Grand Valley State takes over No. 1 in DII football Power 10 rankings

Another week has come and gone, and three more tremendous DII football Power 10 upsets went down on Saturday. None, of course, was bigger than Ouachita Baptist taking down No. 1 Harding.

It was the Bisons' first loss in 25 games, and despite the video game-like numbers they have been putting up, you may be surprised to see they fall quite a bit. That's because this time of year, metrics matter, and with one of the softest strengths of schedule, a mere 1-1 record against teams with a winning record, and a top 15 (as opposed to top 10) KPI, there are simply some teams ahead of them right now. 

Before we get to the Power 10, here were the three huge upsets that led to a complete shakeup this week:

• Ouachita Baptist (first five out) 17, No. 1 Harding 13
• Cal (PA) 28, No. 4 Slippery Rock 7
• Delta State 21, West Alabama (first five out) 6

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The Power 10 are my rankings. There is no committee or voting body coming up with these teams, just my spreadsheets, notes from coaches and a lot of deep diving into rosters and stats. I try to blend selection committee metrics — like strength of schedule, in-region record and PI — along with what I am seeing for an overall look at the landscape of DII football’s top teams. I try to explain why I make my choices in the article below. 

The DII football Power 10: Week 7

No. 1 Grand Valley State | Previous: 2: Let's be honest — the Lakers have been 1B since their first victory. They have some of the best selection committee metrics in DII football across the board and were simply No. 2 because the defending national champions were on a 25-game tear.

This week showed the mettle of the Lakers, as they won the Battle of the Valleys in a game that went down to the wire (and had the rare 3-2 score coming out of the first quarter). They held top-25 Saginaw Valley State under 300 yards and 10 points, a continue to have one of the best defenses in the land. The Lakers are now 4-0 against teams with a plus-.500 record — three of which came against top-25 teams at the time they played. They'll go for No. 4 next week against Ferris State. 

No. 2 Valdosta State | Previous: 3: Here's the thing: If the season ended today, the Blazers are not the No. 1 seed in Super Region Two. So, I can understand why people wonder how I have them No. 2 in the entire division. The simple fact is, the Blazers haven't really played a tight game yet, have one of the best quarterbacks in DII, and have enough remaining on the schedule that should they win out — and I think they very well may — we'll be looking at one of the best resumes in the Super Region.

No. 3 Pittsburg State | Previous: 5: People are still going to hoot and holler that I have the 6-1 Gorillas over Central Oklahoma, but here's why. Selection metrics aside, Pittsburg State has the best defense in the MIAA and that is a huge factor. Yes, Pittsburg State has lost to Emporia State, but it was a very close game against one of the best teams in DII football, and the Gorillas still have more wins against teams with a winning record. It is a microscopic hair that splits the two... but we'll find out who's right this week: Central Oklahoma hosts the Gorillas on Saturday. 

No. 4 Central Oklahoma | Previous: 9: Well, I already said it above. And truth be told, these Bronchos almost didn't jump this high. They struggled mightily in holding off 1-6 Northeastern State this past weekend and were actually down quite large at the half. But this incredible offense came firing back and did win the day. As I said, the selection metrics are super close between Pitt State and the Bronchos, so this coming weekend will not only tell us what we need to know but could make the MIAA home stretch one of the most fun to watch.

No. 5 Ferris State | Previous: 6: I have been talking a bit how the Bulldogs need to prove themselves as they enter the toughest stretch of the season. They started off on the right foot Saturday, thumping a good Michigan Tech team 51-13. There are a lot of questions on why I have the Dawgs so high, and if you are going purely by the selection metrics, I understand why. However, if the Bulldogs perform like this against the teams remaining on their schedule, it will eventually make sense. We will definitely find out this weekend. 

No. 6 Minnesota State | Previous: 7: The Mavericks were idle on Saturday, so not much changes. Had they played and won a meaningful game, they would probably be in the top 5. I still think this is the team to beat in Super Region Four and a win against nationally ranked Augustana (SD) this coming weekend may secure that.

No. 7 Kutztown | Previous: 8: With Slippery Rock's loss, the Golden Bears are the team to beat in the PSAC and one of two remaining undefeated teams in all of Super Region One. Right now, every win matters as Charleston (WV) is hot on their tails for the No. 1 seed and first-round bye. This defense remains absurd, allowing just 12 points in the past three weeks and have a pretty significant matchup against Shepherd this week that can boost its resume. 

