ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats, winners of six straight games since a season-opening loss to Central Oklahoma, moved up one spot in the NCAA Division II Southwest Region rankings this week in advance of Saturday's showdown with West Texas A&M.
ACU -- which is 6-1 overall and on top of the Lone Star Conference at 6-0 -- is ranked No. 7 in the second regional poll of the season, which was released Monday. The poll is compiled based on a formula that the NCAA football committee uses to rank each team. Factors that are used to determine the ranking include won-loss record inside the region, won-loss record outside the region, strength of schedule and strength of opponents' schedules.
Chadron State (7-0) remained No. 1 in the regional poll with Northwest Missouri State (5-1) taking over the No. 2 spot from the Buffs of West Texas A&M, who are 7-0 but dropped to No. 3 in the regional poll this week. The Buffs will be in Abilene this Saturday at 2 p.m. as they battle the Wildcats for the top spot in the LSC. ACU can ill-afford another loss this season after that 27-17 loss on Sept. 1 to the unranked Bronchos.
Tarleton State, which is 7-0 on the season, moved up two spots in the poll after a convincing 44-32 win over Midwestern State, which is 5-2 on the season and fell from No. 4 in the region all the way down to No. 8. Mesa State is 7-0, but dropped to No. 5 and could continue to drop because of its weak schedule, both in and out of conference play. Washburn (5-2) jumped one spot in this week's poll, moving from No. 7 to No. 6, while the Wildcats moved up to No. 7 from No. 8 in the first poll.
Midwestern State is at No. 8, followed by Missouri Western (5-2) at No. 9, Pittsburg State (5-2) at No. 10, Nebraska-Kearney (4-2) at No. 11 and Central Missouri (4-3) at No. 12.
The next regional poll will be released next Monday, the third of six consecutive polls, culminating with the final poll on Sunday, Nov. 11, that will reveal the six playoff teams from the region.
