Kearney, Neb. - Thanks to a win over Colorado School of Mines this past Saturday, the Nebraska-Kearney football team has moved up two spots in the region rankings.
The region rankings determine the 24-teams that will make the Division II playoffs, which starts next Saturday at campus sites.
UNK (9-1, 8-0 RMAC) and the RMAC are in "Super Regional Three"; the other leagues in this region includes the NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference; schools mainly in Minnesota) and the GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; schools in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana).
The top six teams in each of Division II's four regions will make the playoffs. In the first round, the top two seeds in reach region receive a bye so the
4 seed hosts 5 and the
3 seed hosts 6.
If the playoffs started today, UNK would host the Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) University Cardinals.
In two previous D-II playoff appearances, the Lopers hosted, and lost, to Texas A & M-Kingsville in 2002, 58-40, and to Pittsburg (Kans.) State, 49-20, in 2005.
Below are the Super Regional Three Region Rankings; the official playoff announcement will be aired live on
ESPNEWS between 2-2:30 p.m. Central time this Sunday.
# School Record This Week's Opponent (Record)
1. Minnesota State 10-0 at St. Cloud State (6-4)
2. Minnesota-Duluth 9-1 at # 10 Winona State (7-3)
3. Grand Valley State. Mich. 9-1 hosts Wayne State, Mich. (6-4)
4. UNK 9-1 at Mesa State (5-5)
5. Saginaw Vallley State, Mich. 8-2 hosts Ferris State, Mich. (1-8)
6. Hillsdale, Mich. 8-2 hosts Tiffin, Ohio (0-9)
7. Bemidji State, Minn. 7-3 at Concordia-St. Paul (3-7)
8. Wayne State, Neb. 8-3 hosts Mary, N.D. (5-5)
9. Findlay, Ohio 7-3 hosts Ashland, Ohio (5-5)
10. Winona State, Minn. 7-3 hosts # 2 Duluth (9-1)
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