For all the focus on the amazingness that is Ethan Greenfield, do not sleep on Terrence Hill (529 yards, 10 TDs) and the rest of the North Central ground game. That's why North Central is one of the favorites in this tournament. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com

By Greg Thomas
D3sports.com

Bravo!

Before we get knee deep into the 2022 NCAA Division III playoffs, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the absolute thrill ride that the last 11 weeks of regular season football took us on. Here at D3football.com, we don’t often dabble in hyperbole by way of recency bias, but I’m not exaggerating when I say we just witnessed one of the best seasons of Division III football in the D3football.com era, if not in the 50-year history of Division III. Standing ovations are in order for all of the student athletes, coaches, conferences, and institutions that put on this 11-week blockbuster. 

• Playoff team-by-team capsules
• Randolph-Macon looks to extend special season
• Genius move has UMass-Dartmouth in playoffs
• NCAA playoff bracket

If that regular season is any indicator of what we can expect in the next five weeks, we’re in for an incredible tournament. This year’s field may be the strongest field to ever qualify. Thirteen teams are undefeated -- a high-water mark dating back to at least 2011, which is when we started tracking such things closely. Twenty-two of D3football.com’s Top 25 are in this field, also tying an historical high for the number of ranked teams in the tournament. Every game on Saturday will feature at least one ranked team. Wherever your browser lands on Saturday afternoon, you’re going to be watching at least one very good football team. 

On Saturday at noon Eastern time, 32 teams embark in earnest on the road to Stagg Bowl XLIX. The scene for the season’s finale shifts on Dec. 16 to Annapolis, Maryland and Navy Marine Corps Stadium. Defending champion Mary Hardin-Baylor and last year’s runner up North Central are on the same half of the bracket, so we know at least one new team will be playing for Walnut and Bronze. On the other half, St. John’s appears to enter their second consecutive tournament as the overall top seed. The Johnnies again have a challenging quadrant if they wish to return to the championship round. Mount Union is also on the Johnnies’ half, looking to play for their first national championship since 2018. 

There will be plenty of content here at D3football.com on the road to Annapolis to get you ready for the 2022 Division III Football Championship. Our team capsules are live, and our Quick Hits panel will be back tomorrow to predict the score of every first round game. 

As is tradition here at ATN, we're going to dive deep into each of the four quadrants of the 2022 Division III playoff bracket. ATN has assembled a panel of Division III football experts to break down each region of the bracket. Can anybody challenge North Central? Will any of the Pool C qualifiers make a run to Annapolis? Which team will fall short of expectations, or fail to live up to its regular season performance? 

Our postseason panel consists of Publisher and Executive Editor Pat Coleman, National Columnist Emeritus Keith McMillan, In the Huddle host and Stagg Bowl Sideline Reporter Frank Rossi, Senior Editor Ryan Tipps, creator of Hansen Ratings and Quick Hits panelist Logan Hansen, Managing Editor of True to the Cru Riley Zayas, and me, Around the Nation Columnist Greg Thomas. Before we get to our score predictions on Friday, we took an in-depth look at each quadrant of the bracket.

For each region, our panelists picked one team that will surprise, one that will disappoint, and one that will make it through to the national semifinals. 

Nobody on the panel consulted with one another; each person did their part independently. The panelists are spread out across the country, so hopefully any perception of bias balances out. 

ST. JOHN'S BRACKET

Surprises

Ryan: UW-La Crosse. A first-round win for this road team probably isn’t a huge surprise for anyone who looks at our Top 25 poll, but the Eagles have notched some impressive wins to close out the season, and that streak should continue for another week.

Frank: MSJ at Alma. It's irritating to many observers when the committee feels the need to line up 10-0 vs. 10-0, so this is not a positive surprise. Last year, after SJU hosted undefeated Lake Forest in the first round, we hoped this type of scenario would not be repeated. I'm surprised it did happen again.

Riley: UW-La Crosse. While the Eagles are playing in one of the more even first-round matchups, they are also the only team out of the St. John's Bracket I believe will win on the road on the opening weekend. Battle-tested after a solid season in the WIAC, the UW-La Crosse rushing attack has been able to successfully move the chains, and win the time of possession battle as well.

