Heading into the final week of regular season play, three idle teams are merely waiting for Thanksgiving weekend; Albany State is almost definitely in the playoffs, while Central Missouri is probably in and Morehouse should be in as well, barring some major resume-boosting performances by teams behind them. Scenarios and more after the jump.
Gulf South: (Region Two)
at #10 Valdosta State 31, West Georgia 13
at #18 North Alabama 24, West Alabama 23
Delta State 33, at Ouachita Baptist 27
at South Alabama 37, Henderson State 31 (non-conference)
at Harding 42, Arkansas Tech 7
Arkansas-Monticello 28, at Southern Arkansas 23
Valdosta rolled, helped by Stevie Harden’s fourth pick-six of the year (tying an NCAA record) and claiming a piece of the conference title. … UNA trailed by 20 before storming back with three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Thursday:
Valdosta still needs to beat West Alabama to win the conference title, and would win it outright if so. If they lose, they will share the title with Delta (as well as North Alabama and/or Henderson State, should either or both win). The GSC has no tiebreakers.
#7 Valdosta State (8-1, 6-1) at West Alabama (6-4, 4-3)
Arkansas-Monticello (4-6, 3-5) at South Alabama (9-0, n/a) (non-conference)
Saturday:
#15 North Alabama (8-2, 5-2) at Harding (5-4, 3-4)
Delta State (7-3, 6-2) at Lambuth (4-5, NAIA) (non-conference)
West Georgia (3-6, 2-5) at Henderson State (6-4, 5-2)
Ouachita Baptist (5-4, 3-4) at Southern Arkansas (1-8, 1-6)
Southwest Baptist (7-3) at Arkansas Tech (3-7, 2-6) (non-conference)
If the playoffs began today, Valdosta State (#2) North Alabama (#4), and Delta State (#5) would make the field.
Mid-America: (Region Four)
#3 Northwest Missouri State 17, at #6 Central Missouri 16
Missouri Western 16, at Nebraska-Omaha 14
at Washburn 42, Emporia State 0
at Pittsburg State 17, Truman 14
Missouri Southern 41, at Fort Hays State 31
The big game came down to a 45-yard Todd Adolf field goal as time expired, allowing defending national champion Northwest Missouri State to claim a share of the MIAA title. It’s Northwest’s 45th straight conference win. … There’ll be a presser at Fort Hays today (Wednesday) in which it’s expected that head coach Kevin Verdugo will be stepping down.
Saturday:
There’s no tiebreaker for the conference championship. Northwest has already claimed a share, and will win it outright if they beat Pittsburg Saturday night at Arrowhead. A PSU upset would hand Central Missouri a share of the title.
Pittsburg State (5-5, 3-5) “at” #3 Northwest Missouri State (8-1, 8-0) (at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)
Fort Hays State (3-7, 1-7) at Missouri Western (7-3, 5-3)
Washburn (6-4, 5-3) at Missouri Southern (4-6, 2-6)
Nebraska-Omaha (4-6, 4-4) at Truman (4-6, 2-6)
#12 Central Missouri (9-2, 8-1) and Emporia State (5-6, 3-6) idle (seasons complete)
If the playoffs began today, Northwest Missouri State (#3) and Central Missouri (#4) would make the field. Missouri Western (#6) would lose out due to Central Washington (#8) getting in via Earned Access.
Great Lakes IAC: (Region Three)
at #8 Grand Valley State 35, Northwood 21
at #17 Hillsdale 31, Findlay 3
at #24 Wayne State (MI) 41, Indianapolis 27
Michigan Tech 28, at Ferris State 16
Ashland 44, at Ohio Dominican 15
Saginaw Valley State 24, at Northern Michigan 17 (OT)
at Lake Erie 31, Tiffin 27
Northern Michigan’s long time equipment manager, John Tessaro, passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning before the Wildcats’ overtime loss to Saginaw. Tessaro, 73, had served the school since 1981. … Lake Erie continues their surprising rebound, winning their third straight after opening 0-7.
Saturday:
The GLIAC does break ties, apparently, which means we have scenarios!
Grand Valley wins the North (and the conference title) if they beat Saginaw or if Michigan Tech loses to Northern Michigan. A GVSU loss and MTU win would give Michigan Tech the division title based on Tech’s win over Grand Valley two weeks ago. Michigan Tech would also claim the conference title if Wayne wins the South (or if Hillsdale wins the South despite losing to Tiffin).
