Lopers battling Great American Conference teams for final playoff spot

UNK Athletics
Peter Yazvac

KEARNEY –  In the third edition of the NCAA region rankings the Nebraska-Kearney football team is up one spot to seventh in “Super Region 3.”

These rankings determine the 28-team Division II playoff field (seven teams from four regions). The playoffs start Nov. 20 and end on Dec. 18. The “Selection Show” airs this Sunday (Nov. 14) at www.ncaa.com at a time to be announced.

Super Region 3 consists of the MIAA, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conf. (GLIAC), Great Lakes Valley Conf. (GLVC) and Great American Conf. (GAC). This year, teams seeded 5-7 can switch regions come playoff time in an effort to save travel costs (i.e. UNK travels to South Dakota instead of Michigan). Note the top seed in each region receives a first round bye.

UNK, which was eighth last Monday, has wins over No. 9 Washburn (8-2), Pittsburg State (7-3), Emporia State (6-4) and Missouri Western (5-5). Southeastern Oklahoma State (8-2), ranked ninth last week, upset then-No. 7 Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-tah) Baptist, 35-21, last Saturday at on the road. The 8^th-ranked Savage Storm hosts East Central (6-4) this Saturday; SEOSU also has a key win against No. 2 Harding. Finally, No. 6 Henderson State faces rival Ouachita in another key game this Saturday.

National polls have no bearing on the makeup of the region rankings. A committee uses a set of criteria (see below) to determine the region’s top 10 teams. There are no automatic qualifiers in D2 football but a league champion can make the playoff field with “earned access” (ranked ninth in the final region rankings).

The Lopers host Northeastern State (2-8) Saturday at 12 p.m.

            School (Conf.)                                   In-Region Rec.      D2 Overall Rec.

1. Ferris (Mich.) State – GLIAC                   9-0                     9-0
2. Harding (Ark.) – GAC                              9-1                     9-1
3. Grand Valley (Mich.) State – GLIAC     6-1                     7-1
4. Northwest Missouri State – MIAA       8-1                     8-1
5. Lindenwood (Mo.) – GLVC                    8-0                     8-1
6. Henderson (Ark.) State – GAC              9-1                     9-1
7. Nebraska-Kearney – MIAA             8-2                   8-2
8. Southeastern Oklahoma St. – GAC      8-2                     8-2
9. Washburn – MIAA                                  8-2                     8-2
10. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) – GAC              8-2                     8-2

Required Selection Criteria

• In-region winning percentage
• Division II winning percentage
• Division II strength of schedule (opponent winning pct. & opponent opponents winning pct.)
• Division II head-to-head competition
• Results vs. Division II common opponents

Secondary Criteria

• Division II results vs. teams with a winning record
• Performance indicator (PI)
• Results vs. Ranked Division II opponents