FOREST, Va. --- Hampden-Sydney College
earned its second straight and ninth overall ODAC title following
Saturday's slate of games. The Tigers lost their final
contest to Randolph-Macon College, but came out ahead in the
resulting four-way tie to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament
for the second time in as many seasons.
The four-way stalemate was created by three separate games on
Saturday. Hampden-Sydney and Emory & Henry College
losses, combined with Guilford College (over E&H) and
Bridgewater College victories, set up the scenario. All four
boast 5-2 league records.
Tiebreaking procedures in ODAC football begin with head-to-head
results among the tied teams. Two rounds of head-to-head
comparison were needed to break the tie. H-SC and GC went 2-1
amongst the group, separating themselves from BC and E&H at
1-2. In further comparison between the Tigers and Quakers,
H-SC's regular season win over GC secured the ODAC title and NCAA
Tournament bid.
The NCAA bracket will consist of 32 teams. Twenty-four teams
will qualify via their conference's automatic bid. Two
schools will earn a place from Pool B. Those eligible from
this pool include true independents and those playing in
conferences that do not meet criteria for automatic qualification.
The six remaining teams will come from Pool C, which includes
all teams that did not qualify from Pools A or B.
Selections for the 32-team field will be announced on Sunday at
6:00 p.m. on www.ncaa.com. A link to the selection show can
be found HERE.