The first Division III football regional rankings come from the NCAA on Nov. 1.
Remember that regional rankings primarily take Division III games into account. Teams are listed with their Division III record only. For more information about the playoff format and how participants are determined, check out our FAQ, or listen to the opening portion of our two most recent podcasts, linked below.
A plus sign signifies that the team also has a non-Division III win, while a minus sign signifies a non-Division III loss.
- Strength of schedule numbers
- ATN Podcast 182: Tackling Pool C teams
- ATN Podcast 181: About the committee
| East Region | SOS | Notes |
| 1. Delaware Valley 8-0 2. Brockport 8-0 3. Springfield 8-0 4. Wesley 7-1 5. Frostburg State 7-1 6. Husson 6-1 + 7. Union 7-1 8. Western Connecticut 7-1 9. Plymouth State 8-1 10. Curry 7-1 |
.539 .532 .526 .492 .459 .538 .521 .500 .489 .448 |
The East, perhaps more than in years past, is lining up with more of a common-sense ranking than one truly wedded to the NCAA strength of schedule number. In real life, Frostburg and Wesley's schedules are much more difficult than Husson's, but the numbers don't calculate it out that way. Frostburg is aligned here as the top at-large candidate in the region (assuming Springfield is chosen in Pool B) and Bobcats' SOS will rise in the final two weeks. ... Two MASCAC teams listed rather than potentially ranking two-loss RPI, Alfred or Western New England. |
| North Region | SOS | Notes |
| 1. Mount Union 8-0 2. Wittenberg 8-0 3. Trine 8-0 4. North Central 6-1 5. DePauw 7-1 6. Illinois Wesleyan 8-1 7. Franklin 6-1 - 8. Heidelberg 6-2 9. Wheaton (Ill.) 6-2 10. Millikin 6-2 |
.562 .546 .456 .521 .568 .495 .470 .580 .568 .529 |
The North Region committee has lined its teams up in a more mathematical way: all the unbeatens, followed by one-loss teams, followed by two-loss teams. From there, the rough sort is by strength of schedule. If the East committee were ranking this region, they'd probably have Illinois Wesleyan ahead of DePauw. This could change in the coming weeks when results against regionally ranked opponents is considered (it's not factored into the first ranking because of logistical issues). |
| South Region | SOS | Notes |
| 1. Mary Hardin-Baylor 8-0 2. Hardin-Simmons 6-1 + 3. Berry 9-0 4. Washington & Jefferson 8-0 5. Johns Hopkins 7-1 6. Centre 7-1 7. Case Western Reserve 8-0 8. Franklin & Marshall 7-1 9. Huntingdon 6-1 + 10. Westminster (Pa.) 6-2 |
.555 .559 .510 .478 .579 .529 .364 .522 .499 .539 |
Berry, having clinched, in bold. ... Case's strength of schedule so low that it is behind three one-loss teams, and if they were an at-large candidate today, they might not get to the table. ... PAC tiebreaker for W&J and Case, should they both run the table, is conference opponents' record, and that might also end up tied. (Case and W&J do not play each other.) ... Anyone currently below Case would basically have no shot at one of the five at-large bids. |
| West Region | SOS | Notes |
| 1. UW-Oshkosh 6-0 + 2. Linfield 6-1 2. Wartburg 8-0 4. St. Thomas 7-1 5. St. John's 6-1 + 6. UW-La Crosse 6-2 7. Monmouth 7-1 8. Concordia-Moorhead 7-1 9. UW-Platteville 6-2 10. George Fox 6-2 |
.652 .601 .599 .497 .524 .557 .588 .468 .632 .549 |
Also clinched but not ranked, Chapman (5-2, .574 SOS). ... Shouldn't be surprised to see St. Thomas so low. Tommies do have two wins against regionally ranked opponents, but that is not accounted for in the first regional rankings release. ... Linfield still a contender, on paper, for a regional top seed. The numbers don't reflect Wildcats' struggle on the field the past two weeks. ... Concordia-Moorhead a little low but the numbers bear that out. A win vs. SJU would likely still put them in contention for an at-large bid. |
How to use regional rankings: If you are an at-large candidate, you want to be sure you are the top at-large candidate in your region. That will ensure you get discussed by the national committee and have a chance to be put in the field.
There are 25 automatic bids, two Pool B bids (teams not in the 25 automatic bid conferences) and five Pool C (true national at-large) bids. Selection Sunday is Nov. 12.
Being listed in these rankings is not a guarantee of selection to the playoffs. There is no guarantee an at-large team will be taken from each region.