Northwest Playoff Picture: Lots of Football Left to Play

As a Charger fan, you might be echoing former Colts coach Jim Mora when you read an article about the upcoming Division II playoffs.

"Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. You kiddin' me? Playoffs ?!?! (WAV from Kenn.com)

But, as the regular GLIAC season winds down, we look to see how our other league counterparts are sitting in terms of gaining bids to the second season. Remember, in the expanded playoff format, six teams from the four regions now qualify.

Grand Valley, Saginaw, Northwood, Michigan Tech, and Ashland all are listed in the top twelve. Several key ballgames loom in all of the conferences, so lots of things are bound to change between now and the opening round November.

Latest Rankings as of October 17, 2005
1. North Dakota, 8-0, remaining ranked opponents: Neb. Omaha, South Dakota
2. Grand Valley, 7-0, remaining ranked opponents: @Northwood, Michigan Tech
3. Saginaw Valley, 6-1, remaining ranked opponents: Michigan Tech
4. St. Cloud State, 7-1, remaining ranked opponents: @Neb. Omaha, UM-Duluth
5. Minnesota-Duluth, 6-2, remaining ranked opponents: South Dakota, St. Cloud St.
6. Northwood, 6-1, remaining ranked opponents: Grand Valley
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7. South Dakota, 7-1, remaining ranked opponents: UM-Duluth, North Dakota
8. Nebraska Omaha, 5-2, remaining ranked opponents: St. Cloud St., @North Dakota
9. Winona State, 6-2, remaining ranked opponents: none
10. Central Washington, 5-2, remaining ranked opponents: none
11. Michigan Tech, 5-2, remaining ranked opponents: @Saginaw Valley, @Grand Valley
12. Ashland, 6-2, remaining ranked opponents: none

As you can see, there is a lot of football left to be played in the GLIAC, NCC, and NSIC conferences. Lots of the "big boys" will be banging helmets in the upcoming weeks. In the GLIAC, Michigan Tech definitely has the toughest road with finales in the Valleys. Ashland might be in the best position in the entire region. They finish with Wayne State at home, a short drive to free-falling Findlay, and Indianapolis at home while the teams ahead of them play knock-out with one another.

Rankings for all regions