Cortland State has earned the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III playoffs via tiebreaker.
The New Jersey Athletic Conference Board of Athletic Administrators implemented the following tiebreakers in the sport of football prior to the 2010 season:
A) If two teams finish the season tied for first place with identical conference records, co-champions will be declared and the tiebreaker procedure will only be used to determine the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament.
B) In case of a tie for first place, the tiebreaker will be determined as follows:
i. Two teams tied: The winner in head-to-head competition
ii. Three teams
tied
1. Winner in head-to-head
competition – team with best record against other two
combined is declared champion
2. Results versus next
highest ranked conference team (4th, 5th,
6th, 7th, 8th,
9th, 10th) until tie is broken
3. Opponents’
opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III
4. Opponents’
opponents’ winning percentage in-region
5. Rose Bowl Rule
6. Coin Toss
Cortland, Rowan and Montclair State all finished the regular season with identical 8-1 conference records and were declared tri-champions for the 2010 season.
In terms of head-to-head results, Cortland defeated Montclair State (10-9 on Oct. 30); Montclair State defeated Rowan (26-7 on Sept. 18); and Rowan defeated Cortland (20-17 on Oct. 16).
All three teams defeated all of the other teams in the conference ranked below the three-way first-place tie in the final league standings.
The NJAC’s automatic qualification was determined via the tiebreaker of opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III. Opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III is data that is calculated by the NCAA Division III Football Committee and considered secondary criteria when teams are evaluated for tournament consideration.
The NCAA informed the conference office that Cortland finished its regular season with an opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III of .514. Montclair State finished its regular season with an opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage of .504. Rowan finished its regular season with an opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage of .502.
While Cortland is assured of a berth in the tournament via the conference’s automatic qualification, both Montclair State and Rowan will be considered for at-large berths to the tournament. The NCAA is not bound by conference tiebreakers when considering at-large teams.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2010
Contact:
Terry Small, NJAC Commissioner
(856) 582-3679 or (609) 221-1342
SUNY CORTLAND CLINCHES NJAC AUTOMATIC BID TO
NCAA FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT VIA TIEBREAKER
Pitman, NJ—SUNY Cortland has claimed the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament via tiebreaker.
The New Jersey Athletic Conference Board of Athletic Administrators implemented the following tiebreakers in the sport of football prior to the 2010 season:
A) If two teams finish the season tied for first place with identical conference records, co-champions will be declared and the tiebreaker procedure will only be used to determine the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament.
B) In case of a tie for first place, the tiebreaker will be determined as follows:
i. Two teams tied: The winner in head-to-head competition
ii. Three teams tied
1. Winner in head-to-head competition – team with best record against other two combined is declared champion
2. Results versus next highest ranked conference team (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th) until tie is broken
3. Opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III
4. Opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in-region
5. Rose Bowl Rule
6. Coin Toss
Cortland, Rowan and Montclair State all finished the regular season with identical 8-1 conference records and were declared tri-champions for the 2010 season.
In terms of head-to-head results, Cortland defeated Montclair State (10-9 on October 30); Montclair State defeated Rowan (26-7 on September 18); and Rowan defeated Cortland (20-17 on October 16).
All three teams defeated all of the other teams in the conference ranked below the three-way first-place tie in the final league standings.
The NJAC’s automatic qualification was determined via the tiebreaker of opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III. Opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III is data that is calculated by the NCAA Division III Football Committee and considered secondary criteria when teams are evaluated for tournament consideration.
The NCAA informed the conference office that Cortland finished its regular season with an opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage in all of Division III of .514. Montclair State finished its regular season with an opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage of .504. Rowan finished its regular season with an opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage of .502.
While Cortland is assured of a berth in the tournament via the conference’s automatic qualification, both Montclair State and Rowan will be considered for at-large berths to the tournament.
The NCAA Tournament field will be announced live on ESPN News on Sunday, November 14 between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM.