Sep 03, 2024
|
| The addition of eight new at-large bids means a number of teams can consider themselves playoff candidates even if they don't win their conference title. Brockport athletics photo |
Every year this time of year, our crew gets itching to make some predictions, and our crew is here to tell you who the playoff picks will be, who the best players will be and who will win some of the most hotly contested conferences in Division III.
The panel: Pat Coleman, Greg Thomas and Keith McMillan of D3football.com, Stagg Bowl sideline reporter and half of In The (D3fb) Huddle Frank Rossi, analytics guru extraordinaire and Wartburg graduate Logan Hansen, and D3sports.com contributor Riley Zayas, founder of True to the Cru, a publication covering Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Let's dive right in:
All about the playoffs ... |
Which will be the last team chosen in Pool C, and what will its record be?
| Patrick | Greg | Keith |
|
|
|
| Brockport, 8-2 | Salve Regina, 9-1 | Huntingdon, 8-2 |
| Frank | Logan | Riley |
|
|
|
| John Carroll, 8-2 | John Carroll, 8-2 | Hope, 9-1 |
Which team will be the most surprising playoff entry?
| Patrick | Greg | Keith |
|
|
|
| RPI | Hobart | The PAC third-place team |
| Frank | Logan | Riley |
|
|
|
| Stevenson | The MASCAC runner-up | Rowan |
Which team that didn't make the 2023 playoffs will go furthest in 2024?
| Patrick | Greg | Keith |
|
|
|
| Linfield | Berry | Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Frank | Logan | Riley |
|
|
|
| St. John's | St. John's | Berry |
How many Pool C teams will reach the quarterfinals?
| Patrick | Greg | Keith |
|
|
|
| One | One | Two |
| Frank | Logan | Riley |
|
|
|
| Three | Three | Three |
Who will reach the national semifinals?
| Patrick | Greg | Keith |
|
|
|
| North Central, UW-Whitewater, Cortland, Johns Hopkins | Berry, Cortland, North Central, UW-Whitewater | North Central, Wartburg, Hardin-Simmons, Grove City |
| Frank | Logan | Riley |
|
|
|
| North Central, Mount Union, Susquehanna, UW-Whitewater | Cortland, Mount Union, North Central, UW-La Crosse | North Central, Cortland, UW-Whitewater, Johns Hopkins |
Who will win the national title?
| Patrick | Greg | Keith |
|
|
|
| North Central | North Central | North Central |
| Frank | Logan | Riley |
|
|
|
|
| North Central | North Central | North Central |