The initial NCAA Division II regional rankings are out and four of the ten teams in Super Region II are HBCUs.
Benedict College, Fayetteville State, Fort Valley State, Miles College are all on the list, which reflects teams in contention for the NCAA Division II playoffs. The list is not a true ranking in Week Eight, as it is listed in alphabetical order.
Fayetteville State is the lone CIAA school on the list. It has won six games in a row after dropping its first two games, including a 14-point loss to Lenoir-Rhyne.
Ironically, Virginia State and Virginia Union are both tied for the CIAA’s top record at 7-1, but both teams are on the outside-looking in – likely due to their lack of strength of scheduling. VSU’s best win is against 4-4 Tusculum. Virginia Union’s best win is against 4-4 Lincoln (PA). If both teams win on Saturday then the Nov. 4 duel between the two teams should boost the winner into not only the CIAA title game but also keep it in the bid for the Division II playoffs. The loser’s best-case scenario is likely a trip to the newly created Beach Bowl
Valdosta State is set to take on West Florida on Saturday and will matchup against West Georgia on Nov. 11.
Starting next week, the regional rankings will be posted in order that they would be slated to appear.
The CIAA and SIAC used to be in different NCAA Division II Super Regions, but were re-aligned after 2016.