By KYSON EVANS
Tiger Media Network
As NCAA Division II football enters a new era of regional realignment, Thursday night’s non-conference clash between Angelo State University and Fort Hays State University carried added weight — with both programs now competing in the same Super Region 4.
The matchup, while not a conference game, could have significant postseason implications. Regional rankings play a key role in playoff selection under the NCAA’s updated criteria.
Angelo State head coach Jeff Girsch welcomed the opportunity to test his team early against a regional opponent with a strong track record.
“All wins are significant, especially when they’re in-region,” said Girsch, whose team won 28-7. “Fort Hays is a great game for us. It’s a great test and gauge to see where you stand in the DII arena.”
Last year, with FHSU in Super Region 3, the Tigers beat the Rams 21-7 in Hays in the season opener. Angelo State dropped its next game at Emporia State as well to start the season 0-2.
But the Rams rattled off nine straight wins to go undefeated in the Lone Star Conference. That helped Angelo State earn the No. 3 seed in Super Region 4. Bemidji State ended the Rams’ season in the first round of the playoffs.
Fort Hays finished the 2024 season with an 8-3 overall record and just missed the D2 playoffs. Ferris State won the Super Region 3 bracket and went on to steamroll its way to the national title.
Girsch emphasized ASU’s commitment to building a challenging non-conference schedule. The Rams recently faced nationally recognized programs such as Colorado School of Mines, Delta State and Central Washington. With Fort Hays and the other MIAA teams joining Super Region 4, this year’s game took on new meaning.
“Last time I checked, if you’re going to win a national championship, you have to beat the best teams from all regions,” Girsch said. “It doesn’t matter to us who we play. The LSC will not shy away from playing MIAA schools.”
On the Fort Hays side, Athletic Director Lisa Goddard McGuirk said scheduling strong regional opponents like Angelo State is critical under the new playoff format. That format also includes an expanded bracket and the introduction of automatic qualifiers.
“It is essential for us to compete against top teams from other conferences to best position our program for the postseason,” she said. “Angelo State has consistently been one of the strongest teams in the Lone Star Conference.”
Goddard McGuirk noted that while the matchup doesn’t necessarily define either conference’s overall strength, it helps strengthen a team’s case in the regional rankings — one of the key metrics in playoff selection.
“Matchups like this can potentially help strengthen a team’s resume,” she said. “Competing against top programs from other conferences within our region enhances our postseason opportunities and prepares us for conference play.”
Fort Hays faces another regional opponent this week when it travels to take on Colorado State University-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves are ranked in the Top 10 of Division II this week and are coming off a 43-0 win over South Dakota Mines.
CSU-Pueblo is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Super Region 4 is made up of teams from the MIAA, LSC, RMAC and the Great American Conference. A total of 42 schools compete in football in Super Region 4, the second most in the four regions.
The Week 1 matchup between FHSU and the Rams not only offered a competitive test run but could lay the foundation for a budding regional rivalry.
As Division II football adapts to its evolving scale with the transfer portal, games like Angelo State vs. Fort Hays are quickly becoming more than just intriguing matchups — they’re essential to the road to the playoffs.
This story was written as part of INF 322: Sports Writing, a course in the Department of Informatics at Fort Hays State University.