With the regular season’s end roughly one month away, it’s time to turn our focus to the FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and SWJCFC playoffs. At this time next week, we will be awaiting the initial publication of rankings for the DII and DIII playoffs.

As many as 16 Texas non-FBS teams are holding onto postseason hopes, and the schools will be divided into one of two groups – those on solid ground through Week 8 and those on the bubble.

While some teams may be on solid ground or on the bubble after last week, their standing to make their respective playoffs can and will change with one loss.

FCS

On Solid Ground

UIW – The Cardinals can take control of the Southland Conference race and an automatic bid to the playoffs with a win at Southeastern Louisiana next Saturday. UIW is solidly in the playoffs and likely remains an at-large bid if they suffer one loss in conference play. 

Tarleton – The Texans are 6-0 against FCS opponents this season and will be favored to win their next three games. The key stretch for the Texans happens in the final two weeks against ACU and Central Arkansas, but Tarleton will have home-field advantage for those contests.

On the Bubble

Abilene Christian – ACU sits at 5-2 against FCS competition this year and would be on firm footing for the playoffs if not for a road loss to North Alabama two weeks ago. The Wildcats' game at Tarleton on Nov. 16, will likely decide their hopes for an at-large bid.

Lamar – While it’s unlikely the Cardinals will reach the playoffs this season, the credit for why we’re talking about them at this point in the season rests on the work of coach Peter Rossomando and staff. Lamar could win the Southland’s automatic bid if they win their five remaining contests. An at-large bid seems unlikely with another loss.

Stephen F. Austin – The Lumberjacks are 3-2 against FCS foes, with both losses to Southland Conference teams. The road has not been kind to SFA this year, and a game at Nicholls is looming in two weeks. After last week's loss, an at-large bid is unlikely for the ‘Jacks, but another defeat would seal their playoff fate.

Lone Star Conference

On Solid Ground

Angelo State – Don’t look now, but the Rams have averaged 39.3 points in their last three wins against quality defenses in UTPB, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and Midwestern State. The Rams feel like a lock for the playoffs and are quickly becoming a national contender with an elite defense that has only allowed 20 or more points twice, with Fort Hays scoring the most (21) against ASU in the season's opening week.

On the Bubble

Texas A&M-Kingsville – The Javelinas likely don’t feel like a bubble team after losing to Angelo State and Central Washington by a combined 69-0 the last two weeks. However, they will be heavy favorites in their final four games. Would an 8-3 record be enough in a region where 12 teams have two losses or fewer and only seven are selected? It seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

NCAA Division III

On Solid Ground

Hardin-Simmons – The Cowboys are on pace to claim one of the top four seeds in the playoffs after surviving an upset attempt by McMurry, but a treacherous path remains with two games against ETBU and a home game against rival UMHB. It’s not about making the playoffs for HSU right now. It’s about winning and securing homefield advantage for as long as possible in the playoffs.

Mary Hardin-Baylor – A QB change helped the passing offense for the Cru, but will that change be enough to defeat HSU in Abilene? According to D3Datacast.com, UMHB would be the seventh of 12 at-large bids if the bracket were set today. However, the Cru must approach each week as a playoff game, considering another loss likely eliminates them from the playoffs.

On the Bubble

East Texas Baptist—The Tigers control their fate. ETBU has two games remaining against HSU, one at home against UMHB and one on the road against HPU. If they win all four games, the Tigers will be in the playoffs. But three wins won’t likely be enough to earn an at-large bid.

NAIA

On Solid Ground

Texas Wesleyan – The Rams are averaging 70.5 points per game in their last four contests. That is not an error. TxWes put 80 points on North American, 77 on Arkansas Baptist, and 76 on Nelson (formerly SAGU). They are heavily favored to win their remaining games and earn the program’s first outright Sooner Athletic Conference title and NAIA playoff berth.

SWJCFC

On Solid Ground

One team, Tyler, has clinched a spot in the SWJCFC playoffs with a 5-0 record and two conference games remaining. Kilgore and Cisco hold a magic number of two and could clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win this week.

On the Bubble

Navarro currently holds the fourth and final playoff spot. However, the Bulldogs' fate will be determined in the next two weeks when they travel to play Cisco before hosting Tyler.