Three Saturdays ago, Ouachita Baptist rocked (and shocked) the DII football world, ending No. 1 Harding's 25-game winning streak and undefeated run through 2024. It began the rollercoaster ride that has become the DII football Power 10 rankings. This week showed that no one, even the great upsetters, can dodge the underdog — then-No. 2 Ouachita Baptist was upset in historic fashion with No. 1 Pittsburg State also losing, leading to a new No. 1 and 2 team in DII football.
With just 32 seconds remaining on the clock, Southern Nazarene stunned the Tigers, scoring the go-ahead touchdown and picking up the program's 100th victory. However, it was the Crimson Storm's first win this season. In fact, it was almost a full calendar year since their last victory on Nov. 11, 2023. But wait, there's more — it was the first time Southern Nazarene beat Ouachita Baptist... ever.
FINAL SCORE | FB |
— Oklahoma Local Sports Network (@OklahomaLocalSN)
🚨 MAJOR UPSET ALERT 🚨
Southern Nazarene 18 (1-8)
#3 Ouachita Baptist 17 (8-1)
This day will live on forever within the Southern Nazarene program! The Crimson Storm pick up their 1st win of the season and 100th win in…
Central Missouri went on the road to the Jungle of Pittsburg State, a stadium notorious for being hard on visiting teams, and took down the No. 1 Gorillas in dominant fashion, 37-13. The Mules — led by reigning Harlon Hill winner Zach Zebrowski who threw for 382 yards, ran for 96 and totaled five touchdowns — put up 607 yards on one of the best defenses in the nation.
Elsewhere, No. 8 Western Colorado was taken down by CSU Pueblo, 44-34. Though not an upset, it shakes up the Power 10 and sees the Thunderwolves make their 2024 Power 10 debut. But that's not all. Central Washington lost to Angelo State and Emporia State lost to Fort Hays State, two teams in the "first five out" and no longer are. Lenoir-Rhyne, which found itself in the first five out for much of the season, fell to Wingate, and although not a massive upset, sees the Bears exit the rankings and the Bulldogs enter. Johnson C. Smith not only lost its first game of the season, but were blanked 27-0 by then-3-4 Fayetteville State. And the surprise Emory & Henry Wasps cracked the top 25 last week, but will most likely quickly exit with a loss to Mars Hill.
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Needless to say, this DII football season is wild. Before we get to the new-look Power 10 — one in which every team is in a new spot for the second week in a row — remember, these 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 10
No. 1 Ferris State | Previous: 4. People are not going to like this, and I understand why. Does Grand Valley State have better selection committee metrics? Yes, but it is a very slight edge across the board. What Grand Valley State doesn't have is a win against Ferris State, and that is what separates these two powerhouses right now. The good news is that if you disagree with me, it looks like we're heading to yet another Ferris State vs. Grand Valley State playoff matchup, so these two can settle the dispute on the field. If Ferris State takes down Saginaw Valley State and Davenport to close the season, I think the Bulldogs get the bye in Super Region Three.
No. 2 Grand Valley State | Previous: 5. Simply put, the Lakers have one of the best resumes in DII football, and now that their lone loss is against the No. 1 team in DII, it looks even better. Even without Avery Moore, this team put up more than 450 yards and 51 points. The Lakers have two winnable games left and should enter the tournament as the two or three seed but could easily jump to No. 1 with a little help.
No. 3 Valdosta State | Previous: 3. Right now, by the numbers, there are a few teams in Super Region Two that are "better" than the Blazers and I don't expect them to be No. 1 in Monday's second regional rankings. However, I expect them to be there by the season's end, which is why they get the lofty ranking. Valdosta State is heading to Delta State on the heels of its third shutout of the season and has outscored its opponents 354-64 so far in 2024.
No. 4 Kutztown | Previous: 6. Here is another team that, by the metrics, may not be No. 1 in their own region in the second regional rankings, but after the Golden Bears locked up another trip to the PSAC championship game against Cal (PA), I believe they will be No. 1 by the selection show. This defense is absurd, second in DII allowing just a hair under eight points per game and as a unit caused four interceptions (again) and scored two more pick-sixes this week.
Now, dear reader, this is where it gets very cloudy. You can argue that the top four may be mis-ranked, but I truly believe no matter how you see it, those are the top four teams in DII football right now. Nos. 5-15 are separated by so little and have lost some mind-boggling games that if you were to argue that someone in the first five out should be No. 7, it wouldn't be hard to convince me.