In the South, if both Wayne and Hillsdale lose and Ashland wins, there’s a three-way tie at 7-3 which, if I’m deciphering the tea leaves properly, would favor Hillsdale. So the only game that matters is Wayne at Findlay; if Wayne wins, the division is theirs, otherwise Hillsdale gets the title. Should Hillsdale, Saginaw, and Findlay all win this week, Hillsdale would also be the conference champion.
#6 Grand Valley State (8-1, 7-1) at Saginaw Valley State (4-6, 4-5)
Tiffin (1-9, 0-9) at #13 Hillsdale (8-2, 7-2)
#17 Wayne State (MI) (8-2, 7-2) at Findlay (1-9, 1-8)
Northern Michigan (5-5, 5-4) at #22 Michigan Tech (7-2, 7-2)
Lake Erie (3-7, 3-6) at Ashland (7-3, 6-3)
Ferris State (5-5, 5-4) at Northwood (4-6, 4-5)
Ohio Dominican (2-7, 2-7) at Indianapolis (5-5, 4-5)
If the playoffs began today, Grand Valley (#3) and Hillsdale (#6) would make the field.
South Atlantic: (Region Two)
Lenoir-Rhyne 52, at Carson-Newman 14
Tusculum 54, at Catawba 44
at Wingate 48, Mars Hill 29
Newberry 31, at Brevard 3
Tusculum QB Bo Cordell ripped off a ridiculous 542 yards of total offense (including 510 yards passing) as the Pioneers knocked Catawba out of playoff position (for the moment, anyway). … Lenoir-Rhyne beat Carson-Newman for the first time since 1978, and secured their first winning season since 1994.
Saturday:
Remember when Mars Hill was in control of the division? Yeah, that seems like it was three weeks ago.
Wingate would win the conference title outright (their first ever) with a victory at Newberry. They’ve already secured a share of it. Carson-Newman and/or Catawba could claim a portion as well, should either/both win and Wingate lose.
Wingate (7-2, 5-1) at Newberry (4-5, 3-3)
Carson-Newman (6-4, 4-2) at Tusculum (6-4, 2-4)
Catawba (6-3, 4-2) at Lenoir-Rhyne (6-4, 3-3)
Brevard (3-7, 0-6) at Mars Hill (5-5, 3-3)
If the playoffs began today, Wingate (#3) would make the field.
Northern Sun: (Region Three)
#1 Minnesota-Duluth 55, at Minnesota-Crookston 7
at Wayne State (NE) 26, #7 Augustana (SD) 14
at #25 St. Cloud State 35, Bemidji State 14
at Concordia-St. Paul 56, Upper Iowa 7
Mary 21, at Winona State 19
at Minnesota State-Mankato 53, Southwest Minnesota State 7
at Northern State 16, Minnesota State-Moorhead 7
Mary survived at Winona when DE John Oyloe got his paw on a game-winning 43-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. … Wayne State stuffed Augustana’s offense, holding them to 201 yards in the Egg Bowl upset.
Saturday:
Oops. Augustana blew any slender chance of winning the conference title outright, and might not even win the South division at all now. They’d salvage a share with a win this week, and if Winona State were to lose as well, Augustana would win it outright. Winona also claims a share of the South with a win, and would win it outright with a win and an Augustana loss.
In the North, Duluth has clinched a share of the division title, and will win it outright with either a win or a St. Cloud loss. If neither of those two things happen, St. Cloud and Duluth share the division title.
Overall, the scenario is almost identical to the North scenario with the addition of Augustana to the mix; if they win and Duluth loses, they claim a share of the conference crown.
#1 Minnesota-Duluth (10-0, 9-0) at Minnesota State-Mankato (6-4, 5-4)
Upper Iowa (2-8, 2-7) at #14 Augustana (SD) (9-1, 8-1)
#18 St. Cloud State (8-2, 8-1) at Minnesota State-Moorhead (2-8, 2-7)
Concordia-St. Paul (7-3, 6-3) at Southwest Minnesota State (4-6, 3-6)
Minnesota-Crookston (1-9, 0-9) at Bemidji State (6-4, 5-4)
Wayne State (NE) (6-4, 5-4) at Winona State (6-4, 5-4)
Northern State (2-8, 2-7) at Mary (3-7, 3-6)
If the playoffs began today, Duluth (#1), Augustana (#2) , and St. Cloud (#5) would make the field.
Great Northwest: (Region Four)
at Central Washington 34, Simon Fraser 7
Western Oregon 26, at Humboldt State 24
at Southern Utah 52, Dixie State 0 (non-conference)
Stan Langow tied a conference record with three interceptions in Central’s win over Simon Fraser. … In basketball news, GNAC member Seattle Pacific knocked off Division I Nevada in an exhibition game on Saturday night by a score of 84-81.