Logan: Aurora. I don't think it would be a surprise for any of 4 teams (SJU, UWW, Wartburg, UWL) to win this region, but I think the Spartans will give UWW a surprisingly close game again in the first round.

Greg: UW-La Crosse. I might be cheating here a bit because the Top 25 doesn’t view the Eagles as an underdog in Round 1, but I see the Eagles having a very strong tournament that could extend for several weeks.

Keith: From the outside, it might seem surprising that the three 10-0 teams in this quadrant aren't getting more love. But Whitewater only lost to St. John's, UW-La Crosse lost to Whitewater, and St. John's lost to Bethel, which is on the other side of the bracket. And none of the unbeaten teams have faced anyone of that caliber. But if you're looking for someone who could send shockwaves through the postseason, try Wartburg, which gave up six touchdowns in road wins at Central and Coe, and just 19 points in their other eight wins. UW-La Crosse is a road favorite here, but a defense that can keep a game close until a something breaks that team's way and ignites the home crowd means a surprise is in the realm of possibility.

Pat: UW-La Crosse. As I ponder the eight teams in this bracket, I land on the Eagles as a surprise. Obviously it's a tough challenge to get out of this bracket, but I think that La Crosse has enough weapons, played Whitewater to a near-standstill in the regular season, and other than Wartburg, might be the team that's peaking at the right time.

Disappointments

Ryan: Wartburg. Not shocking considering my previous answer. Any WIAC team is going to pose a particularly stiff challenge at this point in the season, and Wartburg’s ARC is generally in a down year. The Knights are set up to be the second-highest ranked team to have a one-and-done playoff run.

Frank: UWL at Wartburg. Both of these teams are capable of going far in this field, yet we will lose one of them right off the bat. This is disappointing, to say the least, for the loser.

Riley: In part because I'm anticipating them facing a familiar opponent in the quarterfinal round, I'll take UW-Whitewater. The Warhawks won the league title in a conference where upsets became a weekly occurrence, and steadily improved over the course of the year, with several new starters in key positions. They should have more than enough behind a balanced offensive attack to win their first two games of the postseason, but in a quarterfinal rematch against St. John's, I don't see the score being all that different from the season-opener between these two teams, when SJU won 24-10.

Logan: Mount St. Joseph.  The Lions have had a great season. Dual sport standout Cornell Beachem Jr will be the best athlete on the field, but it's a team sport, and Alma has the better team, and should win at home.

Greg: Per the terms of engagement, my answer probably has to be Wartburg as the highly ranked home team to be eliminated one or two weeks too soon, but the real disappointment is that the mileage issue couldn’t mix up the Wartburg/UWL and Alma/MSJ pairings.

Keith: St. John's: The Johnnies check in at No. 4 as the playoffs begin. I had them No. 2 on my Week 11 ballot, largely because of the beasts they slayed during the season. The Johnnies beat UW-Whitewater by two touchdowns, and avenged their loss to Bethel by more than that. They had the No. 2 Strength of Schedule of the 230 teams rated. They frankly should be getting more respect. But, that also means the bar is set at "must reach Stagg Bowl" for the season to feel like a success. St. John's should coast in Round 1, but the potholes -- possibly No. 7 UW-La Crosse, No. 8 UW-Whitewater and No. 2 Mount Union -- along the path make the Johnnies as likely to disappoint as live up to the dream of returning to the last dance for the first time since 2003.

Pat: UW-Whitewater. After the Warhawks lost their opening game, there was a chance they could finish 6-4, or 9-1. The Warhawks got as close as possible to that best finish, but not without some ... let's say heartburn. I keep thinking that someday, Jeffery Isotalo-McGuire won't be able to convert that last-second kick, and the margin at the end of this bracket will be razor-thin, in a game in December. We'll see how well that holds up.

Last team standing

Ryan: St. John’s. The Johnnies have looked every bit a top team nationally for the entire second half of the season, and despite how tough this bracket looks, there’s a good chance that we’ll get to see a SJU/UW-Whitewater rematch this season.

Frank: UW-La Crosse. It just seems like they have finally turned a corner this season after some hiccups along the way.

