Texas Lutheran Up to 20th in Latest AFCA Polls

Texas Lutheran Up to 20th in Latest AFCA Polls

WACO, Texas – After Saturday's 36-24 road win at Austin College, the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs moved up two spots, reaching No. 20, in the American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches' Poll.
 
The Bulldogs (8-1, 2-0 SCAC) received 224 points in the poll. The Bulldogs were one spot out of the AFCA Top 25 two weeks ago. With wins over Trinity (Texas) and Austin College in consecutive weeks, TLU has moved up six spots in the AFCA poll, from one spot outside the Top 25 on Oct. 27 to No. 20 today.
 
In the D3football.com poll, the Bulldogs received 25 voting points, up 12 points from last week, and are one spot out of the Top 25.
  
The Bulldogs were fifth in the first NCAA Division III South Region football ranking, released last Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA. A new South Region ranking is scheduled for release this Wednesday. The Bulldogs shared fifth place last week with Centre College (Ky.). The Colonels are 9-0.
  
The Bulldogs need a win over Southwestern (Texas) in the regular season finale to keep their NCAA playoff hopes alive in 2014. A win Saturday also secures a second-straight outright SCAC Championship for the Bulldogs. TLU claimed a share of the SCAC title with the road win at Austin College. TLU faces Southwestern in Bulldog Stadium this Saturday. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
 
For the NCAA DIII playoff field, a total of 32 teams qualify for the national tournament. Twenty-four of the 32 receive automatic bids to the playoffs. The remaining eight teams come out of two "Pool B" and six "Pool C" bids.
 
"Pool B" is reserved for teams not playing in conferences (independents) and teams in conferences without automatic bids. If a team does not receive a "Pool B" bid, that team is moved into consideration for a "Pool C" bid. According to D3football.com, a "Pool B" eligible team has never received one of the six "Pool C" bids.

The NCAA DIII Football Selection Show is scheduled for 5 p.m. central Sunday on www.ncaa.com.