LSC football teams continue impressive string of NCAA Playoff appearances
With three teams selected to play in the NCAA playoffs this year, Lone Star Conference football teams continue to be a regular participant in the postseason since the league joined Division II in 1982.
West Texas A&M, Midwestern State and Abilene Christian each earned a spot in the playoffs from the Southwest Region in 2006. The Buffaloes and Mustangs will each host a first round game on Saturday at 12 p.m. WTAMU hosts ACU in Canyon, Texas, while Wichita Falls, Texas, is the site of the MSU and Missouri Western match-up.
The LSC is one of only three leagues with the North Central Conference and Northeast-10 Conference to have three teams advance to the NCAA Playoffs this year. That only happened 15 times from 1988 to 2003 when the playoff bracket was 16 teams. Since the bracket expanded to 24 teams in 2004, there have been 10 instances when a league has had three teams advance.
In three of the past four seasons, the LSC has sent a trio of teams into the postseason, which is a feat no other conference has matched. Also, with ACU making its first trip to the Division II playoffs in 2006 they become the 11th LSC member (10 current members) to have participated. Only one other conference, the Gulf South, has advanced more members (12) into the playoffs.
Now in its 25th year of playing Division II football, the LSC boasted 10 playoff teams during the league's first 12 years as a Division II member, and there have been an impressive 27 LSC playoff entries over the last 13 years (including 2006).
That gives the LSC a total of 37 entries into the NCAA football playoffs. Those appearances have been spread among 11 member teams, with league powerhouse Texas A&M-Kingsville accounting for an LSC-high 13.
In recent years, the LSC has ranked among the top Division II conferences in producing NCAA football playoff teams. The Lone Star has had multiple playoff teams in 11 of the past 13 seasons, which matches the GSC and NCC as the best in Division II during that span.
LSC teams have enjoyed success in the playoffs as well, with league teams combining for a 34-33 record in NCAA postseason action. Three LSC teams have advanced to the Division II title game, with Southwest Texas (now Texas State) winning 1981 and 1982.