Riley: St. John's. I don't see the Johnnies being eliminated from Stagg Bowl contention before the semifinal round. After the Bethel loss, SJU won out, relying on high-scoring offense and a defense that led the MIAC in sacks. With likely home-field advantage until a loss or trip to Annapolis, the nation's No. 4 team will come up with a big postseason run after last year's early second-round exit.

Logan: UW-Whitewater. The top half of this bracket will be a coin flip between Wartburg/UWL, and then another coin flip between that winner and SJU. Easily the most likely quarterfinalist is UWW, which also makes them the most likely semifinalist.

Greg: UW-La Crosse. The trifecta needed to pull this off: at Wartburg, at St. John’s, at UW-Whitewater would be incredible. I also think this is achievable for the 2022 Eagles.

Keith: St. John's. I have to follow my rankings here, but would not be shocked to see a WIAC team in the semis.

Pat: UW-La Crosse. Or whomever wins that first-round game.

MOUNT UNION BRACKET

Surprises

Ryan: Susquehanna. Few people would bank on the River Hawks making it past Round 2 -- and that’s a valid point when that second opponent is poised to be Mount Union. But it’s hard to overlook how well Centennial teams have performed against The Machine in recent playoff years, notably 2021 and 2018. Susquehanna doesn’t dominate any one piece of game play, but they’re a solid, well-rounded team that isn’t going to completely shut down if one aspect isn’t going their way.

Frank: Cortland. The Red Dragons didn't look great at Yankee Stadium, but they might have needed that wake-up call. If they can proceed to a game in Alliance in the third round, they might have the horses to challenge for a win.

Riley: Cortland. Though the Red Dragons dropped the biggest game of the year in Yankee Stadium to Ithaca by more than a one-score margin, they met every other challenge presented over the course of the regular season. And perhaps the Ithaca loss will be an added motivation factor, as they travel to Randolph-Macon in the first round. But I don't see Cortland winning just once in these playoffs. I'm picking them to win twice, and reach the quarterfinals as running back Jaden Alfanostjohn turns out back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances.

Logan: Randolph-Macon. The Yellow Jackets get to host Cortland before a potential trip to Doylestown, PA. On the back of a stout rushing D and the most efficient passing attack in the country, I think they make the quarterfinals.

Greg: Delaware Valley. The Aggies have flashed just enough offense that I think the Aggies have two wins in them. Scoring will be a challenge in a potential quarterfinal at Mount Union, but this defense can keep the Raiders close enough to give them a chance at a final four appearance.

Keith: Randolph-Macon. So many times over the years I've avoided talking about my alma mater so I could keep a degree of impartiality in my analysis. But being fair also means you have to give credit where it's due, and these Yellow Jackets are just as likely to play into December as they are to get bounced on Saturday by Cortland. R-MC is a textbook didn't-beat-anyone-great 10-0 team, but there are a bunch of those in this quadrant. Strip the names off the resumes of Randolph-Macon, Mount Union, Delaware Valley and Susquehanna, and then tell me which one never got held below 35 points or let an opponent stay within 14 points. The Yellow Jackets are unconventional: The O-line is the team's biggest star, and their team speed is best described by a phrase that doesn’t have “speed” in it. They’re rarely penalized, have allowed 4 sacks all year, and face a Cortland team coming off a 17-point loss to archrival Ithaca. The Red Dragons might be favorites even with a 7-hour bus ride, but be forewarned: The front seven is gonna need to have a day. Randolph-Macon is the kind of team that plays what feels like a close game but then is leading by 14 in the fourth while the opponent wonders, "how are we losing to this team?"

Pat: Cortland, if we are still defining surprise as a road team that wins in the first round. I don't think too many people will be surprised to see the Red Dragons win a game, however. They've got the offense to get stuff done.

Disappointments

Ryan: Delaware Valley. I don’t see the Aggies making it to the Regional Final, which should be the benchmark for a second-seeded team in any bracket. DelVal lacks a lot of the firepower needed to get through their Round 2 opponent (no matter if it’s Cortland or Macon … probably Cortland).

Frank: Salisbury. I wish they could have given Salisbury a better matchup in the first round -- one that they could have had a real chance to win at least 30% of the time. I don't see the game vs. Mount Union being a strong performance for a team that seemed to be gaining its identity late.

