2026 Playoffs

[cubs]

With Conference Tournaments kicking off and automatic bids being earned, seems like a good time to get this thread started.

For teams needing an at-large berth, an NPI number inside the Top 40 will likely be needed if it's like last year.

[Patrick Coleman]

Jim Dixon and I sat down with the Division III baseball national committee chair to talk about a wide range of topics related to the playoffs and World Series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEyptctISRw

We discuss the use of the NCAA Power Index (NPI) and what tweaks might be coming for the formula in the future, attempts being made to bring more fans out to the World Series in the final year it is being hosted in Eastlake, Ohio, the work being done to keep conferences teams from having to play each other early in the bracket, the importance of filing to host the early rounds of the NCAA postseason, the challenges of the World Series format, where the World Series is going next, could it ever be played on turf, and why the event hasn't found a long-term home since leaving Appleton, Wisconsin, coming up on a decade ago.

[Ralph Turner]

Concordia TX earns the Pool A for the SCAC. I do not anticipate a "Pool C" (at-large) bid for the conference.

[Patrick Coleman]

Concordia TX earns the Pool A for the SCAC. I do not anticipate a "Pool C" (at-large) bid for the conference.

The term "Pool C" is no longer used.

[cubs]

Concordia TX earns the Pool A for the SCAC. I do not anticipate a "Pool C" (at-large) bid for the conference.

I would agree with the the SCAC not being in line for any "at-large' bids with Texas Lutheran having the best NPI number and that still being #102 after the completion of yesterday's games.

[Ron Boerger]

I was thinking the same for the SAA (only one) but Rhodes looks likely to receeive at an at-large (currently 30) if they don't win this weekend.  Trinity at 45 might need to get to the championship round to stay there (which is surprising, I guess those early season wins against UW-W are still doing some work).  Berry at 58 might be bubble-out but could improve their standing with several Ws (as could Centre at 59). 

[cubs]

I was thinking the same for the SAA (only one) but Rhodes looks likely to receeive at an at-large (currently 30) if they don't win this weekend.  Trinity at 45 might need to get to the championship round to stay there (which is surprising, I guess those early season wins against UW-W are still doing some work).  Berry at 58 might be bubble-out but could improve their standing with several Ws (as could Centre at 59).

With Whitewater currently riding a 35 game win streak, Trinity winning three times in four games against the Warhawks is doing some MAJOR heavy lifting! 

The interesting part, the guy that threw the most against Trinity in those four games (Malkow-4.2 IP/86 Pitches) hasn't stepped foot back on the mound since.  Guys like Lee and Taschner (who both have ERA's under 1.50) either barely threw or didn't throw at all.

I could be wrong, but I think if those two squads faced off again in a four game series right now, the outcome would look much different this time around?

[Ron Boerger]

No doubt.  Trinity has definitely struggled the back half of the season and I haven't been following closely enough to understand why. 

[Ralph Turner]

I did a quick and dirty run thru the NPI, assigning the Pool A to the highest ranked team from a Conference and assigning the 21 at-large bids, in sequence.

Number 21 on the 05/03/2026 calculations is #50 is Gettysburg.

Last 4 in:

Trinity TX #45
Amherst #47
Ramapo #49
Gettysburg #50
 
Please remember most "Pool C's" will have lost 2 more games in post-season play.
Next 4 in line:
St John Fisher #52
Wooster #53
Stevens #54
Misericordia #55