The NCAA has released its first regional rankings for 2006. Their top 10 teams by region, with in-region and overall records are listed below.
For more information about the playoff format and how participants are determined, check out our FAQ.
East Region
No. Name In-Region Overall
1. Springfield 7-0 7-0, 12.000
2. Hobart 6-0 6-0, 11.667
3. Rowan 3-0 5-1, 10.600
4. Wilkes 7-0 7-0, 11.714
5. Cortland State 6-0 7-0, 10.500
6. St. John Fisher 7-1 7-1, 10.875
7. Union 5-1 5-1, 10.000
8. Alfred 6-1 6-1, 9.857
9. Ithaca 5-1 6-1, 8.167
10. Curry 8-0 8-0, 10.000
North
1. Mount Union 7-0 7-0, 11.571
2. Capital 7-0 7-0, 11.286
3. Mount St. Joseph 7-0 7-0, 10.429
4. Concordia (Wis.) 8-0 8-0, 10.125
5. Augustana 5-2 5-2, 10.429
6. Wheaton 6-1 6-1, 10.571
7. Wooster 6-1 6-1, 10.143
8. Franklin 6-1 6-1, 9.714
9. Rockford 7-0 7-1, 10.000
10. Baldwin-Wallace 5-2 5-2, 9.143
South
1. Wesley 4-0 7-0, 12.000
2. Christopher Newport 6-0 6-1, 10.500
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor 6-1 6-1, 12.000
4. Trinity (Texas) 6-1 6-1, 9.857
5. Carnegie Mellon 6-0 7-0, 9.500
6. Hardin-Simmons 5-1 5-1, 10.143
7. Dickinson 6-1 6-1, 9.857
8. Washington and Jefferson 5-1 6-1, 9.333
9. Washington and Lee 6-1 6-1, 8.714
10. Averett 5-2 5-2, 9.000
West
1. UW-Whitewater 6-0 7-0, 11.833
2. St. John’s 8-0 8-0, 10.875
3. Central 6-0 7-0, 11.667
4. Whitworth 6-0 7-0, 10.000
5. UW-La Crosse 3-1 5-1, 9.500
6. Occidental 6-0 6-0, 10.667
7. Linfield 3-1 4-2, 9.750
8. Bethel 6-1 6-1, 10.714
9. St. Norbert 7-0 8-0, 10.714
10. Wartburg 6-1 6-1, 10.286
I’ll be adding the QOWI (by our calculations) soon for reference.
Pat,
Could you also note any conferences with AQs who are not on a region’s list? (Because of such, I’d imagine some regions may take only the top 6 or 7.)
At some point yes, though it’s a busy day at work. Looks like most conferences are accounted for, though the MIAA does not have a rep.
This isn’t overly good news for Rockford, since its QOWI isn’t going to get better. Pool B’s:
S1. Wesley 4-0 7-0, 12.000
W4. Whitworth 6-0 7-0, 10.000
S5. Carnegie Mellon 6-0 7-0, 9.500
W7. Linfield 3-1 4-2, 9.750
S8. Washington and Jefferson 5-1 6-1, 9.333
N9. Rockford 7-0 7-1, 10.000
Its about what I expected in the West…but the Johnnies record is wrong, I think it should read 6-0 and then 8-0…St. Norbert will get an automatic, so which of the bottom 5 will they knock out? Bethel, Wartburg, Occidental, Linfield or LaCrosse? Pat, Occidental does not get an automatic, right?
The Johnnies record is right. If you actually read the rankings you will see it is regional record, then overall record.
Occidental’s conference does get an automatic bid. That’s why I didn’t list them with the Pool B teams.
There’s no guarantee they will knock ANYONE out. There can easily be nine teams from the West, or as few as five: the automatic bids from the WIAC, MIAC, IIAC, SCIAC and MWC.
VOJ,
The SCIAC champ gets an auto bid. So Oxy gets a bid if/when they win the conference. So, of the teams listed in the West right now, MIAC (SJU, Bethel), WIAC (Whitewater, LaCrosse), MWC (St. Norbert), SCIAC (Oxy), IIAC (Central, Wartburg) champs get an automatic bid (aka Pool A–21 conferences have Pool A bids). Whitworth or Linfield (whoever wins the NWC) would probably get a Pool B bid (There are 4 total). The runners-up in any of the auto bid conferences or the NWC runner-up would have to hope for a shot at one of the 7 at -large spots (Pool C).
Pat, feel free to correct me, but I think I’ve got it figured out.
Pat beat me to it.
I hate being in the same region as Mount Onion. Oh well, a team has to win them all to be champ.
GO AUGUSTANA!!
Pat,
Thanks! The MIAA is the one I noticed in the North, but I just don’t recall well enough the affiliations elsewhere to know if there are AQs not on the list that would keep out a higher rated team.
Shouldn’t Mount Union’s regional record be 6-0? They opened with a win over Averett, a South Region team.
No, they added another layer of regionality to the definition of a regional game this year. Here’s a little more on that:
http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/?p=221
Thanks, I missed that announcement.
