The first NCAA Division II Super Region rankings were released Monday, and four teams from North Carolina made the initial list of potential playoff qualifiers.
Johnson C. Smith (8-0), Lenoir-Rhyne (7-1), Wingate (6-1) and Winston-Salem State (6-2) were among 10 schools included in Super Region Two.
The Super Region list, generated by an NCAA selection committee and put in alphabetical order by school name for this release, isn’t a guarantee of who will make the final bracket in a few weeks. It’s purpose is to shine a light on which teams are in contention. Regional rankings will be released two more times before the playoff field is announced at the end of the regular season/championship week.
There are four Super Regions in D2. A total of 28 teams, seven from each Super Region, will make the final bracket. The top seeded team from each region will get a bye in the opening round.
The other six teams included in Super Region 2 for this initial reveal are Carson-Newman (6-1) and Emory & Henry (7-1) from the South Atlantic Conference; Miles (6-1) from the SIAC, Valdosta State (7-0) and West Alabama (6-1) from the Gulf South, and Virginia Union (6-1) from the CIAA.
Lenoir-Rhyne made the playoffs last season and won three games on the way to the D2 semifinals, eventually losing to champion Harding University. The Bears will host Wingate this weekend in Hickory in a contest that could alter future Super Region rankings. (Wingate advanced to the D2 quarterfinals in 2022).
Johnson C. Smith beat Winston-Salem State 24-15 this past weekend. The Golden Bulls, enjoying their best season ever, have games remaining against Fayetteville State and Livingstone. Winston-Salem State will have a bye this weekend and then will host Fayetteville State in its finale.
D2 Football | Super Region Rankings | Initial Release
(Team records listed are overall vs. D2, followed by vs. other regional teams)
SUPER REGION ONE Ashland 6-2 6-2 Assumption 5-2 5-2 California (Pennsylvania) 7-1 7-1 Charleston (West Virginia) 8-0 8-0 East Stroudsburg 7-1 7-1 Findlay 7-1 7-1 Kutztown 8-0 8-0 New Haven 5-2 5-2 Slippery Rock 6-1 6-1 Tiffin 6-2 6-1 SUPER REGION TWO Carson-Newman 6-1 5-1 Emory & Henry 7-1 7-1 Johnson C. Smith 8-0 8-0 Lenoir-Rhyne 7-1 6-1 Miles 6-1 6-1 Valdosta State 7-0 7-0 Virginia Union 6-1 6-1 West Alabama 6-1 6-1 Wingate 6-1 6-1 Winston-Salem State 6-2 5-2 SUPER REGION THREE Central Oklahoma 6-1 6-1 Emporia State 7-1 6-1 Ferris State 7-1 6-1 Grand Valley State 6-1 4-1 Harding 7-1 7-1 Ouachita Baptist 8-0 8-0 Pittsburg State 7-1 7-1 Saginaw Valley State 6-2 6-2 Southern Arkansas 6-2 6-2 UIndy 7-1 7-1 SUPER REGION FOUR Angelo State 6-2 6-0 Augustana (South Dakota) 6-1 6-1 Central Washington 6-1 6-1 Colorado Mesa 6-2 6-2 Colorado School of Mines 6-2 6-2 Colorado State University Pueblo 7-1 7-0 Minnesota State Mankato 6-2 6-2 Sioux Falls 6-2 6-2 Western Colorado University 8-0 8-0 Western Oregon 5-1 5-1
