THE LIGHTNING ROUND--BONUS PREDICTION

Here's one game that fell off the radar since the previous posting of "THE LIGHTNING ROUND"!

NCAA DIVISION III

Capital at Wittenberg

(The Tigers host the Crusaders in a D-III playoff re-match!)

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--DISTRICT CAPSULES

Click the link below to find out which teams could make some noise in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, and Northern West Virginia.

Article courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

THE LIGHTNING ROUND--PART 2

This is where the fun really begins, as many small college football programs nationwide start their seasons this weekend. So, what are waiting for? Let's go!

KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED

Key games highlighted in BOLD type.

Showcase games highlighted in italics.

All games are on Saturday unless otherwise indicated.

NCAA DIVISION I FCS

Portland State at McNeese State

(It's the Big Sky Conference vs. the Southland Conference in this battle for early-season bragging rights!)

Coastal Carolina at Delaware State

Charleston Southern at The Citadel

Florida A&M at Southern

Presbyterian at Furman

(First-ever FCS game for the Blue Hose vs. the Purple Paladins!)

NCAA DIVISION II

Albany State (1-0) at Valdosta State

(Early season battle for bragging rights in Southern Georgia!)

By the way, the Golden Rams defeated North Carolina Central 16-10 last Saturday!

Ashland at Saginaw Valley State

Glennville State (1-0) at California (Pa.)--(1-0)

Bemidji State at Minnesota-Duluth

C.W. Post at Bloomsburg

Nebraska-Omaha at Nebraska-Kearney

NCAA DIVISION III

Wisconsin-LaCrosse at Hardin-Simmons

(WIAC vs. American Southwest showdown starts the season!)

Rowan at Christopher Newport

(Profs head south to face the Captains in NJAC/USAC clash!)

Menlo at Wisconsin-Stout (Friday)

Carnegie-Mellon at Rochester

Merchant Marine at Kean

Wooster at John Carroll

St. John Fisher at King's

North Carolina Wesleyan at Wesley

NAIA

Black Hills State at Carroll (Mont.)

Dana at Sioux Falls

Northwestern (Iowa) at Nebraska Wesleyan

Southern Oregon at Eastern Oregon

THE LIGHTNING ROUND--2007 DEBUT!!!!!!

Believe it or not, a new college football season begins in earnest Thursday night, as this post is being typed. Among the changes this year include predictions for Thursday and Friday, as well as the traditional Saturday contests. Also coming soon are more in-depth previews of key small college games around the U.S. each weekend. So, without any further ado, let's get started!

KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED

Key games highlighted in BOLD type.

Showcase games highlighted in italics.

Thursday, August 30

NCAA DIVISION I FCS

Savannah State at Morgan State

Central Connecticut at Towson

Delaware at William & Mary

(First-ever game for Colonial Athletic Association!)

South Dakota State at Western Illinois

NCAA DIVISION II

South Dakota at West Texas A&M

(It's the Coyotes vs. the Buffaloes in a battle of D-II playoff teams!)

St. Joseph's at Grand Valley State

Virginia Union at Lenoir-Rhyne

Arkansas Tech at Northeastern State

NCAA DIVISION III

Millsaps at Mississippi College

(The Backyard Brawl commenceth in Clinton, Miss.!)

Moravian at Susquehanna

Tri-State at Manchester

af2 HOT STOVE HEATS UP

The Tulsa Talons have barely gotten their hands on their second Arena Cup crown, and already the hot stove talk is heating up in arenafootball2, as one city returns to the league fold almost six years after winning it all, one Pacific Northwest market boarding the expansion train, and another franchise in that same region calling it quits after three uneventful seasons.

Yakima Gets Arena Football Team

Article courtesy of KNDO/KNDU

Bonus coverage courtesy of the Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic

Indoor football to resurface in Peoria

Article courtesy of the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph

Bonus coverage courtesy of af2.com

Everett Hawks Fold

Article courtesy of Seattlle Post-Intelligencer

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--SHENANDOAH HORNETS

The NCAA Division III Shenandoah Hornets hope to turn the corner in 2007 with a stronger offensive attack.

Article courtesy of the Winchester (Va.) Star

TULSA TALONS WIN ARENA CUP 8

The Tulsa Talons win the arenafootball2 championship for the second time in franchise history, as they win a 73-66 thriller over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in Arena Cup 8 at Bossier City, La.

Article courtesy of arenafootball2

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--GEORGIA SMALL COLLEGE PROFILE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution profiles the small college teams from Georgia in its annual college football preview.

READ MORE

PIONEERS, TALONS SET FOR ARENA CUP 8

It all comes down to one game for the 2007 arenafootball2 championship; the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pa.) Pioneers, and the Tulsa (Okla.) Talons at Bossier City, La. Saturday.

Pioneers Head Coach Rich Ingold

af2.com

Talons Head Coach Mitch Allner

af2.com

SMALL COLLEGE SEASON OPENS

As hard it as was to believe, the 2007 small college football season actually opened Thursday night, with an abbreviated of NCAA Division II action. One game ended with a couple of lightning strikes, while one team struck hard after a rough start, and never looked back.

