Newberry tops first NCAA football region rankings

Four South Atlantic Conference schools, including Newberry College at No. 1, are in the first NCAA Southeast Regional rankings, released Monday.

Undefeated Newberry (6-0) has the top spot in the region rankings, which will be used to determine playoff qualification and seeding.

North Carolina Central of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is second, while Wingate is third. Carson-Newman is eighth, while Mars Hill is 10th.

The top six teams in the Southeast Region advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

PLEASE NOTE: Earned access to the playoffs can be gained by a conference if a conference representative finishes in the top 10 of the final regional rankings. If the four conferences in the Southeast Region (SAC, CIAA, Gulf South, SIAC) each have at least one team in the top 10 of the final rankings, the conference earns a right to have its top representative in the playoffs.

For the complete region rankings, click here

1. Newberry (6-0)
2. North Carolina Central (6-0)
3. Wingate (5-1)
4. North Alabama (5-0)
5. Valdosta State (5-0)
6. Henderson State (5-1)
7. Albany State (Georgia) (4-2)
8. Carson-Newman (5-1)
9. Johnson C. Smith (5-1)
10. Mars Hill (4-2)
11. Elizabeth City State (5-1)
12. Delta State (5-1)