FOOTBALL: Bemidji State listed among top 10 in first regional rankings
Oct. 24—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State football team is hitting its stride just in time.
The Beavers have won six straight games, earning them one of 10 spots in the initial Super Region Four rankings, which the NCAA announced on Monday.
New this year, teams are listed solely as "under consideration" in alphabetical order for the first ranking of the season. In years past, teams had been ranked No. 1, No. 2 and so on.
BSU (6-2) is one of six NSIC teams in the initial ranking. All five others come from the NSIC South Division: Augustana, Minnesota State, Sioux Falls, Wayne State and Winona State.
Also included in Monday's rankings are Angelo State, Colorado School of Mines, Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Texas A&M.
Only 8-0 Angelo State and 7-1 Sioux Falls have more wins that Bemidji State, but the Beavers are one of six teams at 6-2. Where exactly BSU stands among those teams is murky because Monday's announcement doesn't include numerical rankings and because the NSIC doesn't schedule nonconference games.
The Beavers do have
a head-to-head win over Winona State
and
a head-to-head loss against Minnesota State.
The top seven teams in each of the four Super Regions will advance to the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA selection show is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13, online at www.ncaa.com.
Bemidji State is coming off its best win of the season, a
41-16 triumph over Minnesota Duluth
on Saturday, Oct. 22.
BSU also returned to the national poll on Monday, receiving one vote in the AFCA Coaches Poll. BSU is one of six NSIC schools listed, with No. 19 Sioux Falls being the only Northern Sun team in the top 25. Winona State, Augustana, Minnesota State and Wayne State are also receiving votes.
