The W&J football team saw its dream of a perfect season end Saturday with a loss at Waynesburg, but that loss proved to be more damaging than simply just losing a game.
It also means that the Presidents won’t be hosting a playoff game this week.
The Division III playoff brackets were released Sunday night and as expected, the Presidents will have to take to the road.
W&J (9-1, 7-1 PAC) drew Wittenberg (Ohio), as the two teams will open the tournament with a noon kickoff at Edwards-Maurer Field.
It marks the 24th overall, and third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs for W&J. Wittenberg (9-1, 9-0 NCAC) is also in the field for the third straight season.
The Tigers are currently ranked 12th in the most recent D3football.com Top 25 poll, while W&J’s loss saw them drop to No. 19.
The matchup features two of the winningest Division III programs of all time with Wittenberg ranking second among Division III schools with 736 wins, while W&J is third at 706.
This will mark the third matchup between the two programs, with W&J winning 15-0 in 1929. The two teams also played to a 7-7 tie the following season.
W&J’s loss to Waynesburg also could have significant impact in the second round of the playoffs.
If W&J can get past Wittenberg on Saturday, they are more than likely going to be looking at a rematch with 10-0 Mount Union the following week.
Mount Union knocked W&J out of the playoffs the past two times the teams have met, in 2009 and 2013.
Photo Credit: W&J
