holding on to the top spot in SR1 and securing the first-round bye. The Rams have already clinched a share of the MEC title, and although it means nothing in the absence of actual automatic bids they have the tiebreaker over Charleston anyway.

Charleston should likewise have little difficulty securing a playoff bid on Saturday; the Golden Eagles play tonight at 7pm ET, visiting the UVA-Wise Cavaliers. The Clinch Valley lads, in their first full season of D-II competition, are currently 1-9 and no threat to Charleston. The Golden Eagles could share the MEC title with a win, but that would require a Shepherd loss and that’s unlikely.

On the outside looking in is Glenville State, who host their arch-rivals Fairmont State (5-4). That’s also a 7pm kickoff tonight. A lot would have to happen to get the Pioneers into the playoffs, including a complete meltdown by all three PSAC teams in the regional top ten.

Northeast 10 Conference

The Northeast 10 also holds a championship game, although the other eight teams also play based on their conference finish. Only one game really matters, though: 23rd-ranked Assumption, the NE-10’s top seed, hosts New Haven at noon ET. The winner is virtually assured of a playoff bid, and will be crowned Northeast 10 champs.

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference

Slippery Rock, ranked 9th in the nation, won the West Division. They travel to 7-3 West Chester, the East Division champions, for the State Game at noon ET. The winner is the PSAC champion. A loss might well cost the Rock a playoff bid. Why?

Indiana may as well prepare for the playoffs. At noon, the Crimson Hawks visit Cheyney, who are 0-10 and riding the nation’s longest losing streak at any level, having dropped 42 straight.

Meanwhile, California visits the team that has the longest losing streak in D-II history at 1pm. Lock Haven lost 52 in a row, a streak that ended recently enough that I wrote about it in this very space; the Bald Eagles won on November 10, 2012… against Cheyney. It was the tenth loss in Cheyney’s current losing streak. California should come away with the win here, but the Vulcans are going to need help to get into the playoffs. West Chester may well provide it.

Super Region II

1. West Georgia (9-1)
2. North Alabama (7-2)
3. Catawba (8-2)
4. Carson-Newman (8-2)
5. Tuskegee (8-2)
6. Florida Tech (7-3)
7. Valdosta State (7-2)
8. Newberry (6-4)
9. North Greenville (6-3)
10. West Alabama (7-3)

Gulf South Conference

The situation in SR2 is, um, fluid, as evidenced by the presence of five (of the seven eligible) Gulf South teams in the top 10. It is theoretically possible that a team which isn’t even on the radar could slide into the playoffs, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

West Georgia, ranked 7th in the country, remains atop the regional rankings despite last week’s stunning loss to Florida Tech. The Wolves, a national semifinalist last year, had spent a few weeks in the #1 spot in the AFCA D-II poll before that loss. But they do have the easiest path this week, hosting Shorter (2-7) at 3pm ET Saturday. Barring an upset, they’re in.

Meanwhile, West Alabama visits 15th-ranked North Alabama at 2:30. The Lions would secure that second seed with a win; the Tigers would almost certainly snake a playoff bid if they win. In other words, this game is no help for teams looking for an opening, and might be a devastating blow.

After last week’s upset win, Florida Tech heads to 18th-ranked Valdosta State in what is effectively an opening-round playoff game for both. The winner is almost certainly in, the loser is almost certainly out — unless, of course, nobody beneath Valdosta steps up to claim the final spot. This is big, heady stuff for Florida Tech. The Panthers, based in Melbourne, are in only their third season of football. They could be staring at a two-week span where they knocked off the #1 team in the country and then earned their first-ever playoff bid.

Irrelevant, and shockingly so: 3-6 Mississippi College, still ineligible as they continue their transition back to D-II after a long stretch in D-III, hosts Delta State. The Fighting Okra started the season ranked 14th, rose to 5th by the end of September… and then promptly went into the tank once conference play started. A perennial playoff team, 5-5 Delta has suffered through a miserable 1-5 conference season, although they should cap 2015 off with a win to stay over .500 on the year.