Riley: There is always plenty of conversation around the five Pool C teams, considering there are at least a few Top 25 programs (now is a good time to note once again that Top 25 rankings DO NOT matter when the field is being selected) that are left out of the 32-team field. Johns Hopkins was one of those left out, with Utica selected from Region 2 instead. But Utica will run into trouble early against an exceptional Susquehanna defense, and see its playoff run end in the first round to the only team that managed to beat JHU this season.

Logan: Cortland. A week ago, Cortland was ranked first in Region 2 and in the running to host the first three rounds of the playoffs. Then their offense only managed 3.8 yards per pass with a sack and two interceptions in the Jug, and now they're underdogs in the first round.

Greg: Randolph-Macon. Cortland’s offense got bottled up at Yankee Stadium, but the Red Dragons present a significant step up in ability for Randolph-Macon. It’s the first home game for an ODAC champion in quite some time, and the matchup isn’t favorable.

Keith: Mount Union. I'm surprised more voters didn't come around on the Purple Raiders after the previously impenetrable defense gave up seven touchdowns -- six by pass -- in the final two weeks, in six- and two-point wins. That the Purple Raiders are ranked second is probably some lingering name recognition from the era when every Mount Union team was nearly unbeatable. But whether the rest of the division has caught up or the folks from Alliance have come back to the pack since their last Stagg Bowl appearance in 2018, expectations have not adjusted. The Purple Raiders remain a very good Division III team, one with a stud quarterback, explosive skill players and a smothering run defense. Round 1 against Salisbury won't be the cakewalk they often have, and Centennial Conference champion Susquehanna might await in Round 2. Mount Union's past three playoff run-ins with a CC team, all at home, have been 8-, 10- and 7-point-in-overtime wins. So you might still see super-dominant, class-of-D3. But if you see "needed an all-time-great miracle play to survive Baldwin-Wallace," you're not a hater. Until the perception of Mount Union catches up with this new reality, the Purple Raiders still have to win the Stagg Bowl to avoid disappointing.

Pat: Mount Union, actually, even though I'll pick them as the champion the next time around. I promise you it makes sense in my head. They can win the bracket and still disappoint.

Last team standing

Ryan: Mount Union. The Purple Raiders would do well to get tested by the likes of Susquehanna and Cortland along the way, as it’ll prepare them well for taking on other parts of the nation.

Frank: Mount Union. Cortland can challenge, but there's no guarantee the Red Dragons get there or win if they can.

Riley: Mount Union. Though I'm slightly concerned with the offensive reliance MU has seemed to have, at least as of late, the Purple Raiders tend to be one of those teams that finds a way to up its level once the win-or-go-home games show up on the schedule. With Braxton Plunk in rhythm with his receivers, and the defense holding the opponent to 20 points or fewer, nobody will be able to slow MU for long enough to knock out the top seed before the semis.

Logan: Mount Union. The last few weeks have shown some cracks in the armor, but the Purple Raiders have no other Top 10 teams in their quadrant. Even if Wayne Ruby can't play, they should be the favorites to advance.

Greg: Mount Union. We’ve seen recently that the Purple Raiders are not invincible, but they will be favored significantly throughout the first three rounds.

Keith: Mount Union. I don't think they're the fourth best team in the country, but they're clearly the favorite to get through this quadrant and back to the semifinals.

Pat: Mount Union. Gave serious thought to Cortland and Delaware Valley here as well, though.

NORTH CENTRAL BRACKET

Surprises

Ryan: Springfield and DePauw. This bracket has only one generally accepted outcome -- and that’s North Central and Ithaca duking it out in the end. But along the way, we should see Round 1 road wins by the teams in the middle of the bracket: Springfield (muscling through Endicott with its triple option offense) and DePauw (commanding game play when it counted the most).

Frank: New England Team in Round 2. The winner of Springfield at Endicott will mean a rare New England team in the second round, which means we will get an interesting dose of Region 1 to see exactly how far they've come along.

