FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[HScoach]

How about one of those teams from certain conferences that get beat every year by 40 points in the first round of the playoffs?  I know they're conference champions but it's frustrating that some of the best teams in the country get left out every year.  I know there is no way of fixing that but it's frustrating.

Maybe let's just stick with discussing the actual system we have rather than trying to answer the question by rewriting the Division III philosophy of championship access.

Not many of you have been around ling enough to remember the old 16 team format where the entire field was subject to opinion based selection .  That was a mess.  Much better than what D1 was doing at the time which was nothing, but still a mess. 

The AQ system we have now is good.  Would I like a few more Pool C teams, sure.  But only a few more.  Under no circumstances do i want to see D3 football become like the NCAA men's B-ball tournament where. 500 power conference teams are in. 

EVERY team to start the season should have a path to a title.  The AQ does that.   Yes, some conferences suck,  ha e for a long time and will continue to do so, but those teams deserve a shot too. 

It's simplistic to say, but the path is win all your games.   When you don't,  you're at the mercy of others.

And for the record,  JCU has no business being in the field this season.  Good defense,  but absolutely no offense.   They would likely get steam rolled by anyone other than the 7 or 8 seeds.

[jamtod]

North Central is in.

So JCU and Susquehanna are the two teams left out.

[formerd3db]

HScoach:

Not many of the posters here have been around even when the NCAA only had the 8 team playoff format and some of the omissions back then were even more egregious than the ones that some of the posters (our colleagues) here are complaining about. 

Two quick examples...one was in 1982 when Wabash was 10-0, ranked #5 in the final regular season poll and was not selected for the 8 team playoff field because Baldwin-Wallace (10-0) and Augustana (9-0) were both ranked above them, #1 and #3 respectively.  Back then, the regions were divided into 4 (North, South, East and West) and the rule in use was that no more than two teams were to be selected from the same region.  Another example was two years later in 1984 when Hope went 9-0, was ranked #8 in the country and was not selected as two 1 loss teams (Randolph-Macon and Union, NY) were selected in that top 8 ranking.

As many have said here in the past, there will always be some deserving teams (even with no or 1 loss) that are left out of the playoff field. However, as you, Pat, Gregory and others have said, the current system is a good one and at least gives everyone in a conference a fair shot at a playoff spot.  All a team has to do is win their conference.  In the current system (and IMO), that is what should be the presiding first goal.

Anyway, I am anxious to see who we (Hope) are assigned and will go to the selection podcast now!

[shepherd]

So the perceived path for Wheaton Stagg Bowl would be
1 Martin Luther
2 UW Oshkosh
3 St Johns
4 MHB
Thats a real test.  The Oshkosh game on are physical games.  Wheaton will have to avoid too may injuries to have a chance at getting to the Stagg Bowl.

[shepherd]

The Thunder will entertain Martin Luther (9-1) at McCully Stadium in Wheaton on Saturday in a noon kickoff.
https://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2019/11/17/wheaton-college-football-team-to-host-xxx-on-saturday-in-the-ncaa-division-iii-playoffs.aspx

NCC vs  vs Wabash College at noon  Naperville, Ill. Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/schedule

[HScoach]

Mount v NCC in round 2 will be very good game.   Winner of that game is Stagg bound in my opinion

[Captain_Joe08]

The Thunder will entertain Martin Luther (9-1) at McCully Stadium in Wheaton on Saturday in a noon kickoff.
https://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2019/11/17/wheaton-college-football-team-to-host-xxx-on-saturday-in-the-ncaa-division-iii-playoffs.aspx

NCC vs  vs Wabash College at noon  Naperville, Ill. Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/schedule

Someone made a typo in the article. Martin Luther is the Knights not the Hawks.....lol.

[USee]

Mount v NCC in round 2 will be very good game.   Winner of that game is Stagg bound in my opinion

I am very excited to see that game play out. Two top 10 defenses and some pedigree QB's.

[USee]

All things equal, I like Wheaton's draw. Could have been a lot worse. UWO/Central winner will be a physical game so I am most worried about injuries that hurt your chances to survive this bracket. But I think Wheaton matches up well with the teams in their quad. Excited to see some playoff football.

Seems pretty clear to me the NCAA committee would have had UWW as #1 instead of Wheaton, put Wheaton where St Johns is and paired them vs Aurora and then put St Johns vs Central opposite UWW. When UWW lost they bumped those teams  to where they are now added UWO in their rightful seed, and shipped the Warhawks out west.

[ncc_fan]

Here's a motivational video:  NCC @ Wabash in 2011.

[wabashcpa]

Here's a motivational video:  NCC @ Wabash in 2011.

That was an amazing comeback.  Doubt we will see any miracles this time, but you just never know.

[CollegeGolf18]

Here's a motivational video:  NCC @ Wabash in 2011.

That was an amazing comeback.  Doubt we will see any miracles this time, but you just never know.

We won't because a 4 loss season and getting to the playoffs is just good enough.

[mdrem7]

Good bracket for Wheaton. Should easily handle Martin Luther. Then those next two will be tough, with Central/Oskosh/St. John's/Chapman. My guess is Oshkosh & St. John's, and I think they can handle both of them.

Then down to Texas for a rematch of the 2017 Quarterfinals, though hopefully Wheaton's QB doesn't break his ribs the week before this one. Little nervous about Wheaton's secondary against the speed of Mary Hardin-Baylor, but if that DL can shut down the run, then they should be fine.

Ultimately, would love to see a Wheaton-North Central matchup in the Stagg Bowl. NCC has a legit chance to beat Mount Union. They are the top 2 offenses in DIII, and then Mount's D is a little bit better, but both are great units. Gonna be game of the week in Alliance in two weeks. Winner of that game goes to the championship against Mary Hardin-Baylor/UWW or winner of Wheaton's bracket.
'

[formerd3db]

How about a Wheaton/Hope semi-final!😁

[firstdown]

NCC was looking ahead to Mount Union 2011 and they got bushwacked in C'ville.  While the likelihood of history repeating itself aren't high,  if their eyes and heads are on Alliance next weekend, stranger things have happened.