Southland Automatic Qualifier Scenarios
11/17/2014 2:01:00 PM | Football
Coming into the last weekend of the regular season, Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana are tied for first place in the Southland Conference football race.
Both teams stand 6-1 in league action and, if each wins this week, will be 2014 Southland football co-champions.
Since the Bearkats and the Lions do not play each other, however, there are a number of different scenarios for how the league's automatic qualifier for the 24-team FCS post-season playoffs will be decided.
Central Arkansas could even enter the discussion if the Bears defeat Sam Houston Saturday and Nicholls upsets Southeastern Louisiana Thursday night.
Only Sam Houston and Southeastern can finish 7-1.
If both the Bearkats and Lions win this week, the NCAA automatic qualification designation is determined by comparing win-loss records against the team(s) below the tie.
If Northwestern State and either McNeese or Lamar win, Southeastern Louisiana would be 3-0 against UCA, the Demons and the McNeese/Lamar winner and would earn the AQ since SHSU is 2-1 against that pool.
Sam Houston, among other teams, would be an NCAA at-large berth candidate.
Should Stephen F. Austin defeat Northwestern State, the Bearkats would own a 3-0 mark against the pool of UCA, SFA and either McNeese or Lamar and would earn the AQ.
There are no other remaining 7-1 scenarios.
A combination of Central Arkansas and Nicholls victories over SHSU and Southeastern Louisiana would bring on a three-way tie for the championship with the Bears, Bearkats and Lions all 6-2.
Head-to-head: UCA was 1-1 against SLU and SHSU; SLU and SHSU did not play each other in the regular season, thus the NCAA AQ designation cannot yet be determined.
The next AQ tie-breaker vs. 5-3 teams:
If SFA and LU are the 5-3 teams: UCA was 2-0, SHSU was 2-0, SLU was 1-1. SLU is removed from tie-breaker consideration, and UCA and SHSU are compared in a two-way tie-breaker: UCA defeated SHSU. NCAA AQ designation CAN be determined. (AQ: UCA)
If NSU and LU are the 5-3 teams: UCA was 2-0, SLU was 2-0, SHSU was 1-1. SHSU is removed from tie-breaker consideration, and UCA and SLU are compared in a two-way tie-breaker: SLU defeated UCA. NCAA AQ designation CAN be determined (AQ: SLU)
If SFA and MSU are the 5-3 teams: Only SHSU and SLU played both teams. UCA did not play MSU. NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker vs. 4-4 teams ACU, LU, NSU:
Only SHSU and UCA played all three teams. SLU did not play ACU. NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker vs. 2-6 UIW:
Only SHSU and SLU played UIW. UCA did not. NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker vs. 1-7 HBU and NIC:
While UCA, SHSU and SLU were all 1-0 vs. HBU, and SLU lost to NIC, SHSU did not play NIC, thus NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker: NCAA Simple Rating System.
The Conference shall utilize the final computerized ranking (FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF 11/22 GAMES) of the NCAA Simple Ratings System (SRS) to designate the Conference's highest-rated team and NCAA AQ recipient. Other teams shall be considered NCAA at-large berth candidates. (AQ: Highest-rated team in final SRS).
Next AQ tie-breaker: NCAA Championships Absence.
If a tie remains after the above procedures are attempted, including the SRS comparison, the NCAA Championship-eligible member that has been absent from the Division I Championship for the longest period of time shall be designated as the Conference's representative in the DI Championship. SHSU and SLU last participated in the 2013 NCAA DI Championship, while UCA last participated in the 2012 event.
(AQ: UCA)
If NSU and MSU are the 5-3 teams: Only SHSU and SLU played both teams. UCA did not play MSU. NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker vs. 4-4 teams:
In this scenario, ACU, LU and SFA are the 4-4 teams: Only SHSU and UCA played all three teams. SLU did not play ACU. NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker vs. 2-6 UIW:
Only SHSU and SLU played UIW. UCA did not. NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker vs. 1-7 HBU and NIC:
While UCA, SHSU and SLU were all 1-0 vs. HBU, and SLU lost to NIC, SHSU did not play NIC, thus NCAA AQ designation CANNOT be determined.
Next AQ tie-breaker: NCAA Simple Rating System.
The Conference shall utilize the final computerized ranking (FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF 11/22 GAMES) of the NCAA Simple Ratings System (SRS) to designate the Conference's highest-rated team and NCAA AQ recipient. Other teams shall be considered NCAA at-large berth candidates. (AQ: Highest-rated team in final SRS).
Next AQ tie-breaker: NCAA Championships Absence.
If a tie remains after the above procedures are attempted, including the SRS comparison, the NCAA Championship-eligible member that has been absent from the Division I Championship for the longest period of time shall be designated as the Conference's representative in the DI Championship. SHSU and SLU last participated in the 2013 NCAA DI Championship, while UCA last participated in the 2012 event.
(AQ: UCA)
There are no other remaining 6-2 scenarios that will factor into the Conference championship or NCAA AQ determination.
