BREAKDOWN--The NCAA Division III Playoff Picture--Part 1

Already? Just one week left in the NCAA Division III football regular season? Yes, it's true, indeed. Here's how the playoff picture is shaping up heading into that final weekend.

Current automatic qualifiers (Pool A)

KEY: Conference: Champion (Current won-lost record)

American Southwest Conference: Mary Hardin-Baylor (8-1)

Centennial Conference: Muhlenberg (9-0)

College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin: North Central (9-0)

Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference: Franklin (8-1)

Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Wartburg (8-2)

Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association: Trine (9-0)

Midwest Conference: Monmouth (Ill.)--(10-0)

New Jersey Athletic Conference: Cortland State (9-0)

North Coast Athletic Conference: Wabash (9-0)

Northwest Conference: Willamette (9-0)

Ohio Athletic Conference: Mount Union (9-0)

President's Athletic Conference: Thomas More (7-2)

Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Occidental (8-0)

Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference: Millsaps (9-0)

Automatic bids to be clinched:

Empire 8 Conference: With Ithaca (8-1, 5-1) already having completed its conference schedule, St. John Fisher (6-3, 4-1) can clinch that league's autobid with a win over Alfred (6-3, 3-2). That's because the Cardinals blasted the Bombers, 37-6, earlier this season.

Liberty League: Hobart (7-1, 5-1) can clinch the LL title with a win over Rochester. If the Statesmen falter, RPI (7-1, 5-1) can take the autobid if the Engineers defeat Merchant Marine.

Middle Atlantic Conference: Albright (7-2, 5-1) controls its own destiny in its conference, as a win over Delaware Valley (6-3, 4-2). If the Lions lose, however, it could open the door for a three-way share of the MAC crown, as the winner of the Lebanon Valley-Lycoming contest could forge such a split should Del Val pull off the upset.

Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Carleton and St. John's both have identical 7-2 overall and 5-2 MIAC marks heading into this unlikely de-facto conference title game. One thing's for sure, the winner of this game wins the MIAC autobid to the D-III playoffs, while the loser goes home.

New England Football Conference: For the first time in what seems like a long time, the NEFC championship doesn't involve Curry (9-1, 6-1), as Plymouth State (9-1, 7-0) squares off against Maine Maritime (7-3, 6-1) for the title there.

Northern Athletics Conference: It's Lakeland (5-4, 5-1) paying a visit to Aurora (8-1, 6-0) for the autobid in this fledgling league.

Old Dominion Athletic Conference: Catholic (8-1, 4-1) can win the ODAC automatic bid with a win over Bridgewater (Va.). If the Cardinals lose, Hampden-Sydney (8-1, 4-1) can claim the crown if the Tigers defeat archrival Randolph-Macon (5-4, 3-2). Should both Catholic and H-S lose, and Emory and Henry (5-4, 3-2) defeat Guilford, it would create a four-way tie for the title. Try sorting that out.

USA South Athletic Conference: Ferrum (7-2, 5-1) visits Christopher Newport (7-1, 6-0) for the top spot in that conference.

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Wisconsin-Stevens Point (8-1, 5-1) can take home at least a share of the title with a win over Wisconsin-La Crosse. Defending D-III national champion must defeat Wisconsin-Platteville, and hope for LaCrosse to upset Stevens Point in order to win the WIAC autobid.