Saturday:
Central has clinched a tie for the conference title. They’d win it outright if they beat Western Oregon; they’d share it with WOU if they lose (as well as with Humboldt should Humboldt win).
Western Oregon (7-3, 5-2) at Central Washington (7-3, 6-1)
Simon Fraser (1-8, 0-7) at Humboldt State (7-3, 5-2)
Dixie State (2-8, 2-6) idle (season complete)
If the playoffs began today, Central Washington (#8) would make the field due to the Earned Access policy.
Lone Star: (Region Four)
#2 Abilene Christian 41, at #14 West Texas A&M 34
at #4 Texas A&M-Kingsville 27, #19t Midwestern State 7
at Northeastern State 43, Eastern New Mexico 40 (OT)
East Central 36, at Texas A&M-Commerce 33
at Southwestern Oklahoma State 31, Central Oklahoma 24
Angelo State 40, at Southeastern Oklahoma State 33 (crossover)
at Tarleton State 41, Incarnate Word 27
Tyler Vanderzee threw for a school record 435 yards, including going 3-3 for 31 yards in the game’s final drive to set up a 37-yard Matt Berrey field goal with one second left to give East Central the win over Commerce. Also key to the victory was Armonty Bryant, who blocked two Commerce field goal attempts on the afternoon. … Northeastern’s Trey McVay caught 12 passes for 175 yards, and scored on a 30-yard catch in the RiverHawks’ first OT to secure the win. … Angelo State’s Garrett Tidwell was a human highlight reel Saturday. Two long punt returns — one for a touchdown, another returned inside the Southeast 5-yard line — were called back due to penalties, but he did return the second-half kickoff for a touchdown that actually counted.
Saturday:
Abilene Christian sealed the South Division title and at least a share of the conference title by beating West Texas. East Central and Northeastern State tied for the North Division crown. Abilene wins the LSC outright with a win this week; otherwise, Kingsville would share the honor with a win.
all games crossovers, with South Division teams hosting
Southwestern Oklahoma State (3-7, 3-3) at #2 Abilene Christian (10-0, 6-0)
Southeastern Oklahoma State (3-7, 2-4) at #4 Texas A&M-Kingsville (9-1, 5-1)
East Central (5-5, 5-1) at #19 West Texas A&M (7-3, 4-2)
Northeastern State (6-4, 5-1) at #25 Midwestern State (7-3, 3-3)
Texas A&M-Commerce (3-7, 2-4) at Incarnate Word (2-8, 0-6)
Central Oklahoma (2-8, 1-5) at Angelo State (4-5, 1-5)
Eastern New Mexico (4-6, 3-3) at Tarleton State (3-7, 2-4)
If the playoffs began today, Abilene (#1), Texas A&M-Kingsville (#2), and West Texas A&M (#5) would make the field.
Pennsylvania: (Region One)
#12 California (PA) 24, at Edinboro 0
at #13 Bloomsburg 61, #15 Kutztown 35
at #21 Mercyhurst 38, Clarion 14
CW Post 63, at Cheyney 28
Gannon 24, at Slippery Rock 20
at West Chester 45, Millersville 14
Shippensburg 20, at East Stroudsburg 17
at Indiana (PA) 63, Lock Haven 31
Franklin Quiteh ran for 194 yards in Bloomsburg’s critical victory of Kutztown. Teammate Vince Browning was just as important on the other side of the ball, with two interceptions. … In a span of five snaps of the ball, Indiana’s Terrell Washington had two pick-sixes and a blocked punt at the Lock Haven 3-yard line which immediately led to another score.
Saturday:
The schedule’s altered next week, as the PSAC changes the final week schedule to match the division winners against one another in the State Game. Last week, Bloomsburg sealed the East with a win over Kutztown, while Mercyhurst advanced out of the West via a tiebreaker over California. The State Game winner is crowned as conference champion; it would be Mercyhurst’s first (having only been in the league a short time), or Bloomsburg’s first title since 1985.
Cheyney (1-9, 1-6) at #10 California (PA) (9-1, 6-1)
#11 Bloomsburg (9-1, 7-0) at #16 Mercyhurst (8-2, 6-1)
#20 Kutztown (9-1, 6-1) at Gannon (6-4, 4-3)
Shippensburg (4-6, 3-4) at Lock Haven (0-10, 0-7)
CW Post (6-4, 5-2) at Slippery Rock (6-4, 3-4)
Millersville (2-8, 0-7) at Clarion (3-7, 3-4)
West Chester (4-6, 4-3) at Indiana (PA) (5-5, 3-4)
East Stroudsburg (3-7, 2-5) at Edinboro (6-4, 3-4)
If the playoffs began today, Bloomsburg (#2), Kutztown (#3), Mercyhurst (#4) and California (#5) would make the field.
