By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released its second set of Division II Super Region Rankings for football on Monday (Nov. 4). With a record of 7-2, Fort Hays State holds a ranking of 10th in Super Region 3 entering Week 10 of the regular season.
Two weeks remain in the regular season as Fort Hays State continues its quest for a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. At the end of the regular season, the top seven teams in the Super Region are selected to compete in the playoffs.
Fort Hays State held the No. 9 ranking in the first edition of the Super Region rankings, but slipped to No. 10 this week. Henderson State traded spots in the rankings FHSU, moving up from No. 10 with just one loss on the season. Indianapolis took its first loss of the season and slipped from No. 3 to No. 5. Grand Valley State traded spots with Northwest Missouri State in the No. 6 and No. 7 rankings.
Indianapolis was the only team in the Top 10 of the Super Region that lost last week. Northwest Missouri State and Fort Hays State each slid down a spot despite each posting blowout wins. Missouri Western is at No. 8 in the rankings with an identical record to FHSU each at 7-2, but Missouri Western’s head-to-head victory over FHSU justifies the higher ranking. Missouri Western’s only losses this year are to Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri.
Plenty can happen in a couple of weeks. Henderson State still has to play Ouachita Baptist in the final week of the season. Nebraska-Kearney travels to Missouri Western and Grand Valley State plays Ferris State this Saturday.
Saturday’s game between Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State in Hays will have a big effect on the Super Region rankings going forward. The Tigers are looking for a third straight win over the Bearcats, something a team has not done against the Bearcats since 2004 and 2005 when Pittsburg State won three consecutive (2004 regular season and playoffs, and 2005 regular season). Pittsburg State was also the last to defeat Northwest Missouri in three consecutive regular season meetings from 1994 through 1996.
Below are the Super Region 3 rankings for November 4, 2019.
| Rank | Team | In-Region Record | Overall DII Record |
| 1 | Ferris State (Mich.) | 8-0 | 9-0 |
| 2 | Central Missouri | 9-0 | 9-0 |
| 3 | Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) | 9-0 | 9-0 |
| 4 | Harding (Ark.) | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| 5 | Indianapolis | 7-1 | 7-1 |
| 6 | Grand Valley State (Mich.) | 6-1 | 8-1 |
| 7 | Northwest Missouri State | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| 8 | Missouri Western | 7-2 | 7-2 |
| 9 | Henderson State (Ark.) | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| 10 | Fort Hays State (Kan.) | 7-2 | 7-2 |