Well, this was a stunner! A positive one, but a stunner nonetheless. Just going to paste in some quick analysis and open the floor.
In short, no Endicott in this field and no Case, with St. John Fisher and Illinois College replacing them. So on a day in which we finally officially gave up on getting a two-loss at-large team into the field over a one-loss team, the NCAA finally did the right thing.
The NCAA also sprung for an extra flight, sending Cal Lutheran back to Linfield and giving Redlands a trip to Mary Hardin-Baylor.
The top eight seeds, teams placed at either end of the four brackets: UW-Whitewater and Salisbury (top left), St. Thomas and Delaware Valley (bottom left), Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wesley (top right), and Wabash and Mount Union (bottom right).
This is a bracket similar to the ones the NCAA Division III mens basketball committee has been putting out the past couple of years. Mount Union is in a bracket with three other north teams, two west teams and two south teams. Hobart is essentially a seven seed, sent to Wesley for the first round and would fly if it won that game.
Opening the floor. Thoughts?
Surprised they opted to send Redlands to UMHB instead of up the road to Cal Lu which would follow the usual track record of the NCAA selection committee. Why would they do that?
This is a National Championship!
Some games you might predict, but this is wonderful!
Wow, so first time poster here, recent alum of Linfield. I am stunned to see that they completely went away from the economical and geographic standpoint as they have prided their rankings on so much the past few years. How can Linfield be a 3 seed behind Wesley (a team from Delaware in the same region?) who has a loss on the season. I am just more dumbfounded at the lack of Geographics in this bracket.
I like that the ncaa got off their wallets, kudos to them on this one…quick question to make sure I’m reading this right. If #5 Linfield gets by #8 Cal Lu at home are they on the road in the second round once #7 Wesley gets by unranked Hobart? Seems to me a one loss Wesley team is somehow seeded higher than Linfield, Yes?
In the first round I count 9 games that match teams from different regions!
Downtown that is what I was noticing. They gave Wesley the #2 seed in the region (or lack there of) over Linfield even with their no loss season with a win over a top 10 opponent. I do like that they opened up the bracket, instead of locking everyone down because of money however. Yet this just seems like a very wackey bracket without much structure.
Needless to say…I’m a bit fired up over this bracket. I’m okay with Cal Lu and Redlands avoiding a rematch but why couldn’t we have gone to MH-B and Redlands to Linfield? Geez…I’m tired of seeing that team (5 times in 23 months). Cal Lu is the #8 team in the nation and the #5 team in their bracket…makes sense?!?
Can someone answer me whether Cal Lu would host a 2nd round game if Hobart somehow beat Wesley?
Signed,
Disgruntled in So Cal. :):)
I agree, but you’re better off at Linfield than at UMHB, I think. That’s my gut, anyway.
Callu…UMHB is the #1 seed in the bracket and Linfield isn’t even the #2 seed. I think they feel like they’re doing you a favor by sending you to the lower seed instead of #1…
I feel your pain Callu, it isn’t any fun coming to the catdome every November for the past 3 seasons now 🙂 I am just curious with the extra flight for Redlands, and the placement of Wesley over my Cats as the 2nd seed. A LITTLE EAST COAST BIAS I PRESUME??
I know in my heart you’re both right but I was just dying for first home playoff game (Redlands) since 1979. I honestly believe we’ll beat Linfield. This is the best Cal Lu team in the 50-year history of the program.
I also know in my heart that the SCIAC has to start notching a few playoff victories before they get any favors from the committee.
Good luck to all next week…
Wesley is seventh overall in SOS, Linfield 49th. Both are good but one is noticeably higher.
Reminds me of two years ago when Linfield got UMHB in round 2, albeit at home that season…Should be a good playoff!
Thanks for clearing that up (S0S)…gonna have to play big time teams in the playoffs at some point.
@admin, SOS is more important than beating a league champion and running the table. I dont see the logic.
I’m sure. Looks like they made a statement that after a couple years of focusing on winning percentage, SOS was also important.
Wesley also beat a league champion: Salisbury. They played two of them.
