Albany State is the only Division II HBCU playing postseason football in 2008. The Golden Rams (7-3), who finished second to Tuskegee in the SIAC race, will play Tusculum (8-3) in Greenville, Tenn., Nov. 15 in the first round of the national playoffs.

Tuskegee, which is 10-0, typically doesn't participate in the postseason in order to play the Turkey Day Classic against Division I rival Alabama State. Albany State, however, was ranked fifth in Super Regional 2, one spot ahead of the cut off point for the playoffs. The CIAA got absolutely no love in Super Regional 1, where the league was moved this season. A week ago, three CIAA schools - Fayetteville State, Shaw and Elizabeth City - were in the top 10.

But after Shaw beat Elizabeth City for its second straight championship, FSU and ECSU fell out of the rankings and the Bears were outside looking in at No. 10. Critics of the CIAA championship game insist its elimination would give one or perhaps two teams a legitimate shot at the playoffs.

Of course, beating more non-conference teams would help, too. With this year's Pioneer Bowl cancelled, Shaw and Tuskegee don't even get a postseason parting gift. That means Tuskegee, a Pioneer regular, is finished after Thanksgiving. The entire CIAA has to lick its wounds until next August.