We are set for the D1 Elite women's college playoffs and the extra good news is that there's a new player in the game.

After having been unable to play any games during the comeback from the COVID lockdowns, Penn State University might ... might ... be able to get a game in to start the postseason.

Of course under normal circumstances the idea of bringing a team that hadn't played a game into the postseason would be frowned upon. But this is the COVID Times, and you adjust. When a team is ready to play, you give them an opportunity to play.

So ... this is how it will all shake down:

Lindenwood is the #1 seed and will host a semifinal on April 17 at 7PM Central Time.

Central Washington is the #2 seed and will host #3 Life University in a semifinal on April 17 at NOON Pacific Time.

Who Lindenwood will play is yet to be decided. The current plan is to have Penn State visit Brigham Young University on April 10. Penn State, by virtue of accumulating no points because they didn't play any games, is the #5 seed, while BYU at 0-3, is the #4 seed. They will have that play-in game to decide who gets to visit Lindenwood.

Things have loosened up at Penn State enough for the Nittany Lions to train and possibly play. Everyone is hoping that will come to pass.