Augustana University Athletics

The Augustana football team slipped one spot to sixth in the NCAA Division II Super Regional Three regional rankings which the NCAA released today. It is the third regional poll of the season.

Augustana won its fourth-straight game on Saturday, defeating Upper Iowa 40-7. The victory improved the Vikings to 6-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Vikings also lead the NSIC Southern Division with a 4-0 record. This Saturday Augustana plays its final home game of the season when the Vikings entertain Wayne State (Neb.), which is ranked ninth in the region this week. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Howard Wood Field.

There was no movement among the top four teams in the regional poll. But the biggest shakeup came at No. 5 where Chadron State (Neb.) jumped ahead of Augustana. Chadron State has a 7-1 record and leads the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. There was also a change at the bottom of the poll where Ferris State (Mich.) fell out of the rankings, allowing Wayne State (Mich.) to enter the rankings.

The top six teams advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs in November, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes. Augustana is trying to reach the playoffs for the third time in the program's history. The Vikings qualified for the playoffs in 1988 and 1989.

Augustana is one of four NSIC teams in the top 10. The Vikings are joined in the poll by Minnesota Duluth, which is second, along with Minnesota State at No. 7 and Wayne State at No. 9.

Earned access to the playoffs can be gained by a conference if a conference representative finishes in the top eight of the final super regional rankings. If you would like further information on this matter, please refer to the Division II Football Championship Handbook, which is available on the NCAA Web site at: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=36602.


NCAA Division II Super Regional Three Rankings - as of October 20