West Virginia: (Region One)
Concord 41, Fairmont State 17 (at Princeton WV)
West Virginia Wesleyan 50, at West Virginia State 28
West Liberty State 82, at Seton Hill 36
Charleston 44, at Glenville State 16
#11 Shepherd idle
West Liberty’s Zach Amedro became D-II’s all-time career passing leader, shredding Seton Hill for 525 yards and eight TDs in the Hilltoppers’ lopsided win. Amedro now has 14,377 yards passing as he prepares for his final collegiate game this Saturday. Once again, Amedro connected with WR Ryan Travis for 13 completions; the two have successfully hooked up for double-digit completions in every game this season. Travis sould set the WVIAC single-season receptions record (currently 117) with four catches Saturday. … Charleston’s Austin McLain had a pair of sacks and a 90-yard pick-six to help beat Glenville State.
Saturday:
Shepherd won the conference title outright last week. It’s their fifth WVIAC title since 2004.
Glenville State (4-6, 3-4) at #9 Shepherd (9-0, 7-0)
West Liberty State (6-3, 5-2) at Concord (8-2, 5-2)
Charleston (6-4, 4-3) at West Virginia Wesleyan (8-2, 5-2)
West Virginia State (0-9, 0-7) at Fairmont State (4-6, 2-5)
Seton Hill (2-9, 1-7) idle (season complete)
If the playoffs began today, Shepherd (#1) would make the field.
Rocky Mountain: (Region Three)
at #9 Nebraska-Kearney 48, Fort Lewis 21
at Chadron State 38, #16 Colorado Mines 31
Colorado State-Pueblo 37, at Western State 3
at Adams State 41, Mesa State 34 (2OT)
Western New Mexico 38, at New Mexico Highlands 13
Jesse Lewis rushed for 239 yards in Pueblo’s win over Western. … Colorado Mines suffered an upset loss in painful fashion; after tying the score at 31 on a field goal with just over a minute to go, their kickoff was returned 88 yards for a touchdown by Chadron’s Glen Clinton.
Saturday:
That was not a loss CSM wanted to absorb, as it prevents them from winning the conference title outright, but in the end the championship still comes down to this week’s matchup. Kearney would have earned the title outright with a win anyway; now, they’ve at least secured a tie, and CSM will still be able to at least claim a share of it with a win.
#8 Nebraska-Kearney (9-1, 8-0) at #21 Colorado Mines (8-2, 7-1)
Colorado State-Pueblo (8-2, 6-2) at Western New Mexico (4-6, 3-5)
Chadron State (7-3, 6-2) at Mesa State (3-6, 3-5)
Adams State (4-6, 3-5) at Western State (1-9, 1-7)
New Mexico Highlands (1-9, 1-7) at Fort Lewis (2-7, 2-6)
If the playoffs began today, Nebraska-Kearney (#4) would make the field.
Southern: (Region Two)
#5 Albany State 12, at #22 Fort Valley State 7
Morehouse 13, at Miles 3
at Tuskegee 28, Lane 6
Benedict 20, at Clark Atlanta 17
at Stillman 23, Kentucky State 12
Saturday:
Albany State captured the outright conference championship with their showdown win over Fort Valley.
This is the only Division II conference whose regular season is not officially complete as of this Saturday’s games; Tuskegee will be playing at Alabama State on November 25 to close out their schedule. (This annual game has actually been the source of some controversy in years past, as it has necessarily precluded Tuskegee’s participation in the D-II playoffs, and often deprives the SIAC of a representative in the tournament. That will not be the case this year, thankfully.)
The SIAC’s representative in the Pioneer Bowl has not yet been announced; as things stand, it’s likely to be Fort Valley.
Central State (OH) (1-9) at Stillman (2-8, 2-7) (non-conference)
#5 Albany State (10-0, 9-0) idle (season complete)
#23 Fort Valley State (8-2, 7-2) idle (season complete)
#24 Morehouse (8-2, 7-2) idle (season complete)
Tuskegee (8-2, 7-2) idle
Clark Atlanta (4-6, 4-5) idle (season complete)
Benedict (5-6, 4-5) idle (season complete)
Miles (3-8, 3-6) idle (season complete)
Kentucky State (3-8, 2-7) idle (season complete)
Lane (0-10, 0-9) idle (season complete)
If the playoffs began today, Albany State (#1) and Morehouse (#6) would make the field. Since they’re both idle, Albany will definitely make the field, and Morehouse can only fall out of the field if Catawba, Mars Hill, or Henderson State manage to do something very impressive this week.