The conference title? It’s complicated. West Georgia, North Alabama, and Florida Tech are all knotted at 5-1 in conference. Any of them that win this week get to claim a share of the title. If none of them win, it’s a four-way tie which also includes Valdosta. Again, nobody really applies tiebreakers in Division II, but if they did and only two of the three were to win, West Georgia would have the edge if Florida Tech loses, North Alabama if West Georgia loses, and Florida Tech if North Alabama loses.

Any of the ranked teams, or Delta State, are candidates for the Heart of Texas Bowl should they miss the playoffs.

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Only one game this week, the SIAC championship game at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama at 7pm ET Saturday. Miles (6-4) stole the West Division title last week with a 26-23 upset at Tuskegee; they’ll face Albany State (6-3), the East Division champion. If Albany State wins, they might have a shot at getting into the playoff field if North Alabama, Florida Tech, and Wingate all win, and if Carson-Newman or Catawba lose that would help too. Albany would probably be fighting with Wingate over that last position, but would not be guaranteed the spot under the earned access rule because of Tuskegee. The conference title might give them a tiny edge, although that is not an official selection criteria the committee considers. (Why just Albany and not Miles? Miles is FCS Alabama State‘s opponent in next week’s Turkey Day Classic, and as a result withdrew themselves from eligibility for the 2015 Division II Playoffs.)

Tuskegee, meanwhile, only fell to 5th in the regional rankings as a result of the loss. The 24th-ranked Golden Tigers are idle this week, and are basically a lock for a playoff bid.

South Atlantic Conference

No game in the SAC, a league which mostly devoured itself this season, is irrelevant this week. Mars Hill (5-5) visits Brevard (0-10), and you’d think that wouldn’t matter… but, see, Mars Hill went 1-3 in non-conference play, and they could clinch a share of the conference title with a win and losses by Catawba and Carson-Newman. Brevard’s playing out the string before departing to reclassify to Division III.

Catawba has clinched a share of the conference title, and holds the tiebreaker over both Carson-Newman and Mars Hill. The Indians — yes, the Indians, as they get to retain that nickname due to the support of the North Carolina branch of the Cherokee Nation — would secure a playoff spot with a win over Lenoir-Rhyne (5-4) at 1:30pm ET. A loss, and they’re in danger.

In an almost identical situation is 25th-ranked Carson-Newman, who would also secure a bid by defeating Tusculum (4-6). The Eagles would claim a share of the SAC title with a win and a Catawba loss; they would also, like Catawba, be in big trouble if they don’t win.

Finally, Newberry visits Wingate (6-4) at 1:30. Newberry will grab a playoff spot if they win. If Wingate wins, they’d be in the same boat as, and competing with, Albany State as noted above.

SR II Independents

Four of the six remaining D-II independents reside in SR II, but realistically only one matters this week. That’s North Greenville, who are theoretically in play for the final playoff spot except for one small problem: at 1pm ET they’re scheduled to play Virginia College of Lynchburg, a school which is no longer considered a countable opponent. In other words, as far as the committee is concerned the Tigers are idle this week. That puts them at a disadvantage in the Wingate/SIAC conversation, and will likely keep them out of the field unless utter chaos ensues.

Super Region III

1. Northwest Missouri State (10-0)
2. Minnesota State-Mankato (9-1)
3. Humboldt State (8-1)
4. Henderson State (8-2)
5. Augustana (SD) (8-2)
6. Emporia State (8-2)
7. Sioux Falls (8-2)
8. Central Missouri (8-2)
9. Southwest Minnesota State (6-4)
10. Western Oregon (7-3)

Great American Conference

The GAC, like the SAC, ate itself this year. Like the MIAA and NSIC, the GAC does not play non-conference games; it’s a 12-team league playing an 11-game round robin. As a result, Henderson State is the only team in the league with fewer than three losses, and has already clinched the outright conference title. The Reddies, ranked 8th nationally, take on arch-rivals Ouachita Baptist (7-3) at 2pm ET Saturday in the Battle of the Ravine, the oldest and most storied rivalry in Division II. The two schools are literally located across the highway from each other in Arkadelphia, Arkansas; the visiting team dresses in their own locker room then jogs across Arkansas Highway 7 to the opposing team’s stadium. The passion’s higher than usual; seven people have been arrested as a result of pranks gone overboard. A loss might knock Henderson State out of the playoffs, but given the other high-profile game in the conference on Saturday it’s likely that at least one GAC team makes the field regardless.

