The new playoff format will debut soon, with 6 teams from each of the four regions competing. Note, this weekend will see the first ever Div-II matchup of two 10-0 teams with NW Missouri vs. Pittsburg State in Kansas City. These teams will likely meet again in the playoffs.
There is one week left in the Div II regular season. Six teams qualify from each region. Any conference with at least one team in the top 10 for the region is guaranteed at least one entry to the playoffs. Northeast 1. Shippensburg (PSAC) 2. West Chester (PSAC) 3. East Stroudsburg (PSAC) 4. Bentley (NE-10) 5. C.W. Post (NE-10) 6. Edinboro (PSAC) 12. Shepherd (WVIAC) needs a little help Southeast 1. Albany State (SIAC) 2. Valdosta State (Gulf South) 3. Arkansas Tech (Gulf South) 4. Carson-Newman (South Atlantic) 5. Fayetteville State (CIAA) 6. North Carolina Central (CIAA) Northwest 1. Michigan Tech (Great Lakes) 2. Northwood (Great Lakes) 3. Winona State (Northern Sun) 4. Nebraska-Omaha (NCAC) 5. Saint Cloud (NCAC) 6. North Dakota (NCAC) Southwest 1. Northwest Missouri (MAIAC) 2. Pittsburg State (MAIAC) 3. Texas A&M Kingsville (Lone Star) 4. Colorado School of Mines (RMAC) 5. Midwestern State (Lone Star) 6. Southeastern Oklahoma (Lone Star) Great Northwest conference in the NW region looks locked out, and West Virginia IAC needs some help.
Northwest region: #1 Michigan Tech to host the winner of #5 North Dakota at #4 Saint Cloud State #2 Northwood to host the winner of #6 Grand Valley State at #3 Winona State. Nebraska-Omaha lost the last week of the regular season 13-20 to Minnesota State. That gave room to Grand Valley, who managed to give Michigan Tech their first loss of the year. Southwest region: Northwest will meet Southwest in the semifinals. #1 Pittsburg State to host winner of #5 Midwestern State at #4 Colorado School of Mines. #2 Northwest Missouri State to host winner of #6 Southeastern Oklahoma at #3 Texas A&M Kingsville. Pittsburg State beat Northwest Missouri in Arrowhead Stadium in the season finally to earn the top spot and host status for a possible rematch on 27 Nov. Northeast region: #1 Shippensburg will host the winner of #5 C.W. Post at #4 West Chester. #2 East Stroudsburg will host the winner of #6 Edinboro at #3 Bentley. WVIAC locked out of the playoffs. Ship beat West Chester on the final weekend, knocking WCU down from #2 to #4 seed. Southeast region: Northeast meets Southeast in the semifinals #1 Albany State hosts the winner of #5 Catawba at #4 Arkansas Tech. #2 Valdosta State hosts the winner of #6 Fayetteville State at #3 Carson-Newman. I am not sure why North Carolina Central missed out on the playoffs.
According to the Massey ratings, North Dakota (#7) is stronger than Saint Cloud (#16). ND has the #1 defence in DII. This is a rematch of one of ND's three losses of the year, which also occured in St. Cloud, MN. There is certainly a possibility of an upset here in this Sioux (5 seed) / Husky (4 seed) matchup. Grand Valley (#5) is also a stronger team going on the road to Winona State (#14). GV has the #2 defence in the league. Again an upset possibility as the Lakers (6 seed) travel to Winona, MN to meet the Warriors (3 seed). Colorado School of Mines (#9) host Midwestern Texas State (#34) in Golden. The Orediggers (4 seed) have a strong chance of extending their undefeated record as they host the Indians. Texas A&M Kingsville (#24) Javelinas host Southeast Oklahoma (#27) Savages in a 3-6 matchup. These Lone Star Conf teams did not meet in the regular season, but NW Missouri has to happy to meet one of these comparitively weak teams. West Chester (#20) host C.W. Post (#51). A matchup between a team in the dominant conference in a weak D-II region, sees either a guaranteed matchup with big-fish-in-small-pond Post or gives the weaker conference a final chance to prove their worth. The Golden Rams have to be looking toward their PSAC matcheup against Shippensburg and looking past the lowely Pioneers. In a similar situation, the Edinboro (#21) Scotsmen travel to Northeast 10 Champion Bentley (#53) Falcons. Arkansas Tech (#11) host Catawba (#26) in a 4-5 matchup. The Golden Suns only loss came in the last game, but look to correct that at home against the stumbling Indians. The Carson Newman (#15) Eagles host the Fayetteville State (#61) Broncos in what looks to be an easy matchup.
