LINK ---> Breaking down the 40 Regionally-Ranked teams, by conferenceClick here for the SR3 Regional Rankings and each team's remaining schedule

Now, like I mentioned, we have a sort of playoffs before the playoffs that start this week in the MIAA. In Round 1, No. 2 Northwest Missouri hosts No. 10 Washburn and No. 13 Missouri Western hosts No. 19 Emporia State.

As at least one more team will join them in the 1-loss category, No. 7 Pittsburg State gets GAC doormat Northwest Oklahoma at home in a game they should win by about 140 points.

Elsewhere in the conference, Central Missouri and Nebraska-Kearney put their two-game win streaks up against each other in Kearney; Lindenwood heads to Missouri Southern in a battle of two middle-tier MIAA teams; Fort Hays hosts South Dakota Mines and will try to extend their win streak to 4 as they finish their season with more winnable games; Lincoln plays at Central Oklahoma, where both teams will be looking for their first conference wins; and 1-7 Southwest Baptist takes on winless Northeastern State.

No. 10 Washburn (8-0, 7-0) at No. 2 Northwest Missouri (8-0, 7-0)Prediction: It stays interesting for about 3 quarters, but Northwest ends up double-digit victors. Bearcats 42 Washburn 31

No. 19 Emporia State (7-0, 7-0) at No. 13 Missouri Western (7-1, 6-1)Northwestern Oklahoma State (1-7, 1-7 GAC) at #7 Pittsburg State (7-1, 6-1 MIAA)Central Missouri (4-4, 3-4) at Nebraska-Kearney (3-5, 3-4)South Dakota Mines at Fort Hays State (3-4, 3-4)
Hays knocked off the Hardrockers by 14 last year on the road, and should get it done this year at home. Hays 30 SD Mines 20

Lindenwood (3-5, 2-5) at Missouri Southern (5-3, 4-3)Lincoln (1-7, 0-7) at Central Oklahoma (0-7, 0-7)
Southwest Baptist (1-7, 1-6) at Northeastern State (0-8, 0-7)D2 title game to Kansas City?