At first glance,
it seems kind of silly that Rowan and Cortland have virtually the same QOW and are 3 and 5 with Wilkes and their far better QOW stuck in between.
Looks like good news for Wisc.-La Crosse, at 5 in the West. They need to keep winning to keep pace in the Pool C race, but I wasn’t sure where they’d fall.
I definitely agree about nine West teams being a possibility. Remember they take the 21 AQs and the next 11 best teams, although Pool Bs account for no fewer than four of the 11. “West bracket” is sort of a misnomer. A West Region team can easily be placed in the north, East in the South (i.e. MAC vs. Centennial) or whatever, to balance the brackets. There are no guarantees eight teams from each region make up the 32.
And since there are 40 teams ranked, at least eight of the currently listed teams won’t be enjoying the show, and at least some of them will come from the Springfield-Ithaca-Union-Alfred-Hobart-St. John Fisher conglomerate in the East, since those teams have so many remaining games against each other.
I am really looking foward to what will happen if Trinity, Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hardin-Simmons all make it. Of course two will be forced to face each other, but the other could go anywhere from Calif. to Illinois to Virginia. I’d bet.
Eagle-eyed Ralph Turner noticed a flaw in our QOWs and a recalculation has Hardin-Simmons at 9.667.
Can somebody tell me how St norbert is ranked 9th in the West while Concordia WI is ranked 4th in the North? Am I comparing apples to oranges in this case?
Prediction – St. Norbert gets destroyed in their first round game – destroyed. It won’t matter what region they fall in or who they play. They have a very weak schedule.
RE: St. Norbert
LOL, they should be used to it by now 🙂
psmurf, that’s probably part of it. There are certainly more unbeaten teams in the West.
Sean,
This is the 2nd time this season you’ve dissed St. Norbert. Why the disdain? The facts are: SNC has played in 5 – 1st round play-off games in the last 7 years. (Of the top 32 teams ranked right now, how many can match this?) In these 5 games, SNC has a record of 1 and 4, losing to Augustana, Central, St. John’s, and UW-LaCrosse by an average of 10 points. In the ’04 UW-L game, SNC had the lead late in the 4th quarter in UW-L’s stadium until the last few minutes. Their only first round win was against Simpson in ’03. SNC’s only second round game was a loss to St. John’s in ’03, 38-13. Oh by the way, St. John’s went on to win the National Championship by beating Mount Union 24-6. Now, now, now, don’t think I’m equating SNC to MU, the number here were just interesting. Lastly, the West always seems to be the toughest region in the nation. (Right now, 7 of the top 10 seeds in the west according to the NCAA are ranked in D3football.com’s top 16). Are first round games in the West like 2nd or 3rd round games in the weaker regions?
The only point I’m trying to make once again is that SNC may not have the strongest confernece top to bottom, but they have a winning tradition and put forth a solid ballclub year-after-year. Inorder to get to the dance, you need to be invited, and SNC has done a pretty good job of this in the last 7 years. Plus, as much as you’d like to think (for whatever reason) they don’t step on their toes and get “destroyed” the way you “hope” they do once they reach the dance. Do I have high expectations? Absolutely, every fan and parent of a D3 player does for their son’s team. But I also don’t have dillusions of grandeur. Let’s allow the kids, teams and coaches to play this out for real and then respectfully comment on what actually happens.
Duffman: Shame on you for piling on.
I think St. Norbert has handled itself well in two playoffs games that you mention (La Crosse and Simpson), but I don’t think getting to five playoffs in seven years is an accomplishment that means a lot to people outside of the Midwest Conference. They consider it a weak conference, and St. Norbert winning it year after year and not going far in the playoffs only proves their theory.
The best way to change those perceptions is to win in the playoffs. It’s hard to do in the West, but Occidental has done it. The SCIAC got no respect until Oxy charged deep into the ’04 bracket.
It’s fine to ask people to be respectful, but it’s also OK for them to have their opinions prior to seeing what actually happens. If we waited for that, the boards would be dead. Speculation is half the fun.
SeanGOP just likes to knock any team that is sitting in a better position than his. He still calls Mt. Union ( Mt. Onion ) and puts down the OAC. It appears that now he is after St. Norbert. Just make a stand SeanGOP! Quit jumping all over. Is your team Augustana or not? And SeanGOP, since you still feel the OAC is a weak conference. Since 1973, 12 ( of 33 years) National Championships, one year the OAC had two teams in the Championship Game.
I think it would be a stretch to say that St. Norbert is better than Augustana. Sitting in a better position? Not that I can see. Being offered up to UWW or SJU is the same as being offered up to Mount Union, plus Augustana is higher in its region.
JPW,
I don’t need you to shame me. Sorry, but I don’t have a lot of respect for SNC or the MWC on the national level. I played against them in 2001, watched them in 2003, and watched the drubbing that SJU put on Monmouth in 2005, and that was enough for me.
I have respect for what SNC has done in the MWC. Win some games outside of the conference to garner some national respect.
Pcole
Didn’t mean to sound like they are or were better than Augustana. That was the team Mt. Union wanted to be in the 80’s. You won’t hear me disrespect them. If it came across that way. I’m sorry! Just the comments from SeanGOP.
