The Regional Rankings can be confusing to understand; particularly when a team's ranking doesn't align with the D2Football.com and AFCA Coaches Polls. But the Regional Rankings is the one ranking system that actually matters in Division II football. The playoff bracket is built off of those rankings, not the polls. The Regional Rankings will continue to be released each Monday until "Selection Sunday," the day after the final regular season games.

Those who have been doing this longer than I have a great handle on the process and I encourage you to read their post. Over the years I picked up the gist of the process involved, but I finally went and read through the NCAA's Pre-Championship Manual myself. I've included the important parts and highlighted several items for additional emphasis.


Section 2-1: Championship Format

The Division II Football Championship provides for a maximum field of 28 teams. Twelve (12) first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. The top seed in each selection region (super regional) will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The winners of the first-round games in each super regional will advance to play either the team that received a bye or the winners of the other first-round game in their super region in the second round, on the campus of one of the competing institutions. The winners will meet in the quarterfinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Quarterfinal winners advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions.

Beginning in 2016, the football committee will seed the four teams that advance to the semifinals of the championship so that the No. 1 seed will play the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed will play the No. 3 seed. All seedings will be determined using the current selection criteria.

Section 2-3: Selection Information

Earned Access



Ideally each conference would be represented in the playoffs. Conference champions, or any other conference team, are not guaranteed a seat at the big kids' table. Earned Access increases the chance that each conference is represented without giving automatic bids. If a team finished ranked #8 in the Regional Rankings--and is the highest ranked team in their respective conference--that team may replace another team who is mathematically established in the top 7.

Not every conference can take advantage of Earned Access though. The GMAC, GNAC and Independents, per the manual, are not eligible for it.

Qualifying Standards

In order to be considered during the selection process, a team must:

? Have an overall won-lost record of .500 or better against Division II opponents;
? Play at least eight Division II opponents during the regular season (there will be an appeals process available in 2017 if a given institution is not able to satisfy this requirement);
? Play at least 10 opponents during the regular season. An institution may submit a waiver request to the football committee for their consideration if a given institution is not able to satisfy this requirement.

This issue came up last year when North Alabama received a waiver because of one-too-few games due to Hurricane Matthew cancelling their game against Florida Tech.

2-4: Selection Criteria
Additionally, input is provided by regional advisory committees for consideration by the Football Committee.


While there is an established formula that computes the worthy field, there is a human element involved in the process.




Super Region 1 - Regional Rankings (Initial 10/23/2017)

1. IUP ..................... (PSAC) ..... (8-0) ..... In good position and playing strong. Assuming they win the next two they will have to defeat the PSAC-East's best in the conference championship to stay undefeated and atop the Regional Rankings

2. Assumption ......... (NE-10) .... (7-0) ..... In good position and playing great. They face Stonehill this week who defeated a solid Bloomsburg (PSAC); and one of the stronger NE-10 teams will get one more shot at them in the conference championship.

3. Shepherd ............ (MEC) ....... (7-0) ..... I would say they should cruise into the post-season, but WV Wesleyan wasn't supposed to beat Notre Dame last week and potentially ruin their season.

4. Findlay ................ (GMAC) .... (7-1) ..... Need to win out. EA isn't available to the GMAC. OH Dominican at the end could be trouble.

5. Slippery Rock ....... (PSAC) ..... (6-2) ..... See below.

6. West Chester ....... (PSAC) ..... (6-2) ..... See below.

7. Kutztown ............. (PSAC) ..... (6-2) ..... See below.

8. Notre Dame ......... (MEC) ...... (6-2) ..... Last week's loss against WV Wesleyan was both surprising and possibly a death sentence. Their final game @ Indianapolis (#2 in Super Region 3) could be one of those games that invokes the "human element"--plus some of the PSAC teams above may drop due to upcoming schedules. A loss to Indianapolis at the end essentially guarantees doom with three losses on the season.

9. Shippensburg ....... (PSAC) .... (6-2) ..... See below.

10. LIU-Post .............. (NE-10) ... (6-2) ..... Hoping for a lot of shakeups from the teams above.



The PSAC-East is still trying to sort out who will represent the division in the PSAC Conference Championship. Kutztown (#7) plays Shippensburg (#9) this week. So one of those two will get their third loss for the season and fall out of contention. Whoever wins the division will likely face IUP in the conference championship and face a potential season-ending third loss.

Three weeks of regular season football, two conference championship contests, and one surprising upset provides ample opportunity to shake-up the Regional Rankings for Super Region 1.