That game: Harding (7-3) at Arkansas Tech (7-3), 3pm CT. Although neither are ranked regionally, the winner could climb into playoff position if they get some help. Both teams, like Ouachita, were ranked at some point this season. There are two other 7-3 teams in the conference — that’s right, half the conference is 7-3 or better despite playing a full round-robin — but because Harding and Arkansas Tech get to play one another the winner of that game has a much better chance of sneaking in. Those two: Southern Arkansas, hosting 1-9 Arkansas-Monticello, and Southwestern Oklahoma State, who visits Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-7).

Also in play for all these 7-3 teams: a bid to the LiveUnited Texarkana Bowl against an MIAA team, which will go to the highest-placed GAC team which does not make the playoffs. The selection order for that bid, due to tiebreakers, is Southwestern Oklahoma State > Arkansas Tech > Ouachita Baptist > Harding. (Of course, if Henderson loses and somehow misses the playoffs, the bid is theirs.)

There’s also the Heart of Texas Bowl, which does not officially have a tie-in with the GAC but for travel purposes would obviously prefer a GAC or Gulf South team. The host team for the Heart of Texas Bowl will be a Lone Star Conference squad.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference

For a few years, the GNAC struggled, at one point shrinking to only four teams. But they’ve battled back and replenished the ranks (including the NCAA’s only Canadian team, Simon Fraser), and finally got back into the playoffs last year when Azusa Pacific snagged a bid. They’re not a factor this year, though, and the key game Saturday is the 4pm ET clash between 12th-ranked Humboldt State and Western Oregon. Humboldt has already clinched a share of the conference title; Western would share it, and have the mythical tiebreaker, if they win.

You’d suspect the winner would secure a playoff bid, but in the event of a WOU upset it’s possible they could both get in, or possible that Humboldt still gets in while Western Oregon is still left out. The NSIC game between Sioux Falls and Upper Iowa is of critical import here.

MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Northwest Missouri State, the #1 team in the nation this week and the outright MIAA champion, is in the playoffs no matter what happens on Saturday. They visit Washburn (5-5) at 2pm ET, hoping to complete the perfect 11-0 conference season in yet another conference which doesn’t play non-conference games.

Ranked 19th, Emporia State would also appear to be a playoff lock despite being ranked 6th in the region. That’s because their opponent is 0-10 Nebraska-Kearney, kicking off at 3pm ET. However, it’s possible the Hornets could find themselves on the outside simply because a win over UNK is almost as bad as not playing at all, and there are teams with better opportunities to make a statement Saturday.

One of those teams is 20th-ranked Central Missouri, who plays at Fort Hays State (7-3) at 3pm. Obviously a win for the Mules would be a lot more impressive than Emporia winning, and that might cost Emporia.

Two bowl bids are open for the MIAA. The conference hosts the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. That bid goes to the highest-placed team which misses the playoffs, which would be Emporia State if they win and don’t get in, or Central Missouri if they win and don’t overtake Emporia, or Fort Hays if they beat Central Missouri. The second bid is the other slot in the LiveUnited Texarkana Bowl, which will go to the next team in line.

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

The last of the “no non-conference games” leagues, the NSIC was more balanced this year than ever before. Minnesota State-Mankato, ranked first nationally through most of the season before a stunning defeat at the hands of Winona State back on October 24 and now ranked sixth, hosts 4-6 Wayne State (NE) at 2pm ET Saturday. They’re probably in no matter what, but losing would put them at risk depending on what happens down the line. They also own at least a share of the conference title, and tiebreakers over both Sioux Falls and Augustana; if Mankato loses, both of those teams have a chance to share in the title by winning.