Duffman,
My “shame on you” remark was made purely in fun. It sometimes is hard to get the intent of a remark in its written form. It’s good to know that Johnnie Alumns are still as feisty as ever. I’m a Tommie Alum and played on teams that beat SJU in back-to-back seasons in the late 70’s. Oh, those were the days.
You’re right, the lickin’ SJU put on Monmouth last year was surprising. However, SNC put an equal drubbing on Monmouth this year 48-0! Why doesn’t that command the same, or at least some, respect?
SNC has won games outside of the MWC (MIAC & WIAC) in the last several years. However, the drubbings given to SNC by UW-Whitewater in ’04 & ’05 prove that their is a long way to go. UW-W has become a real powerhouse. However, it wasn’t too long ago that UW-W was a second tier team in the WIAC.
You’re right. The next step to national respect is winning on the national stage. It will be entertaining to see everything unfold in the next few months.
It probably carries less weight because Monmouth is clearly not as good this year.
Pat…what kind of a chance do you give Mary Hardin Baylor of beating UWW? Or should I say just hanging with them?
More than an even chance of hanging with them. I would say this is a pick ’em. UMHB has allowed 16 rushing yards per game and I’m sure the Whitewater running game still has some settling in to do.
I am excited to see the MT/CAP game myself….. Capital has had some trouble against the run… so Kmic should have a field day. But to be fair, Mt. Union is suspect against the pass…. so Rocky should be able to light things up as well. I personally see a shootout with the possibility of whoever has the ball last…. wins!
jpw,
When you mentioned the teams St. Norbert has lost to in the playoffs, it sounded like a list of teams Augustana plays every year.
Yes, I do call Mt. Union Mt. Onion, but I also think they are the best team in the country. I think a team that is that good, and wins that much has no worries about an Onion. I hope UWW beats them when they play for the championship (I hope).
I know St. Norbert has a winning tradition in that insanely weak conference, but all you can ask is that they win. You can’t do better than win all your games.
You can schedule a quality team in your ONE non-conference game and beat them. Beg your athletic director to schedule Augustana in your ONE non-conference game. Play a WIAC team. If, and that is a huge if, you could win one of those, then you can brag a little about your team.
If Augie, or Wheaton, or North Central, or Carthage was in the Midwest Conference, they would go to the playoffs EVERY year. If Central, or Coe, or Wartburg was in the Midwest Conference, they would go to the playoffs every year. If any WIAC team was in the Midwest Conference, you guessed it – every year.
My advice, kick out two of the crappiest teams from the Midwest Conference (you have several to choose from). That way you could schedule THREE non-conference games – with quality teams. Heck, last year Augustana played a WIAC team (beat them) and Central Iowa (lost in OT). The loss to Central was the one regular season loss, then they lost to the National Champions in the second round of the playoffs.
Want to hear something nice about St. Norbert? St. Norbert is the best team in the Midwest Conference!
I admire the pride you have in your team. That is a good quality – it proves you are not a chump.
I’ve a real problem with Trinity’s position when compared with that of Hardin-Simmons. Anyone else have the same problem? If not, I’d be curious to know why. Those of you who follow the details much more than I can probably help me out here.
Lg,
Yes.
I have been making the point that UMHB could lose to UWW and finish 8-2, but still get/deserve a playoff home game considering it beat HSU h2h and Trinity’s lone loss would be to a Texas Lutheran team that has a good chance of finishing fifth in the ASC (Ls to Miss Coll, UMHB and Sul Ross with HSU still to play).
And considering the QOW or overall won-loss doesn’t favor Trinity in comparison to Hardin-Simmons either … I’m not sure what the ranking is based on. Expectation of an AQ is not official criteria 🙂
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor 6-1 6-1, 12.000
4. Trinity (Texas) 6-1 6-1, 9.857
5. Carnegie Mellon 6-0 7-0, 9.500
6. Hardin-Simmons 5-1 5-1, 10.143
I’m pretty sure Carthage wouldn’t have been the MWC champ this year if they were in the conference. They barely beat Carroll.
Keith, I too am perplexed by the relative position of Trinity/HSU, but Pat observed above: “Eagle-eyed Ralph Turner noticed a flaw in our QOWs and a recalculation has Hardin-Simmons at 9.667.” That combined with 6-1 (TU) vs. 5-1 (HSU) might explain why things look the way they do today. The danger of using numbers rather than performance as primary criteria …
What would HSU’s QoWI be if they put the rained-out LC game which certainly would have been a W if completed?
Enjoy your trip to Central Texas!
I think Linfield has turned things around, but I think they fact they were ranked at 0-2 was bogus.
jimjeaersa,
Show me where I call the OAC Conference weak, and I’ll give you $1000. I think this year they are the best conference.
HSU’s QOWI with a completed Louisiana College game would have been what we had originally listed. 🙂
No doubt this Linfield team is down from the previous two years, but imho most of the top 25 would have started 0-2 playing WOU and at Hardin-Simmons, especially trying to break in a new qb. Should they have been ranked? Who knows…but they certainly aren’t the first 0-2 team to be ranked.
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