ABILENE - The ACU Wildcats are still No. 5 in the NCAA Division II Southwest Region rankings released Monday afternoon, leaving them in position for the program's first berth in the NCAA Division II post-season.
The top 10 teams in the regional rankings are unchanged in this week's poll, which means that two games this week in the Lone Star Conference (Midwestern State at ACU and Tarleton State at West Texas A&M) will have huge post-season implications.
Tarleton State is ranked No. 4 in the region with a 6-3 mark with the 8-1 Wildcats at No. 5, followed by 9-1 West Texas A&M at No. 6 and 8-2 Midwestern State at No. 7. Only three of those teams will reach the playoffs, along with probables Northwest Missouri State (9-0 and No. 1 in the region), Chadron State (9-0 and ranked No. 2) and Missouri Western State (8-1 and ranked No. 3).
The Wildcats can win the Lone Star Conference championship -- its first in football since 1977 -- with a win over Midwestern State and virtually clinch its first berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. A loss to the Mustangs would leave the Wildcats hoping for a Tarleton State win over West Texas A&M, and, probably, a Pittsburg State (8-2 and No. 8 in the region) loss to Missouri Western State.
If ACU loses and Tarleton State wins, the No. 6 seed in the playoffs would probably come down to either ACU and West Texas A&M, and the Wildcats own a 49-33 victory over the Buffaloes earlier this season.
The NCAA Division II playoffs begin next Saturday, Nov. 18, with the top two seeds in each of the four regions earning byes.
NCAA Division II Southwest Region
| 1. Northwest Missouri State |
10-0 |
| 2. Chadron State |
10-0 |
| 3. Missouri Western State |
9-1 |
| 4. Tarleton State |
6-3 |
| 5. Abilene Christian |
8-1 |
| 6. West Texas A&M |
9-1 |
| 7. Midwestern State |
8-2 |
| 8. Pittsburg State |
8-2 |
| 9. Fort Lewis |
6-4 |
| 10. SW Oklahoma State |
6-4 |
| 11. Washburn |
6-4 |
| 12. Nebraska-Kearney |
5-4 |