Bearcats tear into Arkansas Tech; game ends in controversy

Kansas City Star

Carson-Newman wins home opener 52-21

WBIR.com

Complete D-II Scoreboard--08/23/2007

d2football.com

THE FOUR-YEAR ITCH

What is the "Four-Year Itch", and what does it have to do with the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and its immediate future? Read on below for the answer.

Article courtesy of College Sporting News

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--WHO IS NCCU?

The Eagles of North Carolina Central University, that's who. Find out more on one of the newest teams in the FCS by clicking the link below.

Article courtesy of College Sporting News

IN LIKE "FLYNT"

Find out more on Mike Flynt, who's suiting up for NCAA Division III Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Tex.

Article courtesy of the Associated Press.

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--FCS RANKINGS

How do each of the 122 teams in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) stack up? Find out by clicking the link below.

Article courtesy of College Sports Report

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA PROGRAM SUSPENDED

Unfortunately, even NAIA schools aren't immune from rules violations, as the entire Southern Virginia University athletic department was placed on probation for the upcoming academic year. The football team also must forfeit five wins from last season that came as a result of athletes being paid.

Article courtesy of the Associated Press.

WIFL LOOKS TO FLOURISH IN FLORIDA

The Tallahassee Titans defection from the American Indoor Football Association to the World Indoor Football League hopes to jump start a wave of expansion in Florida, Georgia, and the rest of the Southeast.

Article courtesy of Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat

PITTSBURGH NATIVE EXCELS IN COACHING ARENA

Who is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pa.) Pioneers head coach Rich Ingold? Find out more about the arenafootball2 leader by clicking the link below?

Article courtesy of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PittsburghLive.com)

RFC SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--CENTRAL WASHINGTON ALL-AMERICAN

A Central Washington University quarterback earns preseason All-America honors. Read more about him by clicking the link below.

Article courtesy of Ellensburg (Wash.) Daily Record

RFC SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--FOUR PREVIEWS FROM D-II

Real Football Central's preseason outlook continues with previews involving several NCAA Division II programs.

Albany State (Ga.)--SIAC Champs Face Toughest Season Yet

FULL STORY

California (Pa.)--McCutcheon Leads Vulcans Forward Wall

FULL STORY

North Alabama--Several Transfers Have Hudspeth Talking Positive

FULL STORY

Valdosta State--Good Scrimmage for Blazers

FULL STORY

SMALL COLLEGE, BIG DREAMS

Read on to find out about a former small college player's effort to catch on with the NFL's Green Bay Packers.

Article courtesy of Madison.com

A NEW GAME IN TOWN?

Saginaw, Mich. could soon get a new indoor professional football franchise. Click the link below to find out why.

Article courtesy of mlive.com

THE SUMMER OF WOE

The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) isn't alone when it comes to dealing with controversy and scandal. In fact, the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) has reared some dirty laundry of its own.

Article courtesy of College Sporting News

RFC SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--MORE ALL-AMERICANS

Check out more preseason All-America coverage from the following NCAA Division II schools by clicking the links below.

Fergus Falls (Minn.) Daily Journal

The Times-West Virginian (Fairmont, W. Va.)

Winona (Minn.) Daily News

D-II, D-III SITES TAKE TO THE WEB

ESPN.com reports on the growing popularity of websites like d2football.com, and d3football.com.

Article courtesy of ESPN.com

NCAA IMPOSES MORATORIUM ON D-I NEWCOMERS

Article courtesy of College Sporting News/NCAA

RFC SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--THE ALL-AMERICANS

What would a preseason outlook on small college football be without preseason All-Americans? Click the links below to find out who these All-Americans are?

Emporia (Kans.) Gazette

Midwestern State University (Tex.)

University of West Alabama

RFC SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--KEAN UNIVERSITY

As Real Football Central's small college preseason outlook continues, there is one team that is "Kean" on breaking Rowan's stranglehold on the NCAA Division III New Jersey Athletic Conference.

Article courtesy of Kean University Sports Information

RFC SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007

Our small college football previews continue with three reports on NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision action from College Sporting News.

Ivy League Announces Preseason Media Poll

Pioneer Football League Releases Preseason Poll

Patriot League Preseason Poll

RFC SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2007--UNC PEMBROKE

Real Football Central's coverage of the 2007 small college football season starts today, from now until Labor Day Weekend. The first installment features one of the nation's newest programs in NCAA Division II's University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

Article courtesy of Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA TO JOIN GREAT WEST CONFERENCE

The University of North Dakota, as well as the University of South Dakota, will both have a new conference to call home for their first NCAA Division I season in 2008, as they will join the Football Championship Subdivision's Great West Football Conference.

Article courtesy of College Sporting News.

NCAA EXAMINES FUTURE OF DIVISION III SPORTS

No, this article is not entirely related to college football. However, what the NCAA is considering could change the landscape of Division III athletics for years to come. Find out why by clicking the link below.

Article courtesy of the Wooster (Ohio) Daily Record

SABERCATS HAVE BECOME ARENA LEAGUE POWER

Find out the secret to the San Jose Sabercats winning three Arena Football League in the last six years, including last Sunday's 55-33 win over the Columbus (Ohio) Destroyers in Arena Bowl XXI.

Article courtesy of San Jose Mercury News