Riley: Ithaca. I'm not sure the Bombers have many more people in the world of D-III football to impress, after its 10-0 season capped with a statement win in front of 40,000+ fans over Cortland. But for a team that completely missed a playoff berth a year ago, it would be impressive to see Ithaca win one, but likely two games in the postseason. And if the Bombers get a chance to face NCC, the nation's No. 1 team may be in for its biggest test of 2022 thus far.

Logan: Ithaca. Somehow, this is Ithaca's first tournament appearance in 8 years. They have been consistently good in the interim, and finally got some monkeys off their back this season. Things are laid out nicely for their first quarterfinal run since 2003.

Greg: Endicott. The Gulls have been a program dabbling around the edges of national relevance for a little while now. They nearly beat Wesley in 2019, were within one score of quarterfinalist RPI in a first round loss in 2021. A breakthrough feels imminent and If Endicott’s defense plays as well outside of the CCC as it did in, there are two winnable rounds here.

Keith: Carnegie Mellon. There isn't much in this corner of the bracket that can surprise. We've all got North Central beating Ithaca in the quarters. But let's file this under "What the selection committee got right." The Tartans, you might recall, had the most poorly timed covid-19 outbreak last season and declared their Round 1 game at North Central a no contest. CMU earned its way back into the field, and the committee set them up with a winnable -- albeit not easy -- game against DePauw. Tartans-Tigers, if it follows Carnegie Mellon's pattern this season, could be close: The Tartans have won four times by one score and six by 13 points or fewer. And if CMU is lucky enough to make the memory of a lifetime, it gets the game at North Central that it missed last season. And then the Cardinals can get CMU to stop that weird flex of a winning streak stat (now 17 straight since they weren't technically bounced out of last season's playoffs.)

Pat: DePauw. Carnegie Mellon is a team that doesn't often put up a lot of points and DePauw is the one that doesn't allow a lot of points. That says to me that this is a spot for a potential upset. 

Disappointments

Ryan: Carnegie Mellon. To be fair, just getting to play their postseason game this year really should take this out of the “Disappointments” category, since their first-round playoff game had to be canceled due to COVID in 2021. Yet the Tartans have been skirting a fine edge all season, with basically all of the games against their best opponents coming down to 10 points or less. It sets the stage for a very early exit from this postseason.

Frank: Lake Forest. What did Jim Catanzaro do to deserve this treatment? 2021 - Undefeated LFC sent to SJU. 2022 - 1-loss LFC sent to NCC. The fact they weren't even ranked in Region 5 was bad enough -- this just seems like it's piling on without good reason.

Riley: This is the first time since 2002-2003 that Springfield is in the NCAA playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but like last season, I'm unsure that they will advance past the first round. The disappointment factor comes in that the Pride haven't won an NCAA playoff game since 2003, and despite having a solid squad once again, Endicott will be too much, especially defensively. Springfield's offense, very reliant on the run, may run into trouble against a strong defensive front that is allowing just 81 rush yards per game, and lose in a tight one to an in-state program.

Logan: Carnegie Mellon. They should win their first-round game (although it's no gimme), but the nation's-longest win streak will probably end where it would've ended a season ago in Naperville, Illinois.

Greg: Ithaca. The Bombers apparent seed would inform us that they should make the quarterfinal round, but they’ve drawn a pair of tricky games to maneuver before they get there. Mass-Dartmouth could force a shootout which isn’t really Ithaca’s style and a second round game against the defensively stout Endicott or Springfield’s option offense are not exactly layups either.

Keith: All the Northeast teams. Ithaca has a chance to be the first team in more than 30 years from north of the Mason-Dixon and east of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border to win a Stagg Bowl, and it'd be the perfect time for the Bombers, who hoisted the trophy in 1991, to do it because the big game is in Annapolis this year. Rowan went to five Stagg Bowls in the '90s and would have gone to a sixth in 2001 if not for the clock debacle, Wesley went to six semifinals from 2005-14, and Brockport nearly broke through in 2017. But despite there being 10 such "Northeast" teams in the tournament this year, and five in this quadrant, it's hard to see any of them even making the semis. It'd be a surprise if one did, and since we're from the Northeast -- where I was born and raised -- and we believe we can kick anyone's [butt], this will read like a slight. But they asked me for a disappointment, and I just wish more teams, schools and fanbases got to experience the joy of winning a Stagg Bowl, because it's exhilarating. The talent is there in the region, but probably spread too thin.

