The Augustana football team dropped two spots to eighth in the NCAA Division II Super Regional Three regional rankings which the NCAA released today. It is the fourth regional poll of the season.
Augustana had its four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a 28-7 loss to Wayne State, Neb. The Vikings are now 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
On Saturday, Augustana travels to Winona, Minn., to face Winona State in a 1 p.m. contest. The Vikings conclude the regular season on Saturday, November 8, at Northern State.
The top two teams in the poll remained the same this week as Grand Valley State and Minnesota Duluth remained Nos. 1 and 2. However, there were a lot of changes after that. Chadron State (Neb.) moved up to No. 3, while Ashland (Ohio) slipped to No. 4 after losing to Grand Valley State on Saturday. Minnesota State University, Mankato and Wayne State (Neb.) are fifth and sixth this week after being ranked seventh and ninth last week. Meanwhile, Michigan Tech fell to No. 7 after losing to Saginaw Valley State (Mich.).
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.
In addition, the highest-ranked NSIC team that does not qualify for the Division II playoffs will represent the NSIC in the Mineral Water Bowl on Saturday, December 6, in Excelsior Springs, Kan., The NSIC represetative will play the highest-ranked team MIAA team that does not advance to the Division II playoffs.
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 27
|
|
Overall
|
Division II
|
| Rk |
School |
Record
|
Record
|
|
1.
|
Grand Valley State (Mich.)
|
8-0
|
8-0
|
|
2.
|
Minnesota Duluth
|
9-0
|
9-0
|
|
3.
|
Chadron State (Neb.)
|
8-1
|
8-1
|
| 4. |
Ashland (Ohio) |
6-3
|
6-3
|
|
5.
|
Minnesota State Mankato
|
7-2
|
7-2
|
| 6. |
Wayne State (Neb.) |
7-2
|
7-2
|
| 7. |
Michigan Tech |
6-3
|
6-3
|
|
8.
|
Augustana (S.D.)
|
6-3
|
6-3
|
|
9.
|
Wayne State (Mich.)
|
7-2
|
7-2
|
|
10.
|
Ferris State (Mich.)
|
6-3
|
6-3
|
