(Photos courtesy of VSU Athletics, UNA Athletics, MC Athletics, and SU Athletics.)

I listened to or watched almost 12 continuous hours of SR2 games today involving the top seven ranked teams in the region. It was fun! Yet, my eyes are crossing and my head hurts a bit. However, I wanted to weigh in with an update prior to tomorrow's playoff field announcement.

The top six teams in the regional rankings won, which most likely will keep the playoff field as the rankings were last week including what must be a record four Gulf South Conference teams. It's not a certainty, but I don't feel anyone's SOS shifted enough to shuffle the rankings, especially considering the head-to-head aspects of the GSC teams.

The only wrinkle I could see forming at this point would be between #2 Delta State and #3 Tuskegee, based on SOS adjustments for this weekend's opponents. Tuskegee beat #7 Albany State while DSU beat a MC team with no D2 wins. If those teams flip-flopped it would create an all-GSC first round. I hope that doesn't happen.

If the seedings remain the same, it will set up some interesting match-ups and potential rematches in both of the first two rounds. #4 North Alabama would host #5 Valdosta State for the second time this year in Florence. The first game came down to a last-minute FG by UNA and was the last time VSU lost a game. Tuskegee is set to host their first ever playoff game and face The Vest for the first time. Both of those games will prove to be very intriguing.

UNA and #6 UWG wins in those games would set up interesting contests the following week as the Lions would travel to face the #1 Bears of Lenior-Rhyne in a rematch of last year's regional title game, while the Wolves would travel to Cleveland as the Statesmen would be hoping to avenge their only loss of the year. But, I'm sure VSU and TU will want to create their own storylines with wins in the first round.

The Selection Show is Sunday at 5 PM EST on NCAA.com.


Probable SR2 Playoff Field

1. *Lenoir-Rhyne (11-0, 10-0) BYE and hosting UNA/VSU winner
2. *Delta State (9-1, 8-1) BYE and hosting TU/UWG winner
3. *Tuskegee (9-2, 9-1) hosting UWG
4. *North Alabama (9-1, 8-1) hosting VSU
5. Valdosta State (8-2, 8-2) traveling to UNA
6. West Georgia (9-2, 9-2) traveling to TU

* Conference Champions


GSC Final Standings

1. ^*Delta State (6-1)
1. ^*North Alabama (6-1)
3. ^Valdosta State (5-2)
3. ^West Georgia (5-2)
5. Florida Tech (3-4)
6. West Alabama (2-5)
7. Shorter (1-6)
8. Mississippi College (0-7)

* Conference Champions
^ Probable NCAA Playoff Participant