If 17th-ranked Sioux Falls beats 6-4 Upper Iowa, they’re definitely in the playoffs. Lose, and they definitely aren’t. Augustana (SD) isn’t ranked nationally, and they aren’t really going to help themselves much with a win Saturday over Concordia-Saint Paul (1-9). But a win should still be enough to remain in the field, even if it means sliding to the seventh seed.

Southwest Minnesota State visits Winona State (5-5) at 1pm ET; assuming they win, they’ll be desperately hoping that Sioux Falls and Augustana both lose, because that would probably mean a playoff spot.

Meanwhile, there’s a team missing from the regional rankings who has no hope of a playoff spot… but is still sort of relevant. Minnesota-Duluth (7-3) hosts Minot State (1-9) at 2pm, and they’re going to win that game because Minot State’s really bad. That sets Duluth up for the NSIC’s bid to the Mineral Water Bowl, and only a loss by Augustana or Sioux Falls can possibly wreck Duluth’s postseason dreams. Possibly, because UMD might still get the nod anyway.

Finally, it’s not relevant at all to the proceedings, but there is one more NSIC game Saturday between teams with winning records. Bemidji State visits Northern State at 2pm; both are 6-4.

Super Region IV

1. Ferris State (9-0)
2. Ashland (10-0)
3. Texas A&M-Commerce (8-2)
4. Midwestern State (9-1)
5. Colorado State-Pueblo (9-1)
6. Indianapolis (9-1)
7. Grand Valley State (8-2)
8. Colorado Mesa (8-2)
9. Colorado Mines (7-3)
10. Michigan Tech (6-3)

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

A huge changing of the guard in the GLIAC sees Ashland — ranked third in the nation and idle this week — with a share of the conference title, and Ferris State with a punching bag standing in the way of sharing said crown. The 2nd-ranked Bulldogs are led by Jason Vander Laan, already the NCAA’s all-time leader in rushing yards by a quarterback and still only a junior. They’ll host Walsh (2-7) at noon ET, and should join Ashland at 10-0. At that point, it’ll be up to the committee to decide whether beating Walsh was better than sitting at home watching television as they determine which of the GLIAC co-champs gets a bye next week. (It plays no part in the official selection criteria, but odds are they’ll quietly decide to give the bye to Ferris since Ashland was off this week.)

Grand Valley State, ranked 14th nationally, is clinging onto their playoff hopes for dear life, and need a win over visiting archrival Saginaw Valley State to get there. On the one hand, the Lakers should have little trouble as Saginaw has uncharacteristically lost the plot this year, stumbling to a 1-9 record. On the other, simply playing the game might hurt GVSU. That game is at 1pm ET.

There’s really not much hope for Michigan Tech to reach the playoffs, even though they have a 1pm kickoff at 2-8 Lake Erie.

It’s highly unlikely, but a complete meltdown could see Ohio Dominican (7-3) sneak back into the picture should they win at home over Tiffin (5-5). Don’t hold your breath on that one, though.

Great Lakes Valley Conference

Only one team here really matters. Indianapolis, ranked 13th nationally, is already the outright champion. A 1pm win at 4-5 Saint Joseph’s (IN) would clinch a playoff bid. McKendree (7-2) visits Truman State (5-5) at 2pm, a win and a whole bunch of chaos could slip the Bearcats into the field, but I don’t know that even Arioch is capable of that much discombobulation.

Lone Star Conference

The winner of Saturday’s 3:30pm ET Lone Star Championship Game is definitely in. Top seed Texas A&M-Commerce, ranked 11th nationally, takes on 10th-ranked Midwestern State in that one. Why is Midwestern State ranked behind TAMUC in the regional rankings despite being 9-1? Because one of Commerce’s losses was two weeks ago to FCS Sam Houston State, and that doesn’t count against them. As far as the NCAA committee is concerned, Commerce is 8-1, and they’ve already beaten Midwestern head-to-head once this year.