Assuming Pat is the working admin,it was explained simply why LINFIELD is not a high seed. LINFIELD has really played no one of import except for the dangerous California Lutheran University, who have taken a long look how LINFIELD has been doing it all these years and has another chance.
This will be fun thanks to the NCAA shaking it up.
Cannot keep looking at the bracket – one game ………
Yes, sorry, admin is Pat. It’s definitely interesting and the schools are seemingly the 2 and 3 seeds in this eight-team grouping, so they are very close.
losing is better than winning? Wesley lost a game. Linfield is perfect yet a lower seed?
Ya i understand the SOS issue, but ultimately the 1 loss season should not overtake an undefeated season with a win over a regionally ranked and nationally ranked top 10 team. Who has Wesley beaten that is as well ranked? What’s done is done as we all know, but this stuff tends to drive me crazy like that legendary BCS system we have to live with every day.
I think this is great. Not a huge fan of facing Cal Lu again, but it should be a great test for both squads. And this sets up for a crack at Mount Union, which would be awesome.
Linfield’s strength of schedule is awful, but I don’t think there’s any doubt that the ‘Cats can play with any team in D3. Sick ’em,’Cats!
I quit smoking in December 1985
sure would like to try what NCAA is using
Wesley played 2 league champs. Lost to Kean by 1 and beat #10 Salisbury. Also won on the road against a D-1 scholarship opponent (Charleston Southern). Well deserving of their #2 seed.
As a Thomas More fan I’ve got to like the fact that our 1st round opponent (Franklin) is only a 2 hr drive, and based on the two opponents we have in common should be a competitive game. Of course the winner likely has to face Whitewater, so it’s going to be a short stay for whichever one of us wins.
Can anyone tell me the games times for first rounds games? Redlands visits UMHB…..
Game times noon local.
I was surprised like many (including admin) that they let a two loss team in the playoffs. I found it even more surprising that it wasn’t Wheaton and instead was SJF. My own thought is that the Wheaton and SJF are probably evenly matched but given Wheaton’s higher SOS (very close and not significantly different) and its ranking overall, it would get first shot at a spot like this. Is it geography (adding another East team) or some other twist of fate that puts SJF ahead of Wheaton?
This will be the first time for UMHB to see the #14 Redland Bulldogs. No common opponents, but they look strong on paper – very tough Div. III football program. Would they be an 8 seed based on playing the #1 seed in the South. GO CRU It does look like we have a great bracket all 4 Regions – Great Job NCAA
Not only am I extremely upset that Bethel University did’nt make the playoffs, but I am upset at a few of the teams that made the playoffs. Bethel Lost the St. Thomas by 10 and St. Olaf by a last second Touchdown. I see a team like St. John Fisher that lost to Hobart and Salisbury. Bethel crushed simpson 48-0 and defeated Concordia-Wisconsin 55-3. Also Bethel outscored their last two opponents 75-13 in the last two games. The MIAC is in my opinion better than the Empire 8.. Also Illinois College made the playoffs at 9-1, but they are from the MWC. St. Norbert their third best team got destroyed by St. Thomas this year 45-0. Im also Upset that St. Olaf and Baldwin-Wallace did’nt make the playoffs in place of Bethel. The Royals made it to the final four two out of the last four years and they can’t show how good they truely are.. I hope St. Thomas can show the nation The Minnesota pride in our football. Also congradulations to St. Scholastica, another MN School.
Top 4 seeds:
UWW, UMU, UMHB, DVC.
In the HuddLLe…
We will not get the seedings. The committee will call on Sunday, November 20th to find out who will host the second week’s games.
The first 2 rounds were the only rounds that considered the travel costs. They really wanted to project the travel costs for the first 2 rounds only.
In the HuddLLe…
Dialogue with coaches at AFCA has impacted the committee. Listening to the coaches in Indy.
Chairs meeting, travel needs, addressed.
“Football is the ‘premier’ championship in D3, misses the fewest classes. Has special needs on number of games.”
Good “subjective vs objective” dialogue with the coaches at the AFCA… Trying to put on a great tournament.
