NicoleSwan.com

The Divison II football team with the highest total offense per game, a top quarterback (a Harlan Hill candidate), an 8-2 record, a share of the North Central Conference title, and a #11 national ranking (or #8 depending on which poll you follow) will not be in the playoffs. Seems a little odd doesn’t it? I’m very bitter. Probably more so now than when I watched in astonishment as the playoff field was announced.

Four teams split the NCC conference title. The other three teams are in the playoffs, USD is not despite having beat (handily, I might add) two of the three teams. USD, in fact, now ends the season ranked higher than the other three teams, but will not be in the playoffs.

I know it comes down to USD being the victim of belonging to a tough conference and region (watch for someone from the Northwest region if not the NCC to take the national title), but, also, I fear, politics.

I’ve broken it down from every angle from who from the NCC should have really been in to, once at the regional level, examining wins vs. losses, strength of schedule, and conference equity. In the end, I come to one conclusion, we were still jacked.

There has to be something wrong with a system that leaves a #11 team sitting at home.
Do the DII playoffs expand to 32 teams? (But then, of course, team 33 is pissed)
Would a system in which four teams from each region are chosen plus 8 at-large bids be better?
What about a system that simply takes the top 24 ranked teams into the playoffs?

In the end no amount of digital yelling will change anything. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to reserve the right to be bitter for some time yet. Congrats USD on a great season — I had fun following it.