Northeast Ten: (Region One)
St. Anselm 35, at #23 New Haven 26
Southern Connecticut State 49, at Merrimack 32
at American International 69, Pace 31
at Stonehill 18, Assumption 0
Bentley idle
Kevin Lynch threw for 443 yards and six touchdowns, including a 97-yard toss to Willie Epps, to lead Southern Connecticut to victory over Merrimack. … American International set a school record for points scored in a game as they crushed Pace. Pace RB Jason Washington ran for 242 yards, and added 245 yards in kickoff returns in the losing effort. … New Haven got themselves knocked out of the playoff picture partially as a result of St. Anselm CB Mark Colantonio’s 27-yard interception return which gave St. Anselm a 28-20 lead in the final quarter.
Saturday:
Well, that was a tragic error on the part of the Chargers, and will likely cost them (and the conference) a spot in the playoffs. They’re still assured of at least a share of the conference title, but now two teams can horn in on the honors.
St. Anselm (2-7, 2-5) at Southern Connecticut State (5-4, 5-2)
American International (5-4, 5-2) at Assumption (6-4, 3-4)
Stonehill (5-4, 3-4) at Bentley (4-4, 4-2)
Merrimack (3-6, 3-4) at Pace (0-8, 0-6)
New Haven (8-2, 6-2) idle (season complete)
If the playoffs began today, nobody would make the field.
Central: (Region One)
Shaw 10, at #19t St. Augustine’s 6
Virginia State 34, at St. Paul’s 14
Bowie State 59, at Chowan 19
Elizabeth City State 36, at Lincoln (PA) 6
at Fayetteville State 44, Virginia Union 28 (crossover)
at Johnson C. Smith 26, Livingstone 13
Winston-Salem State idle (season complete)
Down 6-3 in the fourth, Shaw was saved when Gerald Kennedy forced a St. Augustine’s fumble; the Bears immediately drove for the winning TD.
Saturday:
The CIAA season is complete; next week will be the CIAA championship game. Shaw claimed sole possession of the South Division title by beating St. Augustine’s, and in the process put the conference at risk of not having representation in the D-II playoffs; we’ll have to see where the regional rankings shake out. In the North, Virginia State claimed the division title on the head-to-head tiebreaker, having beaten Bowie.
The CIAA’s representative to the Pioneer Bowl has yet to be named.
CIAA Championship Game: Shaw vs Virginia State (Durham County Stadium, Durham NC)
Final standings:
North Division Virginia State 8-2 6-1 Bowie State 6-4 6-1 Elizabeth City State 6-4 5-2 Chowan 3-7 3-4 Virginia Union 3-7 3-4 St. Paul's 2-8 2-5 Lincoln (PA) 1-9 0-7 South Division Shaw 8-2 7-0 St. Augustine's 8-2 6-1 Winston-Salem State 8-2 5-2 Fayetteville State 5-5 4-3 Johnson C. Smith 2-8 1-6 Livingstone 0-11 0-7
If the playoffs began today, Shaw (#6) would make the field.
Great Lakes FC:
Missouri S&T 27, at St. Joseph’s (IN) 21
at Urbana 40, Central State (OH) 12 (non-conference)
at Kentucky Wesleyan 28, Notre Dame (OH) 14 (non-conference)
Saturday:
The conference season ends with a three-way tie between Urbana, Missouri S&T, and St. Joseph’s.
Urbana (4-6, 2-1) at Notre Dame (OH) (2-8) (non-conference)
Missouri S&T (3-7, 2-1) at Lincoln (MO) (1-9) (non-conference)
Kentucky Wesleyan (5-5, 0-3) at Concordia (AL) (3-4, n/a) (non-conference)
St. Joseph’s (IN) (5-5, 2-1) idle (season complete)
If the playoffs began today, haha, just kidding.
Independents:
at Southeast Missouri State 40, Southwest Baptist 14
North Greenville 27, at North Carolina-Pembroke 10
at Northwestern Oklahoma State 31, Oklahoma Panhandle State 7
Azusa Pacific 59, at Lincoln (MO) 14
at Urbana 40, Central State (OH) 12
Saturday:
Southwest Baptist (7-3) at Arkansas Tech (3-7)
Bacone (3-7, NAIA) at Oklahoma Panhandle State (5-4)
Missouri S&T (3-7) at Lincoln (MO) (1-9)
Central State (OH) (1-9) at Stillman (2-8)
North Greenville (8-3) and North Carolina-Pembroke (5-5) idle (seasons complete)
If the playoffs began today, no independent would be selected.