CIAA adding 11th regular season game for 3rd and 4th place finishers

[Finchwidget]

https://hbcugameday.com/2026/06/27/n...heduling-push/

HBCU Gameday reporting that the CIAA has approved the addition of a second game during CIAA Championship weekend to be played between the 3rd and 4th place teams in the final conference standings, with an official announcement expected during CIAA Media Day. The goal is to get more at-large playoff bids for the conference by boosting their playoff resumes with an 11th game against a strong opponent, similar to the arrangement the SIAC made with Conference Carolinas a couple years ago.

[canadarican]

Seems like a great idea, until the 4th place team isn't in line to make the playoffs and beats the 3rd place team, knocking them out of contention.

[BiggKool]

Seems like a great idea, until the 4th place team isn't in line to make the playoffs and beats the 3rd place team, knocking them out of contention.

When was the last time a 4th place finisher got selected?

[canadarican]

When was the last time a 4th place finisher got selected?

I don't have a clue. Was talking more that team knock #3 out and spoil it.

[Finchwidget]

Seems like a great idea, until the 4th place team isn't in line to make the playoffs and beats the 3rd place team, knocking them out of contention.

If I were the 3rd place CIAA team, I'd take the risk of having a make or break Week 11 to get into the playoffs vs. the practically non-existent chances they have of getting in the playoffs under our old setup. It's been discussed here before, but playing only 10 games really hurts us-- it's a shame we couldn't work out something like the arrangement the SIAC has with CC, but this is the next best option.

[canadarican]

If I were the 3rd place CIAA team, I'd take the risk of having a make or break Week 11 to get into the playoffs vs. the practically non-existent chances they have of getting in the playoffs under our old setup. It's been discussed here before, but playing only 10 games really hurts us-- it's a shame we couldn't work out something like the arrangement the SIAC has with CC, but this is the next best option.

Getting 10 games period has been an issue. Over the past 5 years, nearly 40% of CIAA teams haven't even gotten 10 D2 games.

[BiggKool]

The third‑place finisher is almost always living on the bubble, usually stuck on the outside looking in. That’s why an extra game — and the chance at one more win — feels worth the risk. When you’re already fighting from behind, the upside of that additional victory outweighs the danger of one more opportunity to stumble.