BREAKDOWN: NCAA Division II Playoffs First Round

After 11 weeks of regular season play, only 24 NCAA Division II football teams are still playing. Here's a brief look at the first round match-ups.

NOTE: All previews are listed in bracket order, from top to bottom.

Super Regional Two

5. Albany State (Ga.)--(7-3) at 4. Tusculum (8-3)

The Pioneers play host to the Golden Rams in a batlle of three loss teams. Tusculum won a share of the South Atlantic Conference after upsetting Wingate and Carson-Newman in back-to-back, while ASU looks to snap a four-game losing streak dating back to the 2004 playoffs.

6. Carson-Newman (7-3) at Valdosta State (Ga.)--(8-2)

It's a clash of perennial Southern powers, as the Eagles head south to face the defending national champion Blazers. In addition to in-conference losses to Newberry and Tusculum, C-N also lost an early season non-conference clash to North Alabama. As for VSU, the Blazers losses came to Delta State and UNA.

FIRST ROUND BYES: 1. Delta State (9-1) and 2. North Alabama (10-1)

Super Regional Four

5. Central Washington (10-1) at 4. West Texas A&M (10-1)

Both the Wildcats and Buffaloes, respectively, breezed through the regular season with just one loss; with WTAMU losing to Lone Star Conference foe Abilene Christian, while CWU dropped its lone regular season to Montana of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. It's too bad only of these teams will continue their season after this weekend, and get a shot at top seeded ACU.

6. Nebraska-Omaha (7-3) at 3. Pittsburg State (10-1)

The Mavericks struggled their way through a tough schedule of games to reach the playoffs in their inaugural Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association season. They face a tough task against the Gorillas, who handed UNO a tough 35-28 setback on Oct. 18.

FIRST ROUND BYES: 1. Abilene Christian (10-0) and 2. Northwest Missouri State (10-1)

Super Regional One

5. Southern Connecticut State (8-2) at 4. West Chester (8-3)

One of the more interesting first round match-ups pits the Owls against the Golden Rams. SCSU enters the contest on a high after upsetting previously unbeaten American International last weekend, while WCU fell to California (Pa.) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title game.

6. Seton Hill (9-2) at American International (9-1)

The Yellow Jackets play host to the Griffins, who are making their first-ever appearance in the D-II playoffs. Both teams are coming off tough losses to end the regular season, as AIC's bid for an undefeated season was denied by Southern Connecticut State, while SHU fell to West Liberty State. That defeat cost the Griffins a share of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

FIRST ROUND BYES: 1. Bloomsburg (10-1) and 2. California (Pa.)--(10-1)

Super Regional Three

5. Minnesota State (9-2) at 4. Ashland (8-3)

The Mavericks make the long trip to Ohio to take on the Golden Eagles in a battle of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference vs. the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. At stake is the right to face No. 1 seed and undefeated Grand Valley State on Nov. 22.

6. Wayne State (Neb.)--(9-2) at Chadron State (10-1)

The Wildcats from northeastern Nebraska travel to the western Panhandle of the state to go up against the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion Eagles. After losing back-to-back games to St. Cloud State and Minnesota State in consective weeks, Wayne State ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. On the other hand, Chadron State has reeled off nine straight wins since losing to Pittsburg State 38-31 in Week 2 (Sept. 6).

FIRST ROUND BYES: 1. Grand Valley State (10-0) and 2. Minnesota-Duluth (11-0)