Around the Nation podcast: Playoff picture takes place


Hardin-Simmons wasn’t a threat to Linfield, Willamette or UMHB but crushed Texas Lutheran.
Hardin-Simmons athletics photo

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So let’s see, John Carroll beat Heidelberg, handily, and Wittenberg handled Wabash. Meanwhile, Hardin-Simmons delivered a reality check to Texas Lutheran and Wesley beat a D-I FCS team. (You know, the level known as Division I-AA.) Did John Carroll play its way into the playoffs? Or perhaps we should give them more than just lip service next week vs. Mount Union. Keith talks about what he saw when he watched the John Carroll-Heidelberg game.

Keith and Pat look at the remaining 10 automatic bids and what it will take to win them. Plus a long look at Pool B and another long look at Pool C. That and Continue reading

Around the Nation podcast: Your questions, Mount answers


Josh Yoder has the Linfield offense clicking as well as the Wildcats have their defense clicking.
Linfield athletics photo

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Mount Union answered a big challenge on Saturday but that was not the only question we had this week, nor was it the only question you had this week either. So when we put out the call for questions, we got a lot of interest in regional rankings, some questions about specific teams and some about potential at-large bids. Plus we talked about the other key Top 25 games and Continue reading

Triple Take: Big ones keep coming


Heidelberg faces its first big challenge of the season.
Heidelberg athletics photo

We’re down to the final three weeks of the regular season, and with that, we’re about to have some regional rankings to mull over. They are our best glimpse yet into the possibilities of the playoffs.

In many ways, the postseason is something we have long talked about without trying to get ourselves too worked up. It was always, “In the future” or “A ways off” or “One game at a time.” However, it no longer is this far-off thing; we’re almost face-to-face with it, along with a slew of high-profile games.

This is November. And this is Week 9’s Triple Take, courtesy of Pat, Keith and Ryan. Continue reading