The loser may still sneak into the field, but it would probably require at least someone in the 5-9 range in the regional rankings to lose. If the loser doesn’t make the playoffs, they’ll host the Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cove on December 5; otherwise, that honor will go to the winner of the LSC’s 3 vs 4 game. Fourth seed Angelo State (5-4) visits third seed Eastern New Mexico (6-4) at 2pm.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Colorado State-Pueblo has clinched a share of the title, and will almost certainly own it outright after a 4pm ET visit to New Mexico Highlands (2-8). As has been the case in recent years, the Thunderwolves are ranked higher nationally (4th) than they are in the region, and they need to win in order to stay in the playoff mix.

The RMAC hosts the two teams most desperately hoping for help. Colorado Mesa, ranked 21st, visits 3-7 Western State Colorado at 3pm. Because Western isn’t much of an opponent, they may not get enough juice to bypass the loser of the Lone Star Championship Game, meaning their hopes hinge on Grand Valley and/or Indianapolis stumbling. The same problem afflicts Colorado Mines, also playing a 3pm road game at 3-7 Adams State.

Tags: d2

Most of the conference races in D-II are already settled, or at least settled to the point where two teams are playing for the conference title one way or another. We’ll sort of blow through those; the more important thing this week is the super-regional rankings, which determine the playoff field.

For the uninitiated, Division II does things a little differently than the other divisions. In most sports, the top six teams in each region (with some exceptions — we’ll address the Earned Access Rule in a moment) make the playoffs. In football, it’s the top six teams in each super-region, which is simply a combination of two regions, thus reducing things from eight regions to four super-regions.

There’s a catch, though. If a conference doesn’t have a team in the top six of its super-region, but its champion is ranked seventh or eighth… they get into the playoffs, and the lowest-ranked team in the top six (who wouldn’t immediately have to be put back into the field for the exact same reason, of course) stays home. That’s relevant at the moment in two of the four super-regions, though it may clear itself up by Sunday.

I’m sure that’s as clear as mud. Anyway, we’ll go through each super-region here, and cover each conference within same, and lay out some possibilities.

Super Region 1

Regional Rankings (11/11):
1. Shepherd (9-0)
2. Winston-Salem State (8-1)
3. Bloomsburg (9-1)
4. West Chester (9-1)
5. Slippery Rock (9-1)
6. Virginia State (9-1)
7. American International (8-2)
8. Stonehill (8-2)
9. Concord (8-2)
10. Indiana (PA) (8-2)
Note: records in regional rankings reflect games against D-II competition only.

And here’s the first of those two earned access cases. It may not matter come Sunday, because American International hosts Stonehill in the Northeast-10 championship game, while Winston-Salem State faces Virginia State in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game. However, if Virginia State were to win, it’s possible that the AIU/Stonehill winner might still be stuck in seventh, and the #6 team would go home.

Central IAA

Still Alive: Winston-Salem State (9-1/7-0), Virginia State (9-1/7-0)

As noted, they’ll play in the CIAA title game on Saturday.

Mountain East

Still Alive: Shepherd (9-0/8-0), Concord (8-2/7-1)

It’s not an actual championship game, but Concord hosts Shepherd Saturday. Winner claims the initial conference title (the conference was just formed this year out of the burning ashes of the old West Virginia IAC), although if it’s Shepherd it’s outright and if it’s Concord they’ll share it.

Northeast-10

Still Alive: American International (8-2/8-1), Stonehill (8-2/8-1)

The Northeast-10 leaves the final week of the schedule open and pairs everyone up based on their record after the penultimate weekend; as such, the #2 team visits the #1 team for the title (unless, of course, the #1 team has a two-game lead, but I digress). In this case, AIU beat Stonehill earlier in the season, so they get to host; the winner is the conference champion, period.

Pennsylvania

Still Alive: Slippery Rock (9-1/7-1), Bloomsburg (9-1/6-1)

The PSAC does sort of the same thing, although they go ahead and schedule the final week as normal with cross-divisional games in which all the teams from one division visit the other division. The “visiting” division champion then switches off with the team originally scheduled to visit the “home” division champion. Well, this year, they didn’t have to adjust anyone’s schedule, as Bloomsburg was already slated to visit Slippery Rock anyway. The winner, of course, claims the PSAC title. 9-1 West Chester hosts 4-6 Clarion, so they’re probably safely in the playoff field; 8-2 Indiana visits 7-3 Shippensburg, so their chances of sneaking up into the field are pretty slim.

