2026 SR4 way too early conference championship and playoff predictions

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

So I had some fun with this last year and was able to get a few of my predictions right. Let me see how close or really screw up the predictions for this year. I made a lot of predictions based on returning players (especially returning QB and/or QB's with lots of playing time). Bolded Teams are the winners each round.

1) Harding (GAC Champion) vs. Angelo State (LSC runner up)
2) Northwest Missouri State (MIAA Champion) vs. Colorado-State Pueblo (RMAC runner up)
3) Colorado Mines (RMAC Champion) vs. Central Oklahoma (MIAA runner up)
4) Western Oregon (LSC Champion) vs. Northeastern State (Independent at large).

Regional Semis:
1) Harding vs. Northeastern State
2) Northwest Missouri State vs. 3) Colorado Mines

Regional Final:
1) Harding vs. 2) Northwest Missouri State

[OldBison]

Interesting. Curious why think Central Oklahoma will be the MIAA runner up and not Pitt. State.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Interesting. Curious why think Central Oklahoma will be the MIAA runner up and not Pitt. State.

I went by UCO returning their quarterback and Pitt State having a big turnover.

[OldBison]

8-3 (7 - 0 against D2 opponents) is as good as it probably gets for the Riverhawks. Do you think their PI is going to be better than a 10-1 Ouachita Baptist or a 10-1 Henderson State?

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

8-3 (7 D2 wins) is as good as it probably gets for the Riverhawks. Do you their PI is going to be better than a 10-1 Ouachita Baptist or a 10-1 Henderson State?

Honestly I have no clue about the new playoff setup with the dials and such. I do think the silo may hurt those teams but they should be in the playoffs if one of them does finish 10-1 and the even SOS. I could be wrong but I dont see a second place team separating in the GAC unless its Ouachita Baptist. IF Northeast State did get the exemption, its hard to leave them out at 7-0 D2 wins with some of the teams on their schedule I will do my weekly bracket updates for fun as the weeks results go by.

[Mulerider]

D2 really needs more postseason play. Even if it's just a non-conference game (bowl-type game).

[Divisiontwo]

D2 really needs more postseason play. Even if it's just a non-conference game (bowl-type game).

32 teams make the playoffs. SAU just needs to get over the hump.

[Bisons10]

D2 really needs more postseason play. Even if it's just a non-conference game (bowl-type game).

The GAC as a conference has 18 NCAA playoff wins. Pretty good number in my opinion.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

The GAC as a conference has 18 NCAA playoff wins. Pretty good number in my opinion.

Yeah but 15 of those come from Harding. Still a great feat but they have been carrying the conference for many years.

[BisonBones]

D2 really needs more postseason play. Even if it's just a non-conference game (bowl-type game).

Football good. More football better.

I'd love to see more football at the end of the season with bowl games focused on rewarding improving programs or academic achievement or community service or something else worth rewarding.

[Tech Boys]

I've been saying for a while that each conference should host a bowl game. That would give a total of 62 teams (32 PO/30 BOWL) an opportunity for postseason play. That's 38.5% of the division. I'm including only the 15 AQ conferences. Each conference would have the host auto-bid and one at-large bid. Play the bowl games on the Thu/Fri/Sat after Thanksgiving (5 each day) and have a single tv/stream package deal for all games.

[ReddieMade]

Northeastern has a 0% chance to make the playoffs. They’ve already eliminated themselves by only playing 7 D2 games. The regional committee will not reward them for that even if they go 7-0. Take it to the bank.

[Inkblot]

Northeastern has a 0% chance to make the playoffs. They’ve already eliminated themselves by only playing 7 D2 games. The regional committee will not reward them for that even if they go 7-0. Take it to the bank.

Regional committees no longer exist. If they get a waiver to be eligible, they'd easily be in at 7-0.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Regional committees no longer exist. If they get a waiver to be eligible, they'd easily be in at 7-0.

Yep and they would have been in last year at 8-0 under the old rules. Catch is you better go undefeated.

[Predatory Primates]

Northeastern has a 0% chance to make the playoffs. They’ve already eliminated themselves by only playing 7 D2 games. The regional committee will not reward them for that even if they go 7-0. Take it to the bank.

To be fair, they scheduled 8, but one of the 8 went D1 this off-season.