The 2009 playoffs will follow the same breakdown of teams as the 2008 playoffs, according to the first release of the NCAA's Division III football championships handbook this morning.

There are 23 automatic bids to the playoff field of 32 teams. Three bids are held out for teams who are not in those conferences, known as Pool B. Six truly at-large bids are available for everyone left on the table, known as Pool C.

The conferences with automatic bids remain the same as last season. For other answers to your playoff questions, check out our Playoff FAQ as we get ready for Selection Sunday on Nov. 15.

With six weeks gone in the season, we're also publishing the 2009 Strength of Schedule numbers for the first time. These numbers, opponents' winning percentage (OWP) and opponents' opponents' winning percentage (OOWP) are the components the NCAA uses to determine strength of schedule for Division III football.

Concordia-Moorhead and Concordia (Wis.) have each been to the playoffs in the Pools era. But not Concordia (Ill.). The suburban Chicago school hasn't even had a .500 season in that span, going 13-87 over the decade.

But Lonnie Pries' Cougars aren't having that kind of season in 2009. This Concordia is 4-1 and is one win away from its first five-win season since 1992. But that's not the goal, by any stretch. Clyde Hughes has more in this week's Around the Midwest.

In the NESCAC, Trinity (Conn.) is aiming at another perfect season, although like every other NESCAC football season (and unlike every other NESCAC sport) it won't end in the playoffs. That isn't what bothers the Bantams, however. Tom Haley will tell you what does in Around the Northeast.

For years, the knock on Hampden-Sydney was that there was a lot of offense, but no defense. And although the Tigers surrendered 43 points in regulation in a win against Gettysburg, they're given up just 25 in four games since. Ryan Tipps was there to see the Tigers shut down Emory and Henry and writes about it in Around the Mid-Atlantic.

And Adam Johnson got a reminder of how small the Division III world can be, when he ended up having lunch in the same restaurant on game day this past week with the officiating crew that called a fairly famous play in Division III football history. Who and what, in Around the West.

That and more in this week's Around the Region.