Pat: Endicott. Springfield is certainly capable of pulling off that first-round upset and Endicott hasn't played anyone better than Springfield this season.

Last team standing

Ryan: North Central. Anything short of a trip back to the Stagg Bowl would be a surprise.

Frank: North Central. The Cardinals have been business-focused ever since watching UMHB celebrating on the field in Canton. They're not resting until they can celebrate in Annapolis.

Riley: Can you really pick against North Central? The nation's No. 1 team, NCC appears well on its way to the semifinals, having not surrendered a touchdown since Oct. 1. Behind the play of Ethan Greenfield and the nation's best rushing attack, it will be a tall task for any defense to stop the Cardinals. Not only that, but navigating the NCC defense is a near-impossible task in itself. Ithaca may have a chance, but ultimately, NCC should have little trouble winning its first three games of this postseason.

Logan: North Central. A season ago, North Central was the pre-tournament favorite with a Freshman QB. This year, they're the biggest pre-tournament national title favorite my model has seen in the 32-team era.

Greg: There will be some fun games in the underbracket here, but if anybody but North Central wins this quadrant we’ll have seen the biggest upset I can remember in the Division III tournament.

Keith: North Central. Jesu Cristo, Ethan Greenfield and Terrence Hill are still running through linebackers' faces for these guys? You know when the No. 2 running back is a household name that your team does work. The going will get rough in the semifinals, but the Cardinals -- who have allowed precisely two field goals since beating Wheaton 33-20 on Oct. 1 -- should cruise until then.

Pat: North Central. More dominant than before. Broke 1993 St. John's record for regular season scoring margin. Etc.

TRINITY BRACKET

Surprises

Ryan: Bethel. At least we can say it’ll be a game-day surprise about whether senior quarterback Jaran Roste will be able to take the field (and play effectively) against Wheaton. While no football team is just one player, if Roste is reasonably healed from his shoulder injury, the Royals can very well be one of four teams left standing from across the nation.

Frank: Trinity. Yes, the bracket suggests they should win, but that doesn't mean conventional football minds will agree. At times this season, they have appeared inconsistent, but they have shown the ability to rise to the occasion under Tucker Horn's leadership enough to be able to beat everyone in this quadrant of the bracket.

Riley: Let's go with Bethel. The Royals have been hot and cold at times this season, but do hold a notable win over St. John's, and had won seven straight before SJU won by nearly three scores in the MIAC championship game. If Jaran Roste is at his best, there is no telling how far Bethel can go. They will need a good effort from the defense against the pass (something that has been somewhat of a weakness), but certainly have the pieces to make a run.

Logan: Hardin-Simmons. The Cowboys imploded in Belton earlier this season, but if the squad that handed UW-Platteville their worst loss of the season can show up, HSU could finally get through the quarterfinals for the first time since 2000.

Greg: Wheaton. What a fun opportunity here for a very nontraditional matchup. Wheaton traveling to Linfield could potentially be the highlight of Round 2 and could get Wheaton a return trip to Texas for some unfinished business.

Keith: Linfield. I can't think of a time we've talked less about a team ranked in the top five nationally. When the bracket was released, a glance at their quadrant drew the eye to the Wheaton/Bethel game, and that pod of Southern teams. Quick, name a Linfield player. No, Wyatt Smith is not the quarterback anymore, but nice guess. Unless you've seen QB Blake Eaton and the gang play, you might not know any of them, but the Wildcats are averaging 47.5 points per game in a year when the NWC was relatively strong and so was Linfield's SoS. I can't believe I'm calling an undefeated top-five team a potential surprise, but in this dumb-good quadrant where almost anyone could end disappointingly early or face North Central on Dec. 10, here we are.

Pat: Linfield. The Wildcats are firing on all cylinders and it will be interesting to see them get some of their biggest tests of the season.

Disappointments

Ryan: Linfield. As I looked at an analyzed the bracket, none of the scenarios I mapped out had a great outcome in this bracket for the Wildcats. And it’s almost insane for me to type this, that Linfield could be the fourth- or fifth-best team in this bracket. That just shows what a tough road to Salem it will be from this bracket!

