Belton (October 31, 2012) -- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team is ranked #1 in the South Region in the first NCAA Division III Regional Rankings of the 2012 season. Wesley College is ranked second this week and the Cru’s American Southwest Conference rivals Louisiana College (7th) and Hardin-Simmons (10th) are also ranked this week. UMHB has beaten all three of those teams this season, giving the Cru three wins over regionally ranked opponents.
The NCAA Regional Rankings are used to determine selections and seedings for the NCAA Division III National Championships and wins over regionally ranked opponents is another part of the criteria used in selecting and seeding those teams. There will only be one more regional ranking released to the public. The 32-team field for the NCAA Division III National Championships will be announced on Sunday, November 11th.
The Cru is currently 8-0 overall and 5-0 in American Southwest Conference play. UMHB can clinch the ASC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championships and at least a share of the conference championship with a win over East Texas Baptist University this Saturday. The Cru will take on the Tigers (3-5, 2-3 ASC) in a 1:00 PM kickoff at Ornelas Stadium in Marshall.
