Here’s where we are on D1AA playoff picture after an interesting run of results this week.

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Pac West

Stanford’s in first now and that’s good news for Chico State. Stanford defeated previously 5-1 Fresno State 57-36 behind 22 points from center Guy Kasznik and three tries from scrumhalf Cale Williams. That ended Fresno State’s push to take the #1 spot in the conference, and in fact made it highly likely that Fresno would drop to third.

Stanford is now first with a 5-1-1 record and 29 points in the standings. However, Chico State has 25 and two games left to play. The Wildcats beat San Francisco State 59-10 this weekend, with lock Tyler Laton and No. 8 Chance Horvath both scoring two tries.

Next week, Chico State plays two games, one at home against Sacramento State, and one away at UC Santa Cruz. All the Wildcats need is five standings points from those two games.

Nevada clinched fourth with a 45-23 defeat of UCSC thanks to tries from hooker Clement Farias, lock Robert McLalan, prop Mario Diaz, No. 8 Logan Delwiche, flyhallf Gino Gandolfo, wing Jace Wheeler and center Jacob Bourgault.

So really the top four are set for the March 30-31 conference playoffs. The only question is whether it will be Chico State versus Nevada and Stanford versus Fresno State, or vice versa. Bet on the former. 

Gold Coast

Cal State Long Beach secured first among D1AA teams in the Gold Coast with a 66-7 dismissal of University of San Diego. Flyhalf Steven Bodley kicked eight conversions and scored a try. Center Jarod Leuta-Markey, wing Jay Frisher and fullback Sierra Arteaga all scored two tries for the 49ers. 

It’s quiet in the Heart of America. Kansas State and Iowa State are both undefeated. K-State faces Missouri next week, and Iowa State two weeks after that. Both Kansas State and Iowa State will play league games they are expected to win on April 6. Then, on April 7, they face each other, in what will be the conference decider.

Florida

The key play here so far was Andres Gonzalez's 65th-minute penalty goal a week ago to secure a 22-21 victory for Central Florida over South Florida. These two teams will almost certainly be your top two.

Already in the playoffs:

Western Washington (NCRC) and Dartmouth (Ivy League) have won their conferences and are waiting for the other three. That leaves some space for additional teams, with the second-place Florida team, and (probably) Stanford the first choices. One more spot will be open for the likes of the PacWest runner-up, or someone else.