No. 8 Carson-Newman| Previous: 10: A 21-point second quarter put this one away early for the Eagles. Carson-Newman is now 4-0 in a tough Super Region, 2--0 against teams with a winning record, and own the top strength of schedule in Super Region Two among the contenders for the seven spots in the bracket. In short, this is the top team in Super Region Two by the metrics right now. 

No. 9 Ouachita Baptist | Previous: First five out. What needs to be said. Heading into this weekend, Harding allowed just 13 points all season, and this Tigers' team was able to put up 17. The defense was simply outstanding, holding Harding to "just" 218 yards rushing, its lowest rushing output since Nov. 23, 2019, in the postseason against Northwest Missouri State. It was also the first time Harding's elite stable of running backs didn't score a rushing touchdown since Oct. 6, 2018, against this very same Ouachita Baptist program. The Tigers are now perfect in the toughest Super Region in DII and with wins against Southern Arkansas and Harding, are in real contention for the No. 1 seed and first-round bye.

The Harding Bisons are trailing in a football game!!! drives down the field and scores the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Tigers up 17-13.

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2)

No. 10 (tie) Harding, Charleston (WV) | Previous: 1, first five out, respectably: Look, I dropped Harding this low because the metrics are against the Bisons right now, but I know people will question it. They have the lowest SoS among the projected playoff teams and have a very tricky Southern Arkansas team this week. I still think this is one of the best teams in DII.

Over the past three weeks, Chavon Wright has rushed for 659 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Golden Eagles. If you took just those stats from the last three weeks, he's No. 10 in DII in rushing and No. 2 in touchdowns... in just three weeks. That's not why the Golden Eagles are ranked so highly, but it certainly doesn't hurt. After disposing of nationally ranked and undefeated Frostburg State by 41 points, they may be the No. 1 seed in Super Region One. 

First five out (in alphabetical order)

• Central Washington: The Wildcats bounced back in a big way after its one-point upset last week, blanking a Texas A&M-Kingsville team that was in the LSC hunt 31-0.
• Colorado School of Mines: The Orediggers remain right in the thick of the RMAC hunt and can improve their resume with a win over Western Colorado this weekend. 
• Emporia State: The Hornets have one of the most fun passing attacks to watch, but that's not what has them ranked. That said, they close the season against Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State, Central Missouri ad Central Oklahoma — all teams with winning records — so we will learn a lot the next four weeks.
• Slippery Rock: The Vulcans are a really good football team, but the fact of the matter is that they are unranked. The Rock now trail Kutztown and Charleston (WV) in Super Region One, which is why they fell so far.
• Western Colorado: There are only two remaining undefeated teams in Super Region Four, and this is one of them. The Mountaineers now have Colorado School of Mines, CSU Pueblo and Colorado Mesa in three of the next four weeks. With the worst SoS of all projected 28 teams, these are must wins.

DII football 5 stars: Stats that stood out

Running backs were running amok in Week 7. So much so that Virginia State's Jimmyll Williams ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 30-yard touchdown... and still just missed the list this week. As did Concordia-St. Paul's Jaylin Richardson, who amassed 198 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

In fact, there were so many 200-yard rushers this week, Colorado Mesa's Aiden Taylor — who rushed for 216 yards and one score — didn't make the list. Neither did Concord's JQ Brown, who ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Even Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Demilon Brown topped the 200-yard mark on the ground with 204 yards rushing. I'm trying to find the record for most 200-yard rushers on a single Saturday, but this week's eight has to be up there. 

Quarterbacks had some big days. Clarion's Anthony Guercio threw for 372 yards, rushed for 88 and amassed four touchdowns, but didn't make the list. Albany State (GA)'s Isaiah Knowles passed for 288 yards, ran for 33 more and tallied six scores, but also just missed. 

Also, how about a shoutout to the entire CSU Pueblo special teams unit. On a day where the offense struggled to get anything going, Cody Ramming blocked two field goals, both of which were returned for touchdowns. And it would be kicker Jacob Willig who won the game with a 40-yard field goal with just seven seconds remaining. 

Take a look at this week's "5 stars" at each of the big three offensive positions.