Story on Michigan Tech. Financial cuts almost eliminated football before a fundraising drive kicked in on the internet. Footballers exceed the average GPA of the brainy school.
Results from the weekend: #7 North Dakota beat #16 Saint Cloud on the road in double overtime 20-17. They will travel to Michigan Tech. #5 Grand Valley beat #14 Winona State on the road 16-13. They will travel to Northwood. #9 School of Mines beat #34 Midwestern State 52-33. They will travel to Pittsburg State. #24 Texas A&M Kingsville beat #27 Southeast Oklahoma 40-30. They will travel to Northwest Missouri State. #20 West Chester crushed #51 C.W. Post 35-3. They will travel to Shippensburg. #21 Edinboro beat #53 Bentley on the road 47-44. They will travel to East Stroudsburg. #11 Arkansas Tech beat #26 Catawba 24-20. They will travel to Albany State. #15 Carson Newman beat #61 Fayetteville State 35-14. They will travel to Valdosta State.
North Dakota on the road upset Michigan Tech 20-3. Grand Valley on the road upset Northwood 10-7. Pittsburg State beat Colorado School of Mines 70-35. Northwest Missouri beat Texas A&M Kingsville 34-14. West Chester on the road upset Shippensburg 33-28. East Stroudsburg beat Edinboro 36-32. Albany State beat Arkansas Tech 42-24. Valdosta State beat Carson Newman 38-12.
5 seed North Dakota Sioux [3rd Massey ranking] hosts 6 seed Grand Valley State Lakers [5th] in the Northwest regional final. UND plays two on the road to finally earn the chance to host a game. 1 seed Pittsburg State Gorillas [1st] hosts 2 seed NW Missouri Bearcats [2nd] in a MAIAC rematch in the Southwest regional final. Pittsburg State won the first meeting at a neutral site. 2 seed East Stroudsburg Warriors [11th] hosts 4 seed West Chester Rams [13th] in a PSAC East rematch in the Northeast regional final. West Chester won the first visit to East Stroud. 1 seed Albany State Golden Rams [9th] hosts 2 seed Valdosta State Blazers [4th] in the Southeast regional final. Albany also hosted and won the season open against Valdosta.
Two home teams won, two lost. Two teams repeated earlier season wins, while one got revenge for their early loss. North Dakota had not played Grand Valley this year, but won at home 19-15. Pittsburg State beat Northwest Missouri 50-36 at home, repeating their earlier win. West Chester won for the second time on the road in East Stroudsburg 48-38. Valdosta got revenge for their season opening trip to Albany with a 38-24 road win.
Massey ratings give the Gorillas an 85% chance of beating the Sioux and the Blazers a 66% chance of beating the Rams. It looks like there is a 56% chance of a Pittsburg State/Valdosta State final.
Pittsburg State versus Valdosta State in Florence, AL for the championsip. Either school winning works for me. They certainly have some tradition between the two.
Pittsburg State over North Dakota 31-19. The Gorillas are given an 81% chance of winning the championship game. Valdosta State beat West Chester 45-21.
Valdosta State beats Pittsburg State 36-31 in the D-II final in Florence Alabama. Colorado School of Mines quarterback Chad Friehauf wins Harlon Hill Trophy. Do you think the NFL should look closely at a 6'7" QB who lead his brainy school to an undefeated regular season?