FB: American Southwest Conference

[justafan12]

I think I ask this question every year, but what determines home field in the playoffs? Top 25 ranking? Regional rankings? Conference Champion? Whatever the NCAA happens to be drinking that day?

I ask because one of the many playoff scenarios the board has guessed at is HSU going to Whitworth. (I know there are two weeks left and lots can happen)
Figured one of you more experienced members would know.

It always appeared to me it was whatever saved the NCAA the most money in travel.

[Pat Coleman]

It's not going to cost a significantly different amount of money to fly Walla Walla to Abilene as it would to fly Abilene to Walla Walla. Primary determination is regional rankings, but when comparing teams from different regions the committee will compare them head to head based on the criteria.

In some years, it has been more important if someone was ranked higher in their region. Recently that appears not to have been the case, as noted with last year's HSU-Linfield game.

In last week's podcast, Jim Catanzaro referenced that even if they can't always vary the matchups for "island" teams, they can at least vary the location. That seemed to me to be a reference to HSU-Linfield.
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/25/around-the-nation-podcast-216-committee-chair-explains-it-all/

[cover2]

Regional rankings are out:  http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2018/first-regional-ranking

Regional Rankings:
East Region   SOS   Notes
1 Brockport 8-0
2 Frostburg State 7-0
3 RPI 7-0
4 Delaware Valley 7-1
5 Cortland 7-1
6 Salisbury 8-0
7 Western Connecticut 7-0 +
8 Merchant Marine 6-1
9 Ithaca 6-2
10 Western New England 7-1
       
North Region   SOS    Notes
1 Mount Union 8-0
2 Illinois Wesleyan 7-1
3 John Carroll 7-1
4 Trine 8-0
5 North Central (Ill.) 7-1
6 Baldwin Wallace 7-1
7 Wabash 7-1
8 Wittenberg 7-1
9 Franklin 7-1
10 Eureka 8-0   
   
South Region   SOS   Notes
1 Mary Hardin-Baylor 8-0
2 Berry 9-0
3 Johns Hopkins 7-1
4 Centre 7-1
5 Hardin-Simmons 7-1
6 Muhlenberg 7-1
7 Randolph-Macon 7-1
8 Washington and Jefferson 7-1
9 Case Western Reserve 7-1
10 Thomas More 6-2    
   
West Region   SOS   Notes
1 UW-Whitewater 7-0
2 St. John's  8-0
3 Whitworth 7-0
4 Bethel  7-1
5 Linfield 5-1 -
6 St. Thomas  6-1
7 Monmouth  7-1
8 UW-Oshkosh 4-2 +-
9 Simpson 6-2
10 UW-La Crosse 5-2 -

[CowboyAlum261]

Based on the regional rankings, it looks like our discussion won't matter. HSU isn't getting in without a loss from Centre...

[cover2]

Curious how folks think Berry would match up with UMHB.  Any thoughts?

[Pat Coleman]

Based on the regional rankings, it looks like our discussion won't matter. HSU isn't getting in without a loss from Centre...

There are five at-large positions, so it will be a certainty that a region will get more than one at-large in.

[CowboyAlum261]

Based on the regional rankings, it looks like our discussion won't matter. HSU isn't getting in without a loss from Centre...

There are five at-large positions, so it will be a certainty that a region will get more than one at-large in.

Sure but with Linfield ranked over St. Thomas, I'd assume the West is most likely to get 2 at large bids.

[Pat Coleman]

Based on the regional rankings, it looks like our discussion won't matter. HSU isn't getting in without a loss from Centre...

There are five at-large positions, so it will be a certainty that a region will get more than one at-large in.

Sure but with Linfield ranked over St. Thomas, I'd assume the West is most likely to get 2 at large bids.

The East might get zero.

Here's the completed page, instead of the bare-bones list that was pasted here:
http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2018/first-regional-ranking

[trickytroy32]

How is Centre ahead of HSU? Neither have victory over regional rank. HSU did lose to the #2 team and is #8. Centre did lose barely to the #11 which would be beaten by both ASC teams. Even common opponent gives HSU  the advantage. Don't know strength of schedule of the teams. Is it me or is something funny here?

[Pat Coleman]

Troy:

SOS and analysis on our site: http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2018/first-regional-ranking

[GillCJ1]

Edit - Pat beat me to it.

[HSUDAD]

How is Centre ahead of HSU? Neither have victory over regional rank. HSU did lose to the #2 team and is #8. Centre did lose barely to the #11 which would be beaten by both ASC teams. Even common opponent gives HSU  the advantage. Don't know strength of schedule of the teams. Is it me or is something funny here?

I was wondering the same thing, but I do not pretend to even understand all of this......

[trickytroy32]

Only advantage Centre has is SoS and just barely. Committee needs to be drug tested because they are certainly high.

[jamtod]

Based on the regional rankings, it looks like our discussion won't matter. HSU isn't getting in without a loss from Centre...

There are five at-large positions, so it will be a certainty that a region will get more than one at-large in.

Sure but with Linfield ranked over St. Thomas, I'd assume the West is most likely to get 2 at large bids.

If St Thomas beats Bethel in 2 weeks, I imagine they will leap both Linfield and Bethel in the rankings.

[Pat Coleman]

Only advantage Centre has is SoS and just barely. Committee needs to be drug tested because they are certainly high.

.026 isn't what the committee would generally consider as "just barely" -- Centre was competitive with the No. 2 team in the region and HSU was really not competitive with the No. 1. It isn't the way I would rank them, for sure, but it's definitely supported by the criteria.