| How they got here: | Pool A, ASC champ |
| You'll know they're playing well if: | They hold teams on third and fourth down. In their closest games, UMHB allowed teams to convert at a higher rate than in games where they seemingly were in control. Trinity, Sul Ross, TLU, and HSU all converted above 37 percent on third down. |
| You'll know they're playing poorly if: | They are running the old style option too much and are not
finding success through the air. Most of their struggles against
Hardin-Simmons were on the option. Also, if LiDarral Bailey is
missing his targets or if guys are dropping passes, forcing long
third downs. |
| This season's turning point: | Stephen Salinas and Bradlee Waddell run down the clock to keep Wesley from getting the ball back in any position to score in the closing minutes of the teams' game Week 3 in Dover, Del. |
| Rushing/passing yards per game: | 315.5/221.4 |
| Rushing/passing yards allowed: | 56.2/258.5 |
| How far can they go? | The last time Mary Hardin-Baylor's path went through Alliance,
they carried it through all the way to Salem. It's possible here,
too. |
2012 playoffs: Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket
- UW-Whitewater bracket | Mount Union bracket | Wesley bracket | Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket
- Download the 2014 playoff bracket | Bracket challenge | More 2014 playoff coverage
Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders
| Seed: | No. 1, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 2, Week 11 2012 |
| Location: | Belton, TX |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 2202 |
| Stadium: | Belton HS (8000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | ASC |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 4 |
| Head coach: | Pete Fredenburg (Southwest Texas State) |
| Career record: | 133-33 (.801) |
| Base offense: | Multiple option |
| Base defense: | 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 18-10 (2001-02, 2004-11) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
Wesley Wolverines
| Seed: | Likely No. 2, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 6, Week 11 2012 |
| Location: | Dover, DE |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1812 |
| Stadium: | Scott D. Miller Stadium (2500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | IND |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 3 |
| Head coach: | Mike Drass (Mansfield '82) |
| Career record: | 175-47-1 (.787) |
| Base offense: | Multiple pro |
| Base defense: | 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 18-8 (2000, 2005-11) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
Cortland Red Dragons
| Seed: | Likely No. 3, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 18, Week 11 2012 |
| Location: | Cortland, NY |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 5963 |
| Stadium: | Stadium Complex (6500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | NJAC |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 30 |
| Head coach: | Dan MacNeill (Cortland State '79) |
| Career record: | 107-55 (.660) |
| Base offense: | Spread coast |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 4-7 (1988-90, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2010) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
Adrian Bulldogs
| Seed: | Likely No. 4, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | Never ranked |
| Location: | Adrian, MI |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1420 |
| Stadium: | Multi-Sport Performance Stadium (3000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | MIAA |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 67 |
| Head coach: | Jim Deere (Adrian '89) |
| Career record: | 22-8 (.733) |
| Base offense: | Multiple |
| Base defense: | 4-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 0-2 (1983, 1988) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
Louisiana College Wildcats
| Seed: | Likely No. 5, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 23, Week 11 2012 |
| Location: | Pineville, LA |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 813 |
| Stadium: | Wildcat Field (7,000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | ASC |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 31 |
| Head coach: | Dennis Dunn |
| Career record: | 45-34 (.570) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | First appearance |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
Franklin Grizzlies
| Seed: | Likely No. 6, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | No. 16, Week 11 2012 |
| Location: | Franklin, IN |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1018 |
| Stadium: | Faught Stadium (2500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | HCAC |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 13 |
| Head coach: | Mike Leonard (Hanover '84) |
| Career record: | 75-32 (.701) |
| Base offense: | Run and shoot |
| Base defense: | 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | 3-4 (2007-08, 2010-11) |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
Framingham State Rams
| Seed: | Likely No. 7, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | Never ranked |
| Location: | Framingham, MA |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 3038 |
| Stadium: | Maple Street (1500) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | NEFC Bogan |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 151 |
| Head coach: | Tom Kelley (Framingham State '76) |
| Career record: | 44-44-1 (.500) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | 4-3 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | First appearance |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |
Mount Ida Mustangs
| Seed: | Likely No. 8, Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket |
| Last Top 25 ranking: | Never ranked |
| Location: | Newton, MA |
| Enrollment (FT undergrads): | 1371 |
| Stadium: | Mount Ida Stadium (1000) |
| Playing surface: | Turf |
| Conference: | ECFC |
| Preseason ranking from Kickoff: | 158 |
| Head coach: | Mike Landers (Bridgewater State '01) |
| Career record: | 28-25 (.528) |
| Base offense: | Spread |
| Base defense: | Multiple 3-4 |
| Record in NCAA playoffs: | First appearance |
| NCAA D-III championships: | None |