Super-Region 2

Regional Rankings (11/11):
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (8-1)
2. North Carolina-Pembroke (7-1)
3. North Alabama (7-1)
4. Carson-Newman (8-2)
5. Newberry (8-2)
6. West Alabama (6-2)
7. Tuskegee (7-2)
8. Delta State (5-2)
9. Miles (6-3)
10. Lane (5-3)
Note: records in regional rankings reflect games against D-II competition only.

Earned access comes into play here as well, and with a major twist. Tuskegee is #7, but they finished second in their division to #9 Miles. Miles will probably move into the top 8 with a win Saturday, and it’ll be interesting to see how things shuffle in the top 7. Can the HBCU SIAC get two teams in? Also of note: UNC-Pembroke is an independent; their final game is against Virginia University of Lynchburg, a body-bag that isn’t even in the NAIA. That means that their game won’t affect their ranking, and they’re a lock for the playoffs.

Gulf South

Still Alive: North Alabama (7-2/5-1), West Alabama (7-3/5-1), Delta State (7-2/4-1)

There’s no tiebreaker, so North Alabama and West Alabama already have shares of the crown. Delta State can grab a piece with a win at West Georgia on Saturday while the rest of the conference is farting around with non-conference shenanigans. Those shenanigans, however, are important: West Alabama has a likely walkover at Central State (OH), while UNA has to face Lone Star Conference-leading Tarleton State; a loss might well keep the Lions at home for the playoffs. West Alabama’s in trouble even with a win, thanks to the presence of the two SIAC teams. Delta State is probably out of luck no matter what.

South Atlantic

Still Alive: Lenoir-Rhyne (9-1/6-0) has clinched the SAC title, as they’ve got a two-game lead over everyone.

Lenoir-Rhyne is a lock; even a loss to 6-4 Catawba isn’t going to send them out of the top six. 8-2 Newberry hosts 5-5 North Greenville; they’re in a precarious position, but a win would be more impressive than West Alabama’s win and would likely keep them at least in the #5 slot and save their  bacon. 8-2 Carson-Newman visits 4-5 Wingate, and will definitely survive with a win.

Southern IAC

Still Alive: Albany State (5-4/4-0), Miles (6-3/4-1)

Albany State and Miles will hook up in Atlanta on Saturday for the SIAC title. If Miles wins, they’re almost certainly going to squeak into the field, possibly at the expense of a team ranked ahead of them. Meanwhile, idle Tuskegee, at 8-2, awaits their fate; losses ahead of them could propel them into the playoffs.

Super-Region 3

Regional Rankings (11/11):
1. Northwest Missouri State (10-0)
2. Minnesota State-Mankato (10-0)
3. Henderson State (10-0)
4. Minnesota-Duluth (9-1)
5. Pittsburg State (8-1)
6. Emporia State (8-1)
7. Saint Cloud State (9-1)
8. Missouri Western State (8-2)
9. Washburn (8-2)
10. Harding (7-2)
Note: records in regional rankings reflect games against D-II competition only.

No worries about earned access here. Three of the four conferences in the super-region have unbeaten teams; the fourth doesn’t even have a team ranked. So the top six after Saturday’s games get the tickets, period.

Great American

Still Alive: Henderson State (10-0/9-0) has clinched the conference title outright.

Henderson visits cross-town archrival 7-2 Ouachita Baptist on Saturday. A loss won’t hurt, other than costing the Reddies a home playoff game. It might, however, vault Ouachita into the picture. Harding visits 5-5 Arkansas Tech, but that’s not going to inspire the same sort of fireworks; the Bison are done thanks to all the MIAA action ahead of them.

Great Northwest

Still Alive: Azusa Pacific (8-2/8-1) has clinched the GNAC title, in only their second year in Division II.

Alas, that’s not going to get them into the playoffs.

Mid-America IAA

Still Alive: Northwest Missouri State (10-0/9-0) has clinched a share of the title, and if such things mattered would hold the tiebreak over the other two teams which can still claim a piece of it with wins and a Northwest loss: Pittsburg State (9-1/8-1) and Emporia State (8-1/8-1).