No. 5 Harding | Previous: 7. The Bisons took care of business and romped Southeastern Oklahoma State, winning 56-14. Braden Jay had a dandy all-around game, rushing for 108 yards and two touchdowns and hauling in a 53-yard touchdown pass. The Bisons have to win out, which shouldn't be difficult with what lies ahead, and with some help from Henderson State in the Battle of the Ravine, can still take the GAC and earn a top-three host seed in the bracket.
No. 6 CSU Pueblo | Previous: First five out. Well, last week, I had Western Colorado at No. 7 in the Power 10, and if you have been , No. 1 in Super Region Four. The Thunderwolves just dropped 44 on the Mountaineers and are now my No. 1 in Super Region Four. Roman Fuller chucked it for 435 yards and five touchdown passes while both Reggie Retzlaff and Taylor Tocsches caught for more than 130 yards and four combined touchdowns. The Thunderwolves are the top team in the RMAC standings and have the top scoring offense by a wide margin and is 3-1 against teams with a winning record. This team is cooking.
No. 7 Charleston (WV) | Previous: 9. I am admittedly higher on the Golden Eagles, and truth be told if a team figures out how to shut down Chavon Wright, it will be interesting to see if they can move the ball. The problem is, no one can figure out how to do that. He maintained his record-setting pace with three more touchdowns this week and now has 1,728 yards and 31 touchdowns with two games to go. Don't be surprised to see Charleston as the No. 1 team in Super Region One on Monday.
No. 8 Pittsburg State | Previous: 1. The Gorillas lost big at home to a team they needed to beat. But there are two things here. A lot of other teams losing helps secure this lofty spot and they are still a top-seven team in Super Region Three, have that win against Central Oklahoma and quite honestly, right now, the only team in the first five out in the conversation to replace them is Wingate. Let's not forget Central Missouri was a top-three team earlier this season and is a darn good football team no matter what their record says. Yes, it was a must-win, but no, it does not define the Gorillas' season.
No. 9 Central Oklahoma | Previous: 10. The Bronchos currently have the metrics to earn a top-three host seed, but some of their recent performances against teams they should beat quite well have me wondering if this team has the defense to survive the brutal Super Region Three playoffs. That's the only reason I have them this low. Still, if you get stuck in a "catch me if you can" game with this offense, Jett Huff and his gang will almost always get the last score, as they did this weekend in a 37-34 overtime thriller.
No. 10 (tied) Augustana (SD), Ouachita Baptist | Previous: First five out and 2, respectively. It's a mighty fall for last week's No. 2. Losing to a winless team hurts, and while it affects their Power 10 ranking, it ultimately hurts the Tigers' regional ranking as they were the likely No. 1 heading into this weekend. The rest of the schedule is not easy with a hungry Henderson State awaiting.
For Augustana, well a win this coming weekend against Sioux Falls — which itself looks like a tournament team — could have them jump to No. 1 in Super Region Four. The Vikings have the NSIC's best record, top scoring defense and on their current five-game winning streak, have defeated three teams with winning records, including then-Power 10 Minnesota State. After a slow start, running back Jarod Epperson has been scorching hot in both the rushing and passing attack with two touchdowns in each of the past three weeks.
First five out (in alphabetical order)
- UIndy: The Greyhounds dropped 58 points and 295 yards rushing in a blowout win. This time of year, metrics matter in the Power 10, and while the Greyhounds haven't played the toughest schedule, they are likely the No. 3 seed in Super Region Three on Monday.
- Minnesota State: The Mavericks have played a tough schedule and while, yes, they have two big losses, they have handled some tough competition quite well. They are quite possibly a top three seed in Monday's Super Region Four regional rankings.
- Slippery Rock: Brayden Long had his most complete game of the season, throwing for 399 yards, four scores and no interceptions. The Rock should win out barring injury or upset and secure a spot in the postseason once again.
- Western Colorado: The Mountaineers are still an 8-1 team and still put up 34 points on that Thunderwolves' defense. This team is good. A big matchup with Colorado Mesa awaits to close the season which will decide how high they are seeded.
- Wingate: Right now, with its big win over Lenoir-Rhyne, this is the team that should be No. 1 in Super Region Two in the second regional rankings. The Bulldogs are 3-1 against teams with a winning record and that defense is something else.
Just missed: Angelo State, Lenoir-Rhyne, West Alabama.
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