October 19, 2009 - After its third win over a ranked team this season, the Hillsdale College football team has positioned itself nicely in two important rankings lists.

The Chargers have reentered the AFCA Division II Top 25 poll, checking in at No. 25 this week. Hillsdale was ranked 24th three weeks ago, but a 42-17 loss at Findlay knocked the team out of the poll.

However, back-to-back wins over Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan have got the Chargers ranked among the nation's elite once again.

Also released Monday was the latest Super Region 3 poll, which has Hillsdale at No. 5. The top six teams in each of the four NCAA Division II football regions qualify for the playoffs. The Chargers, ranked fifth, would be in the playoffs if the season were to end today.

Hillsdale's football team has never qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs. The last time the Chargers played in the postseason was in the 1988 season, when it was still an NAIA institution. That year, Hillsdale beat Fairmont State 42-7 in the first round of the playoffs, before losing to Central State (Ohio) 14-7 in the second round.

The national top 25 poll is compiled by a vote of coaches. The regional rankings are based on a mathematical formula that takes factors like strength of schedule, and opponents' strength of schedule, into account. The numbers for each team are plugged into the formula, and the end result is the latest regional rankings.

In the Division II football playoffs, the top two teams in each region receive first-round byes. The No. 3 and 4 teams in the rankings would host first-round playoff games against the No. 6 and 5 teams, respectively. The first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14.

This week, the Chargers will host another regionally ranked team, Wayne State. The Warriors are eighth in the current Super Region 3 rankings, meaning the winner of this game will greatly improve its chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

After this week's game with Wayne State, Hillsdale (6-2) will play at Ferris State (1-7) and at home vs. Tiffin (0-8) in the final two weeks of the 2009 regular season.

Please click on the two links below to view the Division II football national and regional polls.

NCAA Division II Football Regional Rankings
AFCA Division II Top 25 poll