A Play Away from Hosting a Playoff Game, Lopers Instead Left Out in the Cold

Finish 9-2 with Both Losses Coming in Overtime 

Kearney, Neb. - The 8th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team was not selected for the 2010 NCAA Division II playoffs and thus ends the year with a 9-2 record.

The 24-team field was released Sunday afternoon on ESPNews. The bracket is attached.

Coming into the weekend, UNK was ranked fourth in Super Regional 3. Six teams from each of Division II's four regions make the playoffs.  Super Regional 3 is made up of the RMAC, NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) and GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).

On Saturday, the Lopers fell at Colorado Mines 55-53 in 3 OT's. The Orediggers (9-2, 8-1 RMAC) came into the weekend ranked ninth in Super Regional 3 but the win vaulted them into the sixth and final playoff spot in the region.

A variety of criteria determines the playoff field; national rankings have no bearing on selection. The RMAC traditionally sends just one team into the playoffs and the league is 6-19 all-time in the playoffs.

Among the players UNK will need to replace next year are receivers Brendan Liess and Kyle Kaiser, tackles Adam Drudik and Orion Matthies and defensive linemen Mason Brodine and Josh Rohde.

Below are the playoff matchups for Super Regional 3

1. Minnesota-Duluth (11-0) - NSIC
2. Augustana, S.D. (10-1) - NSIC
top two seeds in each region receive first round byes

3. Grand Valley State, Mich. (10-1) - GLIAC
4. St. Cloud State, Minn. (9-2) - NSIC
5. Hillsdale College, Mich. (9-2) - GLIAC
6. Colorado School of Mines (9-2) - RMAC

November 20th
Colorado Mines at Grand Valley State
Hillsdale at St. Cloud State

November 27th
Mines/GVSU winner at Augustana
HC/SCSU winner at UMD

December 4th
Region title game