Frank: Bethel. This team hasn't been the same since the first SJU game earlier in the season. Yes, they have won several games, but Roste's injury is clearly an issue that isn't going away. They very easily could be one-and-done here.

Riley: In a bracket this deep, is it even fair to pick a team "to disappoint?" This is probably the hardest side of the bracket to pick, but if I'm pressed for one, I would have to go with Trinity (in large part due to my answer to the next question), as the Tigers will have a really tough test in the first round against Hardin-Simmons, and another in the second round. Losing either game at home for the top seed would be disappointing, though it is a  possibility, considering the Tigers will get the nation's No. 9 team followed by either the No. 3 or No. 20 team. Trinity has had some close calls this year, but remains perfect entering the postseason, one of just two teams in this group of eight that can say that.

Logan: Trinity. We don't get official seeds from the NCAA, but the presumptive 1-seed in a quadrant has never lost in the first round. That probably changes this year, with the cruel circumstance of geography sending a Top 10 HSU team to San Antonio.

Greg: Bethel. It’s hard to know what to do with the Royals when Jaran Roste isn’t completely healthy. He hasn’t been healthy for the last two weeks- one a near loss to Augsburg, the other a loss in the MIAC championship game where Bethel only managed 10 points.

Keith: I know we're supposed to name teams, but Dear Lord, my top 25 vote for Week 11 had six teams from this quadrant in the top 11, with Huntingdon at 17. We're all numb to the idea that the teams on the D-III islands in Texas and on the West Coast have to get eliminated early because it's not free to fly 68-team traveling parties to Wisconsin and Minnesota and Ohio. Even the fans of those teams generally accept it at this point. But it's not good to have No. 6 face No. 9 in Round 1, with No. 3 awaiting, and maybe No. 5 after that. They're playing quarterfinal-level competition to get out of Rounds 1 and 2. This quadrant of the bracket is so lopsided it caused a paper jam when I tried to print it out. It's so loaded I sprinkled it on potato skins with bacon and sour cream. I know nobody can do anything about this and it is what it is, but that doesn't mean we can't be disappointed by it. You need a team? Pick one. We're gonna be watching the Round of 8, and no more than two of Trinity, UMHB, Linfield, Wheaton, Bethel and Hardin-Simmons are gonna be playing.

Pat: Bethel. I don't expect Roste to play four quarters, and that's my basis here.

Last team standing

Ryan: Bethel. I write this acknowledging that big caveat here about the status of the Royals’ quarterback.

Frank: Trinity. Whoever wins this bracket will have run an unbelievable gauntlet in the process. I think Trinity is ready to show they have the horses to do it, even against these top-level teams.

Riley: Again, this bracket is so deep, making this pick hard to make. You cannot go wrong however, with a team that has proven itself time and time again with the ability to elevate its game come playoff time, and has won a recent national title without being the top seed in its section of the bracket. Yes, I'm referring to UMHB. The Crusaders are experienced, returning a number of starters on offense from last year's Stagg Bowl team, and the defense, with plenty of returners in bigger roles, has consistently improved each week.

Logan: Linfield. My model sees the Wildcats, Cru, and Thunder as relatively equal teams, with HSU, Trinity & Bethel potentially frisky, but the Wildcats should have the benefit of the largest home-field advantage in the country for three rounds, giving them the slightest of edges.

Greg: Mary Hardin-Baylor. There are challengers to the Cru in this quadrant and I know UMHB hasn’t been blowing teams out down the stretch, but I can’t forget how this team leveled up in last year’s postseason and I can’t pick them to lose early in this tournament.

Keith: Mary Hardin-Baylor. I can talk myself into most of the teams from this bracket, but then again, the Cru features the same QB and offensive studs that blew North Central off the field in Canton last year. Why would I bet against the class of Division III?

Pat: Linfield. In a bracket which contains three teams I could all see playing in the Stagg, I can only pick one? 

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Small college football is actually pretty massive. Division III is home to 240 teams, many thousands of student-athletes and coaches. There are so many more stories out there than I can find on my own. Please share your stories that make Division III football so special for all of us! Reach out to me at greg.thomas@d3sports.com or on Twitter @wallywabash to share your stories.