2013 Around the Nation columns

November 24, 2013 Look who stole the show in Round 1 Many of those who shined in the first round of the 32-team playoffs weren't the nationally elite teams who have a chance at a Stagg Bowl a month from now, but those who were seizing the day, and a rare chance to advance.

November 21, 2013 Playoff picks, surprises, disappointments ATN assembles a team for an annual look at who might surprise and disappoint us in the 32-team playoff.

November 16, 2013 On this day, they were all big games Keith McMillan has instant reactions both inside and outside the playoff picture on the final day of the regular season.

November 13, 2013 A pre-regional rankings primer Keith McMillan introduces the committee and their roles, analyzes Pools B and C and takes reader questions about the potential playoff field.

November 10, 2013 Snap judgments: Seen from the other side Millsaps may well have a story for the ages out of Saturday's win vs. Centre, as will Cornell and Bowdoin. Of course, if you were on the other side, it could burn for ages as well.

November 7, 2013 Poll positions: What to make of regional rankings If you haven't seen regional rankings before, or your team hasn't been a contender in recent years, you might be confused as to how these rankings take shape and what they mean.

November 3, 2013 Snap judgments: The aftermath With so many games featuring two ranked teams, we should see a lot of movement in Sunday's Top 25 poll, right? Keith McMillan gives his take.

October 28, 2013 Snap judgments from the first big week

October 24, 2013 Poll positions: Doing some number crunching The Top 25 doesn't exist to steal anybody's joy. It is merely a prism through which to view accomplishments on a national, coast-to-coast, best-of-the-best-of-the-244 scale.

October 20, 2013 Snap judgments: Cycling up Maryville and TCNJ are atop their respective conferences, the John Carroll defense isn't the only one clicking and more in Keith McMillan's reactions for Week 7.

October 13, 2013 Snap judgments: A blurry picture developing Not literally -- we get great pictures from our associated photographers and SIDs, but that won't help us make sense of what became a muddied conference race in several places.

October 8, 2013 Poll positions: Streaking up the rankings Keith McMillan looks at why one computer ranking is making the case for a blue team No. 1, and not a purple one.

October 6, 2013 Snap judgments: Bounceback seasons Olivet, St. Lawrence, North Park, Husson, Western Connecticut ... the list of improved teams this season goes on and on, as Keith notes in Around the Nation.

October 3, 2013 Re-ranking the conferences With September's games, and the vast majority of non-conference play in the books, Around the Nation looks at which conferences have shown the most strength.

September 29, 2013 Snap judgments: Look away from the Top 25 scores At first glance -- like say, the scores page, with the top 25 scores the initial finals that catch the eye -- Week 4 was every bit as stinky as we expected it to be.

September 26, 2013 History lesson: Engineering rivalries Week 4 is perhaps the most odd Saturday on the schedule. There aren't many great rivalries, but there is at least one Keith McMillan found worth writing about in Around the Nation.

September 24, 2013 Poll positions: How the voters reacted A kick going wide left produced a wide variety of reactions, but when Wesley got taken down a peg, there was more agreement.

September 22, 2013 Snap judgments: Week 3 The Tommie-Johnnie rivalry is back, UMHB's defensive line is pretty darn good, the MIAA has a better non-conference mark than the CCIW and other things Keith McMillan noticed in Week 3.

September 19, 2013 History lesson: Wesley vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor Now that longtime rivals Wabash and DePauw are both in the North Coast, and Mount Union and UW-Whitewater have taken a break from annual December clashes in Salem, the best non-conference competitive rivalry in Division III is Wesley vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor.

September 18, 2013 Poll positions: There's some movement coming The top of the poll didn't change much last week but Saturday's games could have a significant impact on how those No. 1 votes are shaking out.

September 17, 2013 Off the beaten path Just because a team isn't in the Top 25 running or mentioned in the podcast or doesn't have a Play of the Week candidate doesn't mean it's not interesting. Keith McMillan takes note of RPI and more:

September 11, 2013 Poll positions: Why teams shuffle In Around the Nation, Keith McMillan discusses a nonstandard way of assembling the ballot after Week 1 games, despite some dissent from fans.

September 8, 2013 Snap judgments Keith McMillan's Around the Nation column returns. You'll see ATN several times a week, including on Sundays with his first reaction to the weekend games.