Wednesday, November 2, 2016

NCAA Sends Message In First Playoff Ranking

The first 2016 NCAA DIII Football Playoff Regional Rankings were just released and the East Region results are very interesting.

The rankings were as follows:

1Alfred8-0
2Stevenson8-0
3St. John Fisher7-1
4Salisbury7-1
5St. Lawrence8-0
6Hobart7-1
7Albright6-2
8Wesley6-2
9Western New England8-0
10Frostburg State7-1

Basically it appears as though the Saints low SOS will hamper if not completely prevent them from qualifying for the NCAA's unless they beat Hobart Saturday. A loss by the Statesmen definitely will eliminate them from consideration given they would have 0 wins over regionally ranked opponents. With only six at large spots for teams in conferences, the chance more than one Eastern team getting into the tournament other than winning their league's "Pool A" (aka Automatic Qualifier) is very, very low (if not impossible) given there are seven eastern (playoff qualifying) leagues (ECFC, NEFC, MASCAC, LL, E8, NJAC and MAC).

Suddenly this game has even higher stakes as the loser is almost definitely out of the NCAA playoff race. Sure some 9-1 teams have made it in the past but SJFC's ranking at 3 and Salisbury's at 4 (not to mention Albright and Wesley just behind Hobart, who actually has a high SOS) points to the Committee looking down at the LL versus the other way around.

Looks like the game in Canton is more for survival than just a shot at a league title after all....

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