I am dissapointed my bulldogs wont face Cal Lu in the first round. I am very happy Redlands is in the playoffs. Since we wont be faceing Cal Lu I will be cheering for both SCIAC schools good luck kingsman. Lets show the nation we have a great conference, and as always Go Bulldogs!!
In the HuddLLe…
I accept the apology for the Bills Cowboys score. No apology necessary. 🙂
East had a bona vide undefeated champion… Del Val got the #1 seed.
Glad to see UWW got put in the “East” this year to end Mount Union’s long straglehold. Now UMU would actually have to play someone good in quarterfinals, for once.
Who would host in semis?
In the HuddLLe…
in the bonus coverage. The Solomon interview should be linked in several places.
They give Hobart a fair chance against Wesley, but they could have used 2 more games this season to see different teams and talent.
Hobart needs to execute better, especially since the second half of the RPI game. The loss of a quality special team player hurt Hobart.
“Hobart’s defense stats match well with Wesley.”
Pat, the bracket seems confusing. Without seeding, it is hard to tell whether Mount Union is a #1 or #2 seed. I know it won’t matter till the regional finals or national semi-finals, but considering that they will more than likely get there, it would be nice to have that cleared up. There is just no way Wabash would have been given a #1 seed over Mount Union….
In the HuddLLe…
Wesley has the problem that no one will schedule.
Wesley beat Salisbury (and Huntingdon) in the last 2 weeks.
Field position concerns for Hobart. Lost their FG kicker who can kick from 40 yds out, and they are without a replacement.
If the NCAA releases seeds, we will add them. They don’t seem to care that their bracket is confusing. 🙂
Earlier in this thread and on Twitter we posted what the committee chair just said about 30 minutes ago: Top seeds, UWW, MTU, UMHB, Del Val.
In the HuddLLe,
Wesley, only 14 points allowed per game in the last month of the season, including Salisbury.
No top seed for St. Thomas? Shocker..
So who would host Semi-finals?
What happened to St.Thomas being one of the four #1 seeds? How do you know if you host in the second or later rounds, they don’t have you switch brackets (within your grouping I assume)to reduce travel do they?
No top seed for St. Thomas? Shocker..
So who would host Semis?
Redlands94:
The only way the SCIAC will ever get any favors from the committee will be for us to start winning some playoff games. I was rooting for you guys the last five weeks and I’ll sure as heck be rooting for you next week. We plan on taking care of Linfield once and for all :):)…
Go Cal Lu!!!
“Wesley, only 14 points allowed per game in the last month of the season, including Salisbury.”
Yes, and d3.com had two of their linebackers and one DT on their preseason All-American team.
Perhaps a great quarterback can go OVER them.
Ok, so if there are no seedlings as I previously thought, does that mean North Central is appropriately ahead of Wabash in seeding? To penalize the No. 6 team in the country for a season-opening loss to Redlands (35-29; note: Redlands would not be in without that W) but has dominating wins over Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton AND led Whitewater late in last year’s quarterfinal would be a travesty compared to a team that is ranked lower (ninth) and hasn’t played anybody.
Well, agreed, but in the NCAA’s minds, that game still carries weight all the way through.
Callu4life:
After you came back and beat us. I was upset but glad to see that there were two powerhouses in the SCIAC. I have also been rooting for Cal Lu since that win. You are a good squad and worthy of the conference trophy. Good luck this weekend. As for Mary Harden Baylor they look like a great squad and I look forward to a great game.
GO BULLDOGS!!!
No top seed for St. Thomas, after going 10-0 and being ranked #3? Explanation?
I see their logic in having Redlands go to UMHB…They think UMHB will beat Redlands and the next round have 2 Texas teams (no flights). Now if/when Redlands win, that is just another plane trip for Redlands back to Texas to face either Trinity or McMurry. Don’t underestimate Redlands! They play just good enough to win. Cal Lu is ready for Linfield now. I think that 2nd half vs Redlands jump started them to just pound teams. Don’t be surprised if Cal Lu wins big.
SCIAC