Eagles move up to fourth in final region ranking
INDIANAPOLIS - Carson-Newman moved up to fourth in the final Super Region II rankings, released Monday afternoon by the NCAA.
INDIANAPOLIS - Carson-Newman moved up to fourth in the final Super Region II rankings, released Monday afternoon by the NCAA.
Carson-Newman's current ranking positions the Eagles to play host to a first round NCAA playoff game.
The listing is the third and final of three region rankings that the NCAA publicizes leading up to the NCAA playoffs. The rankings are the official poll utilized by the NCAA in the championship selection process and will continue to be released each week by the NCAA Division II Football Committee up to the NCAA Championship selections on Nov. 17.
Carson-Newman is in Super Region II, which is comprised of the South Atlantic Conference, Gulf Couth Conference, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Valdosta State moved up to the top spot in the poll after its win over Delta State last week. The Blazers are the only unbeaten team in Super Region II. VSU gets another strength of schedule boost with its regular season finale against West Florida. The Argos are ranked eighth in the poll, and would insert themselves in the field with a win.
Carson-Newman's SoS has cratered after facing Anderson and Tusculum the last two weeks; the two teams have combined for two Division II wins. C-N's metic is now at .507, third from the bottom among the teams ranked in the Super Region. However, Carson-Newman will get a significant boost to that field by playing Wingate in the SAC title game.
The Bulldogs are second in the region rankings. Carson-Newman owns a 31-28 win over Wingate, the Bulldogs' only loss of the year. Carson-Newman would ensure a home game with a win over Wingate in the SAC title game, while a loss would leave C-N's playoff fate up to the committee.
West Alabama checks in third. UWA's .553 strength of schedule will take a hit as it wraps up the season with winless Erskine Saturday.
Behind Carson-Newman is Lenoir-Rhyne in fifth. The Bears are the highest-ranked two-loss team in the field. Miles, who plays Clark Atlanta for the SIAC title Saurday, checks in in sixth.
Johnson C. Smith had the top metrics in the Super Region in the alphabetical listing, but now sits in seventh after back-to-back losses to Livingstone and Fayetteville State. The Golden Bulls are idle, after missing out on the CIAA title game.
Virginia Union, who plays Virginia State for the CIAA title, is ninth. While Winston-Salem State is 10th.
Carson-Newman and Wingate collide Saturday at 3 p.m. for the SAC title. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 2 p.m. with the AEC Countdown to Kickoff on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
| SUPER REGION TWO | |||
| 1 | Valdosta State | 9-0 | 9-0 |
| 2 | Wingate | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| 3 | West Alabama | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| 4 | Carson-Newman | 8-1 | 7-1 |
| 5 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 8-2 | 7-2 |
| 6 | Miles | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| 7 | Johnson C. Smith | 8-2 | 8-2 |
| 8 | West Florida | 7-2 | 6-1 |
| 9 | Virginia Union | 7-2 | 6-1 |
| 10 | Winston-Salem State | 7-2 | 6-2 |