Northwest visits 8-2 Missouri Western State, and is a lock. If MWSU wins, though, they’re likely to bull their way into the field. 8-2 Washburn visits Emporia State. An Emporia win will probably secure their position, while a Washburn win will definitely send Emporia home and will likely not be enough to move the Ichabods up from #9 to a playoff spot. Pittsburg hosts 6-3 Missouri Southern State. They’re a lock if they win, and out if they don’t.

Northern Sun

Still Alive: Minnesota State-Mankato (10-0/10-0) has a four-game lead in the South Division; they clinched it two weeks ago. Minnesota-Duluth (9-1/9-1) and Saint Cloud State (9-1/9-1) are tied for the North Division lead going into the final weekend, and could claim a share of the conference title with wins and a Mankato loss.

Mankato visits 6-4 Upper Iowa; they’re a lock. Duluth visits 3-7 Northern State, and will be safely in the field with a win. Saint Cloud hosts 3-7 Minnesota State-Moorhead. They need to win, of course; they’re also Washburn’s biggest fans this week, as they’re going to require some help to climb into the bracket.

Super-Region 4

Regional Rankings (11/11):
1. Colorado State-Pueblo (9-0)
2. Ohio Dominican (8-0)
3. Saginaw Valley State (9-1)
4. Indianapolis (8-0)
5. Grand Valley State (8-2)
6. Tarleton State (6-2)
7. West Texas A&M (8-2)
8. Chadron State (8-2)
9. Midwestern State (6-2)
10. Ferris State (7-2)
Note: records in regional rankings reflect games against D-II competition only.

No earned access issues here, either. At least not at the moment. Should Indianapolis stumble this week, that may change.

Great Lakes

Still Alive: Saginaw Valley State (9-1/9-0) has clinched the North Division title; the South Division crown has been sealed by Ohio Dominican (9-0/8-0). There is no “conference” champion, as there is an uneven number of conference games.

Ohio Dominican visits 2-8 Malone, and are probably a lock even if you ignore the fact that they’re not going to lose this game. Saginaw visits Grand Valley State. A loss probably won’t knock Saginaw out of the picture, but it would keep Grand Valley from tumbling out of it.  Ferris State hosts 3-6 Northern Michigan; I don’t think there’s enough help to get Ferris into the field with a win.

Great Lakes Valley

Still Alive: Indianapolis (9-1/6-0), Truman State (7-3/5-1)

Truman visits Indy Saturday. Indy would, of course, clinch the outright title with a win; they’d share it with a loss. That loss would probably drop Indianapolis out of the playoffs; the question is whether the win would boost Truman into the rankings and, more importantly, into the top eight. I’d say it was unlikely, but if Saginaw beats Grand Valley as expected and Tarleton loses to North Alabama and Chadron slips up… well, all of those things are possible, and if they happen Truman may well sneak in.

Lone Star

Still Alive: Tarleton State (7-2/5-1), Eastern New Mexico (6-3/4-1)

Tarleton’s conference schedule is done, and they’ve sealed up a share of the title. ENMU can swipe half of it, though, with a win at 7-3 Texas A&M-Commerce. Meanwhile, West Texas A&M visits Midwestern State. A WTAMU win would be a good leg up toward slipping into the field. If Midwestern wins, well, see discussion of Truman above. As for Tarleton, as mentioned they’ve got to play North Alabama, and their very playoff lives are at stake here. They can’t survive a loss unless the other teams vying for the first round road games all trip over themselves.

Rocky Mountain

Still Alive: Colorado State-Pueblo (10-0/8-0), Chadron State (8-2/7-1)

Pueblo claims the title outright with a win at home over 2-7 Western State. Easy peasy. They’re a lock. Chadron needs a Pueblo loss and a win at 7-3 Colorado Mines. That’s a tall order. If Chadron wins, though, they’ve got a reasonable shot at sliding into the six slot in the rankings, and barring a GLVC-related disaster that’ll be good enough for a playoff ticket.

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