INDIANAPOLIS – Carson-Newman held steady in sixth place in the Super Region II rankings for the second iteration of the poll that goes on to determine the field of 28 for the NCAA playoffs.
If the season were to end today, Carson-Newman would be playoff bound. The top seven teams from each super region advance to postseason play, with the top seed from each region receiving a bye.
The Eagles are the highest-ranked two-loss team in the region. C-N sits in that position by virtue of one of the tougher schedule stengths in Super Region II. The Eagles' DII Weighted OWP-OOWP (Opponent's winning percentage and Opponent's Opponent's Winning percentage) is .557. Carson-Newman has the toughest strength of schedule out of any team listed in the region top 10.
Slots three through eight in the region remain unchanged. Lenoir-Rhyne and Valdosta State flipped spots at the top of the rankings after the Bears laid claim to at least a share of a South Atlantic Conference crown with a 20-13 win over Wingate. Defending national champion Valdosta State has a massive in-region show down with fifth-ranked West Florida this weekend.
Bowie State is No. 3 for a second straight week after rolling through Lincoln 65-20. The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season with Elizabeth City State before playing in the CIAA title game Nov. 16.
Wingate holds steady in fourth in spite of the loss to Lenoir-Rhyne thanks to two more in-region wins than fifth-place West Florida. The Bulldogs have tough games left at home against Newberry and on the road at Mars Hill. The Argos staved off North Greenville 17-14 this week, but can greatly improve their chances with a win next week against Valdosta State. Carson-Newman beat the Argos 20-13 to open the year.
Virginia State sits in seventh place out of the CIAA, followed by Virginia Union in eighth. Those two teams will play their final games of the regular season against one another this weekend.
Albany State moves up to ninth after a 20-15 win over Kentucky State. The Rams would be included in the field of 28 if the season ended today by virtue of earned access and being the highest ranked member of the SIAC. Albany State would bump VSU if the season ended today.
West Georgia rounds out the top 10 after supplanting previously regionally-ranked Mississippi College.
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SUPER REGION TWO |
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1 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
9-0 |
9-0 |
|
2 |
Valdosta St. |
8-0 |
8-0 |
|
3 |
Bowie St. |
8-0 |
9-0 |
|
4 |
Wingate |
8-1 |
8-1 |
|
5 |
West Florida |
6-1 |
6-1 |
|
6 |
Carson-Newman |
6-2 |
6-2 |
|
7 |
Virginia St. |
7-1 |
7-1 |
|
8 |
Virginia Union |
6-2 |
6-2 |
|
9 |
Albany St. (GA) |
6-3 |
6-3 |
|
10 |
West Ga. |
6-3 |
6-3 |
