Outside of the NCATA’s top matchup, between No. 2 Oregon and No. 1 Baylor University on Saturday, there’s just one ranked battle in Week 4. The Ducks and Bears are setting the standard at the top of the league, but a top-10 meet between No. 10 Azusa Pacific University and No. 6 Fairmont State University has the potential to delineate the postseason cut line early on. Neither has a win to its name that would keep it in the postseason spots yet, but they’ll have plenty of opportunities down the stretch. It starts in Week 4, when the Cougars head to West Virginia on March 2.

No. 10 Azusa Pacific University at No. 6 Fairmont State University (March 2, 3 p.m. PT, Fairmont, West Virginia)

This mid-top-15 matchup between one of the NCATA’s traditional powers (Azusa Pacific) and a recent riser (Fairmont State) looks like a strong chance at a season-defining win for both. The Cougars (1-1) are sitting at .500 after rebounding from a 22.875-point loss to Baylor with a win over No. 13 Hawaii Pacific University, and a win over No. 6 would boost a resume that has matchups with No. 8 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and No. 9 Gannon later in the year.

Fairmont State, meanwhile, will finish its season with three more ranked matchups: at home against No. 7 Duquesne University and No. 9 Gannon, which sandwich a trip to face No. 12 Glenville State University. A win over Azusa Pacific would take some of the pressure off those meets at the end of the year — plus set the Fighting Falcons up with a quality win before the run-in.

Neither has a quality win on back-loaded schedules yet, which makes their first key for teams that coaches saw preseason as mid-table. They’ll need to jump into or stay in the top eight spots in order to qualify for the NCATA National Championship, and a top-10 win will set them on that path.

Around the NCATA

Six of the top-15 teams are on bye in Week 4 — and the ones who do have a meet are in should-win situations. No. 5 Augustana University (2-0) hosts Concordia University Wisconsin on Feb. 28. No. 8 Mary Hardin-Baylor (1-1) hosts Texas Lutheran University on March 1. No. 9 Gannon (1-1), which travels to face Oregon March 6, hosts a joint meet against Buffalo State University and Trine University on Feb. 28. No. 14 Lander University (1-1) has a joint meet against Mars Hill University and Belmont Abbey College on Feb. 27, and No. 15 La Salle University (1-0) faces Missouri State University on Feb. 27.

This story was updated to reflect correct rankings for Azusa Pacific and Fairmont State.