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There's
lots of ways to rank Pool B teams, and since they are scattered across
the country and don't play each other much, it's not exactly cut-and-dried.
The national committee takes into account winning percentage, primarily against regional teams and other Division III teams, as well as strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and results against common opponents when determining who will get the seven Pool B bids. (And people, if you don't know what Pool B is, try the Playoff FAQ.)
Obviously, with three weeks left in the regular season, there's a lot that can change. Some of these teams will play each other. Others will see their strength of schedule increase or decrease with their final opponent or opponents. But here's our look at Pool B through games of Oct. 27, 2001 (teams with asterisks have a non-Division III loss):
| No. | Team | D3 | Opp% | Notes |
| 1 | Wash. & Jeff. | 7-0 | .489 | NAIA opponent this week, 1-6 Buff State next |
| 2 | RPI | 6-0 | .634 | Near-lock if they win out though SOS will fall |
| 3 | Hope * | 6-0 | .568 | Loss was I-AAA
and in first week but it's still either Hope or Albion, probably not both |
| 4 | Whitworth | 5-0 | .417 | SOS falls with
Puget Sound and E. Oregon (0-10). Might not survive a loss to Linfield. |
| 5 | Pacific.Lutheran.* | 4-1 | .682 | Just one game left, might be tight |
| 6 | Thomas More | 8-0 | .480 | This is as high as the SOS will get. Last two opponents 5-8 v. D-III. |
| 7 | Union | 7-1 | .558 | They sit here
now, but Linfield's SOS will improve with Whitworth and Willamette. |
| 8 | Linfield * | 5-1 | .444 | If Linfield loses, Menlo leapfrogs them and Union. |
| 9 | Menlo * | 5-1 | .625 | Must hope Hardin-Simmons wins ASC |
| 10 | Brockport | 7-1 | .434 | Will rebound
with wins against TCNJ and Wesley, but SOS is in nosedive. |
| 11 | Wesley | 5-1 | .514 | Waiting for Brockport
in Week 11. Will be helped if Week 1 opp. Ferrum wins Dixie. |
| 12 | Washington U. | 7-2 | .667 | Nice schedule. Needs Albion to beat Hope. |
| 13 | Albion * | 5-1 | .487 | MacMurray winning IBC probably helps. |
| 14 | Carnegie Mellon | 6-1 | .500 | There's a long list of things that must happen for them to get a bid. |
Some things to note: The strength of schedule takes into account only the games that have been played to date, and only against Division III teams. Strength of schedule doesn't take into account the games played against the team being measured. (That is, if Washington & Jefferson's opponents are 14-15, we subtract the five losses W&J gave its opponents. This helps even out the effects of playing a particularly strong opponent.)