1. Shepherd (9-0) jumps up one spot to the top seed. The Rams took care of business last weekend when they defeated West Virginia State 47-0. They will close out the regular season at Concord this Saturday. If they win, they will be the lone undefeated team in the region and be the top seed for the upcoming playoffs in SR1. If they lose, they will still be in the playoffs with a home playoff game in the first round.

2. Winston-Salem State (9-1) also jumps up one spot to the second seed. The Rams defeated Fayetteville State 28-14 to clinch the Southern Division and another trip to the CIAA championship. They will face Virginia State and the loser of that game will be on the bubble for the playoffs. A win for Winston-Salem and they will be in a familiar position of a first round bye.

3. Bloomsburg (9-1) was the tough luck loser last week in the rankings but had a huge win over then # 1 ranked West Chester 31-28 last Saturday. The Huskies clinched the PSAC East title and will face Slippery Rock on their home turf this Saturday. The winner of the State Game will have a home playoff game and the loser will most likely be on the road in the first round.

4. West Chester (9-1) dropped from the top ranking in the region after falling to Bloomsburg 31-28. The Golden Rams controlled their own destiny until the loss last weekend. They will face a struggling Clarion this weekend to close out the regular season. The Golden Eagles have lost six of their last seven games and are not going to help West Chester much in the SOS category. A win by West Chester should get them into the top six but a loss will eliminate them from the playoffs.

5. Slippery Rock (9-1) falls down a spot this week after an impressive victory. They easily defeated Seton Hill 55-21 and won the West Division of the PSAC. They will face Bloomsburg in the PSAC championship game with the winner ensured of a home playoff game in the first round. The loser will most likely make the playoffs but be on the road.

6. Virginia State (9-1) had already clinched a spot in the CIAA championship game but needed a victory over Virginia Union to keep their playoff hopes alive. Their SOS took a little hit with the game against Virginia Union but they will make the playoffs with a win over Winston-Salem. With a loss, they are out of the playoff picture.

7. American International (8-2) defeated Southern Connecticut 33-14 and clinched home field for the NE-10 championship game. They will host Stonehill this Saturday with the winner most likely finishing in the top eight of the region and getting a playoff slot. The Yellow Jackets should be in the top six with a win and not need the "dreaded" earned access for their possible second trip to the playoffs.

8. Stonehill (8-2) defeated Merrimack 26-14 and will face AIC for the NE-10 championship this weekend. The Skyhawks continued their magical run this season with their only two losses coming to teams ahead of them in the regional rankings (Bloomsburg and AIC). Like with AIC, a win this weekend should vault them into a playoff slot.

9. Concord (8-2) re-enters the rankings this week after a 30-14 victory on the road at Notre Dame College. The Mountain Lions were in the initial rankings two weeks ago but were left out last week. They will play a big part in the final rankings as they host Shepherd this weekend. It is a long shot for them to be rankings in the top six.

10. Indiana (8-2) enters the rankings this week after a 55-20 victory over Gannon. The Crimson Hawks are a very long shot to make the playoffs for the second straight year as they will need a lot of help ahead of them. Consecutive losses to Slippery Rock and Edinboro cost them a shot to make the playoffs. They will close out the season on the road at Shippensburg.

The breakdown by conference is PSAC (4), CIAA (2), MEC (2) and NE-10 (2). The top eight teams remained the same in a different order as the MEC and PSAC swapped out teams after losses and weak SOS. Urbana was replaced by Concord and Shippensburg was replaced by Indiana.

Championship weekend will determine who will be playing in the playoffs and who will be going home. Several different scenarios are possible for teams to make the top six and for others to be on the outside looking in.

For the NE-10, it looks like the winner of the NE-10 championship game will play another game. AIC and Stonehill have strong enough records and SOS to make the top eight of the region for the "dreaded" earned access. Depending on other results this weekend, they could avoid earned access and finish in the top six.

For the PSAC, it looks like three teams will make the playoffs. The winner of the PSAC championship game will be at least the third seed in the region and host a playoff game. The loser of the game will move down to the fifth or sixth seed but should be in the playoffs.

The winner of the CIAA championship game will also be assured of a home playoff game and the loser will be squarely on the bubble. If Winston Salem wins, they will have a bye and a home playoff game for the third straight season. If Virginia State wins, they will not be strong enough to earn a bye but should have a first round home playoff game.

With a win, Shepherd will be the top seed in the region. If they fall to Concord, they will still be in the top four of the region, earning them a home playoff game in the first round. West Chester is another team that appears in with a win and out if they are upset by Cheyney.

There is still a lot to be decided this weekend. The championship games should be ones to focus on as for some of the teams, the playoffs start a week earlier. Win the game on the field and do not let the committee decide your fate.